maskormenace

Recent events have me thinking.

[ Stark says, taking a sip from his cup, before he focuses back on a camera. It's a lot more HD than your usual import camera -- then again, nothing but the best for Tony Stark. ]

In recent months, we've had people showing up, different times, completely different people, and now there's word of people sticking around. That's different, it's never happened before. [ A pause, a sip. ] But who knows, it could be a fluke, right? Or maybe I don't have complete data. Anyone else heard of anything like that happening?

I mean, that's as an aside. I've... I've seen a lot of people hold themselves responsible -- myself included -- for things that someone who isn't them did. Either a person they become, a person they were and aren't anymore -- or a completely different person.

Would you hold them responsible? After my...unfortunate incident I found people were holding me responsible for things that this -- different version of me had done. Is that a constant? Should people be held accountable for things that they weren't necessarily guilty of? If I'm ported out tomorrow, would the Tony Stark that replaces me be held accountable for anything I did over my time here?

[ Another pause then. His finger drums against the glass. ] Anyone have any thoughts?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So you're perfectly willing to serve time for a crime that you -- for all intents and purposes -- didn't commit?

What about in the case of possession?

And where's the line? How's it different?

Not perfectly willing, no. I'd sooner live in isolation. But I'd understand it.

In the case of possession, crimes would be committed against the individual's will. They've been manipulated and aren't in control of their actions. There's someone masterminding control and forcing their influence over another, and they're the culprit using someone else as a scapegoat.

An alternative self is still someone that is in all likelihood aware and in control of their actions.

But you, yourself, as an individual isn't in control of them.

If anything, you don't even get the option to resist, because you're simply no longer there. How are you any more in control of your actions if it's no longer you?

As I said, there's no correct answer. You aren't going to change my opinions with conjecture. Now if you're fishing for someone with a more forgiving nature, you may want to look elsewhere.

Actually, I'm trying to find the logic in your statements, Hermann.

It's not that I don't understand the emotions with wanting punishment, but I'm curious about where your sense of justice comes from.

[Exhausting]

My sense of justice is effectively rather black and white with a small grey area. The alternative self circumstance is within that gray area, but on the side of black. Therefore repercussion, though lighter than it otherwise would have been. That sentence can be negotiated, but there is still a sentence.

My logic stems from how I believe the justice system should work. Not how it does. It's all very subjective despite all attempts to remain objective.

Because if it allows for too many exemptions, it becomes meaningless at best and at worst, exploitable.

Right, black and white. That explains a lot, actually.

[ Said wryly. ]

In my experience -- and this is probably a difference in our worlds -- it's a lot more gray, and only little slivers of black and white.

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