WEEDS

[crittersheep]

[You're in your barn! That doesn't seem so bad--oh, oh wait, you're in the air.

Your barn/clubhouse, and honestly some of your stuff, is just floating on clouds. You can walk on the clouds too if you want, no one's stopping you. You will not, however, be able to return to the ground, far, far below you, no matter what you do.

At least not til the Ritual is complete.

Floating among everything else are various crystalized weeds, and the Snake as well, who seems to have fallen into a deep sleep.

After a moment, you hear voices resonating from the crystal weeds--the holy beasts, their voices and minds melded as one, call out to you.

It asks you three simple questions.]

Comments

[despair_to_live]

For the record, I'm something of an outcast myself. Upupu.

How's that work out for you?

Argument 1

[despair_to_live]

All right. Let's have some real discussion. Serious face time.

Question! Should all outcasts be cast aside, especially if they pose a real danger to the community?

Answer: Yes. The community doesn't like danger. Avoiding danger is a natural human instinct. It will want to avoid danger wherever it can. If this means locating all of the 'outcasts' and casting them out the door, so be it. It's their own fault for not being able to 'play nice'. Shame on those outcasts. Perhaps a tear will be shed as it's done, but they'll speak the all purpose cop-out explanation that will end all arguments. It was a hard decision.
Why do they do this? ...Because they have hope in themselves. They hope their community will now thrive. If they didn't hope to attain a better community, they wouldn't have done it.
Result? Those outcasts aren't going to sit back and be outcasts living outside the 'golden city' for very long. That brings resentment. Moreover, it brings its own sort of community. Maybe we don't all have reason to get along... but we can hate those assholes for what they did to us. Plot revenge. And someday, when enough strength is built up to hit the shiny city with all of the force those outcasts can muster, the war will start. And all those dreams of a shiny city will crumble into despair.

...Or the community festers with outcasts in it forever. Which, hey, you know. Sort of banal, but just as bad. Despairingly awful to expect there's potential danger around every corner, right?

Argument 2

[despair_to_live]

As for the second...

Question: Does fairness exist in this realm? Does it exist in any realm?

For this realm? ...Not by my estimation. It's ruled by talking animals, and, until recently, had a fountain that people crawled out of to escape death. Is that fair? Coming back to life after you're dead?
But, let's put that aside. Everyone assumes there is fairness. You can't complain about something not being fair if fairness doesn't exist.
Moreover, you can't have better off people who get everything in life if things aren't 'fair'. And you can't be angry about it if truly is 'unfair'.
The urge in all people is to correct the perceived unfairness. Whether this means forming and following some lame social contract that requires you relying on police to do a job they don't want to do, or taking it into your own hands... it doesn't matter. It's all the same, in the end.

But, taking it into your own hands and getting the result you need? ...That's the most satisfying thing of all.

So, yes, fairness exists in all realms. And to the extent there is unfairness, all effort will be made to correct that unfairness. That means a hearty discussion, or blood flowing in the streets. --I know which one is more effective.

And, hey, the statue is gone. People can theoretically die for good, now. I'd say that unfairness in this realm has been corrected. My point is proven.

[hotnbothered]

You mention "bringing despair" and you have to ask why I would object? Are you stupid?!

And you had better not be thinking about killing anyone!

[readytosqueeze]

[ as far as he's concerned, the snake is shaped like a friend.

but rata is idly pulling at some of the clouds. ]

What is this, some kinda survey or somethin'.

[stirtheblood]

[grins]

World hasn't managed to kill me yet.

And I've made some... [...] ...friends.

Re: Argument 1

[stirtheblood]

We're not answering with any of that bullshit.

[just kind of, exasperated]

It's askin' what people "should" do, and that ain't what matters. It's about what they want to do. You even came up with your whole fantasy scenario relyin' on them makin' the decision for themselves, right? 'Cause there ain't no "should."

Re: Argument 2

[stirtheblood]

[so many words. you can almost see the gears in Edgelord's brain strain to engage. But he is trying, because he knows this is important]

...So what, your argument is that fairness has gotta exist so people can feel like they're gettin' an "unfair" deal and fight about it? That's stupid.

People livin' in the world together are always gonna have conflictin' desires and have to fight over 'em. People love to justify it by sayin' they're aimin' for justice and fairness, but they don't gotta. Would be better if they all just admitted they were doin' what they want, for their own gain.

[despair_to_live]

This is very much a 'should'. A person 'should' take a deep breath of oxygen to stay alive. --Though they'll want to, too.

And really, we're not? Who died and made you King of the Weeds?

[despair_to_live]

Hm... interesting rebuttal. So your answer is: "there is no fairness, here or anywhere, everyone's just out for themselves?"

[despair_to_live]

...What. Have you grown so attached to this place?

You can't really expect me to believe you give two shits about this place. If anything, you're just scared to do what I'm doing.

[despair_to_live]

'Friends'.

Sounds like you're a step ahead into proving what I have in mind.

[stirtheblood]

There ain't no King of the Weeds. But we gotta answer as a group, I'm part of the group, and I ain't lettin' anyone put in somethin' like that. Doubt Flare's gonna go for it either.

[stirtheblood]

Yep.

[stirtheblood]

That right?

[despair_to_live]

Good, glad that's settled.

Flare's a scared waif. If she's got her opinion, sure, bring it out. But, I doubt it.

[despair_to_live]

...terse. But, so accurate it crosses the line into succinct.

I can go for that. Well done.

[despair_to_live]

Do you all just sit back and like being outcasts, in the outcast club?

Re: Gen

[hotnbothered]

[ Scoffs. ]

It's at least slightly more respectable when people just admit what they're doing.

[stirtheblood]

[is so surprised by that statement that he just breaks out laughing]

Hahahaha! Flare? A scared waif??

[hotnbothered]

... How, pray tell, is my attachment or lack thereof relevant? I won't benefit from randomly going around destroying it regardless.

[stirtheblood]

[rolls his eyes]

When the world condemns a transgressor, I can awaken their blood sin so they can fight back. Was plannin' to gather some people and burn the world down for a while, but these days I know a guy who's aimin' to change it instead.

'Course, that's all before I came here.

[despair_to_live]

...Is there more than one Flare?

Re: Gen

[stirtheblood]

Yeah, s'nice to not get the hypocrisy at least.

[despair_to_live]

Sure you will. You get the benefit of watching it all get destroyed.

Embrace the despair, Flare. Cast off the shackles of fear. You have nothing to lose.