(no subject)

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara's nose is red, her voice harsh and scratchy. She's still not recovered from her virus, but she's in class by 8am.

"First of all, I need to apologise to you all for last week. I misjudged things badly, and I hurt people. You have no reason to forgive me for that, and I'm not asking you to. I simply want you to know that I am truly sorry.

"A few people suggested last week that I have no business being an ethics teacher. It's given me a lot to think about. In the end, it doesn't matter whether you're right - what matters is that you believe you are. I will not be teaching again next semester."

She drops her eyes, suppressing a chesty cough.

"Discussion topics today are your own choice. Raise an ethical issue, give us your opinion on it, and then engage in someone else's discussion. You're debating with each other today, not with me."

Quietly she sits down at her desk, taking out her notebook to observe the discussion, but resolving not to enter into it.

Comments

Class Discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Raise an issue, address someone else's. Talk with one another.

Lying

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky started the conversation.

"Is lying completely wrong? In what cases do you think lying would be the right thing to do?"

Global Equity

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Should resources be shared equally amongst everyone in the world? Is it fair that some people have more than others? Is it fair, for example, that first world nations hoarde most of the world resources, leaving second and third world nations to struggle?

Re: Class Discussion

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor leans back in his seat and says nothing.

Re: Class Discussion - Etiquette

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"How about etiquette?" Angel suggested. "Should everyone be expected to behave by a certain social standard? Or should they be allowed the freedom of behaving however they want provided it doesn't hurt anybody?"

Re: Class Discussion - Fairness

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"There's also fairness," Angel said. "What's fair? Who decides what's fair? How can you tell when someone is being fair?"

Right To Act

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"What about the ability to act on someone's behalf. How do you decide what actions are okay to take and which ones are not?"

Re: Class Discussion

[demonbelthazor]

"What about altering someone's personality against their will?" Bel finally grumbled. "Oh, wait. We discussed that one already. And most everyone said it was bad. Nevermind."

Assignment

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Hand in or report back on your assignment. The medium by which you choose to do this is entirely up to you. (I may need annotation if you want to do it as an interpretive dance.) Remember that you were asked not only to report back on your difficulties or success, but broaden that out to an opinion on why there is often a difference between what we believe to be right and what we actually do.

Re: Assignment

[sooo_cute]

Quinn hands in her project on being less judgmental. It didn't go so well, as Quinn decided she didn't really need to change anything, though the rest of the world could use a clue.

Re: Assignment

[demonbelthazor]

Bel gives his log to Tara with the simple remark of "It's all a matter of perception. You do what you think is right, but others may disagree."

Re: Assignment

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge hands back his report on his experiences in attempting to babble less.

"It didn't go so well, because I kinda realised that sometimes, things can't really be explained. Except in a certain way, and so if I want those things to be explained then I have to do it that way so people can get it, even if sometimes they get frustrated at me for talking too much. Because in the end, they'll totally figure out what I was talking about, and, like be all happy 'cause now they know!" Bridge grins. "So really, I thought people might like me better if I was less... me... but it turns out that sometimes I have important stuff to say, so I should say it."

Re: Assignment

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

Faith hands in a paper saying simply "I don't need to change."

She may do a dance on the way back to her seat.

Re: Assignment

[wraithbaitjohn.livejournal.com]

Shep hands in a neatly typed paper:

Log Summary:

Okay, my first problem was finding a habit I needed to lose. Not that I have any delusions that I'm perfect, but I despise hypocrits and really try hard not to be one.

So a friend suggested that I drop the clueless act. And I'll admit to having worked that to an art form. There are times it really helps to come across as non-threatening, and what's more non-threatening than a total space cadet.

The biggest problem I had with it was that... well... sometimes it's not an act. And whenever I'd not get something anyone who knew about this assignment called me on it. And without having the dumb-ACT to hide behind, I actually had to cop to just being dumb.

There were also times that having to admit that I was completely aware of what was going on around me left other people with no easy out when they said something unintentional or embarassing. Or if someone said something that I didn't want to give a completely truthful answer to, but yet I didn't really want to lie to them, I could pretend to misunderstand and run the conversation in another direction. Without that escape mechanism, I'm forced to actually say, "No actually I think your checked pants are hideous with your polka-dot pants." Telling white lies is a whole 'nother issue, and I've generally gotten around that by pretending to not get it. 'Cause honestly, I can't lie for shit. (can I say that in a school paper?) White or otherwise.

Which really, leads me to believe that the clueless routine has its place. It may annoy people, but it can be a damn good way to get out of an uncomfortable situation. And then, of course, there are the times I really am clueless. Being able to say that I'm just acting can help me save face.

I think a more interesting paper would be one written by the people who have had to deal with me for the past week.

Re: Assignment

[absolutesnark]

Piper hands in her report about being less shy. The report mentions singing at Caritas and that she would like to again. Though she still isn't as outgoing as she would like to be, it's a start.

Re: Assignment

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica goes over to Tara. "I kind of forgot to get the assignment after class last week," she admits. "Can I make it up?"

Re: Assignment

[lisacuddy.livejournal.com]

Lisa hands in a report, in which she details her struggle with keeping her trap shut her voice down in stressful situations. With work, finals, and some upsetting correspondence with her parents, she did... as well as could be expected.

Re: Assignment

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"For my project I attempted to be more understanding of other culture's traditions. As for how it went, I believe the pirate got it all on tape."

Re: Assignment

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker hands in a report on not losing her temper or sniping at people. She pretty much lost it. Between Michael, Spike, and various other stressors, she also ended up smoking again this week.

"Luckily, my ulcer remains in remission. For now, anyway."

Emo Closet

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Here if you need it, as always.

Re: Emo Closet

[sensethevisions]

When Phoebe hears Tara's announcement about not teaching next semester, she looks shocked and then upset. She stands up and heads to the closet. Once the door is closed behind her, she punches the wall as hard as she can.

OOC Discussion

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Questions? Comments? Whatever. Go for it.

Re: OOC Discussion

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

*hugs* (lots)

Also? I'm now looking for pictures of Faith dancing. Because screwing around finding pictures to express 'I'm perfect, you all need to change' is fun.

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor lingered after class and approached Veronica.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica glanced around the room to make sure there were still people around when she saw Belthazor approaching.

"What?"