Anakin Skywalker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sith_happened) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2014-01-21 01:25 pm
sith_happened) wrote in fandomhigh2014-01-21 01:25 pm
Entry tags:
Making Friends and Influencing People [Tuesday, January 21, 2014]
"Last week we learned that both sides of a disagreement might not be negotiating in good faith," Anakin said as he paced around a narrow conference room decorated with a wooden table, some chairs and two flags. Each side of the table was guarded by soldiers in different uniforms and there was a concrete line on the floor that the table straddled precisely. "We also learned that the Trade Federation was run by a bunch of dicks."
Thank you, Anakin.
"This is a recreation of a negotiation table a little closer to home," he said, gesturing to the room. "Panmunjon, Korea. Here is where the treaty ending the Korean War was signed, and here is where North Korea comes to negotiate with the United Nations Command Force. You'd think this would be a place of great decorum." Anakin rolled his eyes. "Not so. The South Koreans--" he pointed to one soldier, "--make sure that the guards they send to stand at this table are at least 5'8" and hold a black belt in karate. This makes the guards two inches taller on average than their countrymen. Americans who work here are at least six feet tall. The North Koreans send their least starved soldiers. Appearances here are everything. For one series of negotiations, the North Koreans sawed the opposition's chair legs shorter so that the South Korean side looked ridiculous. In another incident, the North Koreans brought AK-47s under their clothing--a clear breach of protocol. Instead of confronting them directly, the Americans cranked up the heat so that the North Koreans sweated through their uniforms that they refused to remove because then they'd show their weapons. A series of negotiations were conducted to determine the size of the flags on this table because one side brought one that was slightly bigger, then the other side retaliated, and soon they couldn't fit through the door." He blew out a breath. "Negotiations can be mind numbingly stupid to the point where you look forward to them trying to knock you out with gas. Today I want you to explore this room--don't go out that door into fake North Korea or the guard will be happy to shoot you and you'll be unconscious for the rest of the period--and then come up with two juvenile ways to make another side look stupid at a negotiation table without it being something so terrible they would refuse to come back to the table and start a war with you over it."
Thank you, Anakin.
"This is a recreation of a negotiation table a little closer to home," he said, gesturing to the room. "Panmunjon, Korea. Here is where the treaty ending the Korean War was signed, and here is where North Korea comes to negotiate with the United Nations Command Force. You'd think this would be a place of great decorum." Anakin rolled his eyes. "Not so. The South Koreans--" he pointed to one soldier, "--make sure that the guards they send to stand at this table are at least 5'8" and hold a black belt in karate. This makes the guards two inches taller on average than their countrymen. Americans who work here are at least six feet tall. The North Koreans send their least starved soldiers. Appearances here are everything. For one series of negotiations, the North Koreans sawed the opposition's chair legs shorter so that the South Korean side looked ridiculous. In another incident, the North Koreans brought AK-47s under their clothing--a clear breach of protocol. Instead of confronting them directly, the Americans cranked up the heat so that the North Koreans sweated through their uniforms that they refused to remove because then they'd show their weapons. A series of negotiations were conducted to determine the size of the flags on this table because one side brought one that was slightly bigger, then the other side retaliated, and soon they couldn't fit through the door." He blew out a breath. "Negotiations can be mind numbingly stupid to the point where you look forward to them trying to knock you out with gas. Today I want you to explore this room--don't go out that door into fake North Korea or the guard will be happy to shoot you and you'll be unconscious for the rest of the period--and then come up with two juvenile ways to make another side look stupid at a negotiation table without it being something so terrible they would refuse to come back to the table and start a war with you over it."
Sign in [1/21]
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Explore the room!
The North Korean and United Nations flags are exactly the same height, though one is on a pedestal with three steps and the other has two they measure the same size. One has a pointed flag cap on the top of the flag, the other has a round ball. Flag negotiations took six months.
The two soldiers are glaring at each other from across the room like they can set each other on fire with their brains. Fortunately for all of you, they can't. Sit at the negotiating table! Cross the border into fake North Korea! Don't get shot by the guards, please.
Re: Explore the room!
. . . very tempting.
Re: Explore the room!
He smiled broadly at both of the guards and clenched his teeth. With luck, strength, and determination, he'd survive the class period without spontaneously insulting the Glorious Leader. But could you imagine the looks on their faces if he did???
Be diplomatic!
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He trailed off and looked around the room. "...Or, we're back in the Stone Age and they'd still have everything on actual paper. Never mind."
Re: Be diplomatic!
Talk to Anakin!
OOC