Agent+X

﻿ Dealing with Agent X
Agent X is an additional game element and is not crucial to the investigation. He provides an opportunity for you to develop skills in handling conflicting information. Initially, he sneaked onto the website as a one-off game element. The investigators’ responses to this mean and capricious figure have ensured his return each year.

Agent X proposes to give investigators a clue in return for answering his quiz correctly. His quizzes are designed to reinforce the learning areas of the game and to push eaxh of you to research unknown areas. They are also arbitrary. He does not brook alternative views. Arguing with Agent X is a futile exercise. The clues are usually enigmatic and may not be immediately helpful.


 * But** dealing with Agent X can and does cause problems. The reasons are simple. Every once in a while Agent X’s answer is contradicted by an alternative answer from another impeccable source. What can we say? We live in a post-modern world where truth is relative and academics can only take sides and slug it out.

The advice to you is: take up Agent X’s challenge knowingly. If you feel that you will be unable to cope with the arbitrary nature of Agent X then don’t go there. You will still be able to solve the mystery without Agent X.

If we decide to take up the challenge then we will discuss with the class the perils of both Agent X and his quiz. We will need to consider the ‘take it or leave it’ nature of Agent X and prepare ourselves to be philosophical in the face of unfairness and downright meanness.


 * Whatever you do, whimpering to Agent X about how wrong he is should not be contemplated. He doesn’t care!**