01. voice. angels dancing on the head of a pin

[ikanteven]

[ Chidi has been contemplating it ever since his arrival—what does the fact that people have powers here mean for the state of ethics in this world? Are people being responsible with what they’ve been given? Is everyone here like him, a person who could never have dreamed of having these types of powers in the worlds he came from?

In the end, he makes a decision that he needs to get more input before deciding. The communicator he’s been given is familiar technology, and he has no problem navigating its interface. He turns on the voice function and begins to broadcast. ]

I have a question for everyone here. Actually, a few questions. I’d like to get everyone’s input, if I can—don’t feel like you’re bothering me with your answer. I want to know everyone’s experience with this and everyone’s opinion.

First, a little background on me. My field of expertise is in the field of ethics and moral philosophy. I have written a lot about this subject, and I’d like to start a new study based on how these fields may be different in this world than in the one I was trained in.

So, here are my questions:

One: Do you personally come from a world where people have the kinds of powers that they have here? Furthermore, did you have powers yourself?

Two: If so, what were the moral and ethical implications of people deciding to use these powers, or choosing not to use them? And if not, do you feel a moral and ethical obligation to use your powers to help people?

And three: Do you consider yourself a good person?

Comments

[yaaas_queen]

Well, obviously. Who's gonna know me better than me? I am with myself all the time, fully engaged in how fascinating I am. And what if I meet someone who clearly has the wrong opinions? Someone who thinks that murder is sometimes okay, golf is interesting, Rihanna has been too successful?

[Truly, the idea that someone could find golf entertaining does make Gina wonder about the sanity of the world. But she seems mostly affronted on Rihanna's behalf that some people are just Haters.]

[ikanteven]

Indeed.

[ Chidi pauses for a moment, writing, then looks back at the screen. ]

Your job here is self-help expert?

[yaaas_queen]

Yep. You're talking to the world famous expert of "Fix Your Selfie," a talk and top hits radio show, Gina Linetti. That's my official job anyway, sometimes I like to think I help humanity just by being an inspiration on any Instagraham and Bwitter feed.

[She pauses her browsing on her phone to give Chidi a casual look up and down]

So what about you? Did you get assigned this morality survey job or is this how you pass your Saturday nights?

[ikanteven]

It's more the latter. I'm trying to get some research gathered to get a fellowship at a university here, instead of the job I've been assigned. But I do enjoy learning more about the ethics of various cultures.

[yaaas_queen]

A fellowship is like the nerd version of sorority rush week, right? I too enjoy learning about the ethics of various cultures, especially their cuisine.

[Does she mean ethics of food consumption or does she mean ethnic cuisine? Do you even really want to find out?]

[ikanteven]

...

[ Chidi shakes his head to himself. This was the same mistake Jason had made. ]

Ethics. Eth-ics. Not 'ethnics'. Though yes, that describes a fellowship fairly well.

[yaaas_queen]

[How can it be a mistake when food = moral compass? Chicago and New York have waged war on their pizza supremacy.]

I knew it was one of the two. Either it was Geek Rush or the thing where people with hairy feet pretend to be elves and sing a lot. You look like someone who's into both.

[ikanteven]

N-no. I'm not.

[ Something about her attitude, which is so lackadaisical, puts him on the defensive. ]

I was never into the fraternities in school, either.