posted February 10, 2010 02:32 AM         

And how much does roleplaying play apart, and if so, how helpful do you think it is? Could you give an example of how it goes, and how scripted it is?

I ask the last because in health class during the so-called "sex ed" part, they paired us up, boy-girl, and made us say the most mortifying lines to each other about waiting to have sex (it was all scripted, too, including the reactions), and I mean it was so bad that over 10 years later I STILL cringe remembering it, and even if I were to say I wanted to wait I'd NEVER say those mechanical lines they gave us (and if I did, I'm certain I wouldn't get the scripted reactions from a real live person outside that class). It was just one more reason for me to lose respect for the school system that they thought that was at all helpful or even vaguely realistic. And while I imagine roleplaying COULD be useful, I know it can be a total waste of time that simply makes one feel like an idiot for going along with it, too, even if you are forced to by a school or court. So I'm wondering if anger management is that bad, too, possibly even getting people angry by forcing them to do it...

Anyone know from experience? This can be indirect experience (like you know someone really well who went to one) as long as it shows what they're really like as opposed to what the brochures say they're like.