general+discussion

Thought #1- When does someone else's trash become your responsibility?

I think when its in your way or causing your home to look bad its your responsibility. Wherever you live trash can accumulate and if people just walk by throwing trash on your property can cause your home to have a bad look. When you notice someone littering, that is a time where you should try to convince them not to or correct them. -Kristan Davis

I totally agree with that. Even if it isn't your trash, it //is// your responsibilty to keep your neigborhood, school, workplace, etc. looking clean. In a more theological sense, I think that someone else's "trash" becomes your responsibility when they are part of a group that you represent or are a part of. In the same way that you may pick up trash that someone else left on the floor of our school, you may have to clean up the mess that someone else left before you. I remember during a show I was doing, the cast decided to do something without the permission of the director. Afterwards, the director was quite upset and confronted the cast; even after this, no one came forward to apologize. Although I was not a part of what took place, I took it upon myself to apologize to the director on behalf of the cast. I was still a representative of the group at fault, and things had to be set straight. History is full of similar examples. Very rarely do government figures clean up their own mess. It is quite often left to whoever follows them to fix wrong decisions that they made, apologize to some group that was wronged, or try to undo some harmful action. For instance, when thousands--even millions--of Africans were kidnapped, brought here as slaves, and then discriminated against and put through a living hell; it wasn't until a few hundred years after that first event that measures were taken to even try to set things right again. Being willing to fix someone else's mess, pick up their trash, take their burdens upon yourself, shows a strength of character beyond what any average man has. -Joshua Kachnycz

-I am very impressed (and pleased) with the nature of the discussion that this forum has introduced. In the "old days" we would have perhaps addressed this in class and then moved on to never revisit again. Here, we can continue to think about the ideas and make a contribution as thoughts come to us. Thanks to all who are participating here. This is truly a community of learners! Mr. E.

Thought #2- Is it ever appropriate to tell an "ethnic joke", even if it is about the group of your own heritage?

In my opinion yes, but only if your with people of that heritage and they are okay with you talking that way.So in other words around your friends is the only time I see that to be ok. -Kristan Davis

I don't take any jokes really seriously because it is called a joke for a reason, but I can understand when people can get offended by what someone says. Jokes should not be said around people who get offended. -Eric Schlater

I think it is ok to tell an ethnic joke when you are with a group of people who you are comfortable around and those group of people are comfortable around you. -colin clarke

In my opinion, it is ok to tell an ethnic joke. Jokes are meant to be funny and not meant to insult peoples feelings. People who are comfortable with their heritage and proud of the way they are, should not have problems and should recognize the fun and not the offending. But i also think, that some jokes are inapropriate and very offending, these jokes are not even funny. Concluding i would say, it depends on what joke are you telling and what the joke is making fun of and not so much if it is an ethnic joke or not. - Max Kind

An ethnic joke is a joke that makes fun of characteristics that are stereotypical of that race. Some of these stereotypes are true to some of that group and others are not. The point of the joke, or even humor is general, is to be able to laugh at yourself. If you can't laugh at yourself or feel comfortable with your faults or quirks, then how are you going to live with them? In this way I think it is fine to tell an ethnic joke or something similar if you beling to that particular group; but if not, then it is just making fun of them, which I do not think is okay. -Joshua Kachncyz

-Have you ever been the one "uncomfortable" in a situation but yet you did not speak up or share your reluctance? Does the "quiet" person who never objects, perhaps even seems to go along with the joking, deserve more consideration? Personally, I can think of two times when I learned this lesson relative to colleagues here at school. In one instance the person finally just made the "why every time must you...." remark. I was astonished as I did not realize they felt this way. In the other instance, I went for the joke in a public setting and ended up having someone walk out of a meeting even though I wasn't actually addressing them. I ended up apologizing to the person who was upset as well as the person who always seemed willing to tolerate my joking references. I have since stopped the nature of those jokes. My point is not to try to make myself as "the example" as obviously, I have not stopped joking. Has it ever happened to you (in our class or someone else's) that you were the "target" of the joke on a day that other things in your life just seemed to make it not funny? HOW DO WE LEARN TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER? That is the "$64,000 Question" (if you don't get the reference, ask me; it is a short TV history lesson). Mr. E.

I have been the "uncomfortable one" in a situation where I would go along with a joke, yet again it seems that most people are the same way. If you are the source of a joke, you just need to think that there are worse things in the world than someone's words. If it is a joke, it is not a fact. I am proud of my life enough to not care about what other people say. -Eric Schlater