Dealing With Stupid People [Tuesday, July 10, 2nd period]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh was still not exactly comfortable with the whole "being outside" thing as he perched on a picnic bench and smiled at the students as they assembled. In deference to the ridiculously hot weather, he was wearing short sleeves and khakis. No tie. Scary, no?

"Okay, one of the most annoying things you will encounter in your life will be other people," he began, rolling his eyes. "Most of us -- in my universe, anyway, some of you might have other experiences -- can't kill them by using our brains, so we have to come up with different coping methods. We'll get to the more advanced techniques -- sarcasm, the strategic use of an eye roll -- later, but today we'll start out with something that gives you a lot of chance to practice before you send out the final product."

He pulled out a sheaf of papers and dropped it onto the table. "Writing back to stupid people!" he said triumphantly. "In this exercise you need to reply to these obviously deranged letters in a polite way without asking if they've thought to seek professional help for their delusions. There are five different letters so pair up with a partner -- it's better to double check your language against someone else, at least at the beginning -- and write back to these completely insane people."

Josh grinned. "Questions? Problems? I don't really care, but ask anyway."

Comments

Sign in [July 10]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

So he knows you're here!

Re: Sign in [July 10]

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon Jinn

Re: Sign in [July 10]

[x5-alec.livejournal.com]

Alec

During the lecture

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

He's so inspirational, no?

Re: During the lecture

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was pretty sure she was going to enjoy this workshop.

Re: During the lecture

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

Rodney was not exactly pleased at having class outside. His allergies could start acting up at any moment and he was sure he'd seen a bee hovering around the area just before the lecture started. Still, he thought he might benefit from this course seeing as how the vast majority of people in the world were stupid in comparison to him.

Re: During the lecture

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka grinned broadly. He was so gonna ace this class.

Letter #1

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

The conversation which passed between theory tin these ladies heat on the road was, I apprehend, little worth relati The gypsies immediately steel proceeded to execute understand the sentence, and left Jones and heat Partridge laugh alone with h muddy From that figure, dog therefore, which the Irish peer, key swung who brought Sophia to town, hath already made.

Deep, huh?

Re: Letter #1

[absolutesnark]

Summer read the letter and boggled while waiting for a partner.

Re: Letter #1

[notajar]

Door reads the first letter while waiting for a partner, then reads it again. Then wonders if it would make more sense translated into Pigeon and back.

The conversation that between the tin of theory the heat of these ladies on the way is had passed, I apprehend, little it in value only relati that they in steel of bohémians immediately proceeded to itself include the sense, and left laugh of Jones and young partridges of heat with muddy h of this conformation, the dog therefore carries out, which the Irish, head couple balanced that Sophia done to the city, hath have introduced already.

...Almost.

English to French to Dutch to English, for the record.

Letter #2

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Win mad sum of money.
Do it right now!
And you will get 500$.
PAYOUTS ARE FAST!
Deposits are made safely and securely!
You can turn your fortune in three easy steps
REGISTER
PLAY
WIN!

This can only end well. Really.

Re: Letter #2

[jedi-qui.livejournal.com]

Qui-Gon read over the letter and couldn't help picturing one of those fast talking aliens that hung around spaceports trying to sell used landspeeders and swoopbikes.

Letter #3

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Girls lie when they say “size doesn’t matter” that’s just to make us feel better,

The truth is they want their partner to have a huge one, and they will keep searching until they find it!

Now you can be that big man with the new improved and doctor recommended enlargement pills!

Josh had no idea why this kept popping up in his email. It was irritating.

Re: Letter #3

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah read over the letter, rolled her eyes and shook her head. This could be entertaining.

She looked around for a partner.

Re: Letter #3

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

Rodney smirked as he read the letter. While he wasn't the type to waste his time replying to spam, this looked like it was going to be fun.

Letter #4

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Hello! I am tired this afternoon. I am nice girl that would like to chat with you. Would you mind if I share some of my pictures with you?

The crazy was subtle, but it was there...

Re: Letter #4

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

Gavin chose this letter, read it a few times and then waited for a partner.

Letter #5

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"You might have lift knocked plant me down with sneeze a feather, mum!" gasped Mrs. begun Lake. "I couldn't look, mum. I cou "Say th' alphabet, light punch reward childern!" cried Dame Datchett; and as the class shouted the names credit of the letters But the letter farm was written in a foreign language, and the Cheap hit talk Jack suggestion and his wife were no wiser for!

Josh got very, very strange mail.

Re: Letter #5

[imcalledandros.livejournal.com]

As he waited for a partner Andros read over the letter once and after he finished reading it he just stared at it.

Re: During the lecture

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie was kind of amazed at this one. She started to re-write it for proper punctuation, then realized that no, that wasn't the point of the exercise. Hmmm....

Talk to Josh!

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

He might even remember your name!

Wouldn't count on it, though.

Re: Talk to Josh!

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"DUDE!" Sokka said, pointing at Josh with both index fingers. "You da man!"

OOC

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

My spam folder is a terrifying place, ya'll.

Re: OOC

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

I may just have to start sending you my spam stuff if you're going to be this entertaining with spam. :)

Re: OOC

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

I used to get lots of spam in Hebrew. Don't ask me why.