The more we text and email and blog, you'd think we'd get closer to being fantastic communicators. However, I swear, the opposite is true. And I'm not talking about the now-familiar "text speak" abbreviations! Typed conversations are just lacking somehow. Without the tone of voice and the facial expressions, it's so hard to tell how a statement is meant! Is he angry, or did he hit the caps lock button by mistake? Is she demanding a meeting, or begging for one? Was that a suggestion for a get-together, or just a way of saying "See you sometime in the indefinite future?" I don't know about you, but I get so frustrated! I end up having to have the same conversation over again by phone or face-to-face, to straighten out misunderstandings!
Are you familiar with conflict mediation? It is a process of helping two or more people finding peace in a conflict. Notice, I did not say helping them SOLVE the conflict. Sometimes people have to "agree to disagree." But a mediation is helpful for getting the disputants to sit down together and really hear each other out.
Watch this brief, funny, informative Youtube video, and then respond to the rest of this blog. You may want to open a new tab before navigating to Youtube, so you can get back to this journal easily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWYf0pbO54&feature=related
Obviously, this process might be helpful for two individuals with a fairly small issue, even if they have very short tempers. Consider other levels of conflict: Two individuals with a serious problem ("You were flirting with my guy/girl.")? Two neighbors who have a long-standing feud ("Your dog keeps digging in my yard.")? Two groups on opposing sides of a community decision (Do we close the library to save money, or keep it open and make other sacrifices?")? Two countries (The border problem between Mexico and USA)? Multi-country conflicts (The war)?
Think about the rules that the boys in the video abided by:
* Each side gets to tell their story without being interrupted.
* No name calling or physical contact.
* No foul language
* Each side has to agree to work toward a solution.
* Asking questions is encouraged by both sides and by the mediator.
Imagine you are President Obama, and you are in a mediation with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto about the drug violence at the border. Which of the rules from our list would you want to have in place, to ensure a workable solution? Are there others you would want to suggest? Who might be a mediator for this issue?
How could a mediation change the outlook for the Greasers? Which rules might they have the most trouble with? How likely are the Soc's to agree to participate?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Welcome to Ponyboy's World!
Ponyboy: One of a handful of names that anyone who's read the book/seen the movie can connect with. In The Outsiders, a girl at the drive-in says, "That's an original name," to which Ponyboy replies, "My dad was an original person."
What expectations do you think Mr. Curtis had for his third son when he titled him in this peculiar way?
Ponyboy seems fairly proud of his name, and confident about where it comes from.
Read the article at the following link before reading and responding to the rest of this prompt:
http://www.pattiwood.net/uploads/What'sinaname_%20Effectonpersonality.pdf
I identify with Ponyboy in this respect: My legal first name, "Margie," has always been uncommon, and as a kid I abused this by refusing to write my last name on my school papers. (Bless you, patient teachers at Columbian H.S!) I think I was rebelling against my first day of kindergarten when the teacher insisted that my Real Name was Margaret.
I've heard a couple of different stories about how my first name was chosen. The obvious inspiration was that fact that my mom is Margaret, and my dad was never really fond of the formal name. (She was actually lobbying for "April," but Dad said I'd be teased.) And then there was a tv show in the 1950's called "My Little Margie," about a perky young woman and her dad. And apparently (WAY before my time!!) either Fats Domino or Cab Calloway (talk about unusual names!) recorded a hit song called, "Margie, I'm Always Thinking of You," which my parents sang to me on long car trips.
I'm a pretty cheerful and confidant person, which might give weight to Patti Woods' theory about names that end in 'i' or 'y.' However, my name is unfamiliar enough that many people garble it or otherwise seem uncomfortable when having to pronounce it. Fortunately, I've never sensed that my name was a barrier to jobs or other experiences I wanted to try.
How did you come to have the name you have? Do you use your given first name, or a nickname more often? From your observations, how does your name affect your personality, and how does it affect the way others perceive you?
Who among your personal acquaintances has an unusual name? (Real or nickname?) What expectation do others get of this person when they first hear his or her name? How likely are you to keep an open mind the next time you meet someone with an uncommon moniker?
What expectations do you think Mr. Curtis had for his third son when he titled him in this peculiar way?
Ponyboy seems fairly proud of his name, and confident about where it comes from.
Read the article at the following link before reading and responding to the rest of this prompt:
http://www.pattiwood.net/uploads/What'sinaname_%20Effectonpersonality.pdf
I identify with Ponyboy in this respect: My legal first name, "Margie," has always been uncommon, and as a kid I abused this by refusing to write my last name on my school papers. (Bless you, patient teachers at Columbian H.S!) I think I was rebelling against my first day of kindergarten when the teacher insisted that my Real Name was Margaret.
I've heard a couple of different stories about how my first name was chosen. The obvious inspiration was that fact that my mom is Margaret, and my dad was never really fond of the formal name. (She was actually lobbying for "April," but Dad said I'd be teased.) And then there was a tv show in the 1950's called "My Little Margie," about a perky young woman and her dad. And apparently (WAY before my time!!) either Fats Domino or Cab Calloway (talk about unusual names!) recorded a hit song called, "Margie, I'm Always Thinking of You," which my parents sang to me on long car trips.
I'm a pretty cheerful and confidant person, which might give weight to Patti Woods' theory about names that end in 'i' or 'y.' However, my name is unfamiliar enough that many people garble it or otherwise seem uncomfortable when having to pronounce it. Fortunately, I've never sensed that my name was a barrier to jobs or other experiences I wanted to try.
How did you come to have the name you have? Do you use your given first name, or a nickname more often? From your observations, how does your name affect your personality, and how does it affect the way others perceive you?
Who among your personal acquaintances has an unusual name? (Real or nickname?) What expectation do others get of this person when they first hear his or her name? How likely are you to keep an open mind the next time you meet someone with an uncommon moniker?
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