Debating, Friday September 14

[certaintrouble.livejournal.com]

After a couple awkward teacherless minutes, Chuck walked through the door. He acted as if nothing had happened, going to the board and writing:



Generalizations

Chuck tapped the board under the word. “When you know a little about your opponent, you can use that to your advantage. Like they say, “a little bit of knowledge is dangerous…” to your foes. Take these two,” he looked at Jim and Willow, “I had them in class last year. Even though I don’t know them very well, I could say that Willow’s eagerness to study denotes a lack of personal life and a need to compensate to fill that hole in her heart. Or that Jim’s newfound inability to take notes means he will do poorly in school and end up a cubicle drone, endlessly shuffling papers.”

He rounded on Turtle. “I’ve heard her talking about stock options on the radio. Thus, she’s missed out on her entire childhood, and is doomed to have a massive breakdown in adulthood. Unstable.”

Chuck nodded toward Jeff. “He seems a little nervous. I’m guessing that he has some terrible secret, probably involving arson. Yeah, he’s an arsonist.”

“Then there’s the Asian kids.” Namine and Haruhi were next. “I could say that I’m fully expecting A’s from them, and if they’re doing poorly, that they ought to lay off on the Chinese cartoons.” He saw Namine’s sketchbook, and ignored any conventions of her style to say: “Point made.”

“Blonde jokes will never fail to make your opponent feel devalued.” He pointed to Cher. “She looks like a bottle blonde,” to Annette, “she’s probably the rich spoiled kind,” to Charlie, “vacant blond, obsessed with appearance. Probably a moody water sign, too,” he turned to Meg, “and since she’s the fourth person to be listed, this one probably follows the crowd all the time.”

“It’s not just hair color. Judging by appearance is just generally a good idea.” He turned his accusing finger to Zim. “The green kid looks like he’s from Mars.” He nodded to Ronan. “He looks like a Goth, and probably has a very active fantasy life, filled with swords and spears and dungeons and dragons.” He pointed to Mel’s shoes. “Her mom probably also wears combat boots.” He turned to Valentine next.

And stopped.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, shook his head, and said “Too easy. I won’t even bother.”

Finished with the insults, Chuck returned to the board. “Now, I’ll bet some of you are a little mad at me. After all, I’ve solidly won each tiny argument I just started. You all lost. Losers.

“The point of this exercise is twofold. Number one-” He wrote these on the board, “- I want you all to know how it feels to have these expertly crafted paper bullets grazing your vital organs. This shows how powerful these can be in an argument. Number two- It’s an example, so you can use them yourselves. And Number three- I don’t want any of you to forget how it feels to lose an argument, how humiliating and how the need for vengeance will spread in your mind.

“So in this next class exercise, I want you to partner off and take out the resulting need to win on your opposition. Hit them with a sweeping generalization, then give them a chance to recover and try to sling one back at you. ”

He turned back to Valentine. Chuck didn’t feel that the poor kid had suffered quite enough yet. “I also have an extra credit opportunity. For next week’s class, you all can come up with generalizations why board-face here is unreliable and his arguments are bad, based off of his appearance and small things about him. Remember class, work small! An argument with a lot of support is nice and easy. But a thin argument where you have to grasp to connect things? That takes talent.” He clapped his hands. “Get going!”


OOC:You can start arguing when I blow the whistle... TWEEEEEET! Have at them!

Comments

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

Naminé leaned in a little closer to Valentine. "He's right, you know," she said airily. "I can tell from your appearance that you're unreliable. Why, if I were alone with you, I don't trust you not to kiss me senseless."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"Perhaps I am unreliable," Valentine countered with a grin, "but I don't go lurking down dark hallways in the dead of night."

This was because he was terrified of dark hallways in the dead of night. Not that he was going to mention that.

"I imagine you're the silent sort for a reason. What nefarious schemes have you got in that head of yours that leave you lurking about after dark?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"If you only knew the things I plot about, Valentine," she sighed. "I was lurking so that I could end up in a thoroughly unspeakable situation with a young man I'm currently infatuated with. Throw myself at him in rather a vulgar way. I only look innocent, you know."

"And for you? What are you hiding beneath that mask? I suppose you're traveling incognito for a very mysterious reason."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"Well, I am a very important man," he reminded her, without even thinking, really. "And now I'm wondering if I should be worried for my safety, what with such a slippy individual slipping through the darkness."

He grinned some more.

"A real predator, I'm certain."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"Me, a predator?" she laughed. "Just look who's speaking. Very important. I imagine that's your polite way of saying very dangerous. Especially to young, innocent girls who wander by late at night. Who knows what terrible things you might do to one such as that."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"I'm a real gentleman, you know," he chuckled. "Not many men will offer lovely ladies their clothing when they're lacking."

And think it cute when the clothing happens to walk away. He'd run out of shirts, at this rate.

"Besides, if my room happens to be so very dangerous, one might wonder if perhaps this is actually a case of like persons congregating. Perhaps you're actually seeking out other dangerous persons so that you might plot world takeover, or some other such thing."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"You're right at that," she mused. "And such lovely clothing it is. A kind soul you are, which is probably a front for some sinister motive you're hiding."

"Are you saying that, should I come to your room late at night, you would like for us to plot world domination?" Naminé considered this for a moment. "That seems rather a shame."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"There's nothing so shameful about it," Valentine laughed. "How do you think I came to be such a very important man?"

He had a tower, once.

"Unless you're insinuating that you'd much rather I seduce you. In which case..."

He didn't know how to follow that up.

"You kiss very well, you know."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe that's an insult," Naminé said airily. "I believe perhaps I've won our little debate. And all it took was a mention of world domination. How strange."

She was now examining her fingernails with an amused smile. "Unless of course it was the seduction that derailed your train of thought. I wouldn't imagine so. You're a distinguished rogue of sorts. Surely world domination is far better at distracting a gentleman of your stature?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"No, world domination is but a ... little thing... amongst a sea of ... much bigger things! Which I strive to grasp! Because they are... big things!"

....

She did want him to seduce her, didn't she? The notion was very good at derailing his sly mind. Vocabulary... suffering...

"You're pretty, too."

He was failing so hard at this contest of wits, and he knew it.

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

Naminé was flushing now, and examining her crayons. And laughing, faintly, and wondering what on earth had gotten into her, anyway.

"You're very bad at insults, I must say. First I kiss well, and then I'm pretty. Unless you were hoping to go on to imply that I use those traits in nefarious ways. Do I?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"Absolutely!" Ah, something to grasp onto. "Nefarious, and very distracting ways!"

Thank you, Naminé, for allowing him to not look like a complete idiot.

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"This must be why our late-night discussions on world domination never seem to get very far," Naminé smiled. "I distract you from our true mission."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"I should really be cautious when you come by, I suppose," he mused. "Or we'll never get around to taking over the world."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"And if we aren't going to take over the world," she said smoothly, "why, what would be the point of coming by at all?"

Naminé flushed again, not looking up. "I don't think I'm very good at insults, either."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"I might kiss you here and now, just to win the debate," Valentine warned, grinning slyly. "And then the insults really won't matter at all, will they?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"If you kiss me, we'll get detention again," she said with a laugh. "We'll end up a week behind all year. So much for Saturdays."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"Saturdays aren't that important," Valentine said. "One has to worry about the person who values Saturdays over kissing, really. Especially since we would be in detention together, wouldn't we?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"Ah, but if we can wait until class is over to kiss," Naminé said lightly, "then we'll have Saturdays free for ... whatever it is we'd like to fill our Saturdays with. Nothing comes to mind, but I'm certain we could think of something, couldn't we?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"I imagine someone as creative as yourself can come up with a good way to spend a Saturday that isn't cluttered up with in-class kissing-inspired detentions," he chuckled. "That is, if you aren't too busy using your mind to plot our world takeover. Or seducing shady masked men in the dead of night."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps I could further both endeavours during my free Saturdays," Naminé mused. "Plotting the takeover of the world, and ... well. I suppose it would have to be seducing shady masked men in the broad daylight of midafternoon. Requires a slight change in tactics, you understand."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"Of course." Valentine leaned forward for a moment as though he was a wolf sizing up his prey. "You had best be careful about it, mind you. One never knows when certain shady masked men will manage to beat you to the punch by seducing you in the hazy sunrise of midmorning."

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

Naminé shivered. "Are you now trying to get me to kiss you, and land us in yet another detention? I'm resisting, you see. I'm wise to your dangerous ploys."

And in a much lower voice - while again staring at her sketchpad - she added, "Are your midmornings generally free?"

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"I could certainly have a schedule made up for you," he replied lightly, leaning back into his seat again. "Complete with circles and lines and arrows pointing to each free midmorning hour and a paragraph on the back indicating what I would like to do with each one of those free hours if you just so happen to be around during them."

He had no shame.

Re: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"You could bring that to detention," Naminé said, flushing again. "It might be helpful. This is my only morning class."