fandomhigh | Conflict Management and Resolution: Mon Period 4 - Class # 7

The Danger Room: Mid-Term Exam

Through the power of Fandom ~~handwavey~~ communication systems, Wilson’s Conflict Management students were informed that their mid-term would be held in the Danger Room today. As they all filed in, Wilson was standing there waiting for them. He was, blessedly, no longer wee and after an hour long scrub in the second bathroom at the house, he also no longer had jam in his hair.

These were good things as far as he was concerned, thankyouverymuch.

“Good morning.” He said, arms crossed as he leaned back against a wall.

“Well, despite this weekend’s shenanigans I already had the midterm set up and the program ready to run for today’s mid-term assignment so, I hope you’re all ready.”

Reaching down into his briefcase he pulled out a handful of manila envelopes.

“The Danger Room has been sectioned off to 18 sections; you will all have the same scenario, detailed out in these folders. Please do not open the folder until you have entered the room with your name on it. This exam is designed to test your understanding of everything we have gone over in class to this point. The way you answer it maybe not be the same as your neighbor. Any questions?”

Looking around at the group, Wilson waved them towards the sectioned off room and began to hand out the envelopes.

“Good luck guys.”

The Exam:

As the students entered their rooms they saw a small table with three chairs, two of the chairs were at either end of the table and one sat in the middle. A Red flag and a Blue flag sat in front of the two opposing chairs. When the students sat down and opened their envelope two little ~~Seusslike~~ creatures appeared in either chair. One dressed in red and one in blue.

The exam read as follows: Welcome to the The Cream Cheese Battle. Please meet the Yuuks in blue and the Zuuks in red. They are two societies locked in a cold war of such over whether to cream cheese the top slice or the bottom slice of a bagel. They are so divided about this subject that they have rapidly escalated the production of the dreaded ‘bitsy big boomeroo’ in anticipation of going to war.

To date all attempts at peaceful negotiation have failed as neither side will yield on their stance about the cream cheese. This is a matter of deep cultural integrity on both sides and both leaders are very proud of their heritage in cream cheese application. Your assignment is to find a way to mediate a cessation of the production of the ‘bitsy big boomeroo’ weapon being developed by both. To do this you will have to address not only the production of this weapon and the potential for mutally assured destruction but also the root cause of the tensions between the Yuuks and the Zuuks and will no doubt need to provide them with both a short term and a long term solution to their difference of opinions.

Good luck!

[ooc: OCDs are ~~on their way~~ up! Have a nice exam!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Hmmm." Blair said, listening to both parties. "And this has led to you both considering building a weapon?"

"Yes," stated the Zuuk. "Our bitsy big boomeroo. Which will destroy all the Yuuks and their wrong-sided ways."

"Yes," echoed the Yuuk. "But our bitsy big bommeroo. Which will destroy all the Zuuks and their wrong-sided ways."

"I understand the desire to protect your beliefs and I respect that." Blair said quietly. "But what you're talking about here is destruction of life. I think that we can come to some sort of resolution that protects your way of life without resorting to killing."

"Would that be an option you're both willing to listen to?"

"Why should it matter, if it's only Yuuks?" asked the Zuuk representative, with a resolute air.

"Why should it matter, if it's only Zuuks," added the Yuuk representative, equally stubborn.

"Because it's not just Yuuks or Zuuks." Blair said firmly. "It's mothers and fathers and sons and daughters. Your weapon isn't going to prove that one side is right or wrong. It's just going to kill people. Whether those people are Yuuks or Zuuks doesn't matter, what matters is that they're people."

Surprisingly, both representatives looked as though they hadn't considered that thought. "We don't want to kill people," they answered at once.

Blair nodded, as if he knew this all the time. "Is it possible to come to an agreement that the creation of the bitsy big boomeroo should be halted on both sides?"

The Zuuk and the Yuuk looked at each other, and then at Blair, and nodded. "Yes, we agree that the bitsy big boomeroo should not be built."

"That's great." Blair said, reaching out to shake both hands and encouraging the Yuuk and Zuuk to shake each others hands.

"We should start discussing the issue that started this. I'm sure that neither of you would like this to escalate to this level again."

The Zuuk shook Blair's hand, then reluctantly shook with the Yuuk. "It was started because they put their cream cheese on the wrong slice," he stated.

"Not true," claimed the Yuuk, after shaking hands with Blair and the Zuuk. "It was started because they put their cream cheese on the wrong slice."

"Let's try a different word there." Blair suggested. "Instead of saying 'wrong' say 'different'. Differences aren't wrong."

"But," said the Zuuk, "The bottom slice is better."

"It is not," replied the Yuuk. "The top slice is best."

"I can see the merits of both sides." Blair nodded. "Have you thought about the fact that you have lots in common? Both of you have proud histories of bagel eating. Both of you like cream cheese. Even your names are similar. Maybe you should focus on your similarities rather than your differences."

The Zuuk and the Yuuk looked at each other, as if they'd never considered they might be that much alike. "Are they really that much like us?" they asked Blair in unison.

"To the point where you say the same things at the same time." Blair said with a smile. "I'm sure that the more time you spend together the more you'll realize that you share things in common. In fact, it might be a stepping stone for both your cultures."

"But what about the cream cheese?" the Zuuk asked, very close to relenting but just unable to let go of that one sticking point.

"Yes, what about that?" added the Yuuk. "What if they keep trying to make us change?"

"I believe that if you don't try to make them change, then they won't try to make you change." Blair said to the Yuuk, nodding to the Zuuk to let him know it applied to him as well.

Another idea they hadn't considered. The Zuuk nodded slowly, looking at the Yuuk. "If the Yuuks don't try to change us, we won't try to change them."

The Yuuk nodded as well, replying slowly, "And we won't try to change the Zuuks, if they don't try to change us."

"Great! Group hug!" Blair said cheerfully.

Neither the Zuuk nor the Yuuk looked entirely comfortable with the group hug idea, but they gave it a good-faith effort anyway. In the name of cooperation, and all.

"Great job!" Blair stepped back after the hug, pretty pleased with himself. Any exam that ended in a group hug was a good exam.

Conflict Management and Resolution: Mon Period 4 - Class # 7 - Feb 19

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg

Re: The Exam: Blair Sandburg