Ethics (Thursday, Sept. 21. 6th period)

[sith_happened]

Vader came stalking into the classroom precisely on time, cape billowing behind him.

The door slammed in his wake.

"Today we talk about gossip," he growled. "Last week we explored the truth. This week, we focus on manipulating the environment around someone."

He pointed at the radio he'd brought into the classroom. "The pirate and his minions are masters at the art of euphemism and shading, twisting and massaging the truth to give their listeners a complete different impression."

He paced in front of the class. "Today, you shall do the same. Each of you will begin a rumor in this classroom about a student, teacher or person living in town. It doesn't need to be true. It certainly doesn't need to be polite. It can even be about someone in this classroom." For a moment the only sound in the classroom was Vader's breathing. "But think very, very carefully about the consequences of saying something negative about me." He paused for another moment to let that sink in before continuing. "You will then tell this rumor to the person next to you, who will pass it along to the person next to them. You can pass it along verbatim, change the context or manipulate it however else you wish. At the end of the class, we should have 20 new rumors and a bunch of people angry with each other, mwahahahaha."

He pointed at a student at random. "Begin."

Comments

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[can_be_more]

"Yes. Namely that the rumors start as one thing and change depending on who hears it and their own personal bias. It's one thing to begin a rumor, but it's much more difficult to control the situation it creates," she says.

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[sith_happened]

Vader nodded. "Precisely. You have to be either very cautious about who you repeat it to, in order to control the situation you are creating, or be spreading a rumor to cause general mayhem and not be terribly concerned about the specifics." He was quiet for a moment. "This is a preferred tactic of politicians and others who don't like to get their hands dirty." The scorn was obvious in his voice.

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[can_be_more]

Aeryn's dealt with that sort, and knows exactly what he means. That worries her a little. "So either you have to be so meticulous that you know exactly how to stack things to get your way, or you have to... I can't think of a reason for the second scenario except desperation or carelessness."

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[sith_happened]

"Causing a general mistrust in an organization rather than a person," Vader said, and yes, that's the voice of experience talking. "When it doesn't matter if specifics are true, only that it could be plausible."

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[can_be_more]

"So, reasonable doubt, you're saying," says Aeryn, who's watched too much Crime and Justice.

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[sith_happened]

Vader nodded.

Re: Non-rumor related class stuff.

[can_be_more]

Aeryn nods, too, satisfied with that answer.

That might really freak her out later.