The Art of War, Week #3 [Period 3, Monday]

[atreideslioness]

It was once again Monday, and Ghanima was seated on her desk, little red book in her hands. 

"'There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare,'" she announced once everyone was seated.  "So speaks Sun Tzu in the second P'ien.  In it, he speaks of provisioning an army, and managing your resources."

"Today, we look at it from a non-combat viewpoint," Ghanima said, smiling at them.  "If you're conducting a business merger, you should approach it the same as any other battle.  Prolonged negotiations are something to avoid at all costs, since you usually end up losing something the longer you are engaged."

"Romantic relationships are the same way; as much fun as the chase can be, a prolonged pursuit of your target increases the chance of them slipping away," she teased, eyes flashing with amusement.  "How can you apply the suggestions made in the second P'ien to these two situations?  I'd like you to break into groups and discuss."

[OOC:  Wait for the OCD is up, go forth and flex those critical thinking skills!]

Comments

Sign-In #3

[atreideslioness]

In a resourceful manner

Re: Sign-In #3

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

Eve Levine

Re: Sign-In #3

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri Veila

Re: Sign-In #3

[intraspective]

Yamanaka Ino

During the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

It's short, but listen, pass notes, or take notes as you like.

Re: During the Lecture

[solo_sword]

Jaina, officially tired of being a kitten, was still there and sitting atop her desk to listen. She just hoped enough people had heard radio by now to know who she was that everyone wouldn't be staring again.

And that the novelty had worn off enough that no one would try anything like dangling a string in front of her. That'd just be embarrassing.

Re: During the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

"Miss Solo." Ghanima stopped by the desk, looking down at Jaina with amusement. Clearly, she listened to radio. "While I appreciate your dedication to class, animal transformations are considered an excused absence. You're free to go, if you wish."

Re: During the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri took one look at the kitten -- who yes, she knew by now was Jaina -- and actually started laughing. A lot.

Yes, she was kind of surprised by that too.

Re: During the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben sat there staring at his desk and wondering what it said about a galaxy that had been at war for the majority of his father's lifetime.

Probably nothing good.

Re: During the Lecture

[stupid-toasters.livejournal.com]

Lee tried to pay attention but his focus was completely elsewhere.

Re: During the Lecture

[intraspective]

Ino considered him from the corner of her eye for a good bit before a note got flicked on to his desk.

Brood on?

Re: During the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

And once the laughing was done with, it was right back to being thoughtful and kind of bothered by the lesson.

Even if she wasn't a serious student of galactic history, the sheer number and variety of slagged ships in the Tatooine deserts said a lot about prolonged warfare.

Re: During the Lecture

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes took careful notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella listened carefully, nodding once she understood.

Re: During the Lecture

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He was very much listening. This was, after all, important. Part of the reason he'd taken the course.

Re: During the Lecture

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

Alice was taking cautious notes.

Discussion!

[atreideslioness]

Break into two groups as you please, and discuss the applications of the information and advice in this P'ien. It's a free-for-all, so feel free to ping to whomever wherever in your group.

Group #1: Business Relationships

[atreideslioness]

Looking at the text, how do you think it can be applied to the business world? Why?

Re: Group #1: Business Relationships

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"You can take advantage of it from the other side," he pointed out. "A merchant willing to haggle is one who is willing to give up his price."

Group #2: Personal Relationships

[atreideslioness]

What does this say about interpersonal relationships, the give-and-take between people?

Re: Group #2: Personal Relationships

[momslilassassin]

Ben was quiet for a long moment, thinking about his family and the giant mess it had turned into.

"If you keep having the same argument over and over," he finally offered, "maybe it's a sign that you're just never going to agree. Continuing to fight about it for years is just exhausting for everyone. If it had been a military engagement, you wouldn't keep walking into the same situation--it's just harder to remember when it's people, maybe?"

Talk to the TA

[atreideslioness]

Once he pings in.

Re: Talk to the TA

[raspberryturk]

Reno was here, naturally. And wondering if there's any way to apply the Art of War to his own romantic relationship.

He wasn't much of a businessman, after all.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's around both before and after class.

OOC

[atreideslioness]

To keep the OCD in place on Monday morning.