Another Diatribe Which Will Offend Someone

[db5]

Remembrance of Time Past


I just ran across a “comic book style” publication from Richard Mallot (Western Michigan University and Don Whaley (WMU at the time); later North Texas State University in Denton and now some Texas A&M something or other. Dr. Mallot is still extant but Dr. Whaley died in 1983 of an overdose on Baskin Robins 31 and/or Swenson’s Ice Cream. That’s not the official diagnosis but is likely accurate.

Dr. Mallot and Dr. Whaley were the founders of an underground college at WMU. For those who don’t know about underground colleges, during the late 60s and early 70s these were courses offered free from well-educated college instructors to anyone who wanted to attend. The intent was to educate those who could not afford tuition or who just wanted to learn.

Whaley and Mallot did well for a short period until the establishment caught on. Today, that “caught on” would have lasted two days. They named their underground college the First Underground Collage of Kalamazoo (WMU’s home city). Things boded well until sweatshirts started appearing. Do I think Whaley and Mallot had anything to do with this? Of course they did. Although I abhor obscenity I thought that punching the tiger in the mouth was the right thing to do. Well, the Tiger was in Baton Rouge, but you get my drift.

Their publication, which featured Captain Con Man (for Contingency Management) was one of the most insightful and accurate publications on managing aberrant behavior in children, teen-agers (still children) and adults. The premise is that there are contingencies (a contingency is an if-then arrangement - if you do this – good choices - then this happens. If you do that – bad choices then that happens – not something you want to experience. Of course the contingency can be reversed so that a continuance of bad behavior results in – well, you don’t want to think about that; good behavior results in something you would want to think about.

Bill Cosby, the best comedian in this period (because he told the truth), put it well when he said that his father presented him with Contingency Management: “I brought into this world and I can take your out. And I can make another one just like you.”

Perhaps Captain ConMan needs to be revived for our national, state and local elected officials who are out of control. Cosby put it well, “I brought you into this office and I can take you out and make another idiot just like you.” Leave out the Idiot next time, please.
Regrettably, in our enlightened society, you can’t reward good behavior (everyone gets a trophy) nor can you punish bad behavior (has anyone been fired under the present Obama administration)? Will anyone not be elected next time just because he/she is the incumbent? Captain ConMan, please come back, wherever you are!

[JPG]

I now see where you stand relative to John Rosemond.





On the 'right' side.

[forrestb]

Unfortunately, I fear that Captain Con Man has been replaced by Captain Christmas: I'll give you what you want if you will vote for me.
Forrest