Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 15 - Period 3 (Final)

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly surveyed the class with a grin as they came in.  "Morning, all.  Welcome to your last class.  Hopefully you've had fun this term and learned a bit as well.  I enjoyed teaching you all."

"It was difficult to think up an exam for this class.  Most of the time when you're spying, if you survive, you passed."  She grinned.  "If you get the information you need, you succeed, but staying alive passes.  Since I don't think that would be the best idea in the world to do that, I simply have a few questions and one last memory game."

"First, when do you think spying is appropriate and has this changed from your opinion at the beginning of the class."

"And second, in your opinion, what are the most important tools of a spy.  How would you continuing building your ability to use these tools if you were to continue training as a spy after this class?"

She glanced at the stash of pens that were wriggling about where they were captured in a bag.  "Since our pens and books seem to be rebelling, let's just go ahead and do this orally.  I'll ask a few follow up questions because I would like to see how you're thinking this morning."

"Once you've answered both these questions, give the jewel game one more try, and then have a good rest of finals week.  I'll hopefully see you next term."

[OOC: Seriously you guys were an absolutely fabulous class.  I love you all like pie. A bit of OCD is coming up.  And omg, this was always in the comm.  Really.]

Comments

[SAS 12/19] Sign-In

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

One last time...

Re: [SAS 12/19] Sign-In

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

Jake Gavin

[SAS 12/19] Question 1

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"First, when do you think spying is appropriate and has this changed from your opinion at the beginning of the class."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"My views on when spying is appropriate have remained the same, I believe. It is appropriate when you're protecting someone, and when the paycheck is high enough but isn't compromising your moral."

Setsuna took in a deep breah, and shifted her eyes a bit toward the twins. "But I'd have to say I've opened up a bit to the idea that spying can also, in certain, non-threatening situations, be done for fun..."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[can_be_more]

"I still haven't had to use it in anything more than reconnaissance," Aeryn says. "And I still think that's the most suitable use for it. However, I can see the merit in really any situation where you need the intelligence. I think it's really only in appopriate when you're spying just to do it, with the intention of invading privacy or obtaining information you don't really need."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"Absolutely necessary when done in the service of something you believe in," Weiss said. "Kind of gross when you do just to be a douche."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"It has," Schrodinger said. "Now, I don't think it's really possible to put down set rules to say 'this is when it's okay to spy'. Because life is way to complex to be able to put down a bunch of simple rules about espionage and think that they'll always apply. You have to take every situation as it comes."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders might still have had his Interstellar Relations final on his mind.

"If you're going into a situation where the survival of an entire race or . . . not even a race, necessarily. Just a whole bunch of people. If whether they survive or get wiped out depends on the intelligence you can get, then it's definitely appropriate. Especially if your side is the underdog." He paused. "There's probably more situations where it's appropriate, but that's the one where I know for sure. My opinion on that hasn't changed. It's just stronger now."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

"Um, kinda," Teddy said. "Now I think spying is necessary to protect people, but I still think there's a very thin line between protecting and controlling."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

The twins had to do a little bit of quite consulting before their own answer was clear.
"I suppose we still stand with our first opinion, that spying is appropriate when trying to get information out of people." Hikaru began.
"But, it also has a lot of practical, every day uses. You know, making one more perceptive to other people...in general. It's kind of a good life skill, at times." Kaoru nods in conclusion. "Although, that last part doesn't really answer the 'when' part of your question." They both smile.

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

"I think spying when it is useful is appropriate, if you're doing it to blackmail or just because you are nosey then no...unless the blackmailing is for a good cause...well I guess it's a case by case basis. Not really changed my opinion, my opinion is just a better informed one."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I still only think spying is appropriate when it's to learn information that could keep your people from being hurt. Protecting the people of Earth is my job, and if I have to spy on our enemies to do that, then I will."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I think I've added to my opinion of when spying is appropriate, but I don't think it has changed that much," Molly said. "I still think spying is appropriate when people don't tell things you need to know, but now I would also say that it is appropriate when you need to know stuff to protect yourself or your people and someone doesn't want you to know."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[sensitivejim.livejournal.com]

"Spying's appropriate when you have someone to protect," Jim said, leaning forward with his chin on his hands, nodding towards Sakurazaki. "Someone, something, some place to keep safe. I'm called a Sentinel for a reason."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"My opinion hasn't changed," Seely replied. "If spying can help you find the bad guys, or stop innocent people from getting hurt, then it's appropriate."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

"I still think that spying is useful in at least some form. It's the quickest way to get information."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 1

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"I suppose my views on spying are still somewhat similar, although I now how more respect for the arts and techniques used by spies. I still think that spying is mostly a beneficial practice, but that you need to think of the ethical consequences of it."

[SAS 12/19] Question 2

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"And second, in your opinion, what are the most important tools of a spy. How would you continuing building your ability to use these tools if you were to continue training as a spy after this class?"

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"The most important tool for a spy is her perception," Setsuna said, feeling rather smart for that answer. "Without perception, you have nothing. And, umm..." She started to lose a little juice when it came to elaboration, fidgeting slightly. She still found explaining spying difficult; it was just...something you did, really. "You continue building your perception by making sure you never stop using it, and, in fact, always try to make it better."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

[can_be_more]

"The most important tool is your own common sense," Aeryn says. "There will be some instances where you don't have the usual tools available, or you have to gather information when you hadn't been expecting to. I was able to use things I learned from this class to complete an assignment in Criminal Justice class just by remembering what I learned about seeming like you belong there and playing off of that. If you can keep your mind sharp, you can take it from there."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

Weiss considered this. "I'm the most important tool. My body, my mind, and my control over both. If I'm going to blend in, I have to know who I am and I have to know who I'm being and I have to know them both completely."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"His mouth. A spy needs to convince people he's not what he is, needs to get people to do things they wouldn't, and talk his way back to safety when things go bad."

[SAS 12/19] Jewel Game

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Only less with jewels and more with silly pictures.

Once you click the link, study the picture for 30 seconds. Then click back and write down everything you remember on the picture.

Comment to let Aly know how you did.

Jewel Game (http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/puzmatch.gif)

Re: [SAS 12/19] Jewel Game

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna did much better than her mun would have well; it helped emmensely that it was essentially the same set of images from earlier in class. The handshake still eluded her, though, as did the apple.

[SAS 12/19] Talk to Aly

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

She'd be more than happy to talk to any of her students.

Re: [SAS 12/19] Talk to Aly

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

After class, Setsuna approached Aly with a bow. "Thank you for a wonderful class, sensei. I will greatly miss being under your instruction."

[SAS 12/19] OOC

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

*sniffles*

*clings*

Re: [SAS 12/19] OOC

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

*clings to favoritest teacher*