Advanced Negotiations

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Today we’re going to discuss this topic:

Slim odds: What do you do when there is a lot of them and very few of you.

I think we should split you up into small groups for discussion today. We could even turn this into a debate it you feel up to it.

Comments

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

"Sure. Thank you."

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka cocks her head to a chair. "May I sit? I believe the class topic for this week was a lot of them and very few of you, yes?"

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

"Yes. It can be easier than it sounds and harder than it sounds depending on the circumstances.

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka nods. "I'd guess that depends on what they want, what you want, and whether they're unified. Sometimes divisions in a large group can be exploited."

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Give an example if you can.

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Hm." Beka tapped a pen to her lips. "All right. If I had to negotiate with the Young Republicans Junior Achievers Brotherhood of Badness to do something really...nice, I'd look for the divisions in the group between those who self-identify as evil, those who self-identify as amoral, those who self-identify as gray, and those completely aware of the group's true agenda. I would attempt to cultivate the gray by appealing to their need to maintain a sense of integrity, the clueless by offering them the nice thing to do, the amoral by appealing to their self-interest, and hopefully they'd overcome the wicked with me. I might also attempt to convince the self-proclaimed evildoers on the grounds of the need to maintain a pretty public face."

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

"And if they are hostile still?"

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"I'd start looking for things to offer them. Concessions, promises, alliances."

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

"And if that fails?"

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

"Lie Promise them sex. Run?" She grinned, almost impishly, in spite of the stressful week. "Okay, no, bad answer. At that point, I'd look for the most powerful patron in the group that I could possibly ally with, and do whatever I could to obtain his/her favor."

*is in no way morally gray or unscrupulous or ruthlessly pragmatic*

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Always with slim odds, you should prepare for as many eventualities as you can... and be able to adapt because more often then not, planning can become pointless.

Re: INDEPENDENT STUDY

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka nodded at that. "Where I come from, I've learned to survive on my wits. I'm not very good at planning. Much better at reacting to what a situation presents. It's hard to think about these things in the abstract."