"Having an argument with the professor!"

Such scenes are great- they provide drama and tension and action and fun!

Some basic ground rules-

If your character just had an argument with a professor- do not have another for a WEEK.

Seriously.

NO ONE argued that much in Hogwarts.  Full stop.  Even Harry V Snape was interspered with WEEKS in between, months at times.

So when you have more than one argukmnet with a porfessor in a seven day period- you are coming across as WAY full on alright.

Expect a serious repsonse iC.

 

Getting into trouble

That is to be expected from many.  Everyone gets into trouble at some point (even Hermoine!)

IC reponse from a character 'in troiuble' CAN be 'I am being picked on'.

Totally acceptable.

But ONLY for a limited time.

That repsonse is self-destructive to the game- as much as a player might LIKE playing a selfish brat, it is NOT fun for other players to be around.

Dealing with RL selfish brats I can assure you that it is a toxic environment that is unpleasent to be in.

Continued and prologued useage of this character type will create a enviromment wherein other players will not like to interact.

Given the choice- creating a enviroment that most players want to play in or crushing a single players dreams of the ideal role-play situation- I stomp upon the single player with glee!

After a response of 'I am the victim', character MUST show a partual epiphany.

Justification of such a ruling:

ALL Hufflepuffs who said Harry was the heir of Slytherin changed their minds; all the Gryffindors who wre horrible to Harry changed their mind; Malfroy who was a total bad guy, betrays the Dark Lord in the end etc.

WHich leads us to the next often scene thing...

"I hate the teacher"

So did Harry.

Harry Potter- THE Harry Potter hated Snape.

Snape hated Harry Potter- and guess what?

HARRY TOOK IT!

And guess what?

So will you!

That moment of 'open defiance in frount of a teacher' is a great set peice.  Cool.

But afterwards- If you do not role-play 'Oh my GOD what did I just do" then you are NOT role-playing a Hogwarts student.

You are either showing that-

a- You the player don't take crap from the man!

or

b- Working out issues from high school.

To which we smile and say:

a- We do not give a damn- you may not your character SO does- if not- create an damn adult!

b- Call a shrink.  Work it out!  NOT in our game.

Maybe take up jobbing?

Have a fruit cup?

A word of advice to Professors (and students who interact with them)

Professors usually do not get into arguments with students.

You all remember when you were at school and tecahers would say 'because i say so' and it would be real fustrating and you would go 'How dumb is that?" and rile at not being treated as an equal.

That is deliberate.

We teachers in RL no longer have the right to gang up on mouthy kids and smash their faces in. 

SIGH! 

Those were the days.

So, authority must come now from a series of PSYCHOLOGICAL punches to the face.

One of which is this- and trust me this is a conerstone of all teachehing in all places...

Students are NEVER allowed to be treated as equals to teachers.  because they are not.

If a teacher SAYS students are euqals he is just saying it to manipulate them.

In real life schools across the world young people try and engage teachers in argumenst wherein they get the teachers to answer back as equals.  That is what they wish (the actual arguments are unimportant).

Even the best teacher can slip up and argue back. 

The correct response is to smile and refuse the argument and say 'Because I say so'.

And guess what?

They win.

ALWAYS

Because they do indeed say so.

This leads to tool number two- professors/teachers may HATE each other.

They NEVER admit it to students faces.

Students MUST be kept DOWN, in their place and obeying.

Any break in the ranks and guess what?

You undermine the other teacher AND you undermine YOU.

(trust me on this I have had to lecture other teachers on this in rl)

Now that moment of epihany wherein folks may have role-played a great and noble rebellion because you were in the RIGHT!

YAY!

Now be prepared to be crucified IC.

And TAKE IT!

Role-play contrition and a desire to fit in!

Yes it may be an injustice- but thats the horror of young teenagers- they CONFORM!

They cannot help themselves.  They conform!

Teenagers are after all more conservative than a room filled with Elderly GOP supporters!

They are more reactionary than surf nazi's!!!

They conform and blend in faster than 400 stick insects finding a room filled with twigs!

 

Please remember- it is fun to have your characters "Dawsons Creek" moment.

I WANT your characters to have their "Dawsons Creek" moment!

As long as you accept that:

a- Unlike Dawsons creek, Rowlings characters always paid a price for their outbursts!

b- CONTRITION is just as important.

((this goes for headboys and headgirls who are put into a seniority position by the headmaster who by his directive speak for him and have the authority to give and take points, give punishments etc.  they are the lead students and are to be treated by students as junior faculty))

 

Read carefully:

I will NEVER allow someone go 'Well, that's it!  They said X about my character!  My character will never forgive them!'

That is not an excuse- that is a psychosis.

Your character will damn well do whatever the hell you want it to do it is merely a imaginary figment of your imagination yeah?  So leave THAT lame ole excuse away from me- I have no time for it psycho child!

Carthasis and contrition are important dramatic techniques.

Remember ALL players- you ahev an obligation in this campaign:

OTHER PLAYERS ARE AUDIENCE!

Please play accordingly and look towards improving youir dramatic techqniues always.

Now before folks start responding, please look at the following repsosnes you are pwn'ed if you say!

"He is picking on me!  He is having a go at my recent scene?"

DId I say you by name?  Nope- i did not.  Please get over yaself- this has been going on for ages and I have said all of this before.  Many times.

I am just repeating stuff.

"So the new RULE is that we are not allowed to do THIS eh?  But then you allowed..."

Ok, no new rules.

I do not do rules.

I do 'homespun advice'- I leave it open so that i can ignore this if I wish and use it to beat folks over the head with if I want.

I offer guidelines and practical advice- NOT rules (unless someone keep pushing it- and then I will issue THEM rules).

"Hey you keep using Canonas an excuse, but you allow X happen and Y happen and Z happen and that is NOt canon, so that means I can..."

No.  it does not.

Any canon diviation is usually done after much debate.  And chances are it is because of SL not by choice.

I will argument with anyone who says otherwise.

And we ALLOW you break canon.

No one is stopping you.

We just insist you take the consequneces IC.

NO this is not personal.

Stop acting that someone has spoiled YOUR parade!

They have not.

"Actually my IC actions are motivated because of an ooc argument- because someone is OOC cheating and I..."

Stop right now.

bring proof or know all you have is perception.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Start saying its gospel without proof its a smeer campaign and I start saying words like 'liar'- yeah?

TALK TO ME if there are concerns- but do NOT get upset if tgere is no proof OK.

Perceptions and reality are two differing things yeah?

Me shuts up and orders bigger pianos!

IM me if you have issues- i ALWAYS am happy to chat about stuff like this!

-Danton Thirroul