Dealing With Stupid People [Tuesday, July 24, 2nd period]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Instead of telephones, the students in Josh's workshop would find laptops set up.

And coffee, naturally.

"For some reason, people think that because they're hiding behind a keyboard, they're not accountable for what they say," Josh began, taking a sip from his mug. "That's clearly stupid. There are entire websites devoted to mocking such stupidity--not that I've ever gone to them, of course--and I'm sure those of you more technically minded will help out your fellow students from less advanced civilizations."

Josh clapped his hands together. "Because today, you are starting flamewars. If you're looking for suggestions, the Barry Plodder people have been chock full of crazyflakes."

He then gave a brief--well, for him--explanation of flamewars, with tangents about Fox News, the Republican party and the general evil of people who put up websites about Bartlet and can't be bothered to learn how to spell his last name correctly, then let them loose on the internet.

Heaven help 'em.

Comments

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah grinned at her. "Oh, only several hundred times." She pointed to the screen. "Did you know Bryce hangs out here?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"What? Seriously?" Eve let out what might've been a cackle. "Ooh, can we pick a fight with him? Pretty please? I'll even avoid insulting his family."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Well... Josh said nothing about not making it personal... and come on, the guy's user name is NumberOnePower. That's just begging for us to flame him."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"You should show the results to Sean later," Eve said. "Bet he'd get a kick out of it. 'cause c'mon, we're torturing his little brother. Who doesn't get a kick out of that?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"I think it would be the best thing to show him the first time we meet face to face," she grinned. "'Hi, big brother, I'm Savannah... and by the way I tortured your brother online...'"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"He'd love you forever," Eve said. "Moreso than he does already, that is."

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Okay, so. How do we want to torture Bryce first?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Well... he's in this place bragging about how powerful he is and how no one can do anything about it..."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"... Oh, that's just begging for someone to put him in his place." Eve groaned. "I'm sorry, Savannah, but your other brother's an idiot."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, he really sounds like it." She read the screen and then smirked. "So, I need to create a screen name... How about... DaughterOfPower?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"Hm... Works for me."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"If he is as much of a misogynist as he seems? The name alone will infuriate him."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"This works out right, you might even get Sean to kick him a few times the next time he goes home for a family gathering." And Eve was all in favor of kicking Bryce, just on general principle of the matter.

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah laughed and logged into the chatroom.

"Okay... now, we need something to say that will infuriate him."

It wasn't often she got class credit for messing with distateful relations.

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"Play nice," Eve said. "Don't give me that look, just for a second. Just long enough to get him talking to you. Ask exactly what kind of power he's referring to. And no, it's not skeevily hitting on your brother if I told you to do it and it's in the name of pissing him off."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Do we have to admit he's related to me?" Savannah was already typing out the question.

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"No. No, we do not."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Good."

DaughterOfPower: What kind of power are you referring to?

NumberOnePower: I'm a sorceror.

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

Eve snickered. "And he's actually saying this on a message board? On the Internet? When the vast majority of people don't believe in magic?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"... and he's related to Sean?"

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"Sean is clearly your smart brother."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

"Obviously."

Re: Start a flamewar!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"Okay, okay, so... ooh, I know. Ask him why, if he's really a sorcerer, he's busy bragging and boasting on the internet. Completely illogical question, but somehow I don't think he's going to catch on to that fact."

She was having way too much fun with this.