text; un: 48.215.111.53

[subroutined]

[ Ash has been having a bit of an identity crisis lately. Between K-2SO telling him he was making decisions independent of his programming, and discussing with Kylo how he isn't sure whether to consider his experiences as separate from those of the real, human Ash Starmer... He could do with a bit of advice.

That said, he's wary. He doesn't want to ask for advice as himself. So he creates a proxy identity using a dummy IP address and posts the following anonymous message. ]

Let's say you were made for a purpose: to be a certain way or to do a certain thing. If you started doing other things, or making decisions that led you in a different direction than the one you're meant to follow, is that good or bad? Does it mean you've failed in your purpose? Or have you grown as a person?

Is individuality acceptable when it's not what you were meant for?

Comments

[Private]

[d33tached]

[It's not often that D33 reads a network post that hits him so squarely in the chest, as if it could have been written just as easily about himself as it could have been the person who's posted it. At any rate, he can certainly appreciate the poster's anonymity in asking such a question.]

I suppose that would depend largely on the consequences that one might face for doing so.

Re: [Private]

[subroutined]

I don't think in this case that there are any consequences. Not any outside ones, anyway. There's no one else here who might care if I deviate from the plan.

[ So much for pretending this was hypothetical. Ash figures the anonymity of his IP address is enough to hide him, he might as well fess up that he's asking about himself. ]

[Private Message]

[k31rfree]

Individuality is not a failure. It does not make you less of a success because you do not stay on your designated path.

You should not be punished or feel inadequate for those actions. Sometimes a life becomes more than a task.

[Private Message]

[subroutined]

Is that so?

What if your life isn't... really a life at all?

text

[viced]

I don't...think anyone can tell you what you're meant for except for you. Even machines can find a new purpose either through serendipity,
or refurbishment. Why can't people?

text

[subroutined]

[ The comment about machines hits home for Ash. He hadn't really considered refurbishment. ]

What sort of thing would prompt a new purpose like that?

audio;

[spacerhyme]

[ In the background, the sound of hammering and scraping tools as he talks. Multitasking. ]

Most people you'll encounter generally haven't been made for any purpose whatsoever, so I'd expect you'll hear a lot of full-throated endorsements for individuality.

...But what do you make of it?

audio;

[subroutined]

[ Ash doesn't recognize the name on this response, so he figures it's probably safe to switch to voice as well. His accent is Irish, his voice quiet and light. ]

I'm not sure. If I knew, I don't think I would have to ask the Network like this.

[governorkang]

A good friend of mine once told me that everyone has the right to achieve their own destiny. No one else can determine what that is.

[subroutined]

Is that so? And is everyone entitled to a destiny?

text

[candor1]

i think about this too
have my own opinions but
curious to learn more about yours first
if ok to ask
?

text

[subroutined]

I think, if you're meant to fulfill a purpose, then it's best that you do that. Otherwise it's like you've failed again and again.

[exceptionalthief]

Let me guess. You're a robot?

[subroutined]

What makes you think that?

Text.

[holisticallydetecting]

Generally speaking, at least in my experience, if you are built to do something, usually the universe makes sure that you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, anyway. Not everyone is made for a reason, I don't think. In fact, I'm pretty sure most people get to just be people rather than have to worry about their cosmic purpose constantly getting in the way of things? But

My point is -

Even if you are a tool and are meant for something in particular, you still can take control of your own life. You can still make decisions and act on them and make choices and do things and even make friends sometimes.

Fate and chance aren't mutually exclusive.

Text.

[subroutined]

Does the universe, or fate, work for everyone and everything? I'm not sure if that applies to me.

( text )

[fettering]

[ well, this is.. uncomfortably familiar. they're thoughts he's had himself, actually. he doesn't sleep much, so he spends a fair amount of time thinking about what he should be doing here. and with herr starr pushing for a particular role, and other people urging him to be an individual-- it gets confusing. ]

i worry about this a lot
i dont think theres any really good answer
bc it depends on what you were made for maybe
i was supposed to be just an empty vessel
so i think the growing ive done is bad
but what if youre made to learn and/or adapt??
it's tough

( text )

[subroutined]

[ Knowing what he knows about Josh, Ash isn't surprise he's answered this post as well. ]

It is tough.
I wasn't meant to be an empty vessel, I was meant to be something in particular.
I don't know if I'm that anymore, though.
Or if I ever really was.

text; private

[photophobic]

[ Oh, he knows who this is. But Ash had chosen anonymity for a reason: he isn't about to shatter it just yet. ]

Perhaps holding on to the limits of our past is what prevents us from stepping into our true destiny.

text; private

[subroutined]

[ When Ash sees Kylo respond privately, he briefly considers dropping the anonymity. But in the end, he decides to maintain it for now. ]

You're the second person to mention destiny. I'm not sure that really applies to me.

Anonymous text

[am_i_a_monster]

It depends on what the purpose is. I'm relieved I didn't follow the purpose my father wanted for me. Maybe that means I failed him. But I can have my own life now, decide on my purposes, better purposes. I've grown. I've survived.

Individuality is usually acceptable. It's less accepted when individuality manifests in a way that others don't understand. Then you get labels and judgement.

I guess it's just got to be acceptable to you, if that makes sense.

[subroutined]

Are you human?
I'm beginning to think maybe I oughtn't have asked. My experience with individuality is not exactly like most people's.

[freedomflighter]

You're the only one that can really pick a purpose.

[subroutined]

What if your purpose is designed for you?

[text]

[hellrisen02]

Individuality is a part of evolution. There's nothing wrong with it.

It seems that you already consider yourself a person, so there's no need to question whether your sense of value is valid.

[text]

[subroutined]

The problem is, I am questioning what I value. Whether to value individuality or the purpose I was created for.

text

[knaval]

depends if you filled the original purpose first
also depends if the purpose is ongoing or a one-off thing

if you're made for a one-off thing and ignore or fail it because you think you know better then that's kinda messed up

text

[subroutined]

The original purpose is ongoing, but I don't think I can ever really fill it.

text;

[herrstory]

So long as your personal purpose is one you deem greater than before, I would find it to be perfectly acceptable.

text;

[subroutined]

How do you decide which is greater?

text; Un: Alibaba

[codeoracle]

I think it means you've grown--it can't be bad if you are happy with the changes and no one is getting hurt.

It's always better to be an individual.

text; Un: Alibaba

[subroutined]

No one is being hurt, really. I don't know whether to be happy about the changes, though.

text;

[snarkbot]

I was created to be a security bot, but I've developed past that, and ultimately the amount of good I've been able to do has far outweighed my original purpose. Additionally, on a personal level I have found it intriguing.

text;

[subroutined]

[ Oh. Skeets was the other person Archie had recommended Ash speak to, besides K-2SO. After how that conversation went, and what subsequently happened with Archie, Ash is a little wary of that recommendation now.

But what Skeets is saying resonates with Ash. He can't help it. ]

So you think developing past your initial programming is acceptable, if in the process, you're doing good?

text;

[pillz]

pretty sure it depends on whose intentions you're talking about when you say > meant for.
like some people is born into royalty, right? or they parents shoot them out in poverty and want to keep them for labor. other creatures get made by like, god. angels. then angels fall, right? royalty gets overthrown. slaves and poor kids learn how to read. plenty of people who make other people do it with intention. everybody has intention. but that ain't always what is meant to happen.

you see what i'm saying?

text;

[subroutined]

I'm talking about the intentions of the service that made me, or the person who ordered me made.

But I suppose I understand what you mean. You're saying that their intentions don't matter, when I can become something different than what they intended me to be.