Black Sword - *shrug* To each their own, not everything's going to be a winner with everybody. I will say, though, that when I taught a 9th grade class two years ago (that met 1st period, so 8:00am), I learned to never underestimate the stupidity of some teenage boys, especially if it's before noon. I wept for the future of humanity a few times before I remembered that they'll probably outgrow it eventually. I never witnessed a situation exactly like this one, but one of my coworkers overheard part of a conversation between two girls that was similar.
carlsojos - "Trading commodities" indeed. I think the Karas may have felt a little like they were being treated like things, not people, and resented that they were considered interchangeable.