Ben, before reading Chapters 15 & 16, I would like you to write about how you try to get someone to do something that they do not want to do. Please use a specific example.
In Chapter 15 we will follow Moose as he tries to get Natalie to do something she does not want to do. What does he try? What doesn’t work? What does work? (Make a list.)
One of my favorite moments in the book so far happens in Chapter 16. Natalie, Moose, Annie, and Jimmy are riding the ferry with all of the shirts that need to be returned to the kids at Moose’s school. A guard (on his day off) is also riding the ferry. He is wondering why they have all that stuff. Piper explains (lies) the reason. I love what he says to her. Do you think he believed her?
There is one other interesting moment in Chapter 16. After giving the shirts back, one of the kids is not very satisfied and gets mad at Piper, but both Scout and Moose defend her. Why do they do that?
(We are almost half way through the book! Chapters 17 & 18 are short, so we are reading right through 20 tomorrow.)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Taken to the Cleaners
Posted by Mr. Z at 8:56 PM
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What would I do if I was going to do something I wasn’t allowed to do? It would all depend.
If I was going to bring something inside I wasn’t allowed to, I would put it in my pocket, so it would appear I didn’t have it. But if I was trying to do something I wasn’t allowed to, I would find a secret place to do it.
Mary Lynne showed me how to make a money safe out of a d cell battery. If I was going to do that, I would go into the basement with the following things:
A d cell battery
A screw driver
A blunt pair of scissors.
Mom would get suspicious, so I would sneak the things down in my pockets.
Ben, Please reread the question I asked you to answer.....while I go and round up the D-Cell Batteries....
How would I get someone to do something they didn’t want to do? That probably wouldn’t be too easy.
A risky way would be to use psychology. If you did that, you would have to bend their words, but lookout for reverse psychology. Then they won’t do it.
Another way is *cough cough* promises*cough cough*. You say you will give them something they really want, but you don’t give it in the end. That is very rude, though.
The best way is to get them to agree without them knowing. There are many ways you can do this, including psychology and taking advantage of things. It isn’t way too hard. Piper took her dad to an example.
One example of psychology was used by me yesterday. I got Sam to clean up my lunch spot. When I left the table (which I didn’t clean up), Sam asked “does your spot look clean?”
“No” I said.
“It doesn’t look like it.”
“if something doesn’t look not dirty, doesn’t that mean its clean?”
After that, I walked away, with a smug smile on my face, while Sam cleaned up my space.
I am thinking long and hard about getting people to do what they do not want to do. Since humans suffer from free will, is the only way to truly get them to do something they do not want to do, to trick them? Ben, that sounds like what you did to get your lunch spot clean. How about changing someone's mind and really getting their cooperation? Do you have to find some way to have them see value in what you want?
Mr. Trixle (interesting name) seems pretty cynical when talking to Piper and the other kids on the ferry. He seems not to like Piper or the warden with his comment "You got an answer for everything, don't you Piper...Just like your old man." Piper seems perversely proud of herself when she responds with "Yes, sir." Have you ever known someone who was delighted with themselves over a trait you did not admire? I have. Liked them even less for it.
I need some help figuring our why Moose and Scout defend Piper when she literally and figuratively has taken everyone "to the cleaners," just like the chapter title. Moose and Scout gain nothing from supporting her and I cannot believe that Moose trusts Piper, so again, why stick up for her?
I would agree that the guard on the boat didn’t believe Piper. This is from his response:
“You have a response for everything, just like your old man?”
Isn’t that a some-what sarcastic comment? Doesn’t a response like that usually mean that the person does not believe you? Think about it. Also, would you say something like that to someone you believed?
In other words, He was just not believing piper.
I think the reason that Scout and Moose defend her is simple - despite her numerous bad qualites, she is also 'a looker' (as described when first introduced). Their better (logical) instincts are losing out to their natural physical attraction to her.
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