On Tue, 2 Oct 2001 07:14:10 EDT Mac4781@aol.com writes:
Ellynne wrote:
With the exception of getting them to got to Auron, she's rarely
(if
ever) able to persuade them to change their minds and follow a
course of
action she outlines.
Cally doesn't persuade them to go to Auron. Tarrant takes charge of that.
Good point.
At first, this seems ironic since Cally is one of the more
sociable
members of the crew,
Sociable doesn't equate with leadership material.
True, but the ability to persuade people, to a certain degree, is a social skill. It's like a woman in a club I was part of in college. She was in charge of the budget for the simple reason that the rest of us used to like muggers when we asked people to remember to toss in their five dollars or whatever. She, however, could ask you for your right arm and you would hand it over without thinking just because she'd asked so nicely. OTOH, she was never the leader.
In a similar way, Vila has few leadership skills but has fairly good social skills. He frequently manages to get what he wants while still remaining on friendly terms with the others and without forcing a confrontation. The others usually resort to confrontation.
OTOH, if Vila ever suggested the others put him down on Earth and let him get tortured for a few days, arguing it was the only way he could find someone, they'd probably just take away his teleport bracelet till he was sober.
Just as Cally may be unable to argue her position persuasively to the others, they may find themselves exerting pressures on her
without
realizing that's how it comes across to her
I don't think they worry about how they come across to her. It's a case of the stronger wills prevailing. The stronger wills rise to the top of the leadership ladder.
Sometimes. This group in particular seems given to the blunt instrument school of persuasion. However, to some degree, I think they tend to be aware of _how much_ blunt force they're using and will pull back if it passes a certain point (which point varies). So, Avon gives in in Children but is willing to pull a gun on the others in Terminal. Tarrant misjudges in City, not only pushing Vila to a point where can't and won't do what Tarrant wants but also reaching a point where Avon and Cally won't work with him either.
This is the drawback of the blunt instrument approach. When every choice of action becomes a battle of wills, a lot of energy is used up before anything is ever done. Then, once something is done, you're dealing with people who may be willing to break loose at the first opportunity. The ability to inspire trust and confidence is just as important if not more so.
However, I do wonder if, with Cally, they aren't misjudging how hard and how far they're pushing (as with Tarrant did with Vila). That, and I wonder why she puts up with it.
Anyhow, back to persuasion. I think Cally's used to having some ability to persuade others. With this group, she's unable to tap into things she might have been able to use with Aurons or the more usual rebel types. Appeals to conscience (for anything short of a whole planet dying) are a lost cause. There also isn't much in the way of shared background or values. Again, the blunt instrument approach seems to be all that's left.
Ellynne ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
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Ellynne G.