Classroom Crusades 2 : The Tyrants Strike Back

This is a sequel to one of my previous posts which compared a classroom to a battlefield and assigned different ranks to different students as well as described various battle strategies. In case you’re interested in reading the same, please follow the link : http://anthropocentricity.blogspot.com/2008/03/classroom-crusades.html

Now that the rebellious faction that fights for the great cause has been described, it is now time to shed light on the Oppressive Tyrants against whom they fight.

For the uninitiated, the Tyrants are the faculty and administration of an educational institute. The tyrants have a tiered ranking structure as well and have different positions for different roles. They also have different battle plans to oppress, decimate and discourage the soldiers from open rebellion. The Oppressive Tyrants exist for the sole purpose of torturing the Soldiers of The Great Cause and feel threatened by the existence of these noble souls. They are forever vigilant and ready to perform unspeakable acts of cruelty to inhibit the Soldiers from gaining any sort of ground and digressing from their defined Propaganda.

The following are the different ranks of the Tyrants based on their capabilities and requirements.

1. Zombies – These are amongst the lowest ranks of the Tyrants, forming the majority of their strength. They are brainless creatures who just go through the regular motions with no care or concern about what is happening around them. They find their strengths in numbers and are found in large congregations on the Battlefield. They have the ability to ensure that everything around them rots and that the Soldiers of the Great Cause become brain dead after prolonged interaction. They gradually increase in strength over a period of time and have the ability to regenerate time and time again.

2. Banshees – Banshees are the deafening creatures whose howl is known to be a precursor to the death of the soldier of The Great Cause. The wail of the banshee is known to strike fear in the hearts of the soldiers and they can be found in significant numbers in the ranks of the tyrants. Banshees are known to announce their arrival to the battlefield with a loud, shrill wail. Banshees primarily exist to demoralise the soldiers so that stronger Tyrants may strike. The banshees ensure that all soldiers who hear their voice are tormented and fatigued. A special skill of the banshees is the ability to put Soldiers in a state of restless, prolonged slumber, making them extremely vulnerable and prone to direct assault.

3. Ghouls – They are the lowest ranks among the Oppressive Tyrants and lack direct combat skills. They are adept at indirect combat and negative tactics. They are normally the low level administrative staff that can create problems if they refuse to cooperate and help out. Ghouls do not possess a direct threat to the soldiers, but they have been capable of causing pandemonium in certain cases when used effectively.

4. Succubus/Incubus – These are a very dangerous sect of the tyrants, and are extremely deceptive in nature. They pretend to be sympathetic to The Great Cause and feign sympathy to the Soldiers, but at crucial moments drop the mask and wreak havoc. They are intelligence gatherers of the Tyrants and are masters of disguise, known to penetrate deep into the ranks of the Soldiers before the Warlords or Commandoes discover their identities. Succubae and Incubi are responsible for several failed initiatives and setbacks to The Great Cause. The special attack of these creatures is known to be able to put entire battalions into their most vulnerable and defenceless state, creating a ripe opportunity to attack. They can sometimes be mistaken for Guardian Angels, which will be explained next.

5. Guardian Angels – A very rare occurrence among the Oppressive Tyrants, they are true sympathisers of The Great Cause, who often work with spies to help dismantle the Oppressive Machine of the Tyrants. They act as the Initial Warning System of the Soldiers allowing them to get into Defensive Formations or launching a Pre-emptive Strike. They are also known to assist in freeing Prisoners of War. They are sources for disinformation amidst the Tyrants and have to constantly remain vigilant. Guardian Angels are known to be confused with Succubus/Incubus because of the known strikes by these creatures which have led to massive losses among the Soldiers.

6. Vampires – These are relentless creatures that are amongst the more feared of the Tyrants. As the name suggests, these creatures suck the life force of the soldiers. Any soldier that comes into direct conflict with Vampires is unlikely to survive as these creatures are known to be absolutely merciless and are not known to stop before their opponent is completely devoid of life. Vampires are extremely powerful but rare, they are mostly in their dormant state but may be awakened by certain events and wreak hell. It is unlikely that a Vampire will be pacified without an appropriate sacrifice. They are the ones that relentlessly ask questions and can sense what you don’t know and capitalise on that.

7. Death Knights – The most feared Warriors amongst The Oppressive Tyrants. The mere sight of this creature on the battlefield is enough to create panic and pandemonium amidst the ranks of the Soldiers. Catalysts of Doom, these soldiers rip through the revolutionaries and leave chaos in their wake. Very few Soldiers can actually survive the onslaught of the Death Knight. Capable of Mass Destruction, these warriors have access to the most advanced and dreaded fighting techniques which along with their strength makes them a formidable foe. They are normally the ones who formulate battle plans and demonic rituals along with the Liches to harass the Soldiers. They are the ones who are the stingiest with marks during exams.

8. Liches/Demons – They are the weaker but more intelligent warriors that occupy a similar stature as the Death Knights. What they lack in brute force, they compensate for it by dark rites and demonic strategies. The thinkers among the Oppressive Tyrants, they are aware of the weaknesses in the ranks of the revolutionaries and know exactly where and how to strike. Though small in numbers, they are very dangerous. They avoid direct conflict but are one of the most lethal foes of The Great Cause. They are the ones who set the examination papers along with The Death Knights.

9. Dread Lords – The King of the Hill, occupying the highest seat of power in the ranks of The Oppressive Tyrants. There are just one or two Dread Lords in any congregation of Tyrants and are the rule makers and supreme authority. They hold the fate of the entire battlefield in their hands and are capable of almost any inhumane act imaginable. They may be a threat to The Oppressive Tyrants as well during fits of rage because of which they are kept far away from direct conflict, except in extreme circumstances which lead to Cataclysmic outcomes. They are the heads of academic institutions.

The Oppressive Tyrants don’t really have, nor do they need much of a strategy. They have just one motive, which as the name suggests is to have a reign of chaos and terror to torture the Soldiers and Revolutionaries. Suppressing them and making their life hell, ensuring eternal suffering. Their abilities are as follows :

1. Nightmare – The ability of the tyrants to induce a restless slumber among the Soldiers. This is a very commonly adapted strategy and is an inherent ability found in almost every tier of the Tyrants. A special form of the ability is “The Song of the Siren” which is used by Banshees which can induce nightmares amongst mass numbers and render entire battalions defenceless. Nightmares are commonly adapted by Succubus/Incubus to create vulnerabilities after infiltrating the ranks of the Tyrants just before a full scale assault is initiated.

2. Dark Ritual – One of the most dreaded abilities of the tyrants. An innate characteristic of liches and death knights, the dark ritual is the event that takes place to strike at the heart of the tyrants, hitting them where it hurts the most. Dark rituals take place on a periodic basis giving soldiers time to prepare for the same, but preparations are often futile as the rite is often accompanied by thunderbolts. They are used for mass eradication of the soldiers. This is the act of setting the exam paper and then taking examinations.

3. Thunderbolt - A quick, sudden, unexpected strike which is often lethal. The strategy is a huge threat because of the element of surprise. Intensity of the strike normally depends on the evil intent behind it. This strike may have a single target or can be designed for splash damage. This is a tricky or unexpected question in class or in an exam. This is normally a morale breaking activity practiced frequently to prevent the soldiers from being aggressive and to ensure soldier attacks are at a minimum. For splash damage, it may also be used as a Surprise Test to affect every soldier on the battleground.

4. Firewall - One of the more dreaded, yet easily executable abilities of the tyrants in which revolutionaries are denied access to certain areas by an impregnable barrier erected solely for this purpose. Firewall prohibits soldiers from reaching the battlefield giving the tyrants a strategic edge. In laymen terms, it is what happens when the door is locked and the teacher does not allow you to enter the classroom.

5. Mark of Death - sometimes a revolutionary is singled out and considered a severe threat to the Tyrants and their Oppression Machine. These revolutionaries are then given the mark of death and find themselves on the receiving end of a series of relentless strikes till they break down completely. This is the situation when a teacher continually picks on a particular student at every possible opportunity, ensuring that he suffers perpetually and succumbs to their will.

6. Reanimate Dead/Necromancy – This is a powerful ability possessed exclusively the upper echelons of the Tyrants and is the reason behind the sustenance of their Regime. This ability is used to resurrect the fallen Tyrants when they succumb to the attacks of the soldiers of The Great Cause. The senior tyrants have the ability to restore the fallen to either their previous forms or in a newer role if necessary. Sometimes the tyrants reanimate their comrades just to strengthen a particular division of their ranks. This is what happens when students successfully break a teacher, and the other teachers express solidarity. Reanimation is often followed by intense onslaughts by the Tyrants.

7. Anathema – A severe curse or damnation consigned to a soldier or a battalion, which marks them for all the Tyrants, so that they remain more vigilant about their activities and ensure that these revolutionaries are on the receiving end of greater onslaughts. This seemingly simple looking ability can be used treacherously by alleviating the targets, attempting to have their comrades turn against them, thus defeating the targets as well sowing seeds of confusion amongst the soldiers of The Great Cause, resulting in huge setbacks. This is either targeting some students or a sudden change of heart towards a particular group of students, making others suspicious.

8. Impale – One of the most underhanded techniques which is capable of bringing even the strongest of the soldiers down to their knees. This ability is used to deny the Soldiers something that is rightfully theirs. This barbaric act is the display of power used by Tyrants to ensure that the Soldiers do not try to overreach themselves. This is often use to cripple morale and is considered one of the most heinous acts performed by the Tyrants. i.e Denial of attendance, or unfair correction of answer sheets.

9. Armageddon – The ultimate ability controlled by the Tyrants. Normally restricted to Dread Lords, this ability has dire consequences to the target, ensuring complete and total annihilation of his physical and mental being. An extremely potent technique, it is sparingly used and is reserved only for the worst case scenarios as it may have unwanted fallouts for the Tyrants as well. An ability to temporarily end all resistance and completely decimate the soldiers of The Great Cause, the knowledge of this ability ensures that the revolutionaries are in a perpetual state of terror. This is the ability to expel someone from the institution.

10. Plague/Pestilence – Signature ability of the ghouls. This is when these otherwise unimportant Tyrants use their skills to putrefy the battlefield, rendering it unfit for Soldiers, reducing morale and hindering smooth execution of battle plans to advance The Great Cause. A temporary ability, this can be used in conjunction with abilities like Nightmare for enhanced effectiveness. This is basically an administrative strike leading to non-cooperation of the institution. Unclean classrooms, too much of paperwork, lack of chairs etc.

11. Eternal Damnaation - This is an extremely cruel ritual, which is often practiced by the Tyrants in order to prolong the agony of the Brave Soldiers. It involves extra acts of cruelty, extending beyond their stipulated battle time. It is used to deter surprise attacks and decrement the amount of time available to forward The Great Cause. It basically means conducting extra classes and special lectures.

Note : Since the post describes an enemy (i.e. Teachers), all characters and abilities have been made evil. Some may be a little unusual, so please feel free to ask me if you cant understand the reference.

ty·rant[tahy-ruhnt]

–noun

1. a sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively or unjustly.
2. any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically.
3. a tyrannical or compulsory influence.
4. an absolute ruler, esp. one in ancient Greece or Sicily.

Chat Attack

I have been intending to write about Internet Communication through instant messaging, or simply put Internet Chat for quite a while, but was just too lazy to do so. Today, I am being deprived of the internet as the link is down in my hostel, so, I felt that I should write about it as I don’t have anything better to do. I am not going to write about how it works or how it has made communication easier, brought people closer etc etc... I am just going to write about my state of mind when it comes to Instant Messaging and my philosophy behind my status messages. It is probably a very irrelevant topic for most people, who actually have something to do in life, but the basic premise that defines people who bother to read my blog is that they (which is you) have nothing better to do in life at that point of time. This is a pathetic attempt on your part to bring some colour to your otherwise dull, dreary existence (Don’t get me wrong, your reading my blog is highly appreciated, leaving a comment will be even more appreciated).

I was exposed to the internet when I was 12 years old and at that time it didn’t really interest me too much, so I preferred playing games instead. I had very little idea about what chat was at that time so I hardly talked to anyone over the net for the first few years. Eventually when I got to know how the thing worked, I was hooked for a while, but it was a pretty short phase. Soon, many of my friends became net addicts and I could finally develop a friend list. Of course, we had a very slow connection at the time, so it was more convenient to talk to them over the phone, and it was much quicker and cheaper as well. Internet and especially Chat became an effective tool once I reached college and all my friends were segregated in different cities of our country. We were independent for the first time and making phone calls was fairly expensive, so this was a much cheaper alternative. Also, almost everyone in my college had internet access so talking to them became easier as well. SMS was free where I did my engineering but if the person was online in front of you, it was easier this way. There were plenty of sessions talking to friends in different hostels, or just abusing the other person for the fun of it. Often 2-3 people would notice one guy online and then release the floodgates with a barrage of curses and abuses, with a reciprocal response as well.

Chat really became effective during vacations to stay in touch with everyone. There is a particular cadre of friends who are good friends, but not good enough for you to actually call them up, these are the ones with whom Internet becomes the only method of communication (I am not sure how many people have different categories of friends. I know I have several distinct categories). Social networking sites have also helped a lot in this regard. Now I am in my third phase of life as I am doing my MBA and so I have three types of friends in my contact list. Friends from school, the ones from my engineering, and the ones who are my current batch mates. One very weird observation that I made was that despite having a much larger number of friends from Engineering in my contact list, I seem to notice more of my MBA friends in my chat list nowadays. During my engineering it was with my friends from college. This seems weird, to me at least, but this is what is happening somehow and I have not been able to come up with a reasonable explanation for the same.

I have some fairly clear cut principles when it comes to Instant Messaging. I always keep my status as busy, so that I have plausible deniability in case I do not reply to a person for any reason whatsoever. In the few rare occasions that I am actually “Available”, it normally means I am absolutely free and am encouraging people to talk to me. I have had complaints from people that I don’t initiate conversations, but I have a reason for that. I normally assume that people have something better to do in life than actually talk to me, so I mostly wait for them to start the dialog. I don’t want to intrude or feel unwanted which prohibits me from starting conversations. Besides, it may be coincidental, but you often notice someone online when you log in and they instantly go offline, sometimes I can’t help but wonder whether the person wishes to avoid me, so I avoid starting conversations as far as I can.

Status Messages are a fairly new concept. I know it has been around for a couple of years, but I never really gave it too much of a thought until recently when people started coming up with interesting and innovative messages. I have some principles which guide my status messages as well. I mostly use status messages written in Third Person, so that it seems that I have said that thing, or am saying that at that point of time. They may also be something absolutely irrelevant and idiotic, and at this point of time I would like to quote a couple of them. My favourite one is : “Sachai Jeetegi Jab Loha Chalega, Aandhi Ke Saath Darwaza Khulega” and one that I kept for a while is “ Tam Tamatar Tam, Tamatar Khayein Hum, Angrez Ka Bacha Kya Jaane, Angrezi Jaane Hum”. These are absolutely irrelevant messages which normally indicate that I am either irritated or in one of my hyperactive phases. Interaction at this time can be entertaining or perilous.

My third person messages normally indicate my willingness or lack of it to talk and contain subtle sarcasm which I feel people will understand. Not that most people do. For some people my status messages are irrelevant, for them I am always available, unless and until I am idle, which means that I am away from the computer at that point of time and will genuinely not be able to respond. Sometimes, though not often, I am actually busy and feel that the other person should not contact me, but my innovative messages bring about my downfall, which is a paradox. Of late my status message has made a futile attempt to promote my blog, so I am not sure how many people will actually read what I have written here.
Chat has been a lot of fun, and it is normally fun to analyse the status messages of others as well. Some people believe that their status message should reflect every event that is happening in their life, and when they are online, you know what they are undergoing at that point of time. I don’t subscribe to this school of thought and often mock such people. Others believe in having quotes or random messages, depending on their mood. Some people don’t like using this feature and just use the default “Available” or “Busy” messages. Some people have weird messages which often compel me to ask them what it means. It is of course a welcome feature, and adds a degree of personalisation and uniqueness to your profile and helps in understanding whether the other person is willing to interact or not.

I can’t end this without mentioning display names and images. I feel quite irritated by people who change their names according to the situation, sometimes it becomes difficult to know who the person actually is. During vacations there can be several people who have a name ‘back home’. Now understanding which is which becomes a fairly daunting task. Display images are another issue. I get really annoyed by people who use pictures of celebrities as their images, I fail to see the logic behind it. Random images of inanimate objects or patterns are still better in my opinion, but there is a probability of more than one person having the same image. Of course if you can put up your own picture, that definitely makes the most sense to me.

If you feel I have written something inappropriate or you want to discuss something, send me an IM, or leave a comment. We can Chat and sort it out.


expression [ik-spresh-uh n] 
–noun
1. The act of expressing or setting forth in words: the free expression of political opinions.
2. A particular word, phrase, or form of words: old-fashioned expressions.
3. The manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing: delicacy of expression.
4. The power of expressing in words: joy beyond expression.
5. Indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution: the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.
6. The quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc.:a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.
7. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.
8. Linguistics. the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (opposed to meaning).
9. Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (opposed to content).

Scenes From A Dance Floor

I felt that a few of my previous posts are complaints about certain issues. So, this post is an observation rather than a complaint.

A few days ago I made my first visit to an actual hardcore discotheque. Now I have been to many parties and discs in Manipal, but this was my first visit to a reputed one. I would like to clarify my position and credibility first. I am a non-smoking teetotaller (Which means I am never intoxicated, but whether or not I am in my senses is debatable), who is not the life of a party but more of a passive observer. I have been to my share of parties, and have handled more than my share of intoxicated people over the last four years and have been keenly making observations since. The behaviour and antics on display in these situations have been able to intrigue me and amuse me over the years. In this post, I will try to classify people and groups into different categories, and being obsessed with generalising my observations, will ensure that this applies to all people across the universe.

First, a brief description of the prevailing scene. It was a freshers party to welcome our new batch which was organised in one of the most happening discotheques in the city (or at least that’s what I was told). The place was really nice though, no complaints. Well made, good music, really good speakers, lights, fog all that is expected from a decent nightclub. Exorbitantly priced, to put it in perspective, a one litre bottle of mineral water cost 100 rupees and there was no provision for normal drinking water. Necessity really is the mother of all evil. The party went on till after 2:30 am and I stayed on till the very end in order to properly observe the nocturnal rites. The crowd was pretty much from our college with the majority being our batch, as expected. Unfortunately the place was absolutely packed, with around 700 people in a room that maybe had a capacity of around 400. So, during the peak time, it was difficult to move, leave alone dance on the floor. This didn’t necessarily prevent people from trying though.

As it was a freshers party, people didn’t actually know most of the others of the batch. Sure plenty of groups of friends had already been formed, either from a division, or from the hostels, and even groups of people who came from a particular city (Not taking any names). And during the first few weeks of college, and this is something that I write after previous observations, people are quite eager to expand their circle of friends, especially amongst the opposite gender.

For this particular party, the high price of alcohol ensured that people were quite sober and there were no mishaps. The regular binge went on with no particular drama. People initially waited for crowds to gather, and then one by one, groups descended on to the dance floor, and goaded each other to start. Then, dancing or the ritual that takes place when several members of the species gather in dimly lit environments followed by vigorous movements of the body ensued. Groups continued to gather strength, often accompanied by loud roars when a new member joined in and increased the intensity of the dance. Some participants chose their role as sideliners, taking up a position at the edge and continued to observe the activities, with some likeminded individuals, with some sort of intoxicating accessory in hand. Most of the times I play the role of an observer, equipped with a camera to photograph the activities for better documentation, but this time I decided against it and chose to be more of an active observer.

What I found interesting was not the merry making, but the different types of groups and their behaviours. In the remainder of the post I will classify different groups according to my observations.

1. The Oblivious Observers (O2) : This group is a variable size group and is not gender specific. It mainly comprises of a group of people who are at the sidelines and are oblivious to the events taking place at the venue. They are normally a group of friends who are content with their lives, and are just physically present there, adding to the headcount. They cannot be bothered by the festivities or the antics of the others. They could be anywhere and would probably exhibit similar behaviour.

2. The Self Absorbed Participants (SAP) : This group generally comprises of a healthy ratio of members of both sexes and is quite actively involved in the festivities. They are self sufficient and do not require any other involvement from any other member present at the venue. The group goes about with their activities the way they want to, and may not care about any of the others present. The rude often appears rude and inconsiderate as they may resort to hooliganism.

3. The Critics : These are the people who tend to comment and criticise on every single person and activity going on and consider them to be too superior to join the mere mortals in their merry making. They often feel that they have wasted a precious evening coming to the event, and would have been better off anywhere else. They may decide to change their stance and change their group type, or may just get too bored and leave.

4. The Black Sheep (TBS) : These are the people who feel that they do not belong and are desperate to blend in with the others. They are without their usual friends, and continuously try to fit in with any of the other groups. The amount of persistence depends varies for every individual, and there is normally a very high probability that a black sheep after several unsuccessful events may give up, go home or become a Critic.

5. The Jumpers : These are a set of people who have too many friends and groups that they can handle and divide their time in between groups. They are often found in transit from one group to another and may convince other members of a previous group to jump as well. Jumpers often get together to form a SAP group, although the life of this ad hoc group is often short lived.

6. The Infiltrators : This is a group which is not perfectly satisfied with its existence and feels the need to merge with another group in order to enhance their experience. It is different from TBS in the sense that, they already have friends and a group so they aren’t extremely desperate. Yet, they feel it is in their best interest to join forces. They party with the motto “The More, The Merrier”.

7. The Vulnerable : This group is quite similar to the Infiltrators, as in it is a group willing to merge with others provided they meet their requirements, but will not initiate a merger on its own. It will wait for individuals or groups to approach them and judging by their decision, accept or reject them into their circle. They are quite eager to have people join in but will not bother to make efforts to gather people.

8. The Closed User Group (CUG) : This is the exact opposite to the Vulnerable. This is a group that does not want any other member to join in and will ignore and discourage any attempts of infiltration. In case someone does manage to enter the group uninvited and unwanted, the group does not hesitate to initiate rejection tactics and get rid of the person en haste. This group is very close knit and believes in doing most tasks together.

9. The Two Is Company Group : This group comprises of couples who wish to remain hidden in plain sight. Who do not want anyone to bother them at any time. They are mostly found in the more secluded areas of the venue. There weren’t many such groups present during this particular party, but I am sure as time progresses, their number will steadily increase.

10. The Whirlpools : This group is similar to the vulnerables, but is quite aggressive, as in it tends to absorb other members and groups to its own if it feels that they may be an asset. The group encourages participation and is always on the lookout for new members. Once it finds a target, it uses several different means to merge them into their group.

11. The Missing In Action (MIA) : These are the members or groups that have been invited, but due to some reason fail to show up. Or if they do come, leave shortly after and their presence is missed.

12. The Stimulus Seekers (S2) : These are individuals who are waiting for certain events to take place before they can be activated and get in the party mode. The events may be the arrival of their group or just waiting to be coaxed. Once activated these individuals may go berserk and exhibit the wilder side of humans.

I have observed that over a period of time, people may become members of different groups and may acquire different roles. It is quite possible that most people have played one of the above roles and may even have played every single role mentioned, several of them in a single party as well.


dance[dans, dahns] 
–verb (used without object)
1. To move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music.
2. To leap, skip, etc.
3. To bob up and down.
–noun
4. A successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually executed to music.
5. The art of dancing: to study dance.
6. A social gathering or party for dancing.
7. A piece of music suited in rhythm or style to a particular form of dancing.
8. Animal Behavior. a stylized pattern of movements performed by an animal, as a bird in courtship display, or an insect, as a honeybee in indicating a source of nectar.