Real Effects

Originally posted on June 9, 2007

Cassandra: Eli, I need to talk to you!
Eli: Well hello to you too, Ms. Godard. What’s got you in such a snit this early in the evening?
Cassandra: I am not in a snit. I am firmly stating my expectations. You need someone to take you in hand.

Eli: Now what did I do? I thought when I left last night I was the perfect gentleman.
Cassandra: You were, and that’s part of the problem.
Eli: Ok, now you’re being as contrary as any female. Want to enlighten me about what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?

Cassandra: Don’t you dare (poke) patronize me! I am wholly competent in my field and will not stand for that antediluvian, (poke) chauvinistic, (poke) disparaging, (poke) infuriating attitude……

Cassandra: If you must know, I need to return home soon and I do not want to return without the information I came after. You (poke) have defied my every attempt (poke) to put you into a category from which I could…

Eli: You’re still insisting you came only to stick me in some category?
Cassandra: You knew my purpose from the very beginning. You agreed to cooperate and…
Eli: I agreed to nothing of the sort. Well, maybe there was a tacit agreement to play your little games with you.
Cassandra: Games!?!?! That’s what you think we have been doing? I assure you that was far from the truth on my part! Any role-playing was done utilizing approved scientific methods and attempted only with the goal in mind. There was no game playing.

Eli: My mistake. I thought you enjoyed playing. So….. where do we go from here, Cassandra? More questions? More interviews? What do you still need to know? I wouldn’t want you to have made such a long, difficult trip in vain. Guess I owe you one last chance to confine me to one of your precious categories.
Cassandra: (choosing to ignore the sarcasm) Thank you for complying, Eli. Indeed there is one final test I have not yet been able to administer. It required some “equipment” I had to send away for. But it arrived this morning, so if you’re still willing?

Eli: Yeah, I guess. Might as well.
Cassandra: This is a test of non-verbal cues. It evaluates how strongly certain visual stimuli affect communication. Experts claim that communication is only 10% verbal with the other 90% consisting of non-verbal cues such as environmental factors and body language. The challenge for the evaluator is in finding and presenting the cues that will elicit the most honest response. For that reason this test is usually conducted last, which gives the evaluator time to get to know the subject well enough to find the appropriate cues.

Eli: Ah. And you now believe you know your “subject” well enough, do you? So you’re going to - what? Show me pictures of things and try to make me react?
Cassandra: Something like that, but hopefully with a little more finesse. Shall we begin?
Eli: Yeah, go for it, Tiny.

Eli: Ah yes,………..…visual stimuli….

Eli: Uh-huh, this little item…. does have its effect. I wonder though, if you chose it for me or for yourself?

Eli: Doesn’t matter – it’s served its purpose now.

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