fandomhigh | Study Hall -- Wednesday, September 28th

Study Hall -- Wednesday, September 28th

Welcome to Wednesday's study hall. I'm in a considerably better mood than yesterday, which mostly means none of you will be getting set on fire today. I reserve the right to threaten you with it, though. You have no fucking idea how entertaining the looks on your faces are when I do that.

*grins wickedly and takes a drag off her cigarette*

The announcements for today --

-- Biff is missing once again from the front of the teachers lounge. If somebody could find that stupid goddamn bear and drag it back, I'd appreciate it. (I won't be rettaching any limbs you might lose, though. That's your fucking problem, not mine.)

-- After the events of last weekend, I'm thinking of lifting the weapons ban. I'll be opening up a discussion section in the comments for those opposed and those for the weapons ban to hash out any differences they might have, any requests they might have for licensing or policing those who wish to carry their weapons, and any other problems they might wish to discuss.

-- Parents Weekend will take place on October 28th, 29th, and 30th. For the record, you may make one new RPG journal for whichever parent, guardian, relation, or mortal enemy you might wish to bring in for your character. These characters cannot already be enrolled in the school or exist in town, and if you can find someone not already involved in the game to play them just for that weekend, all the better. However, these characters will not be allowed posting access on FH or any related communities, they will only be allowed to comment in designated threads -- open houses for classes, the Halloween dance, etc. They're only here to visit for one weekend, folks -- they won't be hanging in the dorms or taking classes or anything. Also, teachers will be allowed to call parent/teacher conferences with any of their students they might wish to meet with (or any "parent" they might wish to interview ... *snerk*).

(OOC: Also, for the record, I'm not playing John Connor anymore -- I've passed him off to someone else. Now he can get a little more play, the poor antisocial bastard. :))

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*considers*

I've been known to threaten people. However, I've never threatened anyone who (a) didn't know their way around a weapon (b) would've been afraid to be threatened (c) wasn't perfectly capable of issuing equal threat. That is to say, gunbunnies threaten other gunbunnies with shooting as a joke. Aeryn and I, for example, might well point weapons at each other in the middle of a mock-quarrel or even a real one. But neither of us would be afraid the other would actually shoot.

I threatened Sheppard with a weapon when I was blazingly furious with him, but no one needed to tell me to put the weapon away. I did that on my own. Because I was making a point. Not trying to kill him. He knew it, and I knew it. It's like a rattlesnake shaking its tail.

I suppose for someone who sees a weapon as something separate from its wielder might find this hard to understand. But my weapons are a part of me. If you take them away... I'm not me. More than that, I'm much more dangerous to you and everyone else if I have to come up with sneaky ways to defend myself.

~~and I won't even mention that there are people like Angelus who thrive on the threats.~~

~~My door is NOT a gunbunny.~~

*blush* Uh. Sorry? We were very careful not to shoot YOU.

~~Super x-ray vision?~~

~~*does not have any super-secret future-spy tech, uh uh, nope*~~

If you wish to intimidate me into staying far from you, you've succeeded, whether you are carrying a gun or not.

The fact that you did pull a gun on Sheppard makes a deeper impression on me than your 'responsibility' of not having to be told to put it away.

If you have to pull a gun to make your point...at that point there is no stopping you from pulling the trigger, just as there seems to be no stopping a magic user from whipping out their magic-fu...except personal and responsible restraint.

If you want that consideration for using guns, it's a dicey proposition but only fair in the face of the magic users and having to rely on their personal and responsible restraint.

At some point, a bit of trust on both sides of the magic users vs. weapons users will have to be given, or this whole thing will never work.

And it still leaves those of us who choose to stay unarmed caught in a very fearful position. We have to exhibit the most trust of all, that neither the weapon users or the magic users will lift their personal and responsible restraints against us - who have no way to fight back at all.

It's a fair point. I'll grant that it makes a frightening impression for those who live in a different world where weapons aren't the norm.

*considers*

We are having a conversation, are we not? And we're disagreeing. Yet I've not even raised my voice. I'm not trigger-happy. I don't threaten innocents. I protect them.

If you check my reputation, you'll see that aside from occasional trashtalk with equal force users, what I do is wander around protecting my girls from anything that might hurt them. Not a villain here. *shrug*

Scary, perhaps. But not a villain.

As for trusting mages, Paige is one of my best friends. Illyana who may be the most deadly person in the school, is my roommate. I'm not actually angling for a fight with them. I'm suggesting, rather, that it's unfair and dangerous that they keep their weapons because they cannot physically be separated from theirs, while I must be stripped of mine because I can.

...

You have wings, yes?

My apologies if I said you were a villian. That was not my intent.

I am trying to point out that there is still a level of hysteria here, not against the 'common enemy' of zombies or tentacle monsters or the creeping green ooze, but against other students. And if I'm hearing you right, against only specific students.

Something I think can be handled by the implementing of rules and regulations for all those who have 'offensive arts' (guns, blades, magic, martial arts) and if it becomes too personal, taking it to the principal for her to sort out. It requires everyone to be responsible.

That there can be a level of agreement once the finger pointing stops of 'they're more dangerous than I am, see how responsible I've been? I have no guarantee they are responsible too' and solutions are put forward instead of arguing to arm for protection against each other.

Which is what I'm still hearing.

I am in agreement with you, though. I think it's unfair and dangerous as well for one segment of the student population to be armed and not the other. So where does that leave those of us who are not armed?

And yes. I have wings. They aren't visible all the time because they make getting through doorways difficult.

No apology necessary. Was simply making a point.

Actually, I have no beef against any of my fellow students or teachers right now. Whatever their powers, everyone worked together in the attack, and a lot of people I might otherwise have hated on sight have gained my respect.

It doesn't mean I'm stupid. Some of the people here are villains and go to great lengths to show it to be the case. Camulus's voicemail? Overlord, taking power much? But I get on fine with Camulus. I just watch him like a hawk. There's a difference between caution and distrust.

I've actually proposed a number of possible solutions to Principal Connor, including peer group intermediation, safe weapons training, registration, buddy systems for dealing with bad tempers, and the possibility of getting someone like Professor Gandalf to cast prohibitive spells that keep any of us from using our weapons magical or otherwise unless we're in danger.

Those who are not armed are in no danger from those who are, but if you fear, perhaps making friends with someone who is armed...like me...would help you feel safer. Because you'd have someone to protect you.

The wings thing... an analogy, not a threat, OK? How would you feel if someone were to cut them off?

There is a difference between caution and distrust. You seem capable of making that distinction, which is good.

I'm not convinced others in the student population can.

You said, "Those who are not armed are in no danger from those who are"

Wouldn't that now negate your arguement that weapons owners should get their guns back? Could the argumenet now be twisted back to apply to you?

I'm not proposing that, merely pointing it out.

And losing my wings? *Chihaya's expression becomes sad and withdrawn.* Not necessarily a bad thing.

((ooc: you've just hit his canon-angst button. Not trying to bounce out of this incredible debate. Having a blast with that, by the way! You are truly spirited and I'm enjoying it. *grin*))

((ooc: heeee and I managed to successfully spell argument wrong twice in the same comment!))

*nods* I think we can help the others make that distinction. Peer-group discussions, much as I hate touchy-feely, might be a good way to get the mages and the weapon-bunnies to face some of the issues we've got. We could add the unarmed after we've got the anger/distrust down to manageable levels. I'll talk to Rory about adding that to our campaign slate.

*crosses arms under chest* I don't think the argument you're assigning to me can be turned around. My point is, those who choose not to go armed, are not in danger from those who choose to go armed. And yet, those of us who would choose to be armed, given a choice, are not so safe.

Even if I disliked you, which I don't, I would never have any reason to hurt you. You're not going to hurt me back. It's not your nature. But, dear heart, I'm not so good. Those who have reason to dislike me know that I'm dangerous. With or without a weapon to hand, who and what I am is provocation. Without a weapon, I'm not suddenly render an innocent. I'm rendered prey.

*feels bad about making the pretty angel boy sad* I understand about things you wish were different. Really. But you have to admit, if you woke up without them one morning, it would be weird for awhile. Right?

(OOC: is fun. Bek's smarter than she gives off usually. Mun is working sorry for slow-play)

*Chihaya shrugs uncomfortably at mention of his wings. He gives her soulful look.*

You said "My point is, those who choose not to go armed, are not in danger from those who choose to go armed."

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on that one. I am equally at danger from those who choose to go armed and show no sense of responsibility for using those arms with restraint and care. Having a gun (or magic) only gives you the ability to fight back, it doesn't necessarily make you safer from attacks.

I do like the peer discussion idea though. And if each segment of the debate could police their own with no show of bias in favor, that will go a long way to fostering trust for everyone.

And thank you for at least considering those of us among the population who appear to be a silent minority that, for personal reasons, choose to go unarmed and have no magical abilities to fall back on. I guess why I'm so vocal about all this - is all this talk of arming...it just seems like we are getting pushed to the side and not even being considered.

((ooc: stupid work interfering with my play time! *g*))

*she gives him a sad, broken-girl look in return*

I'm sorry Chihaya. I'm very concerned about those who choose not to carry weapons. I've made it my business to protect those who are weaker. It's what I do. If it seems I'm not sensible of the fact that some simply don't like weapons, that's not the case. It's just hard for me to live with my weapons cut off. They're like my arms.

Having a weapon does, in fact, make me safer. I'll try to explain. I'm much less likely to pick a fight if I know I'm armed. Because I don't want to hurt anyone. I'm much less likely to feel scared and therefore gang up on someone if I know I can protect myself. I'm much less jumpy, irritable, and nasty when I don't feel like there are ghosts at the ends of my arms. So I'm much less likely to lose my temper.

I can't really explain any better than to say that I'd function better if someone cut off my ears.

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Study Hall -- Wednesday, September 28th

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