Philosophy classroom: Ethics class #2, Monday, 2-4pm

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looks more nervous than excited as students take their seats, but tries hard to school her face into a confident mask.

"Okay, first off - you've probably heard about the assignment. From the radio, if nothing else. I promise you, it's not anywhere near as bad as you're imagining. I won't keep people in suspense - we'll do the debate last, because I suspect no-one will be able to focus until this is out of the way.

Before I explain that, however, I need to make two announcements.


"First, Teacher's Assistants have been chosen. I have a carrot - Major K! - and a stick - Angelus. If you're having trouble grasping a concept, talk to Major K!. He'll guide you through the thinking. If you think you've got a hold on it, talk to Angelus. He'll challenge your thinking, give you the opportunity to clarify your position.

"Second, and related to the latter - this class is not an easy A. At some point in this course you will find yourself challenged and confronted. For many of you, that will be today. If you walk out of this classroom before class is over, and without checking it with me, I may be understandably upset. However, I recognise that if you get angry or upset, you may need some time alone, or away from the group. To that end, I present to you the Emo Closet Time Out Room." She walks to the back of the classroom and opens the door to what previously was a supply cabinet. Inside is what looks very much like a white padded room. "This room is soundproofed. You can cry, scream and punch things all you want, and I will not penalise you for leaving the class or the discussion. Major K! or I will come to check on anyone who goes to the Emo Closet Time Out Room, in case you need help or support. Feel free to tell us to leave you alone.



"Now on to the assignment. Yes, it's a Master/slave exercise. Please don't jump to conclusions about that. There is a difference between slavery and abuse, although the two do often go hand in hand. The rules for this assignment prevent any form of abuse - both Master and slave must have a safeword so that they can stop things at any time. What we're exploring here is slavery. That's all, and that's quite enough. Please, please try not to confuse it with other ethical issues, even the ones that often attend this one.

"The TAs will be handing out to you a copy of the rules, and the guidelines for your role, as well as a badge that will either declare 'I am an Ethics Class slave' or 'I am an Ethics Class Master'. These badges must be worn when you are in your role. If you're not in your role, life continues on as normal. As a further distinction, I urge all of you to adopt another name or title for the role you are playing. To that end, you may call me 'My Lady', Angelus 'Daddy' and Major K! 'Rabbit'."

Jonathan, Kitty, Chiana, Angela, Six, Allie, Lindsay, Shane and Veronica are given Master rules by 'Daddy'
Sydney, Stark, Rory, Archie, Hotaru, John Connor, Paige, Chloe and John Sheppard are given slave rules by 'Rabbit'.

"The pairings are as follows, Master listed first:
Jonathan/Sydney
Kitty/Stark
Chiana/Rory
Angela/Archie
Six/Hotaru
Allie/John
Lindsay/Joan
Shane/Chloe
Veronica/Lisa Cuddy (from Friday's class)
Piper (from Friday's class)/John Sheppard.
Quinn/Bridge (from Friday's class)

Please go with the relevant TA to discuss any concerns you have about this project, or clarify your instructions. In light of the furour from Friday's class, this will serve as today's discussion topic."

Comments

OOC discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

If you wish to snark, eat popcorn or raise any OOC concern, do it here.

If you are uncomfortable with this assignment OOC I need to know about it immediately. IC angst I can handle. OOC angst isn't worth it. If you're not having fun, say so!

Re: OOC discussion

[chasingangela]

OOC I think it's completely inappropriate to a high school setting, especially given the extended time frame. CJ's trust games were confined to a single class session with her constant oversight; Drusilla is canonically crazy. But if you got admin approval on it, my opinion is just peanut-gallery stuff. (Also, I agree that it could lead to some really interesting writing and situations, and I can almost justify it from that POV.)

That said? It's not Angela's favorite assignment ever, but she'll deal. it will probably be extremely half-hearted mastering, but she'll make the attempt.

Re: OOC discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Alternatively, she can choose not to do the assignment. Some have, and there's replacement work available.

Re: OOC discussion

[chasingangela]

Eh. I'm not sure I'm ready to do that. For one, I don't know Archie, IC or OOC, and I'd like to at least talk to him before making a decision.

Re: OOC discussion

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

Re: OOC discussion

[chasingangela]

Hey. No problem on the rambling.

My health class didn't do that assignment, though I know variations of it are common. Still, whatever you do with the egg in your example, it doesn't have any potential to hurt anyone else. This does, regardless of the ground rules -- in fact, I'm sure people *will* get hurt. Assignments where two students are paired as parents to care for the "baby" are a little closer, but that doesn't have the dynamic placing one student in control of the other. (Plus, does anybody do it that way outside sitcoms?)

I get what you're getting at with your second point, and I think it is what Tara's hoping students will learn. But I think there would be ways to illustrate that concept without bringing up the fetishy stuff.

But like I said -- my concern is entirely peanut gallery stuff, and therefore irelevasnt.

Re: OOC discussion

[fh_jackass]

And, really... I think people are tending to kind of see the words 'Master' and 'slave' and tack the more fetish-y connotations to them

Agreed. The rules as written are actually very, very limiting to the Masters.

Re: OOC discussion

[crazyvampchick]

BTW, the Dru thing? I checked with all the players who would be hypnotized a day beforehand and made sure it was okay with everyone OOC. I didn't touch anyone that didn't okay it, and the admins knew about it beforehand.

Re: OOC discussion

[chasingangela]

That's a good point, and I remember that. I was just trying to think of vaguely similar assignments, and what I meant was that (beyond the OOC concerns) Dru gets a little bit of a pass because you expect her to screw with her students. Not so much Tara.

Re: OOC discussion

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Is it possible to get a list of the slaves livejournals so I can invite them to join Callisto's Super Sekrit Slave Clubhouse add them to the custom flist I made for the assignment?

*headdesk*

Fandom High OCD claims another victim

Re: OOC discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Certainly - can you add me to the flist as well?

chosenslayer_
future_visions
mparker16
bridge_carson
lisa_cuddy
kawalsky
wraithbaitjohn
sydney_bristow_
banikslaveboy
rory__gilmore
actingltcrumpet
brandnew_world
apocalypsesoon
joan_not_jane
chloe_sullivan

Re: OOC discussion

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Do you want an invite to the Clubhouse too? Stupid character made me make a comm.

Re: OOC discussion

[defiantlyyours.livejournal.com]

I'm particularly in agreement with Ms. Chase. This isn't something that would go down in high school. However, to be fair to both the rest of the class and my sub, I'll be doing the assignment. My Lady.

*switches on admin mode* If you could just run this stuff by the admin in the future if such an intense assignment is going to run past the boundaries of classtime, that'd be much appreciated.

Re: OOC discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

*nods* Will do. Didn't actually expect this to be anywhere near as intense as it's turned out to be, but should have erred on the side of caution.

Re: OOC discussion

[fh_jackass]

I think it's entirely possible that something like this would happen in a private high school. (Never in a public one.) I went to a hippie-liberal-Christian summer camp for several summers and we did exercises like this.

Also, I don't know what Tara's got planned, but I suspect the arguments for what we're supposed to be learning will be different *after* we've done the exercise. In this kind of thing, you usually don't tell people up front what they're supposed to be learning from it.

Re: OOC discussion

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

I went to a private school, and we did stuff like this. Not this actual exercise, but very similar ones. They always got very similarly polarizing effects - though no one at my school had the experiences of some of FH's kids.

And I reposted because my computer is irritating and can't control its damn subject-line craziness.

Re: OOC discussion

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

[ooc: just a note that I'd like Veronica to actually be enrolled in Friday's class and Allie in Monday's class so I don't have to play one post with two characters.]

Re: OOC discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

ooc: Not a problem. I thought we discussed this, though - that Veronica would come for today? *looks back and notices Allie wasn't there on Friday* *goes to amend post to include her* Are you okay to do both in Monday just this time?

Re: OOC discussion

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

[ooc: yeah that works since i'm home today... ]

Re: OOC discussion

[phases-of-kitty.livejournal.com]

I don't know the fandom, but isn't Stark a former slave? Is it really appropriate for him to take on that role in a class project?

Re: OOC discussion

[spyprincipal.livejournal.com]

He is.

Re: OOC discussion

[stykera]

I signed him up for the class solely because of the assignment and because I am a bad evil person and cos it would give him a chance to freak out.

I'm totally in it just for the freak out, I have no goals after that...so if Kitty (or you) want to refuse because it's evil and wrong, he'll love her forever and follow her around like a deranged puppy in a vaguely creepy sort of way.

Re: OOC discussion

[phases-of-kitty.livejournal.com]

Hee. Okay. I have no idea what Kitty's going to do yet. Will you be around this evening to chat?

Re: OOC discussion

[defiantlyyours.livejournal.com]

My partner hasn't arrived yet.

Re: OOC discussion

[allie-cameron.livejournal.com]

Mine either