fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, March 1, 2012 1st period]

"Welcome back from your break," Anakin said, striding to the front of the class--where the students' desks had been pushed against the walls--to lean against the blackboard. "Today we move away from Kant and onto an American philosopher named John Rawls. He's a more modern philosopher, and the main tenet of Rawlsianism is that most reasonable principles of justice are those everyone would accept and agree to from a fair position. The question, naturally, then turns into 'what is a fair position' and his use of something called the 'veil of ignorance' that magically makes everyone unaware of their positions in society in order to determine if something is fair or not."

He pushed off of the wall and paced down the center of the room. "Rawls also argues that even meritocracy—a distributive system that rewards effort—doesn’t go far enough in leveling the playing field because those who are naturally gifted will always get ahead. Furthermore, says Rawls, the naturally gifted can’t claim much credit because their success often depends on factors as arbitrary as birth order or how you were raised as a child."

He waved his hand, indicating the students should form a line in the center of the classroom. "Today we'll conduct a little experiment in demonstrating privilege. Afterwards, I want you to discuss if such things matter in Fandom like they do back in your home universes, and if not, why not."

He reached for a piece of paper. "Let's begin."

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Compare suntans!

Looking privileged.

~~And massive OCD.~~

The students start lined up on a white piece of tape running down the center of the room. Take steps forward or back as Anakin reads off various descriptions.

"If you were ever called names because of your race, class, ethnicity, species, gender, magical powers, or sexual orientation, take one step back."

Anakin had tweaked the questions slightly for Fandom.

"If your ancestors were forced to come to your place of origin, not by choice, take one step back."

"If your parents were professional: doctors, lawyers, etc., take one step forward."

"If you were raised in an area where there was prostitution, drug activity, etc., take one step back."

"If you ever had to skip a meal or were hungry because there was not enough money to buy food when you were growing up, take one step back."

"If there were more than 50 books--or the technological equivalent in your universe--in your house when you grew up, take one step forward."

"If you attended a private school or summer camp prior to coming to Fandom, take one step forward."

"If you were told that you were beautiful, smart and capable by your parents or other caregivers, take one step forward."

"If you are encouraged to attend college by your parents or other care givers, take one step forward."

"If you ever inherited money or property, take one step forward."

""And finally, if your parents or guardians told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward."

How far off the line are you? In what direction?

"In a school full of geniuses, princesses, multi-billionaires and slaves, have we formed a different sort of meritocracy here? Does how you were raised before arriving on the island matter as much here as it does when you return home?"

Anakin will probably not tell you where he ended up on the line, but his experiences as a slave and then as a Jedi apprentice pretty much canceled each other out in this exercise.

When you look at it long enough, privilege looks spelled wrong.

Gabrielle

Gabrielle -- well, the class might have seen where she ended up on the line ~~as soon as I actually ping all the threads~~. The entire exercise was definitely thought-provoking, but she was available to talk to despite her incredibly preoccupied expression.

Gabrielle, as a young woman frequently traveling alone with another woman ~~not like that except totally~~ in areas where they tended to run into large groups of armed men, took a step back. She had other reasons to, but she only got the one step back.

Her family had lived in Poteidaia for as long as they could remember, so . . . no steps anywhere for Gabrielle this time, to the best of her knowledge.

Simple village farmers didn't count as professionals, right? Gabrielle stayed right where she was.

Gabrielle decided that rampaging bands of slavers and bandits counted in this category, and took a step back.

Bad harvest years tended to hit small villages pretty hard, and there had been times on the road with Xena that their money pouch had been empty and there hadn't been any game to rustle up. Another step back for Gabrielle.

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Ethics [Thursday, March 1, 2012 1st period]

Talk Before Class

Sign in [3/1]

Exercise in Privilege

Re: Exercise in Privilege--1

Re: Exercise in Privilege--2

Re: Exercise in Privilege --3

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Exercise in Privilege Conclusion

Answer the discussion question [3/1]

Talk to Anakin or Gabrielle [3/1]

OOC

Re: Sign in [3/1]

Re: Talk to Anakin or Gabrielle [3/1]

Re: Exercise in Privilege--1

Re: Exercise in Privilege--2

Re: Exercise in Privilege --3

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