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

[ 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?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Why be good or bad person when you can be a little of both?

The powers are new but ethics are old.

[That's not an answer at all, is it?]

[ Oh boy, that's a loaded question for David. One step at a time... ]

Yeah, we had superpowers back home. They, uh. Ruined everything?

I prefer to be the best person I can be...

I wouldn't have gone into this field if that wasn't important.

First question: yes, and yes.

Second question: I was raised in the understanding that my abilities were a moral obligation - those who have the kind of power I have are supposed to use it to help people in need. To make the galaxy a better place.

Not everyone who has these abilities is of that mindset though. There are people who embrace the dark side. Who use their powers only to serve themselves. If anything, that makes what I do even more necessary.

Third question: Depends on the day.

[ That last bit might be a joke. ]

[ Chidi has his notebook ready and is prepared to take notes. This is definitely someone he wants to talk to. ]

By ruined everything, you mean from a standpoint of looking at things through a moral framework?

Well yeah, that too. But I'm talking more literal ruin. End of the world type stuff.

[ Chidi is taking notes; his hand is getting cramped already, and he hasn't even had that many respondents. ]

I see. That's very helpful. So...the people who are opposed to helping people are literally called 'the dark side', are they? Is that only those who oppose them who call them by that name?

Oh!

[ Chidi had considered things might have been that bad, but he hasn't been thinking about all the implications for long. That he got that answer so soon does surprise him. ]

Are we talking about a literal apocalypse? War, destruction, ruin?

We don't call the people that, that's just what we call the kinds of abilities they use. It's all part of the natural universe - the Force, which connects all living things. There's a light side and a dark side of the Force, good and evil, and some Force wielders get swallowed up by the dark.

They call themselves lots of things. Some of them are Sith Lords. Or Inquisitors. Or just "bad guys". Me, I'm a Jedi.

What if being gray makes me the best I can be? Does that make me a good person in your book?

[ Well, David's world is probably kind of unusual in that regard. He nods firmly. ]

Oh yeah. We're the Fractured States now, and I don't think any of the other countries are doing much better. Newcago's one of the better city states left, and that's probably because Steelheart decided he wanted a population to rule instead of a crater.

Well, we didn't have people with powers like they have here, but my world does have aliens and space age technology, so that would be like having powers by human standards.

Although, since that's a 'our whole species has this' thing, there's no special moral or ethical obligation that comes with that. I mean, I guess there are some just because of what technology we have available to us. I think there might be some ethics someone might consider with wiping someone's memories, but I can't think of what?

So in that place, everyone has the ability to use this—this Force? Everyone has powers that come from it?

No, not by a long shot.

[ He actually chuckles a little at this. ]

The Force connects all living beings, but only a very small minority can consciously tap into it to do things.

[ Chidi would probably waffle a lot more in his answer except for what he'd learned after he made it to the afterlife. But this is not something he really wants to explain—how do you tell a person that you are dead? So he sets that part aside. ]

Well...no. It doesn't. Being a good person is about being as kind to others as you can be. If you're knowingly hurtful toward someone, then you're not a good person.

Oh, I see.

So what do the Jedi do with this power?

So you're saying I'm a bad person? Gosh, you barely know me.

[... Gosh.]

Well...that's something that belongs to them, in a fundamental sense. You taking that away means you're taking something that has shaped them away from them. So I would tend to disagree that there are no special morals in regard to having that sort of technology.

[ You'd think that, as Cassandra has done similar question-and-answer posts on the Network before (though on a very different topic), she'd be sympathetic to Chidi's line of questioning.

Nah, she's still gonna nitpick. ]

Wait, aren't the moral and ethical implications of using powers completely subjective? How are you supposed to get an accurate view of an entire world by asking the one or two people here who just happen to be from it a question like that?

Well, like I said, we protect people. Help the innocent, punish wrongdoers, that sort of thing. We serve the light side of the Force.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but you did ask. I didn't say it to offend you.

In general, though, I believe it's up to each individual to learn about how to be good and apply that in their own lives.

[This is definitely not a human voice. It's too deep, and there's a very faint hissing quality to it. The accent is also very harsh, all hard sounds, and reminiscent of eastern europe.]

It's normal for people in my world to have such abilities. For many races, it's simply something we have because of what we are, and for others, it's learned or gifted. [A pause.] The inclination to help others is also largely dependent on one's race, and what gods are followed. Yes, I know how it may sound to you, but the world I come from has different... rules, is the best way to put it.

How did powers tie into this state of affairs?

Because Epics - people with superpowers - they're just too strong for normal people to fight. And almost every single one of them turned out to be psychopaths instead of saviors.

[ There's a hard, tired edge in his expression. ]

Oh, no offence taken honestly.

I'm as good as I can be, and as bad as needed. Seems pretty okay to me? Ethically, I'm a champ.

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