Wide Ranging Discussion

An interesting chat for those who like such things. I had a blast talking to cmonnier! This goes on to chat about the convention, the entire Star Trek series, the prisoner, sociology, philosophy and teaching... and other "stuff"

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : ...any other stuff you want to know about Vir-con

from a participant point of view?

jdbeducator : the amazing thing is the whole effect the entire Star Trek multiple series has had on peeps and the genre of Sci-Fi to me

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : yes, definitely nothing like it.

jdbeducator : What were your favorite parts of the convention?

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : the private viewings (in spite of IE kicking me out often) and the private chats

jdbeducator : what kind of pass did you purchase?

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : latinum

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : the whole deal

jdbeducator : lol cool.

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : about $100, all worth it

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : You remember the UK series "the prisoner"

jdbeducator : oh yes. LOVED it :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : my point was, the prisoner came close to st (Star Trek) phenomenon but never to that extent

jdbeducator : Pat McGoohan was a delight in the series, his best work, I think

jdbeducator : hmm quoted at 299 here *chuckle*

jdbeducator : wb I had a new message pop up *chuckle* advertising lol

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : prisoner was the closest to a great phenomenon, but nothing like star Trek

jdbeducator : np I crash often myself--> "considers the day lost if less than two crashes"

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : for a sociologist (me), that's fascinating

jdbeducator : truly prisoner was a fascinating mystery

jdbeducator : I'm a teacher :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : yes, and the end was incredible, MCG got death threat when the finale aired

jdbeducator : lol, yup, some fans were truly fanatical

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : especially since the end was really, philosophical

jdbeducator : Do you know if the series is still available on video. I know it was once released

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : in the UK probably, here, dunno

jdbeducator : yes, I recall it as a fascinating play on reality, trust and human fears

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : kinda like st

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : and you also had a fully developed universe

jdbeducator : lol yup. all those vital human emotions and concerns

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : that's the key, the human stuff, aliens kicking butts is not really interesting, human moral dilemmas are

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : that's our mythology

jdbeducator : yes, a world of its own :) lol I like to say there are over 6 billion realities in our world

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : yes, but things like conventions and vircon's show that we have a lot in common

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : our hopes and fear are the same

jdbeducator : lol somedays I like lolol the action-adventure just for itself. (as long as the good guys-us-win

jdbeducator : often :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : that's probably why st fans say st is a way of life

jdbeducator : lol the unknown seems to be both our greatest hope ...and fear

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : yep

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : boy we're profound this morning

jdbeducator : lol yup, fun to find someone who likes lolol that kind of chat

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : Eugene Roddenberry talked a lot about that with us

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I think a scifi author like David Brin is a lot like that as well

jdbeducator : hehe profound is just a deeper hole in the ground. Neat :) He had wonderful ideas. And tried to affect the social fabric through the original series.

jdbeducator : lol and others have followed that example

jdbeducator : hmm read a few of Brin. Will revisit with that opinion in mind

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : It's funny that when I was a kid, I thought the original series was cheesy, it's only now that I really appreciate it.

jdbeducator : What kind of sociology do you practice? (if I may ask)

jdbeducator : lolol I loved it from the start

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I teach college and I specialize in globalization and popular culture

jdbeducator : oooooo fascinating, my approach there would be history and anthropology

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : that's not so different, st is our mythology after all and conventions are carnivals

jdbeducator : lol I believe more in the individual than group forces truly spoke :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : well, don't you think st promotes the collective enterprise more than pure individualism?

jdbeducator : I think a blending

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : a very successful blending, the idea is we need both

jdbeducator : Clearly, as Asimov pointed out *chuckle* in psycho-history, there are forces, but to me the individual is the creator or opportunist

jdbeducator : yup, totally agree

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : aha, but society determines a great deal of what opportunities will be available for the individual to grasp!!

jdbeducator : until someone "breaks" the mold and changes the concept :)

jdbeducator : redirecting the perceptions

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : if you don't get burned at the stake first!

jdbeducator : lol yup..

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : takes collective work to make significant changes

jdbeducator : hehe *in glee* It takes a leader to make change

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I think we have a cultural difference here (I'm French)

jdbeducator : lol American :) likely :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : what do you teach?

jdbeducator : I have taught k-14 (babies through first years of college) and helped with advanced courses [currently teaching Special Education to those students with the greatest needs = "D" level special education early grades currently through 8 year olds]

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : we should send this conversation to anyone who says trekkies are weirdoes!

jdbeducator : ROTFL those who believe that will dismiss our conversation :)

jdbeducator : Hopefully, will start my doctoral program this year :) [So far that program is not currently accepting candidates...maybe in a year or so, I might get in, or next summer, another program. They have 59 current candidates for their E.D.D. degree aimed at Community college administrators. They call it a "practitioners Degree. It is offered through New Mexico State University and promises to become a format for distance education]

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : well, anyway, in st, you always have strong individuals AND team stuff, that's both collectivist French and individualist. Americans love it equally

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : good luck!! I've been through that, tough but rewarding!!

jdbeducator : yup and both are necessary. In CT and American enterprise. Team work is an important concept, but becoming quite Americanized <grin>

jdbeducator : lol I love "playing" college. It took years but I have finally discovered pure fun through classwork

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : what will be your doctoral topic?

jdbeducator : education: likely focusing on instruction, multiple intelligences and possibly special needs population

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : quite broad!

jdbeducator : long way from any determination :)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : *laughs*

jdbeducator : simple goal" teach college

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : that is NOT a simple goal!

jdbeducator : That was this years job goal...and I may be lucky enough to get one part time class

jdbeducator : Unfortunately, moving was not a sensible option this year. but...depending...there ARE other years :)

jdbeducator : lol is anything in life truly a simple goal?

jdbeducator : truly

jdbeducator : wb chuckle

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I guess not, it's just a matter of degrees

jdbeducator : hehe love the pun

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : are you being smart here!! unintended pun (really)

jdbeducator : no prob it works on many levels

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : so what do you do at CT?

jdbeducator : Managing Editor Cybertown Virtual News (unpaid volunteer)

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : well isn't CT a wonderful collective enterprise?!

jdbeducator : lol they let me play. Indeed a fascinating experience full of individual creation that develops into a collective experience

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : *approves*

jdbeducator : lol Should make a wonderful paper for *weg* any interested sociologist

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I just joined yesterday precisely to see what was going on there

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : joined

jdbeducator : coolio. feel free to contact me. only nick difference is _ jdb_educator in CT

jdbeducator : jdb_educator

VirCon_Basecmonnier0 : I'm still cmonnier there

That wraps this article J With a leetle (hehe) spell checking an We hope you enjoyed reading it!

You can contact me at jdb_educator@msn.com