Audio

[whattheytellyou]

[Public]I have a question to pose to the rest of you. This isn’t a condemnation of anyone aboard; I’m not judging the choices anyone has made. Or will make. It’s a product of my own curiosity, getting the better of me once again. This is particularly directed to the wardens, but I do welcome the inmates to weigh in, as well

Comments

[stopthat_destro]

[Rex's voice is totally dull and without affect right now, thanks to a bunch of victim blaming, silencing shouting flung his way, leading to a glorious triggering of past trauma. WHEEE.]

Most relationships in the real world are destined to end in failure, anyway. Why begrudge people the opportunity here.

[whattheytellyou]

I'm not begrudging anyone to do whatever they want with their time here.

I simply don't understand the point.

[stopthat_destro]

What's the point of attaching yourself to anybody? Nearly all relationships-- platonic or otherwise-- end in disappointment. The odds are stacked against even friendship.

The point is that people are irrational and do things that are self-destructive anyway.

[whattheytellyou]

Do you consider Barge relationships to be self-destructive?

[stopthat_destro]

Yes. All manners of Barge relationships. And not limited to the destruction of the self.

But I shouldn't say anything else on the matter, lest it trigger some grave offense and lead to some Network melodrama.

Private

[whattheytellyou]

Is this about Iago, Rex?

Private

[stopthat_destro]

Not exactly. It's about the fact that I hate it here. It's about the fact that the Barge is a collective of almost universally worthless, moaning individuals, so desperate to play "who can be the most self-righteously affronted poster of the day" that they can't do anything else. Why would anybody in their right mind want to have any involvement, platonic, romantic, casual, with ninety percent of the people here?

Private

[whattheytellyou]

At least I'm not the only one looking for an answer to the why of it all - even if our reasoning isn't exactly the same.

You could always rehabilitate.

Private

[stopthat_destro]

I'm trying. Funny, in order to graduate, I need to develop more empathy. Something that even the wardens are in short supply of. Which makes me wonder why I should be held to different standards.

Private

[whattheytellyou]

A lot of people are in short supply of empathy. Maybe we'll all have our turns here as inmates, and it's only a matter of time.

I think the question really isn't why you should be held to different standards, but what standards you hold for yourself.

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[stopthat_destro]

You mean, rather than hold myself to other standards, I need to change my own to graduate?

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[whattheytellyou]

I'm not suggesting you hold yourself to other standards. I'm only asking if your standards include the ability to empathize.

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[stopthat_destro]

Ah. Good.

And no, it's irrelevant to my work.

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[whattheytellyou]

You sound like me.

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[stopthat_destro]

Do you think it's important to the work that you do now?

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[whattheytellyou]

Empathy? Yes.

But not my previous work.