(Untitled)

[smrt_russian]

Illya is curled up on a soft couch, sipping from a glass of what looks like water but is significantly stronger. He is noticeably bruised.

"Does technology really make our lives easier?" he asks. "Does it really make us into better people? Or does it just offer the wicked and greedy more versatile and efficient ways to oppress?"

Comments

[dame_de_pique]

"It can make life easier, but I don't think it necessarily makes us better people. Personally, I think that whether you do your laundry by hand or a machine does it, a person has the same fundamental capacity for good or ill."

((Oh my good gravy, you've just made my day. <3))

[smrt_russian]

"The washing machine," Illya says thoughtfully, "is one of the few advances I don't see a downside to. It makes the rich glad to do their own laundry."

((yay!!!))

[dame_de_pique]

"And gives a little more time for the rest of us." Njoki smiles and does not mention that washing machines have had a rather negative environmental impact. Now is neither the time nor the place for that sort of thing. "Machines are just tools, and it's the people using that them cause their impact. I really don't think I can blame the blender for much."

Now, let's all be polite, shall we? Njoki offers a hand to shake, "Njoki Rainmaker, or 'Ki if you can't pronounce it."

[smrt_russian]

Illya smiles wryly. "Sometimes it can be very satisfying to blame a blender." Not all of his injuries are from fights. The kitchen can be a dangerous place.

He considers kissing the back of her hand just to be clever, dismisses it as something Napoleon would do. Extends his hand and shakes hers. "Pleased to meet you. I am Illya Kuryakin. I don't like nicknames, but I'll understand if you can't quite pronounce it correctly. Not even my best friend does."

[aliveonlyinwar]

"Better people? hell no." Snake shook his head in agitation. "It never makes anyone a better person - it just makes them better at what they are already."

[smrt_russian]

Illya shakes his head slightly, disagreeing politely. "Sometimes not even that. Calculators just mean you don't need to learn to do sums in your head. Grappling hooks mean you don't need to learn to climb with your bare hands. Except, of course," he adds, "when the day comes when you don't have those things, and you don't have those skills. And then you are lost."

[aliveonlyinwar]

"Technology's nice and all, but you have to learn to live, to move without them." The soldier countered, even as he tried to place Illya's speaking mannerism. "It makes lives easier, but it also leaves one unprepared in the worst case scenarios."

[smrt_russian]

Illya nods. "Precisely. Worst case scenarios happen more often than most people think."

[sinner01]

"I am definitely tempted to answer with a simple 'yes,'" Aion says with a slight smile. "Though I do wonder who technology can make one a better person."

[smrt_russian]

"Oh, it frees up the proletariat to pursue its own interests, rather than serving the needs of the bourgeoisie." The flippant way Illya says this suggests he doesn't believe a word of it. "Whatever those interests may be."

[run_bird_girl]

"Both. I mean, it's great, all the machines they have at the hospitals and stuff, but--I mean, it's awful what other people do with it...like scientists."

[smrt_russian]

"Yes," Illya agrees dryly, "scientists can be problematic."

[run_bird_girl]

"Yeah. Tell me about it...there's that whole--world hunger thing, and-and-and--Global Warming, I mean--why can't they focus on...that stuff? Not..."

Experiments on unwanted babies.

"...everything else they do."

[smrt_russian]

One word: "Funding." Illya wishes he had a chalkboard. Lecture time is fun time. "The people in charge have all the money, and they pay scientists to solve their problems. Unfortunately for the downtrodden masses, those problems very rarely include hunger."

[spinsaweb]

"Well, if you mean 'better people' as in 'way cool cyborg,' than yes, but other than that it's just fun and useful. I'm pretty sure you can still oppress people with a large, wooden club, though."

Words of wisdom from the man in spandex, Illya. What will your reaction be?

((We need a Ducky in here, stat!))

[smrt_russian]

"You can oppress people with anything," Illya agrees. "Technology seems to make it easier to oppress very, very large numbers of them."

He cocks an eyebrow at the cyborg comment. "Human bodies are already so very complicated. I'd be rather wary of trying to make any extra modifications."

[spinsaweb]

"It also makes it easier to get information to lots of people, though, and what's information but freedom? I'd say that technology is a tool, and how you use it is what's important."

He shrugs. "And, yeah, I'm not planning on replacing my retinas with robotic lenses anytime soon. But some of my best friends are cyborgs, so it can't be all bad."