you are under my control: power

usually when we think about someone having power over someone its met with a negative view. and why not? i mean look at for example, the milgram experience. in that experiment people were subject to putting another person in harms way because they were "told do to it"and that "the experiment requires you to continue" let's break that down. the words that were used to make the "teacher" continue were in itself very demanding sounding kind of words. words that made them feel pressured to be obedient. "requires" essential" "you have no other choice". not only do the words sound dominating, but they also make you feel in a way afraid of what happens if you do not comply with the authorities order. there's a feeling of powerlessness, that you don't have the power to do anything about.

in the reading there was a section that particularly mentioned about the culture of silence. this reminded me of a time where in 5th grade, me and a couple of friends were being bullied by the "special needs" kids. and they had framed us to make it look like we were the ones bullying them. the school guidance counselor took me and my friends out of our class to reprimand us. so in a way, this was a form of that culture of silence. we were oppressed not only by the guidance counselor but also by those other kids. the fear of speaking out against those with more legitimate power and more authority. now i constantly wonder what would have happened if just one of us had told the guidance counselor the truth.

when we think "power" i think that most of us fear it so much because of coercive power. we're afraid of the punishment that follows. and i can't blame you. i'm afraid of it too.

but i think about it again, and sometimes "power" can be used in a good way. more of a guidance tool than that of control. i mean, our parents have power over us. but they use it in more of guidance tool than that of which to control us.

so i guess that depending on how "power" is used, affects the way that it is perceived. "good vs evil" so to speak =P