Ethics, Wednesday

[saddeserthermit]

Today the desks were shoved against the walls (and two guesses about how that had happened and "actually pushing things with their hands" wasn't the answer), with a giant piece of masking tape down the center of the room.

"We're talking about privilege this morning," Anakin began.

"When speaking of ethics, it can be highly valuable to be aware of which platform you are speaking from," Obi-Wan continued. "There are issues we might not be able to speak of with full understanding, or issues we might understand better than those we are speaking of, based on how much privilege we had growing up. And these privileges may well be smaller, and yet more significant, than you think."

"In a school like this one, especially, what you might think of as universal experiences--space flight, for instance, or unlimited amounts of water--can be unfathomable fantasies to the student next to you," Anakin said. "We've tried to come up with examples to be as helpful as possible in this exercise, which is not intended to make any of you feel better or worse than the other beings in this class. It's intended to remind you to reflect on your own worldview and how that affects your reactions to things."

Like, say, if you grew up on a slave planet with a kill-button implanted in the back of your neck, you might be a little prickly and homicidal as an adult.

"So please step forward and stand on the indicated line, where we will also be joining you," Obi-Wan said, gesturing at the floor. "We will read a number of statements, and whether you should take a step forward or a step back if it is true."

Anakin stepped onto the line, jaw set. This wasn't exactly his favorite exercise.

Comments

Question 1

[saddeserthermit]

"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]

What abuse the Jedi received could not be considered on the level of actual discrimination, Obi-Wan felt. So he remained.

Re: Question 1

[ihuntkillers.livejournal.com]

Jasper didn't take any steps. He'd been called names but not for any of those reasons.

Re: Question 1

[sith_happened]

Slaves weren't exactly treasured on Tatooine. Anakin took a step back.

Re: Question 1

[good_for_six]

Isabela stepped back. Even in Rivain there were men with more ego than was healthy, and then there was Luis and his 'friends'...

Re: Question 1

[cracksmostly]

Not that the Dalish ventured close to civilization very often, but there were reasons that they tended to keep to themselves . . . and keep their mages spread out. So Merrill took a step back.

Re: Question 1

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka glanced at her bunny, then at the rest of the room before taking a step back. This was a terrible game.

Re: Question 1

[candycrushlove]

Maria didn't like it, but she took a step back.

Re: Question 1

[bestatmystery]

Lottie considered this one carefully. She wasn't exactly rich, and she'd been teased once or twice for it in school -- but Shauna had had it way worse.

Of course, she had been mocked for being a girl a time or two. Okay, she took a step back. A little one. That was fair, right?

Re: Question 1

[stacyexperiment]

Gwen had been called plenty of names, but it was mostly because of either her own behavior or dress or personality, so she stayed where she was.