video, un: revolution

[idealisme]

What would you die for?


[There's no preamble. Enjolras is not in the mood to set the scene. He's been thinking and gotten nowhere so he wants the input of others. Over his shoulder it's apparent his room a shambles, a young man living alone with his mind on things other than housekeeping.]

For myself there's a cause that I've given all my life to. It's the highest ideal I can imagine. I know that is not a usual thing. Life is precious; until I woke up here I'd have said that death precluded any second chances at it. But that's beside the point.

I ask because I thought I others shared my opinions. It is rational to give your life only for the most important ideal. Sacrificing yourself for just anything- to get any item or even for another person... [His lips pinch together in thought, his eyes look distant for a moment.] I have not been able to reconcile it.

[A quick sigh escapes him, frustrated.]

I would appreciate your sincere answers and insights. Thank you.

Comments

[hellzone]

But it's also a weirdo one. You don't ask strangers what they'd die for.

[idealisme]

And why is that? I will not compell those who do not want to respond.

[hellzone]

Because it's a personal question. You don't start a topic on a chat forum asking about something like this, so you shouldn't start the conversation here.

[idealisme]

[His scowl shows how much Enjolras doesn't understand her argument.]

I do not know what a 'chat' forum is, madame. However this medium is a tool for public debate. Any may share their thoughts here and be heard, regardless of who they are. The question I ask has been debated through history by scholars and I do not see how it is an innpropriate thing to ask the people who have found themselves here.

[hellzone]

It's inappropriate because it's a downer. And it's super invasive! If you want to know if someone's got something they'd die for, then ask them privately!

[idealisme]

[Where before he'd just scowled, Enjolras now gives her a completely frozen glare.] Who are you to judge what may and may not be public discourse? None are being harmed. No laws are being broken. No one is being incited to actually give their life.

[He doesn't pause to give her a chance to respond.]

Are you uncomfortable with the topic? That is your right. But yours is not the right to repress the free speech of others who are not so squeamish.

[hellzone]

I'm not repressing anybody! There's a time and a place for certain types of conversation, and this isn't it. It'd be like...like asking someone about their infection over a public forum. You just don't do it!

[idealisme]

Not done? Ridiculous. The evidence to the contrary is right here. We discuss it. If you wish to you may as well, or you may leave us to it.

[hellzone]

[ Yoshiko pauses for a moment, as she desperately tries to think of a way to teach proper forum etiquette to Mr. Period Canon. ]

I just think that talking about things like this in public will make people uncomfortable. And when you're using something like this, where everybody can hear it and chime in, it's a jerk move to talk about purposefully uncomfortable things out in public.

[idealisme]

[He shakes his head, still not having any of it.]

Every day I see others having conversations here that I am uninterested in. I do not engage. There is no one who forces me to. [In his mind this conversation here is no different.]

[hellzone]

...what kind of conversations are you uninterested in?

[ could the answer to Yohane's problems be 'this guy is just a weirdo who doesn't know how public conversations work'? ]

[idealisme]

Ones of actual importance. The Natha have brought us here, but was it right that they do so? We live here, in these countries to which we have no real alleigance. But can this continue indefinitely? Sooner or later we must assimilate, unless we are to form our own state- and there are too few of us for that. [He could go on.] But I have found that I tend to be alone in my interest in such political matters.

[hellzone]

Yeah, that's because normal people don't talk about politics in every day conversation. You're just asking for trouble, mister.

[idealisme]

If society is threatened by political expression then it is a weak society indeed.

[hellzone]

Normal people don't talk about politics because there's jerks like you who just ask creepy questions to start a fight!

[idealisme]

Start a fight? You are the only one attempting that.