fandomhigh | Friday Ethics Class #3, 8-10am

Two boxes sit on Tara's desk. One is filled with homemade cookies, with a small placard labelled 'To all those who attempted the assignment - help yourselves!'. The other is a bin to return the Master/slave badges at the end of the class.

Tara smiles as the students settle down.

"I told you last week that part of the point of this assignment was to separate out the issues of slavery and abuse. There are many, many issues with slavery, even without abusive elements attached, and I want to tell you how proud I am of all of you for attempting the assignment - especially those of you who were uncomfortable with it. I have a lot I want to say, but I'm going to bite my tongue and let you all speak, first. Tell me about your experiences with the assignment - what was challenging for you? What was easier than you thought it would be? Do you have any insights you would like to share?"

[ooc: If you would provide linkage to any RPed assignment bits and pieces, I would be forever grateful when it comes time for grading. Also, those of you who made icons? I adore you, and worship your icon-fu.]

Before class lets out, Tara makes a short announcement.

"I would not ask anything of you that I am unwilling to do myself - including act as a slave. Anyone who completed the assignment is eligible to 'win' me as a slave, under the same terms of the assignment as you performed. I realise many of you are probably glad that this is over, but if you are interested, or want revenge, please put your name down on the sheet provided. I will post this as a voting list, and the involved parties will decide as a class who is to Master me, and what is to be done with me."

[ooc: Off to bed. Play nicely, see you all in the morning. Um, my morning. *as usual, kicks stupid timezones*]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Any details or conversations before class. Help yourself to the cookies.

Discussing the assignment, as above.

"Okay, this is all good stuff. Now let's take it back to a discussion topic.

Much of the issues arising about slavery are bound up in the violation of another's free will. In parts of Africa, the word for slave is the same as the word for child - as many of you may have found, the basic responsibilities for a Master are not unlike those of a parent, and the power dynamic allows equal opportunity for abuse, though thankfully one that is seized upon much less often.

So today I'd like you to think about the 'helpless' - those people in society, including children and the mentally disabled, who are unable to care for themselves. What are they owed? What do they owe back, to their parents and their society? What are their responsibilities, and when is it appropriate for them to assume the responsibilities of a 'normal' adult?"

Because it's always good to provide a place for commentary.

Also? I handed in my thesis today. You will find a party popper underneath your seat. Feel free to celebrate with me!

Phoebe comes in and sits down. She niether takes a cookie nor turns in her badge. She appears to be lost in thought and then starts writing in her notebook.

Quinn raises her hand. "So I didn't get nearly enough time with my cabana boy Miguel, but he did everything he was supposed to, even if my closet isn't organized exactly right because he doesn't know which fabrics are which, but I'll forgive it. I mean, slavery's not that bad, because he didn't get beaten or anything and it was a ton of fun for me, but then I started thinking about what if I was the slave, because I wouldn't have done any of it because... ew, no. And if we're all about free will or whatever with this assignment, then it's not really real, because real slaves don't get to say 'I'm not comfortable doing this', otherwise that whole railroad thing would have been completely pointless because they could say 'I'm tired of picking cotton, I'd like to go north for a while,' you know? Because if they had free will, they wouldn't really be slaves. They'd be employees."

She thinks. "Oh, and if I'd been the slave, I totally would have sued."

50% of your partner's mark comes from your evaluation of them. Please take a moment to explain how you think they did.

Maia comes in sitting quietly, not having done the assignment she is a bit lost. She smiles at Tara and Phoebe when she sits down.

"And what about your responsibilities, Quinn? Did you ensure that your slave was fed, clothed, and provided adequate shelter?"

Maia chews her lip for a moment and raises her hand.

"I think that when someone is helpless that their responsibilities to give something back or pay what is owed should be null and void. If a person cannot control the situation around them or what is being done to them then they should not be expected to pay or contribute to the end result." Maia quickly stops talking feeling a bit shy because she got a tad passionate about her statement in the end.

Put your name down here if you want ~~revenge on Tara~~ to give Tara the experience of slavery.

Tara smiles at her, kind eyes reminding her that she doesn't need to worry about the assignment.

"So they don't owe anything," Tara reiterates. "What are they owed? And who owes it to them? Whose responsibility is it to take care of those that cannot take care of themselves?"

Maia smiled back and opened her notebook starting to write what Tara had on the board.

Maia thinks for a moment then looks at Tara very seriously. "The people who made them helpless or forced them to do something without their consent. The victims should be compensated whatever the victim feels is appropriate for what happened."

Some of the links are buried in study hall, but here's a few:

Asking Tara for detention. ;)
Small study hall scene.
Taking Bright One out to dinner. They do drift out of their roles along the way due to the conversation, though.

"I don't think a child owes the parents anything, it's the parents decision to have children and they're responsible for it. There might be a moral obligation or maybe it is more a personal decision that a child wants to take care of their parents once the tables are turned and the parents can't take care of themselves anymore.

The mentally disabled don't really owe us anything, but it is the job of society to take care of its citizens."

Belthazor walked into class. Like any good JA member confronted by baked goods, when he saw the cookies he helped himself to a few. Seeing that Phoebe had beaten him to class, he took a desk beside her.

[ooc: read that as 'beaten him to death', for a moment. *facepalm* And I swear, Tara made them herself, they won't do anything to you.]

"And what if they're not a victim, Maia? Children, the mentally handicapped - if they were born this way, who is responsible? How much are the parents expected to take upon themselves, and what help should they be able to expect?

"I agree. Any functioning society has those who can't look after themselves, and those who don't fit in with the norm. In order to work, the society has to adapt and those who are capable should take care of those who aren't capable."

[OOC: Well, it could happen. She did vanquish him in canon. And he did come back. ;) ]

Cameron nods in agreement. Major K! is not only burly, but he knows his stuff.

Phoebe looked up when she heard him come in and smiled at him. She was still wearing a thoughtful look as she gazed at him.

[[OOC: That canon has no place in my world.]]

Page 1 of 8

Friday Ethics Class #3, 8-10am

Before class starts

First Hour

Second Hour

OOC

Re: Before class starts

Re: First Hour

Evaluate your partner

Re: Before class starts

Re: First Hour

Re: Second Hour

The List (as mentioned above)

Re: Before class starts

Re: Second Hour

Re: Before class starts

Re: Second Hour

Re: OOC -- RP Links

Re: Second Hour

Re: Before class starts

Re: Before class starts

Re: Second Hour

Re: Second Hour

Re: Before class starts

Re: Second Hour

Re: Before class starts

Re: Before class starts