And so, today it all kicked off. The small groups took shape, and with them came the small group actions that will be the basis of a whole bunch of Psyc undergrad assignments.
It was neat to see. Mostly, I think, the students are treating this just like we want them to treat it – as a chance to do something they think they should do anyway, but haven’t had the motivation before now. And as co-researchers in our exploration of the question, why is it so hard for us to live up to our own good intentions?
It is good. I love this research. I hope it finds its way to the close without the discovery of unforeseen pitfalls.
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The Nia Glassie post continues to sit in the top ten Google results for her name, and draws heavy traffic (and the occasional comment) as a result. (Those out of NZ will not have heard that Nia died from her injuries a few days ago.)
Things have moved along quite significantly since I made that post. While there was no shortage of venom directed at Maori culture, that has been eclipsed by what amounts to an adoption of the problem by a cross-section of Maori voices. “Child abuse is a Maori problem” – the words are the same as those used by Michael Laws and his ilk, but their meaning here is diametrically opposite. Child abuse within Maori community is a Maori problem because Maori are best-placed to help; because Maori have a responsibility to help; because Maori help is the best kind of help. It’s an amazing approach, forceful with its claim for a legitimate and positive cultural identity, and it seems to be winning the battle of public perception.
In soundbite terms: Laws and his talkback electorate see Maori culture as the problem; but the rest of us are happier seeing Maori culture as the solution.
4 thoughts on “It Begins”
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Hey M,
As a former PSYC researcher, it occured to me that if I were a student who googled your “full name” and place of work, Gametime would come up as the first result. From there I can click “Our other blogs”, and find this. Which tells me about the experiment.
I find this interesting.
Oops. That was me.
And I should stop being so frakkin’ negative, and say congratulations – rock on with the acquisition of knowledge.
Heh. I’d mentioned ages ago to M that his thesis sounded like a practical study of roleplay gaming.
Which is kinda cool, when you think about it!