I finally sat down, cracked open Textpad, and yes, for those that read this via webpage and not LJ backend, that link called "expressions" page is now up. While it currently holds only two wallpapers I made, the structure and folder stuff is in place so I can actually add things. The hardest part (as is my usual task of adding to the site) is sitting down and actually making the initial batch of work. From there, it is much easier to just update. I will eventually put my resume into HTML form, but the need isn't quite there yet. All that leaves is my cosplay section, which I have worked on a bit, but have been too lazy to fully complete, and so the link doesn't work. All in good time though I suppose. Enough of the housekeeping. Onto the interesting thing: classroom oppression example.
My Tech Tutor class runs from 6p to 10p every Monday night, and for those unfortunate enough to know my PPC AOL Instant Messenger name have no doubt read my angsting over the class. Reasons range from the inability of the two instructors to teach to my general questioning of the Service Learning process. But, I digress; tonight was an in class activity. In order to fully understand the activity, I must deviate briefly to explain. The class is divided into two sections. The Alphas and the Betans. The Alphas went to one room while the Betans went to another. Here in the room, you were told you had a culture you were supposed to act the part of. Here is a short list for example purposes.
Alphas: - were friendly by nature - communicated through "transactions" involving 3 cards, with the ante of a chocolate piece - both A and B lay down a card face down, and flip them together - a matching pair and the chocolate went to person A, a different pair of cards and person B got the goods - the "Stipper" card was an automatic win, but was to be treated like an insult - there was a social caste, and one person controlled the group. men were ranked above women for this.
Betas: - work minded people - were only concerned with getting slips of paper - had to get numbers 1-7 on slips of paper all the same color - had their own language (pai = pink, gura = green, etc) - lacked social structure, but status was indicated by getting a 28 (1-7 same color paper) - "Grocka!" was the cheer everyone gave.
As you can see, there are major differences between the "cultures" that we were given. Of course, part of the purpose of this exercise was to help people learn about entering and exiting a community, as well as provide a small scale example of cultural differences. There were many more attributes to both Alphas and Betas, but that is beside the point. With the cultures "established" groups of 3 switched places and experienced the other culture. In doing so, they were brutally taken advantage of. The normally friendly Alphas would scam the outsiders, playing the Stipper card and taking their chocolate. This started as soon as they realized that the incoming people had no idea as to what the rules were. They were mocked, taken advantage of, used, and sent back on their way. This behavior wasn't just in the Alphas though. In a different room, Betans preyed on new Alphas, as they had new paper that was vital to their own social success. The Betans didn't care that the Alphas were clueless. They took the paper, gave nothing in return, and went on their way. We sat down after the exercise, and I tried to point this out, but since it wasn't the focus and point of the exercise, it was dismissed like a group of 4th graders.
I suppose at some point during the talk I realized that my concern wasn't the concern of the teachers. I found even myself wanting to take advantage of the situation. Does it make me a bad person? I don't believe so, but it did reveal a part of human nature that isn't all that easy to deal with. In this little cultural exercise, I found out more about the way people are treated than I was ready to acknowledge. It turns my stomach knowing people are being shafted, and that little can be done about it. Sure, you could make an effort not to take advantage of those not familiar with the culture, but just because you are not taking advantage doesn't mean someone else won't. And people will. They won't even know they are. (I am not liking the fact they are aware and do it anyway.) This thought process of course branched out to something a bit bigger, looking at the attempts to impose Western culture on those who don't really understand it.
All in all, I would say it was an interesting experiment in human behavior.
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