Play "Forced Choice".....(just for fun)

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Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
In the days when I had a spare 20 minutes to ?have fun? with my students (days long past ), we did an activity called ?Forced Choice?. I gave them a choice to make, and the entire class would walk to one side of the room or the other, depending on each person?s choice. It was interesting to see who chose what. I played too, of course.



Here are some choices for 'you'. If you play, you *HAVE* to choose. You can?t stand in the middle. (That?s the whole point of the activity = ?forced choice?). Also, it would be nice if you explained the reason for your choice. But you don't have to do that if you don't want to.



Which would you choose and why?
  • * would you rather be too hot or too cold?

    too hot

    * would you rather drive a fully-loaded pick-up truck or a Cadillac?

    truck

    * would you rather drive a sports car convertible or a Jeep?

    Jeep

    * would you rather have a steak or lobster?

    lobster

    * would you rather go to the mountains or the beach?

    mountains

    * would you rather be rich and smart or good-looking and dumb?

    rich and smart

    * would you rather join the Air Force or the Navy?

    Navy

    * would you rather eat at McDonald?s or Taco Bell?

    Taco Bell

    * would you rather be an only child or have siblings?

    siblings

    * would you rather be killed in a car wreck or die from drowning?

    car wreck

    * would you rather be executed by firing squad or by electric chair?

    firing squad

    * would you rather be able to dance really well or sing really well?

    sing

    * would you rather be a rock star or an Olympic athlete?

    rock star

    * would you rather your significant other have a good-looking face or a good-looking body?

    face

    * would you rather be athletic or smart?

    smart

    * would you rather put mustard or mayo on your ham sandwich?

    mayo

    * with your steak do you prefer baked potato or fries?

    baked potato

    * do you prefer apples or oranges?

    oranges

    * would you rather your significant other be extremely gorgeous/sexy or really fun to be around?

    really fun

    * would you rather be unable to speak or unable to hear?

    speak

    * would you rather have pizza or Mexican food?

    Mexican food

Well, there are millions more, but this is a start. If you think of some good choices, please post them.



Thanks for any replies.



Carol
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 35
    shetlineshetline Posts: 4,695member
    * Would you rather answer this question or not?
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  • Reply 2 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by shetline

    * Would you rather answer this question or not?



    I'd rather answer.
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  • Reply 3 of 35
    finagainfinagain Posts: 31member
    I think forcing them to pick one OR the other is a good idea, but then you also have to make sure that they understand that (supposedly) nothing is that cut-and-dried, there are no black/white decisions, ever. That's what I keep reading, anyway.



    Great teaching technique, though. Do you ever give them advance notice on the tougher issues, so they can perhaps think about it and form an intelligent opinion first?
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  • Reply 4 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by finagain

    I think forcing them to pick one OR the other is a good idea, but then you also have to make sure that they understand that (supposedly) nothing is that cut-and-dried, there are no black/white decisions, ever. That's what I keep reading, anyway.



    Great teaching technique, though. Do you ever give them advance notice on the tougher issues, so they can perhaps think about it and form an intelligent opinion first?




    Hi Finagain -



    Actually, the purpose of this activity (with my students) is to make them aware just how many decisions we all have to make on a daily basis - significant and insignificant. Plus they have fun getting to go back and forth across the room. I thinks it's especially interesting when most of the class is on one side of the room, and maybe one or two are on the other. It's fun for the kids to get to know each other a little better too.



    For "real" decision-making, I have an activity for small groups of four. Two kids have to argue one side of the issue, two have to argue the other side. Then the four vote on their choice, discuss the reasons for their choice, and one member of the group is chosen to explain the choice of their group to the class. This activity is extremely interesting. Never know what they will come up with. (They're 13 yrs. old.)



    An example off the top of my head of a decision might be:



    You have tickets for a concert tonight, and you have been *really* looking forward to it. Suddenly your friend calls on the phone, is devastated about some personal problem, and desperately wants to talk it over with you. What do you do? Do you go to the concert or talk to your friend?



    This isn't a very good example, but it's one I remember using. The issue is usually something they might actually have to make a choice about someday. Maybe like "your friend has started shoplifting for fun. Do you tell her parent or keep quiet, knowing that if you tell, she won't be your friend anymore?"
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  • Reply 5 of 35
    akumulatorakumulator Posts: 1,111member
    Carol A -



    My answers are all the same as yours with the exception of mayo and oranges.
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  • Reply 6 of 35
    shawnjshawnj Posts: 6,656member
    Well, I think games more along the lines of highlighting "opportunity costs" would be more effective than forcing people to make a "choice" between two mostly non-mutually exclusive things. And that's exactly the concept you're talking about. I'm not sure how opportunity cost relates to English though-- it's an economic concept that at least Pennsylvania now requires its students to learn- in grade-school social studies classes.
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  • Reply 7 of 35
    709709 Posts: 2,016member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Akumulator

    Carol A -



    My answers are all the same as yours with the exception of mayo and oranges.




    Then mine would be the same as Akumulator's with the exception of firing squad.
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  • Reply 8 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by ShawnJ

    Well, I think games more along the lines of highlighting "opportunity costs" would be more effective than forcing people to make a "choice" between two mostly non-mutually exclusive things. And that's exactly the concept you're talking about. I'm not sure how opportunity cost relates to English though-- it's an economic concept that at least Pennsylvania now requires its students to learn- in grade-school social studies classes.



    Like I said, Shawn, 'forced choice' is mostly just for fun. It's not intended to be a serious part of the curriculum. In fact, it's *not* part of the curriculum at all, and I haven't done it for a while. Our new principal even thinks videos are a waste of time on books we've just read as a class. She wants noses to the grindstone every minute. Imo, that mindset can kill the joy of learning for kids. What a shame.
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  • Reply 9 of 35
    shawnjshawnj Posts: 6,656member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Carol A

    Like I said, Shawn, 'forced choice' is mostly just for fun. It's not intended to be a serious part of the curriculum. In fact, it's *not* part of the curriculum at all, and I haven't done it for a while. Our new principal even thinks videos are a waste of time on books we've just read as a class. She wants noses to the grindstone every minute. Imo, that mindset can kill the joy of learning for kids. What a shame.



    Hmm. Carol-- I was responding to your previous post about the purpose of the activity (about making decisions..) -- and I suggested that the purpose reflects an economic concept called "opportunity cost." I wouldn't have responded if I'd known it was really "just for fun" and not really about making decisions. Wasn't too clear on that.
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  • Reply 10 of 35
    trumptmantrumptman Posts: 16,464member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by ShawnJ

    Well, I think games more along the lines of highlighting "opportunity costs" would be more effective than forcing people to make a "choice" between two mostly non-mutually exclusive things. And that's exactly the concept you're talking about. I'm not sure how opportunity cost relates to English though-- it's an economic concept that at least Pennsylvania now requires its students to learn- in grade-school social studies classes.



    Let me ask you a question Shawn. (I can hijack Carol's thread because she hijacked one of mine. )



    You mention this is something expected of elementary age children in Pennsylvania. What percentage of them do you think could have an actual advanced understand of it at say the fourth or fifth grade level?



    Nick
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  • Reply 11 of 35
    wrong robotwrong robot Posts: 3,907member
    7
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  • Reply 12 of 35
    hassan i sabbahhassan i sabbah Posts: 3,987member
    There's a variation of this game, of course, that introduces a third variable and ups the stakes somewhat. The game is called 'Fück, Marry, Kill', it's very good for long car journeys, and it's played like this.



    The first player offers the other players a list of three people; then all the players must decide.



    One of these people they must marry. One they must kill. One they must ****. This is serious business.



    It's better to suggest three people with something in common: Ronald McDonald, Ronald Reagan and Ronald Isley from the Isley Brothers, for example, or, say, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan and Hilary Clinton (tough one, that).



    The most fun is the explaining your reasons. That's really the whole point of the game.



    Someone might say, for example: "I'd **** Ronald McDonald, just to get the filthy business over with, I'd marry Ronald Isley, because he's rich and talented, and I'd kill Ronald Reagan because he really, really deserves it." It's best when the game is quite sick.
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  • Reply 13 of 35
    pfflampfflam Posts: 5,053member
    Take your friend to the concert and talk on the way, during the intermission, and afterwards . . . get drinks and put on your listening face.
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  • Reply 14 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by trumptman

    Let me ask you a question Shawn. (I can hijack Carol's thread because she hijacked one of mine. )













    I felt a certain amount of guilt about doing that, Nick, but my concern for Artman outweighed my guilt.



    *I* never really mind about my thread being hijacked, so I hope Shawn answers you.
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  • Reply 15 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by finagain

    I think forcing them to pick one OR the other is a good idea, but then you also have to make sure that they understand that (supposedly) nothing is that cut-and-dried, there are no black/white decisions, ever. That's what I keep reading, anyway.





    Well, the "issues" themselves might be riddled with 'grey'. I guess that's what makes many *either/or* choices so difficult, when one 'must' choose between tough alternatives - like between Gore and Bush, or Kerry and Bush. When you have only two choices, then it kinda ends up being black and white, don't you think, finagain?
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  • Reply 16 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by 709

    Then mine would be the same as Akumulator's with the exception of firing squad.



    You'd rather have the electric chair, 709?



    Maybe I should have said the guillotine vs. hanging.



    Or the firing squad vs. the guillotine.



    I think hanging would be just awful, don't you?
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  • Reply 17 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by pfflam

    Take your friend to the concert and talk on the way, during the intermission, and afterwards . . . get drinks and put on your listening face.



    Ah, pfflam, I can tell you are a skilled problem-solver who likes to have your cake and eat it too.



    Hmmm. Guess what?



    Your answer just gave me the idea for another game for the classroom: I would set up a situation (the main problem) with all kinds of small and large difficulties involved. The task for the students (in small groups) would be to solve the main problem in such a way that all the loose ends and concurrent difficulties are dealt with in a satisfactory manner.



    Gee, I like this idea - because that's what life is like, isn't it, for corporations, governments, and ordinary people?



    You also gave me some other great ideas. Thanks pfflam.
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  • Reply 18 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Akumulator

    Carol A -



    My answers are all the same as yours with the exception of mayo and oranges.




    I could never stand the thought of mayonnaise on sandwiches in the past; but mustard *is* pretty strong, and does almost overwhelm the taste of the ham in some cases.



    Ah, decisions, decisions.....
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  • Reply 19 of 35
    carol acarol a Posts: 1,043member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Hassan i Sabbah

    There's a variation of this game, of course, that introduces a third variable and ups the stakes somewhat. The game is called 'Fück, Marry, Kill', it's very good for long car journeys, and it's played like this.



    The first player offers the other players a list of three people; then all the players must decide.



    One of these people they must marry. One they must kill. One they must ****. This is serious business.



    It's better to suggest three people with something in common: Ronald McDonald, Ronald Reagan and Ronald Isley from the Isley Brothers, for example, or, say, Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan and Hilary Clinton (tough one, that).



    The most fun is the explaining your reasons. That's really the whole point of the game.



    Someone might say, for example: "I'd **** Ronald McDonald, just to get the filthy business over with, I'd marry Ronald Isley, because he's rich and talented, and I'd kill Ronald Reagan because he really, really deserves it." It's best when the game is quite sick.




    Cool game, Hassan. But I think I'd have to make lists ahead of time. I think I'd have trouble coming up with good fvck, marry, kill choices just off the top of my head.



    Let's see: fvck, marry, kill: Brittney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts. How would *you* answer that, Hassan? hahaha
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  • Reply 20 of 35
    shawnjshawnj Posts: 6,656member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by trumptman

    Let me ask you a question Shawn. (I can hijack Carol's thread because she hijacked one of mine. )



    You mention this is something expected of elementary age children in Pennsylvania. What percentage of them do you think could have an actual advanced understand of it at say the fourth or fifth grade level?



    Nick




    No idea. The idea isn't to get an advanced understanding of economic concepts at grade school levels. K-12 education is mostly for getting relatively basic understandings of things anyway. Pennsylvania now requires some kind of introduction to basic economic concepts- specifically opportunity cost. Not a bad idea to get kids thinking about the choices they make.
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