Public Speaking [Tuesday, April 2, 1st period]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Today the students would find computers on each of their desks as they arrived. "Morning," Josh said, clinging to his coffee with more than his usual devotion. "Granted, public speaking is normally out in front of people, sometimes with cameras, but being a public figure extends to all aspects of communication. Today we're going to talk about a very dark, terrifying place: the comment section of a news article. I've learned--" the hard way because Josh was a little bit argumentative in all facets of his life, "not to engage with the crazy, or at least not to engage under your own name. Today you're going to learn your way around a flame war. Actual flames should not be involved, but I will be grading for grammar and punctuation because by God, someone has to."

Each screen opened up onto a news story about President Obama's work with Congress on the federal budget, and an initial comment:

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH OUR CHILDREN'S MONEY?! WHEN YOU SPREAD THE WHEALTH YOU SPRAD THE MISERY SHAME ON YOU THE US WILL NOT TOREATE A SOCIALIST STATE.

Josh rolled his eyes. "You can start how to spell 'wealth' and 'spread' and what socialism actually is...And when you're done teaching this guy a lesson, Gertrude Yorkes is our press secretary today."

Comments

Sign in [4/2]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Trollishly.

Re: Sign in [4/2]

[hasadestiny]

Lex Luthor

Re: Sign in [4/2]

[myownface]

Sparkle

Re: Sign in [4/2]

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie Adams

FLAMEWAR

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH OUR CHILDREN'S MONEY?! WHEN YOU SPREAD THE WHEALTH YOU SPRAD THE MISERY SHAME ON YOU THE US WILL NOT TOREATE A SOCIALIST STATE.

Ping off each other, make relevant comments, join in on this guy's side (if you can figure out what it is...), try not to get completely smoked by Peter Wiggin who grew up doing this stuff...

[OOC: Seriously, ya'll, make it messy. Have fun. Ping off each other, and I'll have Josh add to the ridiculousness with actual comments I find on CNN and the Washington Post. THE SACRIFICES I MAKE FOR YOU.]

Re: FLAMEWAR

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

I will give you five dollars if you learn to use spell check. You're concerned about money, I'm concerned about what your inability to communicate like a human being is doing to the IQ of everyone who reads your poorly-written crazy-talk. We can manage a fair trade here. Work with me, buddy.

Jessica felt a little better after that. Not much. But a tiny bit.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

So much for the right of free speech. But in the liberal’s weak and feeble minds, free speech only applies if you agree with the liberal’s point of view. If so, then yes free speech applies, otherwise it doesn’t.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[notalender]

OH NO UR ONTO US! OUR SEKRIT PLAN IS ROONED!

Arietty had no idea what she was doing? But it was kind of fun.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

Actually, the previous poster was exercising their right of free speech too. Isn't it nice how that works? :) Everyone gets an opinion!

It was possible Minako was a natural-born troll.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[mummyspromdate.livejournal.com]

*spread
*tolerate

Yes, Maddie was that person. Look, if she could spell it while texting, people should be able to spell it with that squiggly red line underneath it.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

What are you the spelling police?

Re: FLAMEWAR

[lockestheway]

... ahahahahaha.

Peter rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles.

trumerican: Barack Obama is a Trotskyist cretin of the highest order. Soon his men will arrive at our doors with jackboots on demanding we fund more wars against 'fascism' in other countries. They won't REDISTRIBUTE our wealth, they'll TAKE IT ALL until the rich are poor and the government stands triumphant!

He did not expect the troll to actually look up Trotsky and figure out how little that had to do with Trotskyism.

Then he added,

plant89: Oh god, have either of you even READ Trotsky? Obama's not trying to start some kind of fascist dictatorship, that's just stupid. And the opposite of socialism.

He finished up with,

trumerican: I know exactly what Trotsky did!! And what Barack Obama is planning!! Why do you think he's disarming America?!

Re: FLAMEWAR

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

TO BRING IN THE ALIENS FROM KENYA!!!11

Re: FLAMEWAR

[arsenicmauls]

What if that's what the children want? Gert countered. Since they're important to you, apparently. I know of a high school Socialist Club that had as many as 9 members.

It was her old high school and Gert was forever bitter about not having been allowed to join.

Re: FLAMEWAR

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Children are stupid and shouldn't be allowed to have opinions. Everyone knows that.

Press Secretary of the Day: Gertrude Yorkes [4/2]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

This should go well.

For the Press Secretary! [4/2]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

For our fearless press secretary!

Re: For the Press Secretary! [4/2]

[arsenicmauls]

Oh, great. First the weird mood from yesterday seemed to be continuing, and now this.

Gert wondered if it was weird that she suddenly thought Mr. Lyman was kind of attractive. In a gross way, obviously.

For the Reporters [4/2]

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Given the week, asking Gert out might not completely insane...

Re: For the Reporters [4/2]

[hasadestiny]

"Some people can't stop messin' with the danger zone," Lex began. "Saying we don't worry, and don't fret, ain't no law against it yet. Should there be a law against it?"

Re: For the Reporters [4/2]

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"Ms Yorkes, has the President been working out more recently? He just looks especially... fit lately," Jessica said.

... She was going to believe that she asked that in a moment of random whimsy. Because why was she asking about the President's actually pretty nice body? What? Stop. "And are those new glasses? They look nice." Stoooop.

Talk to Josh or the TAs!

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Ask them out, too!

Re: Talk to Josh or the TAs!

[hasadestiny]

Lex was there for you. And you. And especially you.

Re: Talk to Josh or the TAs!

[whenshewasnice]

Well, Natalie didn't have a date for the prom...

But it was kind of amazing she was even here, considering yesterday. But she was. If not hugely inclined to talk to anyone.

Also she was wearing a scarf. No reason, really.

OOC

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

This class brought to you by accidentally reading the comments this morning...