Week One - Task #01. - Greys

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

— Come to teach, come to be taught. Come in the likeness, in the image of love. ‘Cause you can be like that, with all that humbleness and all that respect. —

“Guess I was expecting something more like a little grey man,” you confess, naively under the impression you’ve concealed your abject terror. “Does this mean you’re an alien? You’re more like… Well you remind me of an angel, but you’re perhaps a bit more—er—intimidating than I’d have pictured for an angel.”

“When earth humans picture aliens,” they respond, “much of the time the imagery that comes to mind takes the shape of something like the Zeta Reticulans. Also known as they Greys! This race’s small, slender bodies are indeed shorter than yours, having smooth, grey skin, and hairless, oversized heads with large black eyes. Most of their kind have no external nose or ears.”

Pushing back tendrils of long, vibrant hair to expose their own ears, the being takes a full and deep inhalation, then lets their lungs release completely.

“Yes,” you affirm, reclaiming your boldness with every word, “If our planet was going to be visited by non-earthlings, that’s exactly who I pictured swinging by. Not some ambiguously angelic creature—“

Not meaning to offend, you cut yourself off, realizing this might not have been the appropriate choice of words.

“Ah,” the voice says kindly, without the faintest touch of bother, “but I’m not ambiguously angelic. That is precisely what I am! I am an angel.”

Each set of wings flutters before you, casting a beautiful glow from the sheen of so many feathers.

“Furthermore,” they continue, “you yourself have already been visited by the Greys, only you don’t remember. Just as you won’t remember having been visited by me once I’m gone.”

“Hang on, you are an angel?” You scratch your chin. “Meaning you’re not an alien, then?”

“With the amount of interdimensional and extraterrestrial life out there, you might conclude there’s very little difference. In truth, the Zeta Reticulans are some of the most frequent visitors to your planet, hence why they’re familiar to so many. Prior to the first sets of these visits, their biology all but entirely lacked powers of empathy, which is possessed most especially by humans. Although the Greys are viewed as more selfish and logically driven, finding emotional behavior to be a confusing distraction—which gives them a reputation for being cold—after analyzing the value of these gifts, they diligently began working with humans. Studying your DNA to further their own evolutionary aims.”

Eyebrows drawing in tight in reaction to how ridiculous this all sounds, you’re convinced the angel has powers of legilimency when they acknowledge the question popping into your head about how they still haven’t quite given a straight answer regarding who they are.

What am I even supposed to call you?

“Hm, how about… Saffron?” They answer, pondering the description you’d been articulating in your mind. “Yes! Yes, I like that. Why don’t you call me Saffron.”

Task:
Adjusting to the presence of this completely impossible being who’s going on about aliens visiting earth to explore and experiment with human biology, you’re beginning to wonder if perhaps you’re dreaming, or if someone slipped a hallucinogenic potion into your pumpkin juice at dinner.

Jumping on the “logic good, emotions confusing” train of the Zeta Reticulans, you decide to return your attention to your Astronomy prep exercises, ignoring the patiently waiting Saffron in the process. This assignment is meant to help prepare you over the summer for more advanced work next year. The concentration it will take to finish should be exactly the distraction you need right now.

Solve the following Logic puzzle, then Send Me Your Work through a private message!

Astronomers have discovered several new exoplanets (planets around stars other than our own) in the past year. Match each new planet to its star (including HV 491), size (including 295,000 mi.) and distance from earth in light years (each are 2 light years apart from one another, between 41–49 light years).

1. Fihin is 2 light years closer to us than the planet orbiting star EX 53.
2. The planet orbiting star BDF 198 is 2 light years closer to us than Kinucia.
3. Zhezios is 6 light years closer to us than the exoplanet orbiting star ZQ 75.
4. The planet 45 light years from earth doesn't have a diameter of 714,000 mi..
5. The exoplanet with a diameter of 540,000 mi. doesn't orbit star VJD 913.
6. Of the exoplanet with a diameter of 243,000 mi. and the exoplanet 47 light years from earth, one orbits star EX 53 and the other is Kinucia.
7. The exoplanet 49 light years from earth doesn't have a diameter of 714,000 mi..
8. Quael doesn't have a diameter of 345,000 mi..
9. Of Cheelia and the planet with a diameter of 540,000 mi., one orbits star BDF 198 and the other is 41 light years from earth.

Alternatively you may share a Reflection in 150 words or more of a time you felt your Empathy has flourished or been tested, and/or when you or someone you know may have had an Overly Logical approach that could have used a bit more emotional nuance.

This task is worth 15 beans/sapphires, with an additional 15 bonus beans/sapphires for completing all Week One tasks by end of activity. Deadline is 11:59pm (HOL time) on Sunday July 28th.

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Thank you Janne Halla for pointing out there was missing Logic information, as the updated intro wasn’t copied over correctly. <3

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Logic solved by:
Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis
Janne Halla
Prof. Will Lestrange
Prof. Kendra Givens
Evelin Stockom

[Galena May]

Reflection

I do not have kids of my own, but it is well known that kids can be messy. Once I was at a hospital, waiting for some reports. A mother, lets call her Mrs. X, had just been through a complicated delivery. Her sister had come on a visit to the hospital with her two month or so old infant. As luck would have it, the little infant would start crying the moment it was the sister's turn to visit. I was bored so I offered to hold the baby. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. A minute into the visit, my hair was pulled and my clothes were soiled, not to mention the continuous crying that I to this day remember that I failed to quiet. I have never overestimated my ability to quiet down babies ever since. After a lot of consoling, and using my keys as a make-believe dreamcatcher, I could finally quiet the baby. Meanwhile, my reports arrived and I narrowly saved them from being torn. So far, so good. About half an hour had passed, and there was no sign of my little companion's mother. Ten more minutes, twelve, fifteen. I had to go to the bus stop in time to catch the restaurant I ordered my takeout from before its closing. Given the late night hour I return home at, there was no way I could cook after returning home, not to mention how tired I felt after working all day. I thought I could leave the baby with her mother and leave. On enquiring, I found out that Mrs. X who was admitted required a blood transfusion. That sounded gruesome. Her sister had the same blood group as her and had offered to do the blood donation. That meant it would take another half an hour, to even start the blood transfusion, given all the paperwork and complicated processes needed. My little companion wouldn't stay quiet in the arms of anyone else, not even the nurses. I tried all the tactics l could, but she cried the moment I handed her over. I was so tired I could drop down, but I could feel how the sister must be feeling. With my last drop of strength, I had to hold the baby a little longer. The baby's mother returned to me and asked me to leave. I denied. I said I was doing just fine because her face told me that her sister, who was admitted, was not doing well at all. Her tearful eyes took away all the anger I could feel. I smiled with some effort and felt the gratitude in her eyes as She retreated to complete the proceedings. The nurses offered to hold the baby. But she would cry whenever they tried to hold her. I asked myself if this little one's tantrums were worth my hunger. I remembered the cute little stories of when I tested my parents' patience by just being myself. Just a little more, I told myself. It was an hour before I was told that the lady admitted had become stable. I could finally hand the baby over to her mother. The naughty munchkin would go to her mother or me but to no one else. Of course, I missed my dinner takeout that night, but I ended up getting a free ride home with the baby's parents along with dinner at their house on the way.

[Emily Spencer]

Reflection:

Luckily for me, I’ve been blessed with good health for most of my life. Aside from the occasional cold or sinus infection, I’ve not suffered any long-lasting ill effects. I would pop a cold pill or Tylenol and be on my way. I am a Healer (rl EMT) by trade, so I am used to being around those less fortunate health-wise than me. And while I could certainly sympathize with most of them, I couldn’t really empathize with them. In fact, as ashamed as I am to admit it, there were times that I had to restrain myself from a sarcastic quip or the proverbial eye roll when I had to respond to a patient who was ‘a bit over the top’ with their maladies. I have literally found myself biting my lip from saying something rather unkind. ”It’s a cut finger, not an amputation.” or ”Yes you can breathe! If you can vocalize, you are not choking to death.” come readily to mind.

A few months ago, however, everything changed….

I started feeling very sluggish and tired very easily. It got to the point that I couldn’t walk across the room without having to sit down to catch my breath. I couldn’t even enjoy cooking anymore; I would stir the pot for a few minutes and then have to get my husband or sister to finish cooking the meal, as I was on the verge of collapse. And then, one day, I actually did collapse. I remember stepping into the shower feeling fine, the next thing I know my husband is kneeling by me and I hurt all over. I had fainted and fallen. Naturally, a trip to the ER was imminent.

Long story short, I have been diagnosed with a rather nasty autoimmune disease. Luckily, I have learned tricks to help combat it, and am back to work and functioning relatively normally. But my ‘new normal’ is not my ‘old normal’ and will probably never be again. Now I am the one being judged because I look perfectly healthy. I have seen the looks and heard the whispers when I have to get one of the ‘handicapped’ scooters to ride around the store. Physically, I look fine; inside, not so much.

Now, I think back on all the times that I lacked empathy based on appearance alone. I wish I had a time-turner so that I could go back and have a chance to redo those instances. I can’t, of course, but going forward, I can do better. Life has a way of teaching harsh lessons, and this was mine. Never again will I judge someone on face value. Maybe that cut finger doesn’t look so bad, but you never know what else it could mean to the person experiencing it. They may indeed be overreacting, but that is not mine to judge. So it may be a somewhat forced empathy, but I have it now, in spades.

[Dibyarup James Potter]

REFLECTION:
Thinking back to a time when my empathy had truly flourished, I remember a situation where a close friend was going through a tough breakup. Initially, I was approaching it with logical advice, focusing on the practical steps to move forward. However, as I saw my friend's emotional breakdown, I realized that at that moment, he would not benefit from my practical advice, but instead, he just needed to vent, rant, and let out all his frustration and sorrow, along with my genuine understanding and emotional support to help him ease into this situation. I shifted gears, listening more attentively, offering comfort, and validating his feelings where it was justified, however, correcting him, gently, where he was in the wrong.

This experience not only brought out my empathy but also taught me how high my capacity to think from another person’s shoes was, so much so, that I could feel their pain as if it were my own. This helped me understand him in the best way possible, and eventually, helped me get him through the breakup. I was also able to understand when it was the right time to give him logical advice, so that he could finally start living his life happily, without being stuck in the past.

[Harry Walles]

#1 One time when my empathy has flourished is when I decided to volunteer at a local pet Shelter. I have always had a lot of empathy but this experience opened my eyes to how awful, some people are towards animals as well as the staff from the shelter. I saw quite a few people acting super rude to the staff and insulting and blaming them for pets not being happy or playfull. There was once a lady that returned a dog as apparently the dog was too happy. She found this to be super annoying and said she preferred when the dog was sad and sitting in one place quietly. The dog in Question was a young pup and sonaturally it had a lot of energy. The staff tried to explain but she would not listen. This is when I realised how much this hurts the Shelter workers and has we need to appreciate them more.

[Lexa Winslow]

Reflection

Being that I am the type of person that is involved more with their inner world than the outer, empathy isn't exactly something that comes natural to me. However, I distinctly remember one time I had to use empathy; without doing so, the conflict would have expanded to greater proportions.

I was having a debate with a friend over values. In short, I was emphasizing why one of my personal values was important, and they were doing the same. After a while, I realized they were getting emotional about the subject, so I decided to try to discern why that value seemed to have so much meaning to them. If I had not tried to understand their perspective, I could have ended up with an even more upset friend. I was glad in the end that I backed off on my stance and tried to be more empathetic. It turned out the friend had deeply personal reasons for prioritizing the value they did over mine, and I could have damaged our friendship by insisting that I was right.

This incident made me realize that it is important to put yourself in someone else's shoes once in a while. If you don't, you run the risk of becoming more narrow-minded. It doesn't hurt anyone to be kind!

[Adeline Morior]

Reflection:

I think a time I would consider my empathy being tested was when someone close to me was sick. To give some background, they were living very unhealthy lives, drinking and eating all the wrong things. I had previously warned them of how bad these types of things turn and even tried assisting in a lifestyle change, only for them to revert back to the “glutinous” and “wasteful” as I would have described it lifestyle.

Regardless, they became very very ill to the point where they needed to be hospitalized, which they at first refused. I grew more and more frustrated with how in my own opinion, “careless” they were with not only their life but how it impacted those around them that were in those times taking care of them and providing for them.

Eventually they ended in the hospital and they fought everyone around them, including the doctors. They kept telling lies in order for us to take them home and at some point resorted to saying people were out to kill them. This deeply upset me and I started to become very cold and distant trying to understand what could cause this. I would ask the doctors and nurses why this would happen and they said they don’t know. Were they suffering from some mental illness or were they just seeking to get out of their uncomfortable situation?

Eventually they were discharged and had to go see the doctor for check ups on a monthly basis. I ended up speaking to another person whose father was in a similar position. She mentioned that he had also started to say things like my person had and they discovered it was the pain medicine that did this.

My regret and empathy for the person grew as I realized that perhaps I could have had more empathy and patience for the person in a really hard time of their life. I took the overly logical approach as to thinking they were just bargaining in order to get out of where they were or that this was some other thing and not thinking ahead as to the fact that perhaps this was a really bad experience for them and I could have supported them more.

[Louis Walles]

One time when my empathy was tested was when I was studying at my University. I studied criminology and a lot of different topics mentioned were difficult to listen to. I would say the worst was when there were criminal, like, hardcore criminals, who had a difficult childhood. One side of you wants to feel sorry for them. However, the other side suddenly gets angry at how some try justify everything by talking about their childhood. I think the fact that everyone suddenly forgets about the victims makes me unwilling to show any empathy towards these criminals and I do not feel sorry for their loving conditions or the fact they may not have a lot of food. They deserve this type of living. They hurt others. But at the same time, they are people, and they still deserve to be treated in a humane way no matter what they have done.

[Ellie Vernez]

I work in a nursery and everyone knows that children can be little terrors and very sensitive. So being empathetic towards them is in my job description. Whether it's been because a child ruined they're picture or they've hurt themselves or something has happened at home, they need you to be empathetic towards them and they need you to let you know that you understand what they are feeling.
We have a staff member who loves the children but she can be a bit hard on them. She's the type who will say to a child 'you're fine, you can do it again' 'or it's okay you barely bumped' now I know children can be oversensitive sometimes and they don't need to be fussed over so much, overwise they are going to cry over everything and really struggle as they get older. but sometimes they just need a hug and for you to empathise with them. Which I think she should do more.

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Logic solution:

Spoiler :: Show this spoiler

Distances - Planets - Stars - Sizes
41 light years - Fihin - HV 491 - 540,000 mi.
43 light years - Zhezios - EX 53 - 243,000 mi.
45 light years - Cheelia - BDF 198 - 345,000 mi.
47 light years - Kinucia - VJD 913 - 714,000 mi.
49 light years - Quael - ZQ 75 - 295,000 mi.

End of spoiler.