Ethics [Monday, April 2, 5th period]

[sith_happened]

"Today we talk about the ethics we encounter in relationships," Anakin began quietly. "Not just the easy questions like 'is it cheating if one of us is possessed?' but the ones that effect everyone--how much of the truth do you tell the person? What happens when one of you stops loving the other one? What happens when you reach an impasse on differences in religion or life goals? What do you do when circumstances beyond your control threaten to split you apart? What if there's too much old baggage to try again?"

He ran a hand through his hair, not looking at John or Molly assuming they're in class today. "Take it from me. Sometimes love isn't enough to make it work." He looked around the classroom. "Today we talk about the messy parts of love. Pick one of my questions and answer it the best way you can."

He leaned against his desk. "I'll be over here brooding listening to the discussion."

Comments

Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

Does it counting as cheating if someone's possessed? How much of the truth do you tell the person? What happens when one of you stops loving the other one? What happens when you reach an impasse on differences in religion or life goals? What do you do when circumstances beyond your control threaten to split you apart? What if there's too much old baggage to try again?

It's almost like Anakin's spent a lot of time thinking about this or something.

[OOC: Answer a question, reply to someone else's, make the comments as messy as you like!]

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle, being such an expert at love and everything, decided to take care of all of them in one fell swoop. "If anything, especially something as stupid as love, gets messy enough that any of those things are an issue, they're not worth it and you're better off just saying 'good riddance' and go have a pizza."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[likethegun]

"Love isn't stupid," Sam said. "Love is awesome, and if it gets messy, that just means you have to fight harder to make it work."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but what's the point? Who actually wants to go through all that bleeding heart, made-for-TV movie love drama? If I ever do fall in love, I don't want it to be anything like that. I want it simple. Too much other stuff to have to worry about."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[likethegun]

"I don't think love needs to be the schmoopy bleeding heart kind. But I also think that eventually, every relationship gets a little messy. Inevitably, one of the people involved will do something seriously stupid."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Turtle's mouth shifted a little, thoughtfully in a frown, as she tried not to think about certain standstills reached between her and a certain kiss-and-run boy... "You really think it's that inevitable? I mean, yeah, everyone makes mistakes, but don't you wanna strive to not make them instead of believing something like that, which is pretty much just asking for something seriously stupid to happen? Murphy's Law and all that."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Nothing important's ever simple," Dean pointed out. "You can't run away whenever things get messy."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[likethegun]

"It doesn't count as cheating if someone's possessed," Sam said quickly. "As for telling the person the truth, I think it depends on whether or not the truth will hurt them or make them stop loving you. I don't think you have to be truthful if the truth is something you're bothered by."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[likethegun]

"What?" Sam said, staring back.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"It's okay to lie to someone you love if you're bothered by the truth? You can't really believe that."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't count as cheating but it can still hurt the other person," John said, wincing a little. "And not just cheating. Sometimes secrets need to be kept." Here, he eyed Anakin a little. "But you should try and tell the truth to the person you love. And you should let go if you're just going through the motions for the sake of it."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

Anakin stared at John for a long beat. "And if you can't?" he asked quietly.

Which could be a question for either telling the truth or letting go.

Anakin was sneaky that way.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Then I just hope there's enough trust between two people to get past secrets," John said quietly.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

Pain flashed in Anakin's eyes.

"Probably not," he muttered, turning away.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"If you're really in love with someone, I think you have to be honest with them," Dean said, "especially about yourself. Otherwise, you'll never know if they're in love with you or with the lie."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

"What if the lie is more comfortable?" Anakin asked idly.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"No one said love was comfortable or easy," Dean replied. "Pretty much the opposite, I've found. I mean, not that I have a hell of a lot of experience, but if you throw in family too..."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I just can't imagine Darth Vader getting a lot of dates," he said. "But if he went into a bar, introduced himself as Chad and left off the planet-killing parts of his resumé, he might've gotten somewhere."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Are we talking about love or marriage?" Katara asked. "Because it's not like they're the same thing."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[sith_happened]

"Let's stick with love for the moment," Anakin said. "Marriage opens a whole new level of complications."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[southernbender.livejournal.com]

"Marriage seems easier," Katara muttered. More loudly she added, "you should tell the truth to the people you love. Whether it's your brother or a friend or a..." she flailed a bit. "Romantic love. Otherwise how would you be worthy of their trust?"

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[dark_slippy_thing]

"If there's too much old baggage to try again, then don't." Valentine shrugged. "Onward and upward, there are plenty of fish in the sky. Enough, I'd say, that you don't have to keep bogging yourself down worrying about the shark that's got her teeth embedded in your ankle."

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly was not going to be answering any of these questions.

Unlike Anakin, she did not even want to think about a couple of them. Even objectively.

Molly spent the discussion period doodling in her notebook, not paying attention and avoiding eye contact with Anakin like he didn't even exist.

Re: Answer a discussion question!

[morpherboy.livejournal.com]

"Um...I vote it doesn't count if you're possessed or controled or something." Marco bit down on his lip. "Thinking the other one is dead is also probably a good reason to move on, though if your son knows otherwise it might lead to some unusual hostility."