[video] riddle, riddle on the wall

[riddleman]

[The man is dressed in a classy suit with green highlights, using needlessly dramatic lighting as he starts to talk, very master of ceremony.]

ImPorts and Very ImPortants!

[He turns the camera around to show a wall that he has artfully decorated with a word cloud. Yes, he has put a lot of work in.]



Some of you might have enjoyed the riddle page of the Heropan Post before. I've been architect of it for a few months now. You're welcome!

Yet here I come to you with a riddle that I can't ever seem to quite figure out by myself.

[The camera is turned around again and he can be seen slowly drawing a heart in the air with two fingers as he talks.]

I'm worthless to one but priceless to two. What am I?

I am love.

Wait! That's not the riddle that leaves me puzzled. It goes deeper. One of the few questions where I'm not certain of the answer yet. Whenever I think I know, I get thrown for a loop.

So.

What is love?

Or, should I ask, what is it to you?

Comments

text;

[itistolaugh]

this is stupid

youre stupid

text;

[riddleman]

Useful input.

Thanks.

text;

[beaky]

Make him stop, please.

I will pay you.

[quickfingers]

what is love?

baby don't hurt me.

[riddleman]

If you do that, you really have to actually bring it and sing.

[itistolaugh]

the only decent answer, thank you for your service

[Video]

[generalgrievous]

It certainly isn't restricted to just two.

[Video]

[riddleman]

How many would you restrict it to?

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[kanyounot]

[ It's probably a good thing Edward explained what he was talking about, because Kanan can clearly not see the word cloud. ]

You're likely to get as many answers to your question as there are people here.

But I guess for me, love is about putting someone - or multiple someones - before yourself.

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[riddleman]

That's the entire point of the exercise. It's not a question with just one answer, so it'd be foolish to only look for one answer.

However, your point - selflessness - has already been brought up by someone else, so there's that.

Multiple someones, yes? Are you thinking about different forms of love there too, not just romantic? Selflessness that would extend to familial, platonic love as well.

[voice]

[fireandhoney]

Love is when you look at someone you hold dear and your heart just fills with warmth. Doesn't have to apply to just romantic partners.

Alternatively, it's going into a dark cave together and splitting whatever treasure you find.

[voice]

[riddleman]

I assume the latter is a metaphor.

[Which sounds not so vaguely sexual, but he keeps that observation to himself.]

How would you know for certain that it truly is love without a dark cave available, so to say?

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[beaky]

Settle a dispute for me, friend.

Is going to the dark cave together a metaphor or a serious suggestion?

[He's now more invested than he wants to be in this.]

VIDEO;

[snarkbot]

I believe thousands of years of human culture and even scientific inquiries have been devoted to answering that question, sir.

I believe it is a feeling, and feelings can be more complicated than they appear from an outside perspective.

VIDEO;

[riddleman]

...what are you?

[Sorry, that takes precedence.]

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[heliophilic]

[Well that's certainly a question.]

It means you stop being a selfish asshole for a change and put someone else's needs before your own.

[It means a lot more than that, but he isn't going into the particulars of his love life with a stranger on the network.]

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[riddleman]

Really? Wow.

[He nods though, because that is honestly a lot of what he has already been thinking. However, that leaves the bigger problem.]

How would one go about testing that?

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[aboveand]

You're a grown man and you don't know what love is?

[This... actually explains so much about the old man's villains.]

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[cassassin]

You're surprised? [not a question, really. she has the new cowl on, but the voice changer isn't active.]

[burger_king]

Forgiveness.

[riddleman]

Oh boy, what did you do?

Or what did they do?

Either way, welcome to the club.

text; network ID is just a moon emoji 🌙︎

[dragony]

Light.

[ Cryptic and oh so helpful. ]

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[riddleman]

Moonlight, I suppose?

You think I should just buy a nice lamp?

video; id: Batman

[cassassin]

[this mask has gold lenses, and a cowl covering the entire face, but it's unmistakably a Bat. the Bat seems to consider the question, head tilted somewhat--she thinks of hugs knelt down to a wheelchair, of tag across gotham rooftops, of eggplant purple. she thinks of movie nights with her younger-older brother, of heart-to-hearts atop gargoyles, of her brother's impromptu one-man cinderella performance. and she thinks of being made to save yourself on sinking ships, of blonde hair and a grin, of her father now lying comatose--

an answer finally comes, deep-voiced, flanged around the edges. clearly run through a filter.]

Broad question.

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[riddleman]

[Oh my! Batman.

He has barely any idea whatsoever about that person, but he remembered the way Harley had freaked out at the concept of him not knowing who it is and that - plus what explanation she did give - is enough to have him almost giddy with excitement, as shows in his wide smile.]

Oh my! Batman.

[Yes, he just said that out loud. Moving on.]

Do you really think so? Here I asked for specifics. Do you experience so many types of love?

text YOU SUCK ED

[beaky]

Take this down. IMMEDIATELY.

What are you even doing?

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[riddleman]

It's called research.

I already read up on the subject, now I'm trying an opinion based study.

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[hondoyota]

Validation.

Love is the validation that comes when the person or persons whom you find exceptionally worthwhile find you likewise worthwhile. I think that the specific dynamic or nature of that regard can vary, as to whether it's respect, reverence, trust, shared humor, or any number of other emotions.

But I think that the universal crux of it is that you find someone to be special, interesting, worthwhile, valuable--in some capacity--and they reciprocate that by finding you likewise wonderful. The resulting feeling of validation--on that deeply personal basis--is what we think of as 'love'.

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[riddleman]

...that is very eloquently put.

Thank you, friend. I believe you have actually been helpful to me in this matter. I feel as if I owe you for that.

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[am_i_a_monster]

That question doesn't have a single answer. Love isn't just one thing. Every love is different. Every love is unique.

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[riddleman]

That would be why I specifically asked 'what is it to you?', you dumbass.

[...he's an ass.]

[Video]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Hey, Ed! Guess who's a big fan of the riddle page? Adachi is really excited for a live riddle on the network, though he sobers at the content. Oh boy... ]

Love is... something that hurts. Even if you get what you want, there's still that ache you feel in your chest. It's a good feeling when things are good, but when things go wrong, it's just a reminder of how helpless you are when it comes to feeling love.

[Video]

[riddleman]

[Next time he'll do a more entertaining riddle! Probably. Listen, this is an important study.]

That has been my experience. Love is a weakness. An ache. I know what you mean.

Why do people chase it?