The objective is to take a term or phrase (positive/negative/neutral) and produce/formulate/create/conjure up a euphemism of an opposing or alternate viewpoint. You can take a positive and turn it into negative (and vice versa) or keep adding on positive or negative spins on phrases. There isn't a particular system of order, meaning that four people may give four different answers and then provide their own phrases for others to work with, for example. The spins don't necessarily have to be in diametric opposition to one another. For instance, a certain political stance may present a point or make a statement in a particular fashion, but the alternative viewpoint doesn't have to be political and on the other side of the spectrum.

If you like, you can use spoiler tags to hide the spin you were thinking about, but it may influence responses so it's up to you. There is obviously a very strong subjective element to this game; use discretion. In the event that you don't agree with a response, try to provide a more accurate alternative. (It's good if you can spot a problem, but it's far better if you can spot a problem and then provide a solution.)

This game could make you see and think about something from a perspective that you previously didn't expect. You also may learn big words that you might use at a cocktail party. Hell, you may even attempt to play this game at said cocktail party if you're bold enough, though I wouldn't recommend it.

I presume it's customary for the OP to begin so....

sycophantic tradecraft

i read this twice and don't understand

Well, what don't you understand exactly? Would you please care to elaborate? English is not my first language, so if there are any native-speaking, English-language experts lurking about, could you please chime in if something about the original post is grammatically or syntactically incorrect?

Your post instinctually compelled a huge lol.. sorry. I don't know why.

so sycophantic tradecraft is an opposite of a well known phrase? And we have to guess it?

I'm a bit confused, too. Perhaps some simple examples might be helpful?

nothing wrong with your grammar or syntax. No idea what you're talking about.

suckup artist

i thought this game had something to do with the band "spin doctors". too bad.

Give an example of how gameplay works. That'll help.

and people say my games are hard to understand

so sycophantic tradecraft is roughly skill at kissing ass?

so the opposite viewpoint of that is...naysayer? dissenter?

I like stevie's answer. in part b/c it's a play on "pickup artist" (even though pickup artist wasn't the starting point.).....but I dont know where we're to go from there. are we supposed to make a euphemism/code phrase for the opposite--or a tangent--of suckup artist? I'll try:

1. sycophantic tradecraft (suck up artist)
2. Frank's chien andalusia (-------)

stevie's isn't the opposite...it's the same

No, it isn't well known. I would think it's highly unlikely that anybody else has even put those two words together. That's the point of the game - to make new ones up.

It can be the same. Stevie has the right idea. It's good, but I would have went with "suck-up artistry".

The one I had in mind was "career networking skills." It sounds much more pleasant, doesn't it?

wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!

how the hell are you supposed to get career networking skills from sycophantic tradecraft????

this whole game has to be a level.

1


5 3 6

78 4 1 24
8 8 8 11 3

4 67 career networking skills 32

best lol all week imo. ty

I assure you it's no level. In all honesty this thread was intended as exercise in bias influencing and distortion. Clearly, very few people here know how to play that game. Thank goodness for that. Fundamentally, it's an extension of the word association game.

What does "career networking skills" mean? If you look at it from a cynical and pessimistic viewpoint, you could say that career networking involves a lot of politics, schmoozing, brown-nosing, and even a degree of subterfuge (of things like your political opinions, and the opinions of your co-workers). What do sycophants do? They suck up in an effort to gain affection and favour. How do they do it? Usually through subtle gestures and comments. Where does this happen commonly? In the workplace. What is an art of subtlety? Espionage. And the nomenclature of espionage skills is tradecraft.

It's not so hard to connect the dots now, right?

I could have instead said something like "Machiavellian skills", then people would have probably said something like "Tupac rap" and it would have technically been a correct interpretation.

You guys can keep is simple, if you like. I truly didn't expect this to be so difficult for others. In retrospect, maybe I should have used more simplified language...

LOL! Thanks, I needed that.

ok, well lets keep going

who goes next?

Makes perfect sense now

Your posting style is stupendous, you should play a Werewolf game. People will be blown away

I'll start with a more easy, pogcentric one

exotic and heroic individualist deduction technique

Soul Read?

No, these two wouldn't follow. Dissenter is the party doing the dissenting. There is no party present in the phrase I gave.

Since stevie was the only one to give a meaningful spin, the ball is in his court. However, with all of the confusion that's occurred a fresh start would be in order.

super stripper with happy ending?

I think so, too. That was a good one.