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fandomhigh2012-04-09 12:24 pm
halfman-lion.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2012-04-09 12:24 pm
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Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4
“Welcome, class,” Tyrion said, once they were all in their seats. “Today we’re going to begin to talk about playing to win at any cost. In short, blackmail.”
“Blackmail is threatening to make public something another party would prefer you keep to yourself, in return for money or some favor. Usually the thing threatened for revealing is true; if it isn’t, it should at least sound true enough to cause enormous problems for the victim.
“It is not nice. It is not pleasant. It is not something that I would wish on anyone. But it is, often, a simple fact in royal courts or governments.
“If you are being blackmailed, don’t let the blackmailer hide behind a smile and surface politeness. Play the fool until they become very straightforward about what they’re saying. Sometimes, someone will deny what they meant rather than go through with the threat. If they persist, tell them not to threaten you and end the conversation. If they chose to reveal your secret anyhow, ignore it as much as you can. Do not, by any means, give in; that encourages them to do the same thing again later.
“It’s also been advised that you look at why exactly the blackmail has power over you, and find a way to end that. For example, if there’s one particular person you want not to learn the secret – say, a parent or spouse -- you might tell them in your own way to ensure the blackmailer cannot.
“If you must blackmail someone, don’t threaten anything you aren’t prepared to carry out. And don’t hesitate. Presumably, you’re taking this step for a dire reason; time will not magically heal it. And then pray to whatever you believe in that you did the right thing.
He gestured to the class. “Have you ever been blackmailed? What did you do? And would you ever blackmail anyone else?”
“Blackmail is threatening to make public something another party would prefer you keep to yourself, in return for money or some favor. Usually the thing threatened for revealing is true; if it isn’t, it should at least sound true enough to cause enormous problems for the victim.
“It is not nice. It is not pleasant. It is not something that I would wish on anyone. But it is, often, a simple fact in royal courts or governments.
“If you are being blackmailed, don’t let the blackmailer hide behind a smile and surface politeness. Play the fool until they become very straightforward about what they’re saying. Sometimes, someone will deny what they meant rather than go through with the threat. If they persist, tell them not to threaten you and end the conversation. If they chose to reveal your secret anyhow, ignore it as much as you can. Do not, by any means, give in; that encourages them to do the same thing again later.
“It’s also been advised that you look at why exactly the blackmail has power over you, and find a way to end that. For example, if there’s one particular person you want not to learn the secret – say, a parent or spouse -- you might tell them in your own way to ensure the blackmailer cannot.
“If you must blackmail someone, don’t threaten anything you aren’t prepared to carry out. And don’t hesitate. Presumably, you’re taking this step for a dire reason; time will not magically heal it. And then pray to whatever you believe in that you did the right thing.
He gestured to the class. “Have you ever been blackmailed? What did you do? And would you ever blackmail anyone else?”