The Holy Roman Mafia
Sep. 23rd, 2007 04:29 amSo one thing I have yet to mention is this year's house theme. The big idea throughout all of last year was Aaron's suggestion: None of the themes we do, he says, really mean anything. So instead of doing detectives or video game characters or whatever, let's do Tufts House. Our theme will be ourself. Because that's what Tufts House is about, right? Itself. So let's have people labeled as "Where is my football" and "Chouch" and "3:00". I didn't so much like this - I figured it would isolate the first-years from us; Aaron argued the opposite, that it would help them get quickly familiar with us.
Which is the case is moot as the new RHs nixed the idea. And there had been, TTBOMK, no other real suggestions for house theme. Well, I had made one or two, but I didn't make a big deal about them, and I definitely didn't think to suggest them to the O-aides before O-week so they would be reminded of them. And in such a vacuum pretty much anything can get through. Well, guess what. Aviva suggested the Hapsburgs, and Dan forced it through. So now we've got giant fire-breathing lions all over the place. And a giant poster in the lounge titled "The 'Incestry' of King Charles II of Spain".
Now, while I admit this is kind of cool in a Chris Kennedy[0] sort of way, it has some definite problems that make it not so good. Firstly, too much information. On each door should be a short blurb, not a biography. In fact, I think I have to say this is the main problem. Had it actually been just a short blurb on each door, I might actually be reading them. As it is, TLDR. Secondly, they're not easily recognizable. I have no idea who anyone got, and I don't really care; but if I did, I'd have a hard time telling them apart. Thirdly, part of the execution is just plain weird. In some cases, instead of a picture of a person, there's a picture of some random animal instead. And instead of an actual Hapsburg, I got Dean Boyer. Who's that? I don't know; I never read the sign.
Meanwhile! Tonight I started Mafia, yay. And yes, we played by Pinyan rules, and unlike that time last year, we really managed to stick to them. That got me to meet/learn the names of the first-years pretty well. I'd say most of the first-years I could identify by name were playing those games. And despite it not even being first week and people not really knowing each other yet, it actually went really well. Let's see if I can keep this going.
Also, Aaron can no longer make his stupid irrelevant "I have never been Mafia" argument, because finally, in the last game, he was.
-Harry
[0]This originally said "in a Bruce Arthur sort of way", but then I realized Chris Kennedy is probably more appropriate. Wait, or should that be Noam or Ben? I'm having a hard time remembering...
Which is the case is moot as the new RHs nixed the idea. And there had been, TTBOMK, no other real suggestions for house theme. Well, I had made one or two, but I didn't make a big deal about them, and I definitely didn't think to suggest them to the O-aides before O-week so they would be reminded of them. And in such a vacuum pretty much anything can get through. Well, guess what. Aviva suggested the Hapsburgs, and Dan forced it through. So now we've got giant fire-breathing lions all over the place. And a giant poster in the lounge titled "The 'Incestry' of King Charles II of Spain".
Now, while I admit this is kind of cool in a Chris Kennedy[0] sort of way, it has some definite problems that make it not so good. Firstly, too much information. On each door should be a short blurb, not a biography. In fact, I think I have to say this is the main problem. Had it actually been just a short blurb on each door, I might actually be reading them. As it is, TLDR. Secondly, they're not easily recognizable. I have no idea who anyone got, and I don't really care; but if I did, I'd have a hard time telling them apart. Thirdly, part of the execution is just plain weird. In some cases, instead of a picture of a person, there's a picture of some random animal instead. And instead of an actual Hapsburg, I got Dean Boyer. Who's that? I don't know; I never read the sign.
Meanwhile! Tonight I started Mafia, yay. And yes, we played by Pinyan rules, and unlike that time last year, we really managed to stick to them. That got me to meet/learn the names of the first-years pretty well. I'd say most of the first-years I could identify by name were playing those games. And despite it not even being first week and people not really knowing each other yet, it actually went really well. Let's see if I can keep this going.
Also, Aaron can no longer make his stupid irrelevant "I have never been Mafia" argument, because finally, in the last game, he was.
-Harry
[0]This originally said "in a Bruce Arthur sort of way", but then I realized Chris Kennedy is probably more appropriate. Wait, or should that be Noam or Ben? I'm having a hard time remembering...
