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

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.

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

Edited 2015-01-27 08:31 (UTC)

Technically none of the Jedi were paid, but they hardly suffered any of the disadvantages of it; Obi-Wan saw no reason to move.

The Jedi weren't paid, but his mother hadn't been either, and for far less altruistic reasons.

Another step back.

Ronan was just going to close his eyes and not move again. His family had been and still was well off. How they'd gotten that way wasn't all shiny but it was what it was.

Again, Karina stayed where she was.

Andros was staying where he was.

"Just for a little while, right?" Kathy asked, uncertain whether or not to step backwards. "Or do you mean for our whole childhood, or...?"

"It didn't have to be permanently, or even long-term," Anakin said.

"Okay," Kathy said, remembering the summer her had had been laid off. That had been a very...trying time for the family.

She took another step back.

Face? Still not moving.

Celia stayed where she was. Hector had always made a decent income, and while her mother had been poor, Celia herself had been too young to know what she did for money -- but she was fairly sure there had been some sort of income, there.

Another problem Amy had never had to deal with. She stayed where she was.

... Well, her father was the king, and her mother was the Queen, and...

Where Elsa was standing was just fine.

Well, Alana's mom didn't always have a job, but that was more or less by choice. She stayed where she was, wondering if she'd ever get to move again.

Soren took a step back. After his father's death, his mother had simply worked a string of low-paying jobs, finding work wherever she could in whatever place they'd ended up in.

Oh man, story of Daddy's life. Not paid right, not paid enough, laid-off, hired back... it had happened often enough that Minako took a step back.

As far as Cosette knew, she didn't need to move from her spot at this question; she only half-remembered things Mme. Thénardier had said to the effect of her mother not being able to raise her, but Mme. Thénardier had been in the habit of saying whatever garnered her the most sympathy whenever anyone at the inn ever asked about Cosette, so for all Cosette knew those had probably been lies, too. She stayed where she was.

Unemployed and then dead when Kaylin was five. Did that count? She thought it probabl did. Yet another step back.

While she had nearly gotten her mum fired from her job once, both her parents were still employed by the plant. She stayed where she was.

Eleanor hesitated before taking a very small step back. The teachers had said temporary situations counted; while Mother was in jail, the lounge where Grace sang had closed its doors, leaving money very hard to come by.

It had only been for a few weeks. She felt guilty stepping back; her time with Grace had been the happiest in her life, hardships and all.

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

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