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Discussion: Testing vs Scenarios
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Carnack |
Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 1:34 PM EST
| Post edited: Feb 6 2012, 2:07 PM EST
On this site we on occasion are treated to a scenario by or imaginative users in order to make us work on problem-solving using a real-world scenario.Discussions from these always tend to reveal more about the posters than their ability to solve problems. You'll get groups in one extreme or the other and others promoting moderate or insane strategies to combat the scenario provided. A successful scenario promotes thought. The choice should never be clear. That promotes discussion. When there is no clear right or wrong answer users minds are free to work a little bit. A test however is the dead opposite. There is a defined right and wrong answers and incentives to pick one over the other. The problem is that it does not allow wriggle room. It puts you in a position where you answer the practical (as defined by the test) method or the stupid method (also defined by the test). Example: Pick one: Cut off your foot or run away. One choice is clearly stupid. The other is obviously the proper answer. The test scenario here is often used to challenge the actions of users in a different scenario. However the problem is that the scenario allows for multiple people to percieve the situation in different ways. A test does not. This can involve the additions of emotional variables like charges to care for or something as simple as the addition of a percieved stupid answer. It tends to be clear within a few posts what the OP is looking for. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?
Keyword tags:
Scenarios
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Zee-Man |
1. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 3:52 PM EST
Well put Carnack. I would add that a test seldom needs to have any criteria added since responses are constrained to the answer set. Whereas a scenario often needs to be revisited by the author of the OP to edit in additional information. For instance:Man A encounters Man B; Man B: "Stop or i'll shoot" Question: What do you do? Response: Is it a toy gun or a real gun? The author, on revisiting his thread should then edit with the additional detail Man A encounters Man B who has a real automatic rifle.... All to often scenarios are left hanging as they were written. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
chitoryu12 |
2. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 6:07 PM EST
You've got it, Zee-Man. The worst kind of scenario is one where the creator responds to any criticism or questions with "No, just follow it exactly! This is my scenario, my rules!" If your scenario is being criticized or people are demanding more information, there's a good reason for it. Don't be upset when people are forced to make assumptions because it's too vague.Even then, some scenarios REQUIRE assumptions. You can't realistically know everything about the situation without some kind of magic, so you'll have to either give the PC supernatural abilities or allow them to operate based on the assumptions they make. And NEVER make a scenario if you've already decided on the "correct" answer. It's like a tabletop RPG where the GM railroads the players into a set course of action and denies them the chance to do anything that they haven't already planned for, constantly inventing new reasons and adding more to the situation to close off more and more avenues until only the "right" one remains. It defeats the whole purpose of a thinking exercise. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Carnack |
3. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 6:22 PM EST
| Post edited: Feb 6 2012, 6:26 PM EST
Exactly. This is what has always bothered me about counter scenarios.Scenario 1: Would you raid if you had no food? Scenario Answer: No i'd scavenage and hunt. Counter-Scenario: Would you raid if you had 3 orphans to care for and there was no food for a bajillion miles and your leg was broken and there was a guy with an unloaded rifle and a busload of food right in front of you and he was crippled and had a bad attitude? Do you find this valuable? |
TreeLegs |
4. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 6:27 PM EST
Well put everyone. I was going to stand up on my little soap box, but i realized that all has been said and quite well too.
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LJ126 |
5. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 6:36 PM EST
| Post edited: Feb 6 2012, 6:38 PM EST
Interesting observation Carnack, I never really noticed a distinction but you're absolutely right. The best what-if scenario threads present a dilemma that is flexible and adaptive, with many possible right and wrong answers - all of which may differ from one another in minor nuances, or possibly even in major ways. The stakes should always be high, so that peoples' true colors show. I think that the most important element is a polarized base - you are either for one specific action, or entirely against it, opting for (ideally) the opposite. A "Take the Baby" or "Leave the Baby" type thing, if you will. Carnack, awesome observation, and you are absolutely spot-on here. I'd send a compliment but folks will think I'm hitting on you, and I don't think Maricely is gonna be okay with that. PS: You know what I wanna do now? Develop the ultimate scenario thread. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Carnack |
6. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 7:05 PM EST
Well the thought's been in my head for quite a while. I've seen and participated in some where the overwhelming thought is that if I hang onto my original answer it would not just be incorrect (which is perfectly valid as not every situation supports a single answer) but so stupid that it would be the path of a fool...which seems to be the point.Bend things so that one answer (the one you are challenging) is so ass-backwards that if they stick to it people wonder at their ability to talk without slobbering on themselves. As to your ultimate scenario I have an idea of a good place to start but it may be arrogant to suggest it. Buuut I've been accused of worse so here you go. http://www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com/wiki/zombieprep/thread/4295232/Change+of+Group+Leadership?maxResults=20 Lay down a scenario and as answers come in fill in more info and move things along till the scenario is "solved". However this does break the rules of flexibility and adaptability but that scenario I placed was the most flexible piece I made. In truth it was more a test of MY adaptability than the participants. It's not a great one in terms of flexbility but it would be a good place to start. Do you find this valuable? |
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chitoryu12 |
7. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 9:44 PM EST
My one issue with a "choose your own adventure" scenario style is that unless you restrict it to one person or allow for a small group to come to a consensus on a decision before making their final answer, you'll end up bombarded with possible answers that you have to choose from. It's easy to simply tally up the responses and choose whichever one got the most "votes", but what about a truly flexible scenario where every answer changes?
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Carnack |
8. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 11:40 PM EST
Agreed Chit but to me an ultimate scenario would have to be more than just What would you do if X happened?Person 1: I would definitly not do Y! Person 2: I'd definitly do Y. Person 3: I'd shoot Y in the face with a shotgun and not be bothered a bit! Person 4: I'd try to compromise with Y. Person 5: I'd be nice to Y. He's just misunderstood. It's not his fault he feels the need to do these things! Person 6: I'd kill Y and the rest of my enemies and see their people driven before me and hear the lamentations of their women. It would be interesting to see a result of my choices. That's all I was saying. That's what I always liked about the CYOA stories. Course I inevitably died within a few choices but still :p 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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TreeLegs |
9. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 6 2012, 11:46 PM EST
Generally, I'm Person 4, but if that doesnt work, I dont mind being Person 3 lol
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Sharpie41 |
10. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 7 2012, 12:12 AM EST
We need people like you making tests/scenarios, I am guilty of Chits "already decided on the "correct" answer." (On X-Wolfhunters "General Survival" I made a "Survival Scenario" and I had already made up my mind on things people could do. First and only scenario, at least until I can properly plan out what to add, then let the chips fall where they may
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Carnack |
11. RE: Testing vs Scenarios
Feb 7 2012, 12:13 AM EST
| Post edited: Feb 7 2012, 12:14 AM EST
Mm but then Person 5 looks at Person's 3 and 6 and play the scandalized bleeding heart.Likewise 3 and 6 looks at 5 and pokes fun at how naive Person 5 is. Persons 1 and 2 meanwhile are rehashing for the tenth time why their course of action is superior. Honestly I think a scenario should go beyond 1 post. I like things like TR's multi-post approach. It keeps things interesting. Do you find this valuable? |
