How are scare values assigned?

[tmazanec1]

OK, it is obvious why it was so easy to shift over from scream to laugh. The monsters go through a three step computer program for each child, one difficult, one easy and one trivial.
Step 1 assign a scare value to each child for each monster
Step 2 sort all the monsters into a list for each child by scare value
Step 3 assign monster at top of list to the child.
To go to laughter, just change step 3 to BOTTOM of list.
Step 2 could be any of numerous sorting algorithms (traditionally the "bubble sort" is the one taught first to students, although more efficient ones exist).
But any thoughts on how step 1 is accomplished?

[Malic]

To assign a child a scare value...It would probably involve studying the child's personality and eventually coming up with the possibility of scarring him/her. Just turn words like easy/hard in to numbers and there you have it.

[Bampot]

Yes, I would think all that would have to be done is to study the child's personality. They would probably already have records of it if they did it for scaring also.

I would say that the first thing to think of would be the monster that would least scare the child. Any foreign looking creature could be frightening.

For example, it wouldn't of took a genius to tell I loved cats, but hated spiders when I was 4. I spent all day outdoors with my many kitties. If I was studying a child like that to determine the monster that would least scare them, I would pick a furry, mammal-like monster.

As for what the child thought was funny, umm, just pay attention to what they watch on TV. Many kids spend a reasonable amount of time in front of the television. Just watch what they find is funny in their favorite programs. Then, mock those jokes.

[RandallBoggs]

Well the scareing process's basics are explained in a flashy way in the commerical but lets see....
*sits back* The way assigning would work is in a similiar way Malic discussed. Since all humans basically start out as babies, they are, most of the time, easily scarred. So how could it best be determined which Monster would best be used? Of course, babies could be a whole other matter, I mean they basically scream their heads off even WITHOUT someone scareing them ^0^

So back to the question. Not sure exactly what "Scare Value" you mean, if it's the "scream compatability" or what...but I guess it's deciding what monster is best to a child right?
Well, the decision might be influenced by the parents of the child, as they were children themselves. And since scarers scare up to...oh pfft...age 6 maybe, I'm unsure how high it went...timing to decide would take place.
Most likely it's in their reports after each scareing. The "To be Scared" and "Scared" files we see on each employee desk on the floor. They're probably still researching even when scareing has begun and still going on.

[Malic]

That's probably what all the paper work is.

[pitbulllady]

In the book, "The Essential Guide To Monsters, Inc.", there are actual examples of "scare sheets"-data kept on each child, describing the child's personality and reactions to various things, as well as the lay-out of the child's room, proximity to parents' rooms, presence of dogs or other animals, age of child, distance between the child's bed and the closet, neatness of room(monsters apparently frown upon untidy quarters and general messiness, in both their living spaces AND humans'), etc. In this way, a child can be best matched with a Scarer; you would not want to assign a really big guy(like Sulley or George, for example)to a child with a small, cramped room with lots of toys strewn about, for instance, nor would you want to assign an arachnophobic monster to scare a child who keeps a pet tarantula on the dresser!

pitbulllady

[Bampot]

Where can I find that book, pitbulllady? Would I still be able to find it at Borders or some other large book store or would I have to eBay it?

[RandallBoggs]

True true. All rooms are investigated beforehand for such things. Of course, for such things like pets and proximity from parent's rooms, would require "skilled and careful" observers. Course, the scarers can option for changes if anything had altered in the room and what not.

Actually, that Schidmet (word) guy with the tall legs is actually quite good at evading such obstacles, but yeah it's true that a big lug like Sullivan wouldn't stand a change (and he didn't, hence Boo's room, as Randall would've had trouble with the scattered toys).