Posted by raisinb on July 4, 2008, at 10:09:25
In reply to should you offend people?, posted by sunnydays on July 3, 2008, at 19:49:44
Sometimes being offended, as difficult as it may be, is very important for learning.
I teach a Gender Studies class to high school seniors and I often being by showing The Crying Game. Many of the kids (especially the ones from conservative families) get offended. And they are vocal about it! But if you seize that moment--when everyone has strong reactions--and manage to have a relatively civil discussion--the learning opportunity is excellent. Assumptions and expectations that they've held all their lives are thrown into relief.
I'm not sure the learning would be as intense if the emotional reactions weren't so visceral.
poster:raisinb
thread:837900
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080616/msgs/837976.html