Ethics, Tuesday, January 27, 2015, 2nd period

[sith_happened]

The desks had been shoved to either side of the room and a large white strip of tape had been placed down the center. Looked like it was an interactive class activity today, kids!

"Please line up along the line," Anakin said, then waited for the students to comply before continuing. "There's a philosopher from this world named John Rawls who believes that most principles of justice are things everyone would accept and agree to from a fair position. In Fandom especially, we are coming from a variety of cultures and traditions to examine ethical dilemmas, and so the idea of a 'fair position' is a bit of a moving target. The choice that might be right for you might be completely contrary to my own life experiences, but that will not make your point of view less valid."

"And so, what is a fair position?" Obi-Wan said. "This philosopher held his own ideas: he believed in a 'veil of ignorance' we had to assume, to forget the privileges and the responsibilities of our place in history." He glanced towards Anakin. "We cannot - nor would it be ethical if we could - simply put this veil on you, but we can knock you all down to the same level, so to speak."

He gestured towards the line on the floor.

"This is our veil; it is where we all begin, before circumstance steps in. Whatever your position in life - wealth, knowledge, midichlorian levels..." Hi, Anakin, "On this line, you have none. And then we begin our count."

Anakin rolled his eyes at the midichlorians and added, "Or your age or Inner Rim accent. We'll ask ten questions, see where you end up ahead or behind the line, and then we'll discuss how your perception on the world affects your reactions to things."

Like how being a slave for almost a decade could leave you with a giant, giant chip on your shoulder, for instance.

Obi-Wan looked faintly amused. "Perhaps we should join them," he said.

Anakin arched up an eyebrow. "I'm up for it if you are."

"It would be setting a good example."

And with that, Obi-Wan strode forward until he was standing on the line.

Comments

Exercise in Privilege!

[sith_happened]

Please hold for the OCD...

Question 1

[sith_happened]

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

Re: Question 1

[saddeserthermit]

Obi-Wan briefly considered counting the abuse Jedi sometimes received, but decided it was against the spirit of the exercise.

He stayed in place.

Re: Question 1

[sith_happened]

Anakin had been a young, human, slave podracer. He'd gotten called a lot of names.

One step back.

Re: Question 1

[thegreywaren.livejournal.com]

People weren't that stupid and didn't call Ronan names so he stayed where he was.

Re: Question 1

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Karina had to think about this one before deciding that, yeah, okay, she was going to stay in place.

Re: Question 1

[nolizardhere]

Being sneered at by bad guys for being a Power Ranger probably did not count, so Andros stayed where he was.

Re: Question 1

[gavegoodface]

Face stayed right where he was.

Re: Question 1

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy snorted as she took a step back. There was a whole litany she could share for this one.

Re: Question 1

[pasunereveuse.livejournal.com]

Celia paused, unsure if her father's training counted as being called names because of her abilities. She was chastised in the name of being better, not because she had them in the first place.

And that seemed to be the defining question, so she simply stayed in place, smoothing her hands against her skirt.

Re: Question 1

[sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com]

Well that one was easy enough. Carmilla took a step back.

Re: Question 1

[princessarcasm]

Amy had to think about it, but decided that she didn't think childhood teasing counted. She stayed where she was.

Re: Question 1

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Elsa had never been called names, no. Of course, there really hadn't ever been occasion for somebody to do so. Still, she remained on the line. Magic or no, the biggest trouble she'd ever seen because of it so far as name-calling went was from herself.

Re: Question 1

[not_a_moonie]

Alana took a step back, though she wasn't sure she should. She'd never been harassed in a cruel way; it was more a rite of passage in a world with so many species.

Re: Question 1

[wildandbrave]

Did being an orphan count? Cosette guessed it probably did. God knew she didn't want to dredge up all the things Madame Thénardier had ever called her and go over the whys and wherefores with a fine-toothed comb, so she decided that one way or the other it counted. She took a step back.

Question 2

[sith_happened]

"If you ever tried to change you appearance, mannerisms, or behavior to avoid being judged or ridiculed, take one step back."

Question 3

[sith_happened]

"If you were ever offered a good job because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward. Inheriting a country or another hereditary title counts here."

Question 4

[sith_happened]

"If your parents told you that you could be anything you wanted to be, take one step forward."

Question 5

[sith_happened]

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

Question 6

[sith_happened]

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

Question 7

[sith_happened]

"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."

Question 8

[sith_happened]

"If one of your parents or guardians was unemployed, laid off, or not being paid at all for their work, take one step back."

Question 9

[sith_happened]

"If you had servants in your house, take one step forward. If your family were the servants in a house, take a step back."

Question 10

[sith_happened]

"If, before coming to Fandom, you'd taken a vacation to a foreign country or planet, take one step forward."

All done! Where are you?

[sith_happened]

How far ahead or behind the line?