Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 21, Period 1, 03.28.06

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Keeping with the low-impact lectures. Wheee. I may be slow to reply at work today, just FYI. Class Info Post.]

"Hello, class!" Tick said fron his normal position at the front of the room. "Remember, your projects are due next Tuesday. You'll have some time to work on them at the end of class, but today we go back to lecture and discussion as well."

"Today we'll be talking about private investigators. PIs. Private eyes. Private smurfs," Tick said to cover up any potentially dirty interpretation of a popular nickname. "Gumshoes. Among many other names. The profession of Holmes, Spade, Magnum, and Addison. I'm talking about the sometimes noble, sometimes skeezy, always interesting, world of private detecting."

"PIs often work for people in court cases for a number of purposes. Maybe they're checking to make sure a witness or defendant is on the up-and-up. Sometimes they're checking to see if a person with a signifcant other has another other that is in some way significant. And sometimes they're called upon to solve the big crimes that the police just can't figure out."

"In a way, they're almost like superheroes, only without powers, with a salary, and with more frequent trips into the bad parts of town for non-evil-whomping purposes. They outthink evil. And that's keen!"

"For discussion today, please talk aboutyour views on private eyeing. Have any experience with them? Seen them enough on television to know what's up? Are you one. and if so, do you have any stories to share? After this discussion, you can jump into your teams for the project if you need class time to work on them."

"This week's metaphor is umbrellas. And for extra credit, please come up with two more nicknames for private investigators. IF you get suggestive with the private smurves, though, you can only do so for one of the nicknames. So keep it clean!"

[OOC: Veronica has offered to answer questions about PIs.]

Comments

Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

For class and non-class discussion.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

"Sound a bit like the kind of people Professor Skeeter's class'll turn out," Callisto said. "Only with more morals."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," Tick said, pondering. "Also, possibly with less in the way of writing skills. We are talking about Journalism students, after all."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory giggled at that, and tossed a note over to Callisto.

You got Xander's email?

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I'm all for it," Angel said. "It's a legal way for people to get the help they need if the cops aren't going to do anything."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Not just if the cops aren't going to do anything. Sometimes the cops can't do anything. Much like how the police can't be expected to bring down The Human Ton, sometimes they're limited when it comes to crime solving. And that's when private help is useful."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

In between taking notes, Anakin kept looking over at Angel.

Finally he sighed, ripped a piece of paper out of his notebook, and wrote:

Hey. Got time to talk today? I need some advice.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty came into class looking pretty glum and took notes on the discussion, not really interested in participating at all.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel gave Marty a curious look.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[can_be_more]

Aeryn frowns. "So they're supplemental to the police force?" she wonders.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Unofficially, yes. Many PIs are actually former cops. That doesn't mean PIs and police like each other much, though."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"I guess it's a bit of a two-edged sword," Cameron said. "On one side good can come of it as they can call on resources that perhaps the police can't. But then they're just doing things for money so they can be used to do mroe harm than good."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Good analysis, Cameron. That sums the main benefits and drawbacks of using PIs up nicely."

"Simply put, a lot of investigators are more devoted to getting paid than they are to Justice. So while they can help the cause, they may not be doing so for the right reason."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[fates_jaye]

"They're awesome," says Jaye. "I love noir."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty snorts. "You love a lot of things."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"My dad's a PI," Veronica shared. "I've, um, done some work for him, so I could probably answer some questions about what it's really like."

[you know, on slow play]

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Veronica! Does anyone have any questions for her?"

[OOC: If so, reply directly to her, zomg.]

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Was it hard setting up the business?" Angel asked.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie sits down and takes notes, wondering if there might possibly be a career niche for a shipboard private investigator.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[fh_jackass]

"Private eyes can be a pain in the ass," Logan said. "But they can also dig up the truth when the police have stopped looking."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

That comment definitely earned Logan an "Oh Really?" look.

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin took lots of notes, fascinated by the concept, and grateful for a distraction from the turmoil of emotions in his head. He'd met several private investigators: Obi-Wan preferred to go to beings on the street for information rather than relying exclusively on government reports and Temple archives.

"The private investigators I've met have been very competent," he said, "but they were all contacts of my old teacher, and I can't imagine him working with anyone but the best."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

The Tick smiled at the mention of Anakin's old teacher. "He does seem like the type of guy who would have keen contacts!"

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"The only problem I have with private investigators is the lack of oversight in some states. I know that California has a licensing board, and so does Delaware, but in a lot of places, a person can call themselves a private detective with no training, ethics check, or any other measures to prevent an individual from defrauding the public." Parker folds her arms. "Granted, you can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints, but that's still not enough protection, in my view."

Re: Talk, Take Notes, Pass Notes, Etc. [Class 21]

[janet_fraiser]

Janet took lots of late notes. Like she'd run across town to get coffee before coming to class or something. Eep!