Journalism Class - Wednesday September 28

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

Newsfeeds on, cat frolicking beneath the desks, Spider appears to be in a very good mood this morning. Good, verging on maniacal. "Today's class concerns the fine old art of 'Monstering'. Please note, this particular class may contain objectionable material, so the extra course materials have been placed elsewhere, under a friendslock and complete with warnings. That's two levels of warnings about my crass, illegal behavior. You may complain about the behavior, but not of not being warned of it."



Helping himself to a generous swallow of something lime green from a glass on the edge of his desk, Spider continued, "I've been very pleased with the homework received thus far, and I'm reminding the rest of you that you have until Friday at midnight to turn it in. Remember, any interviews with hopeful student politicians or any articles submitted to the Daily Tentacle are good for extra credit."

There was a pause as Spider counted heads before continuing. "Tomorrow, we will be organizing for Friday's field trip. I have four copies of a treasure map and we're going to divide into teams. The team that gets to the treasure first and/or does the best and most exciting job of documenting their adventure gets to keep whatever's at the X. All participants get extra credit and please be sure that you did sign up and your permissions are up to date. We'll be travelling through L-space, so while we're leaving on Friday morning, we might get back tonight. We'll see. Those of you who need permission slips because you'll be missing class, please let me know."

Spider paused to shuffle through the stack of papers on his desk which seem to be permission slips of various types. "Monstering is the fine art of hounding a wrong-doer into total, grovelling submission. A good journalist will stop at nothing to expose the truth, although one would hope that you'd save the brutality for those who deserve it and settle for bribery and honest interviews for the rest. That having been said, feel free to discuss the concept and/or the extra materials. Please be aware that the laws of my world are not the laws of yours, and always carry an experienced attorney and appropriate bail money."

Comments

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

A good journalist will stop at nothing to expose the truth, although one would hope that you'd save the brutality for those who deserve it and settle for bribery and honest interviews for the rest.

But isn't it true that sometimes people don't need to know the entire truth? I mean, what's the point in say... hypothetically of course, telling a large group of people that at one point they were all very nearly dead through no fault of anyone's if they're safe now? Wouldn't it just cause a bunch of people to panic/freak out over nothing for no reason?


[OOC: Oh yes, Spider "The truth" Jerusalem V. Jack "No Comment" O'neill. Is it wrong that I'm gonna love this?]

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

*sneaks up behind him... for a given definition of "sneak"*

rARR?

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Woah! Hey..there. Hello? Rarr?


[OOC: *Loves you and your Del so much*]

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

Raa...

*looks confused*

No, I'M MonsTering. UM. UNless yOu are ToO?

[occ: *is loved* Thanks! Man, I feel I should come and annoy you guys more often!]

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Well, I have been called a monster before...

Raa roar ra?


[OOC: Oh you should, Jack would love Del muchly, he needs a little random from time to time. That and I think he met her a couple of times before. He kinda goes a little crackers every once in a while.]

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

*grins, blasting him with bubble-gum breath*

wE CAn MonstEr eaCH Other, I thiNK. Do yOU WAnt to gO askiNG QuestiONs FIrst bECause I Already DId but not nOw?

[occ: Sure. *laughs* She's certainly good for random.

And I wouldn't be surprised. Del knows quite a few of the characters around here. I'm sure she'd hound them more if I had more time for her.]

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

*Inhales and feels slightly...off-kilter. Kinda like Fridays*

Um sure. Do I know you from somewhere? You're awfully familiar.

[OOC: She rocks hard-core, there needs to be a little random around here once in a while.]

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

*looks closer at him*

yoU ComE to vISit mE soMETimeS but THEy alWAYs put thE pIeces baCk toGEther.

*brightens*

My tURn! Um. WHAt isN't the anSWer to thIS QUestioN?

[ooc: Sorry about that. I kinda fell asleep.]

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

I visit you? Hey wait, are you from that plan--*Jack looks around* place with those talking orange things?

My tURn! Um. WHAt isN't the anSWer to thIS QUestioN?

Humphrey?



[OOC: No problem, so did I.]

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

SOmetiMes.

*her eyes narrow*

And I Think HUMphrey iS iSN't the anSWer.

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

I thought you looked familiar.

And I Think HUMphrey iS iSN't the anSWer.

Does that mean you win?

[youngest-sister.livejournal.com]

Does IT?

*stops being a Monster*

wHAt dO I Win?

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Humanity?

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

"People deserve to know what's going on when it will have an effect on them." Spider made a gesture with his hands. "Panic, no panic... it's their right to choose. Some information can wreak havoc in the wrong hands, sometimes sharing what you know has dire and ugly consequences. I've withheld information upon occasion and I'll admit it, but it's a judgement call that can only be made by the individual."

Spider looked over the top of his glasses at O'Neill. "But withholding information simply based on something that 'might' happen, particularly if disseminating it might bring further information and perhaps a solution to the overall situation...? That, I'm not in favor of. Everyone needs a good, solid panic at least once in their lives."

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack sits up a little straighter in his seat. "That's the problem though sir, sometimes what one person thinks is vital information another may think is need-to-know. How do you decide who gets to make the judgement call?"

Jack meets Jerusalem's eyes and holds them. "You must admit though sir that there is a difference between telling Jane Doe that her boss is going to kill her if she goes into work today and telling every last person on Earth that there's a group of aliens that will come and kill them unless these four people no one knows can find a way to save them.

If you tell Jane then maybe she won't go into work today or maybe she'll call the police, telling her may save her life. But why would you tell the world if you know that there's no way that anyone on the planet can do anything one way or the other?

Yeah, some people will spend time with their family and get there goodbyes in but then there are the idiots who'll decide that if they're going to die anyway why shouldn't they brake the law? Who cares if you kill a hundred kids today, you'll all be dead tomorrow right?"