Burn Unit VS. lowteck





lowteck:

In my campaign I exposed Burn Unit's dark secrets and his evil family empire. He had the nerve to deny proven links to terrorists as well as Stalin.

I built weapons and conducted office wargames. I defeated the terrorist forces with a stunning victory!

"What is absurd and monstrous about war is that men who have no personal quarrel should be trained to murder one another in cold blood."

~Aldous Huxley

CHAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGE





Burn Unit:

Nobody realized this at the time, and I've kept it more or less secret until now but... I was spoiling for a fight. Seriously! Back in the Sean-vs-Bubblesort days Sean told me he "highly recommended" tasking on a deadline. It focused the mind he said. I liked the image of the high wire solo tasking on strict time, and I had been feeling lethargic and creatively sapped. The problem was I try to be nice, plus I wanted it to happen somewhat organically, like for a reason. So I wandered all over SF0.org looking for ways to poke various bears or stir up hornets' nests.

I guess I'm not very good at it--or far too subtle. I tried to get p00n, who called me a "gasbag" to step over that line in private messages, but he didn't--maybe he was waiting for me to do it first. In any case, starting about August 24 I poked and prodded at various places. Darkaardvark didn't bite; Lank, Spar and all the other anti-reading weenies didn't go for it; and honestly I guess I didn't really try very hard with zemaluco.

Even this proof was a little bit of duel bait (though it was an honest attempt at that "koan-like" rendering, and I have a bunch of additional--pretty pointless--notes that I could add to it). It was fueled partly with hopes that someone might comment on it in an ... intemperate fashion. That would have left me an opening; but nobody was really outre about their critique. But then lowteck answered my prayers with his slanderous campaign trail, and we were in business! Really I hope he doesn't take offense that I was itchin' for a fight and used him so casually for my creative muse. On the other hand, he shoulda known that'd be the consequences of his mountainous pile of abuses!

We chatted back and forth about rules and some of the tasks we were considering.

---- shenanigoat on Sep 01 3:58 pm----
do you remember what the seconds did?

---- Burn Unit on Sep 01 11:59 am----
The original rendering of the rules said "you shall choose an SFZero task, of greater-than-level 1 (15 pts) value, that has not been completed by anyone yet." If there's any that haven't been done yet, that would be ideal, imho. But then again, they went ahead and did one that was done before. Of these, I'd settle for Office Arms Race--it seems well suited for dueling. I started work on a take something leave something box a few weeks ago, so that gives me an unfair head start.
JonO

---- lowteck on Sep 01 10:23 am----
i don't remember how the choice of task worked, but i took a cursory glance at the task list:
http://sf0.org/tasks/Office-Arms-Race/
http://sf0.org/tasks/Public-Smear-Campaign/
http://sf0.org/tasks/Take-Something-Leave-Something-Box/

We went with Office Arms Race and well, he kicked my ass. I did learn some interesting things, namely that it might be wise for task duelists to discuss the "frame" for votes in their agreement on the terms.

Tasking on a deadline is a wonderful way to inspire me--pressure prompted, that's me! I'd do it again, or I'd enjoy having artificial or real deadlines imposed on tasks. I believe that's a good reason to vote for this other thing too!