fandomhigh | Canada Is Not That Strange And Other Biases | Wednesday

As the students filed into the classroom, they'd see Fraser standing at the front, leaning against the desk. The super straight posture he was so used to didn't seem needed right now.

"Good morning and welcome back," Fraser said, smiling at them all. "Today, we're going to get right into the lessons. I don't have a syllabus as I tend to stop following it halfway through so every week is going to be a surprise."

Whether that was good or bad, Fraser didn't know. "Today, we're going to be discussing extraterrestrial life. Now, that particular legend has been refuted time and time again to those of us on the island. There are people outside the island that still might not believe there really are other planets out there beyond our solar system and thus, they probably don't believe some people who are very much alive exist at all."

Fraser paused and pushed away from the desk. "Even if this island and it's amazing properties didn't exist, people would still be pushing the belief that extraterrestrial life existed because the universe is really too vast to just be us. That's just ridiculous, isn't it? Why would a universe that's probably comprised of an infinite number of solar systems, planets and stars be out there but we're the only ones living. Unfortunately, there are those people that believe that's true. They believe we're the only ones that are alive and they believe that the universes are ours."

Humanity was a selfish, selfish species. "Now, why do you think, presented with quite a bit of evidence, people would believe that we're alone in the universe? Isn't that short sighted and narrow minded at this day and age? It's true that Earth scientist might not have discovered extraterrestrial life on the planets in this system but that's not an indicator that they do not exist. Scientists need only to come here and find that other planets, other worlds and other universes truly do exist. So, today's activity is simple. We're all going to assume we're extraterrestrials. There's someone in front of you telling you that you do not exist and you never will. How would you convince them otherwise? Feel free to talk to each other and discuss your answers. Let's get started."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I w-would hope," she said slowly, "that if they were a friend of mine, that they would come to understand. But if someone is against the idea while not knowing you're part of the idea they're against, would it really be the best way to just... shove that fact in their faces?"

She fiddled with her sleeves. "People don't... react well to that sort of thing. It is easy to become defensive then and shut down avenues of communication. If a friend of mine believed that I th-think there are two options? To either withdraw from them without telling them why, or slowly show them over time that it's okay for there to be those differences. A big reveal is too... jarring...?"

"No, you're exactly right," Fraser said, nodding. "There are ways to ease someone into something different but, generally, it's not the best way to start yelling and ranting because you're different and you hate that they don't believe what you believe."

Fraser couldn't think of a time when that had ended well. "I think that's the way this island works too. The new students arrive and while they get some warnings about what to expect, not everything is immediately heaped onto them so as to prevent them from having a little breakdown. I think that sort of immersion into a new culture with new people is a good way to go about things."

"I hadn't thought of that," she admitted, flushing slightly. "About the island. It's rather comparable though, I think... even the students who do tell stories in an attempt to get a reaction watch for when too much is too much for a new student, I would think."

She didn't really know, mind. Hinata didn't attempt to break the new students.

Fraser never attempted to break the new teachers either. He figured some could take it but he'd never wanted to find out.

"It almost seems to be an unwritten, unofficial code," he went on, nodding. "Some students think it's funny to watch the new students get a little bug eyed by some of the stories but I've never heard of them launching into the specifics of invasions and other uncomfortable and difficult events."

"A lot of people use the changing into another gender one," Hinata offered, smiling slightly. "But I think that is both harmless and out of the ordinary enough that the new kids don't believe it at all."

"Until it happens," Fraser chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know anyone who can escape that particular event. I think you've the right idea though. There's a way to get people used to the idea you're different but it's definitely not an immediate and loud revelation. Nine times out of ten, that won't work."

"A sudden revelation can be--scary," she said, glancing at him. "And depending on how the person reacts to it, they could become timid to the idea or resentful and angry. N-No one likes having their world turnd inside out."

"Let's hope that more people think and remember that as new students arrive," Fraser said and smiled. "Good job."

Canada Is Not That Strange And Other Biases | Wednesday | Period 2

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]

Re: Class Activity | Extraterrestrial Life [Canada 09/07]