Class room discussion

Professor: What do we need to change about society?

(Classroom quiet)

Student: our out look?

Prof: elaborate.

Student: I don't know...maybe the way we treat each other?

Prof: you're warm, think you can nail it home?

Summer: we're a cold world. Since the exlposion of technology, we tend to lean more on our technology, if you ask a question people are quick to tell you to google it.

Prof: Interesting. Why do you think that is, summer?

Summer: Because we don't know the answer ourselves. Everyone is too busy, the pace of life is a lot quicker so the need for comradery, to connect with people face to face has become....

Student: pointless.

Summer: not exactly pointless but....its---  times have changed.

Prof: pointless...so there's no need for human interaction?

Summer: there's a need for it but not in the old way. It's much quicker to express how you feel through abbreviation/text.

Prof: what about now? We're communicating without a device...

Summer: well I need my grade miss.

Prof: All about the grade huh summer..

Summer: well I love this class--

Prof: I know I'm kidding with you


Summer: I think this shines light on chemistry.

Prof: oooo that's interesting..

Summer: well its been said that phereomones and other smells isn't real among humans and its only an animal thing; but clearly we follow people on social media but don't like them in real life....I think that's kind of strange.

Prof: you're right, it is. It's strange. But you're leaving out a lot of things like maybe the person on facebook or IG (as you guys call it) might like one particular thing about a person, maybe relationships, religions, beliefs, standards play in this. It's easy to show how you feel online, a lot harder to translate that into actual word...possibly this shines light on emotional intelligence?

Sunmer: how so?

Prof: There's a time and place for everything and a right way to say things. For example, "Summer, your fucking breathe stinks!" Is kind of harsh vs "hey dude, your breathe stinks here's some gum" Is a lot more subtle, honest, and loving. Everyone deep down knows when they're screwing up but its approach that will get the person to agree; attack is not one of them, but we associate negative with attacking.

Student 3: There's a chinese proverb or quote that relates to this...

Summer: you're thinking of Buddha I believe its... "In a controversy the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves."

Student 4: what about, "you will not be punished for your anger but punished by your anger"

Summer: that part.

Prof: There's a lot of animosity in today's world is what I'm sensing from your responses.

Summer: the anger was already there it just became more clear with social media. We need anger but people fear anger. We're strangers to each other so we don't know each other's tipping points; social media kind of highlights through pictures and comments what kind of person one is.

Prof: hmm..so you're saying one is able to judge a book by its cover because people who have a similar look and comment a similar way or agree on a topic are the same? Therefore if 5 are like this 6 and so on are similar? If that's the case, then technology is no different than people watching at a coffee shop.

Student 1: well it is...on social media you say what you really mean; versus out in public, in person, nobody is going to speak what they're really feeling.

Prof: Because of fear?

Summer: yeah, I mean not everybody, most are the same online as they are in person but on average most people fear others



Prof: Its okay to fear others, its shows we understand position and have respect. Ok class our hour is up see you next week; btw papers are graded. Summer, can you hang back for a sec...

Summer: what's up?

(Classroom clears out)

Prof: I loved your paper, "What is life?" But I gave you a B minus...

Summer: oh...ok...uh, why?

Prof: some grammitcal errors but I feel you know more, I want to challenge you, push you a little more...

Summer: ok...so do you want me to rewrite the paper?

Prof: yep. Your grade is already counted for; so if you write the paper and I feel it falls below your b minus you stay with your orginal grade, if you write an A paper, I'll give you the A.

Summer: oh sweet...I think...what was the highest grade?

Prof: I'm not allowed to disclose that info but lets just say your paper set the curve.

Summer: oh...but isn't this opinion?

Prof: It is. A lot of people copied each other which is why I'm having you re-write your paper.

Summer: ohhh...

Prof: yeah, so no more sharing your paper?

Summer: I needed cash.

Prof: yep, all college students do...so Summer, What is life?