Ethics (Thursday, Sept. 21. 6th period)
Vader came stalking into the classroom precisely on time, cape billowing behind him.
The door slammed in his wake.
"Today we talk about gossip," he growled. "Last week we explored the truth. This week, we focus on manipulating the environment around someone."
He pointed at the radio he'd brought into the classroom. "The pirate and his minions are masters at the art of euphemism and shading, twisting and massaging the truth to give their listeners a complete different impression."
He paced in front of the class. "Today, you shall do the same. Each of you will begin a rumor in this classroom about a student, teacher or person living in town. It doesn't need to be true. It certainly doesn't need to be polite. It can even be about someone in this classroom." For a moment the only sound in the classroom was Vader's breathing. "But think very, very carefully about the consequences of saying something negative about me." He paused for another moment to let that sink in before continuing. "You will then tell this rumor to the person next to you, who will pass it along to the person next to them. You can pass it along verbatim, change the context or manipulate it however else you wish. At the end of the class, we should have 20 new rumors and a bunch of people angry with each other, mwahahahaha."
He pointed at a student at random. "Begin."
The door slammed in his wake.
"Today we talk about gossip," he growled. "Last week we explored the truth. This week, we focus on manipulating the environment around someone."
He pointed at the radio he'd brought into the classroom. "The pirate and his minions are masters at the art of euphemism and shading, twisting and massaging the truth to give their listeners a complete different impression."
He paced in front of the class. "Today, you shall do the same. Each of you will begin a rumor in this classroom about a student, teacher or person living in town. It doesn't need to be true. It certainly doesn't need to be polite. It can even be about someone in this classroom." For a moment the only sound in the classroom was Vader's breathing. "But think very, very carefully about the consequences of saying something negative about me." He paused for another moment to let that sink in before continuing. "You will then tell this rumor to the person next to you, who will pass it along to the person next to them. You can pass it along verbatim, change the context or manipulate it however else you wish. At the end of the class, we should have 20 new rumors and a bunch of people angry with each other, mwahahahaha."
He pointed at a student at random. "Begin."