008 | Goldenrod City | Text / Action;

[usedlaserbeam]

[ Passerby browsing through the Goldenrod Department Store late this afternoon might happen across Yagyuu and his Espeon, Lady, perusing the aisles with a leisurely air. For people watching particularly closely, one might notice that the two of them spend a fair amount of time lingering over the potions and TMs on display; every so often, Yagyuu

Comments

[text]

[usedhat]

A dictionary.

[text]

[usedlaserbeam]

Most people I've heard from have favored the socks. I'm glad to see the opposition has its supporters, as well.

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[usedhat]

Socks are useful, but I think a dictionary would ultimately be the better choice. Particularly at that age, when one is here, and we have to make due with our own learning in place of any proper school.

[text]

[usedlaserbeam]

That was my thought, as well. I'd hate to see the recipient's English skills suffer for lack of attention to his studies.

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[usedhat]

It seems that in the absence of any relevant schools in Johto, many people are allowing themselves to slip in terms of academics. It's disheartening, to say the least.

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[usedlaserbeam]

That's unfortunately true. Without any external motivation, it's easy to simply let such things go by the wayside. But here it seems one's prowess at training Pokemon is favored more highly than one's traditional education.

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[usedhat]

I admit that does seem to be the case, from what I've noticed so far of the place. It is unfortunate, but I don't think I'm capable of convincing even my friends that expanding one's knowledge base could help when applied to Pokémon.

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[usedlaserbeam]

Which is truly a pity, considering the possibilities. I've had notable success in training my Pidgeot through various classical and operant conditioning techniques, for example. It's been a fascinating study.

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[usedhat]

You have? Which techniques did you utilize, if you don't mind? [this is relevant to both her interests and her slightly troublesome Ditto.]

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[usedlaserbeam]

Stimulus generalization and discrimination, primarily. She's trained as a courier, and the presence of a yellow-and-black stimulus is her signal to respond--in this case, by relinquishing her cargo.

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[usedhat]

I see. I'll have to keep that in mind. I largely have problems causing mine to focus for any length of time; his attention span is quite childlike.

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[usedlaserbeam]

And I presume you've already attempted a menu of punishing lapses in attention and rewarding extended ones?

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[usedhat]

Of course. Despite that, he goes right back to his older behavior-- it appears that focusing on whatever he wants to is pleasurable enough to make up for any punishment.

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[usedlaserbeam]

That's interesting. And under those circumstances, I imagine you'll find no success in training him otherwise unless you can find a way to break his fascination with independence first.

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[usedhat]

He's adequate at battle, but his concentration problems are becoming more and more of an issue. Thankfully, the rest of my team serves to be more obedient. I admit that it is hard to stay angry at him, since what he does do seems to be calculated to amuse and please my companions and I.