Game 10: Anti-Teacher-Pupil
Game 10: Anti-Teacher-Pupil
Objective: Detect when someone is giving you unsolicited lessons (framing you as student/ignorant) and re-establish the equal-to-equal frame.
Players and Roles
- Role A (The Teacher): Explains obvious things with a condescending tone. “Look, this is done like this, let me teach you…”.
- Role B (The Peer): Breaks the student frame.
Quick Set-up: Teacher’s Lessons
The Teacher chooses a phrase to lay down the law. The Peer must break the frame.
| Condescending Phrase (Teacher) | Hidden Intention |
|---|---|
| “Let’s see, let me explain how this really goes.” | Assuming the other doesn’t know. |
| “You are doing well, but for your level…” | Toxic praise (low expectation). |
| “When you have been here as long as I have, you will understand…” | Seniority argument. |
| “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it since it’s complicated.” | Paternalism / Disabling. |
| “It’s adorable that you try to do it like that.” | Infantilization. |
| “I’m going to give you some free advice…” | Unasked advice = Superiority. |
| “Have you read the book I told you? Can tell you didn’t.” | Public exam. |
Mechanics
- The Teacher starts their sermon.
- The Peer must interrupt gently using Validation + Expert Contribution or Meta-comment techniques:
- Technique 1 (I also know): “Yes, I know theory X. In fact, my focus here is Y for Z reason.”
- Technique 2 (Closing): “Concept understood. Let’s move to execution.”
- Technique 3 (Soft Irony): “Thanks for the masterclass, prof. Back to work.”
- If B stays silent nodding, loses. Must verbalize their competence.
Debriefing (Closing questions)
- Do you notice how the “Teacher” grows if you don’t stop them?
- Which phrase feels most natural to you to say “I already know this” without being arrogant?