Applied Ethics B - Friday, Period 4 [20.07.07]

[idontlooktired.livejournal.com]

The Danger Shop again, and again, it looked like a classroom. "Welcome to the second class. No lecture today, just go on through there." Harriet gestured to the door at one end of the room. "You'll find a room with two doors. Once you're in there, pair up and one member of each pair go through a different door." She sipped her tea and smiled benignly. "Go on, off with you. I'll see you when you're done."

Once through the first door, the students would find themselves in a large empty room. White walls, white floors, white ceilings, no furniture, and two doors - one red, one blue. There were also a number of people milling about who watched the students curiously as they entered, paired up, and went through the doors.

After everyone had finished the exercise, they were passed back into the classroom. "Now, wasn't that interesting? That was a little game called the Prisoner's Dilemma, and it's all about making choices - you can cooperate with the other person by remaining silent, or you can defect, by giving evidence against them. Some people argue that the only rational decision is to look out for yourself by talking, however if both people do that, both lose. If each decides to protect the other, both win, which I think everyone would agree would be the best outcome, and if one speaks and the other is silent, the speaker wins and the silent one loses," she looked around the class, "as you just discovered for yourself. You can never be absolutely certain what the other person will choose -- if you choose to be silent, you have to trust they will do the same, and that's not always as easy to do as it is to say."

Harriet came around the front of the desk and handed out some information. "Which you can read or not as you like. Now, what do you all think? Why did you make the choice you did? Would you make the same one again? Would your choice differ depending on your guilt or innocence? What if you'd had a friend, a family member, a loved one, or an enemy as your co-accused? I'd like you to spend the rest of the class in discussion, please." She smiled and once more sat down. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask."


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[ooc: ETA: It is up to you whether your character is innocent or guilty of what they are charged with, within the context of the exercise. It's long this week. First thing - please, please do not pair up if you're not going to go through the other two threads - they will be short, probably not demand much interaction beyond a handful of pings - but both members of the pair have to complete the run for either to finish. If you want to go through, and you don't get a partner, don't worry, those NPCs will be happy to pair up with you, but I'd much rather see student pairs! Makes it more fun and saves my brain.

Second thing - going through the doors. The first person in the pair goes through the red, the second through the blue. eg: Jaina pings in to the pair up thread, Alec pings to her. Jaina goes through the red, Alec through the blue. This makes it much easier for me to keep track of the pair's choices. Pick a door! Any door! As long as you each go through a different one!

Third thing - Instructions! Pair up in the first thread - feel free to have a bit of a talk, but you can go ahead and ping them in to the red door or blue door thread once you have a pair. In the 'door' thread, I'll ping you with a link to the next once we're done. Don't ping into it in advance, please, or it won't work!]

[Please hold for OCD's up, music is off! *plays The Rose*]

Comments

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Anemone blinked. When reality failed to magically re-assert itself, she began giggling. "Mister Policeman sir, I promise I didn't steal your money. I stole a boy's heart once, but it was consentual, I promise."

She sat down on the floor and beamed brightly at the poor bobby. "As for Mr Marco...I've only known him two weeks or so, but I doubt he could tie his shoes, let alone rob a bank. Is there someone I can speak with to clear this up? I really don't want to take up your time like this."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[idontlooktired.livejournal.com]

Bobbies don't flail. It goes against their inherent British stoicism. This one, however, was coming very close. "I'll, ah, I'll just go and get the prosecutor, miss. You just stay here. He won't be long."

His hurrying away might look a bit like fleeing.

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

It took every bit of devious willpower Anemone had not to do a little victory dance. HA! Well, that was one down.

Smiling, she began singing softly while idly braiding her hair. Best to keep up the cute/harmless/slightly dim act. Just because she couldn't see any security cameras didn't mean she wasn't being watched.

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[idontlooktired.livejournal.com]

Some time later a tall man in a wig arrived, staring a little warily. It's possible the bobby had filled him in on their prisoner. "Well, young lady, you appear to have gotten yourself in a bit of a pickle. Luckily, it just so happens I might be able to help you out of it."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

"Oh? That's nice. Who are you?" Anemone tilted her head as she examined the newcomer from her spot on the floor. Bureaucrat. Swell. "Did that nice policeman send you? He's very sweet, if a bit confused."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[idontlooktired.livejournal.com]

He opened his mouth and no sound came out. Clearing his throat, he tried to look stern. "Yes, well, that is neither here nor there. I am the duly appointed prosecutor on this matter, and I'm here to offer you a one time only deal."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

Oh this one was going to be *fun*.

"There must be a misunderstanding. I didn't want to sue the policeman! He seemed quite nice, I'm sure it's not his fault." Anemone propped her chin in her hand and looked at him seriously. "I just asked for someone to clear this all up. I'm so sorry he wasted your time like that. Poor boy. He must think I'm angry with him."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[idontlooktired.livejournal.com]

This just was not fair. He was supposed to deal with hardened criminals, desperate and dangerous men, not sweet little girls.

In a rush, but clearly and distinctly, because he was still a lawyer, he said, "You have two options. Confess to the robbery you're charged with committing with Marco, or keep quiet. If you confess, I'll see to it that the charges against you are dismissed. You'll walk away a free woman. If Marco decides to confess, too, well, I'll still get two convictions, so I'll see to it that you both get a short sentence, a few moths, with early parole. But--" He raised a finger and looked at her sharply. Sort of sharply. Maybe a little pleadingly, but he'd deny it. "--if he confesses and you don't, you'll spend ten years in jail while he goes free."

Re: Red Door [AEB]

[death-of-hope.livejournal.com]

"Robbery?" Anemone looked at him blankly for a moment. "Oh, we're back to that nonsense? Do you really think I did it? I don't even have pockets in this dress, where would I hide your money?"

"As for Marco...like I told that other man, he isn't that bright and I doubt that he could rob a bank. I'm sure he has a hard enough time with right and left."

"And you left out the third option." Anemone looked at him and smiled. "You could drop the charges since you know they're false. If you insist on charging Marco, that is your own concern. You're the prosecutor, if you don't think I'm guilty, then dismiss the case."