Posts
The Plot
secrecy
anxiety
manipulation
decoys and smokescreens
suppression
disinformation, lies, revisions and coverups
infiltration
buy-in
“bait and switch”
plots within plots
problem, reaction, solution (thesis, antithesis, synthesis)
By using part or all of these techniques, one can successfully pull off a “sting” or “set up” for fun and/or profit. We apply these techniques to set up our very own Gap Guys - Dave and John.
Because the Gap Guys were scheduled to go to Chengdu last Monday, I had enough time to develop and implement this setup with my Sophomore Class 1 using the upcoming Presentation and Debate on Eastern and Western Medicine. The debate would center on whether or not one could mix Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Western medicine. We decided to develop a "plot within a plot" where some selected students would argue for and against TCM rather than for and against the mixing of the two. Of course, our plans had to be kept secret.
The Secret
The plans were kept secret and everyone involved swore an oath to this secrecy. This secret plan was devised, developed and then recorded on this special edible paper in case a leak of the plan occurred.
The Manipulation
Here the students arrive and sit in their normal places, chatting and visiting with each other and greeting our victims and me with their usual friendly insolence. So far, our victims are unaware of their coming demise.
Once more the class presentation begins with Dave introducing the topic and saying a few words about his presentation. He then gets a count of who believes TCM can supplement Western medicine or Western medicine can supplement TCM. The final count showed a class pretty evenly divided between the positive and the negative. Dave continues his portion of the lecture.
John follows and presents his half of the presentation, emphasizing that the debate will be on the ability to mix the two medical philosophies or not.
The conspiracy develops as the students listen intently to the two victims and what they had to say.
The two victims become more animated as it appears the class has become very enthusiastic about what they have to say. They are clueless about the ongoing setup.
Students and teachers interact in what appears to be a dynamic and interesting interactive session with a great presentation. What more would teachers ask for?
Here, Craig uses his English skills to entice the victims into thinking that they are beyond successful in their presentation about the two philosophies of medicine. It is obvious that both Dave and John have bought into the idea that this class is heavily involved in the lesson. They are becoming more and more excited about how well they must be doing.
Lory, too, continues with the theme of discussing the two sides by asking pertinent questions to string the victims along.
All the students are now sitting on the side against mixing the two medical philosophies. The two victims are now in anxiety mode as what to do next.
The students, having seen the two victims begin to buy into the internal arguments as genuine, show their smugness at their obvious success.
To finalize the buy-in of the victims, Mr. Winter tries to calm her classmates down and then tries to infiltrate and sympathize with the victims anxiety and let them know it is ok to have this argument.
Mr. Rio, however, pushes the idea of a problem, reaction and solution to ease the storm now gathering between the various factions of the class. His efforts further erode the confidence of the two victims now in full panic mode.
Once more Mr. Daniel is attacked for his outrageous beliefs concerning TCM. Ms. Shirley is adamant and relentless in her attacks on Mr. Daniel and his philosophy.
Mr. Daniel continues to defend himself against the attacks of both Ms. Shirley and Ms. Sabrina. He even begins to call them superstitious and uneducated and ask them why they waste their time in college. Tempers begin to flare.
It is time for some disinformation to further confuse the victims. Here Amelia confounds the universe with her statements of facts about TCM. She uses several ploys to convince the victims that she is sincere in her statements. The victims are duped into believing her stories.
Ms. Lory again, working as a decoy, tries to obviously calm things down to make the victims believe that the students are now involved in this heated discussion.
The two victims buy into the discussion and the events totally. They are both convinced that the argument was East versus West and that an air of hostility now exists among the students over this issue.
“bait and switch”
plots within plots
problem, reaction, solution (thesis, antithesis, synthesis)
By using part or all of these techniques, one can successfully pull off a “sting” or “set up” for fun and/or profit. We apply these techniques to set up our very own Gap Guys - Dave and John.
Because the Gap Guys were scheduled to go to Chengdu last Monday, I had enough time to develop and implement this setup with my Sophomore Class 1 using the upcoming Presentation and Debate on Eastern and Western Medicine. The debate would center on whether or not one could mix Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with Western medicine. We decided to develop a "plot within a plot" where some selected students would argue for and against TCM rather than for and against the mixing of the two. Of course, our plans had to be kept secret.
The Secret
The plans were kept secret and everyone involved swore an oath to this secrecy. This secret plan was devised, developed and then recorded on this special edible paper in case a leak of the plan occurred.The Victims
Of course, our victims were the Gap Guys and we all figured they would be easy targets for this conspiracy. This would also be payback for their missing class the previous Monday to attend some dumb wedding with Dr. Robert Liu.
Gap Guy #1 Code Name - John
Gap Guy #2 Code Name - Dave
The Manipulation
In order to pull this setup off, we all had to act natural and conduct ourselves as if everything was in order.
Here the students arrive and sit in their normal places, chatting and visiting with each other and greeting our victims and me with their usual friendly insolence. So far, our victims are unaware of their coming demise.
Once more the class presentation begins with Dave introducing the topic and saying a few words about his presentation. He then gets a count of who believes TCM can supplement Western medicine or Western medicine can supplement TCM. The final count showed a class pretty evenly divided between the positive and the negative. Dave continues his portion of the lecture.
John follows and presents his half of the presentation, emphasizing that the debate will be on the ability to mix the two medical philosophies or not. 
The conspiracy develops as the students listen intently to the two victims and what they had to say.
The two victims become more animated as it appears the class has become very enthusiastic about what they have to say. They are clueless about the ongoing setup.
Students and teachers interact in what appears to be a dynamic and interesting interactive session with a great presentation. What more would teachers ask for?The Decoys
All successful conspiracies and set ups have a few well-placed decoys to insure the victims follow along to the trap.
Here, Craig uses his English skills to entice the victims into thinking that they are beyond successful in their presentation about the two philosophies of medicine. It is obvious that both Dave and John have bought into the idea that this class is heavily involved in the lesson. They are becoming more and more excited about how well they must be doing. 
Lory, too, continues with the theme of discussing the two sides by asking pertinent questions to string the victims along.The Crossover To Build Anxiety
Every successful setup has to build anxiety with its intended victims, where the victims are then easily "hooked" and are pretty well sold on the deal. When asked to change sides if they have changed their minds, the students all move to the left side - "against the mixing of the two medicines." In utter disbelief, the two victims watch as their debate dwindles to a probable one-sided affair. Anxious for a successful completion of their class, they are now ready for the hook.
All the students are now sitting on the side against mixing the two medical philosophies. The two victims are now in anxiety mode as what to do next.The Hook
Mr. Daniel is our "hook." Here he proposes the "buy in" debate of West versus East Medicine instead of the proposed TCM/Western Medicine supplementary arguments. A brilliant and classical "bait and switch" operation where Mr. Daniel proposes that we must first delineate between the two philosophies of medicine before we can go further. He brings up statistics to show that 67% of all Western trained doctors have studied or have a working knowledge of TCM while no TCM doctor has a working knowledge of Western medicine. He further shows that TCM has lost favor in the minds of the educated Chinese who want something more scientific. He then challenges anyone to show him this concept in TCM call "qi."
Mr. Daniel is our "hook." Here he proposes the "buy in" debate of West versus East Medicine instead of the proposed TCM/Western Medicine supplementary arguments. A brilliant and classical "bait and switch" operation where Mr. Daniel proposes that we must first delineate between the two philosophies of medicine before we can go further. He brings up statistics to show that 67% of all Western trained doctors have studied or have a working knowledge of TCM while no TCM doctor has a working knowledge of Western medicine. He further shows that TCM has lost favor in the minds of the educated Chinese who want something more scientific. He then challenges anyone to show him this concept in TCM call "qi."
Mr. Sabrina, red-faced and angry, attacks Mr. Daniel personally and philosophically. How dare he say such things about TCM! It is one of the bedrocks of Chinese culture. How dare he casually put 5000 years of Chinese medicine in the trash and throw it away. Her arguments are tinged with disgust and hatred forcing the Gap Guys to try to calm her down. Their anxiety is now controlling their actions as they are on the verge of losing the class to these internal arguments.
The Buy In
The students, having seen the two victims begin to buy into the internal arguments as genuine, show their smugness at their obvious success.
To finalize the buy-in of the victims, Mr. Winter tries to calm her classmates down and then tries to infiltrate and sympathize with the victims anxiety and let them know it is ok to have this argument. 
Mr. Rio, however, pushes the idea of a problem, reaction and solution to ease the storm now gathering between the various factions of the class. His efforts further erode the confidence of the two victims now in full panic mode.
Once more Mr. Daniel is attacked for his outrageous beliefs concerning TCM. Ms. Shirley is adamant and relentless in her attacks on Mr. Daniel and his philosophy. 
Mr. Daniel continues to defend himself against the attacks of both Ms. Shirley and Ms. Sabrina. He even begins to call them superstitious and uneducated and ask them why they waste their time in college. Tempers begin to flare.
It is time for some disinformation to further confuse the victims. Here Amelia confounds the universe with her statements of facts about TCM. She uses several ploys to convince the victims that she is sincere in her statements. The victims are duped into believing her stories.
Ms. Lory again, working as a decoy, tries to obviously calm things down to make the victims believe that the students are now involved in this heated discussion. 
The two victims buy into the discussion and the events totally. They are both convinced that the argument was East versus West and that an air of hostility now exists among the students over this issue. Not until the class ended, did I tell them that they had been had by a classical "GOTCHA."
No comments:
Post a Comment