endsthegame: (Default)
endsthegame ([personal profile] endsthegame) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2015-05-15 12:01 pm

Practical Philosophy, Friday

It was cloudy, but not cold. Ender saw no reason to move his class location, and so he met everyone out on the lawn again, twin bags of water bottles and sandwiches sitting on the grass in front of him.

"Last week, Alluka and I talked a little about rules," he said. "I think we all make assumptions about what's correct behavior among other people. We learn this from our parents, and we learn this from our friends as we grow up, and we learn this from authority figures when we cross the line. When you're used to a life of rules, then it makes sense to assume that there might be many here, as well."

He stretched his legs out.

"Much of Fandom's culture is rooted in the more progressive side of 21st century protocol," he said. "We might see people here from all walks of life and all eras of time, but we do seem to cluster around the 20th and 21st centuries." A beat. "I say 'we', but I was born in the 22nd. Either way, the 20th century West - the area we are a part of - was rooted in an exploration of our freedoms. The rules of protocol that governed us before were experimented with, often thrown out or changed. Different rules emerged, and different structures."

He took a sip of water.

"And on this island in particular, we've developed a vocabulary of our own that gets passed on from one generation of students and teachers to the next. Be accepting of others' differences. Listen. But also: pursue your passions and your hobbies, as long as they don't endanger your life or the lives of others."

He smiled wryly. "This protocol sounds like a good one," he said, "because it matches the values of this time and place. This is how societies are built, with shared values resulting in shared norms, shared rules that a group of people decides to find normal, natural. But it can also be constrictive, especially for our students from earlier times. How far should they budge? How much time are we willing to give each other before expecting each other to bend to the rules of this time? There is this aura of freedom about this island, but the truth is, there are simply different rules in play. What have you encountered so far that makes you wonder - something that goes up against the values you were taught, and might be restrictive-- or more freeing than you're used to."
that_oldsaying: (spooky toys)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
Alluka Zoldyck
yogurtvore: (that can't be good)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] yogurtvore 2015-05-15 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Blue Sargent
ldymacgyver: (Studying)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] ldymacgyver 2015-05-15 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Daphne Blake
omgnochecksyet: (Default)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] omgnochecksyet 2015-05-15 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Eric Bittle
ldymacgyver: (Default)

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[personal profile] ldymacgyver 2015-05-15 01:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Daphne was actually taking notes.
that_oldsaying: (Yay! (w/jacket and hair up))

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Oh, Alluka knew this one!

"I'm allowed out of my room!" she said happily. Even though she did still pretend that the whole place was her room, because it made her feel more comfortable and less like her parents would be mad at her. "I think it's pretty great!"
that_oldsaying: (Who me?)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Her eyes went big and confused.

"Why would it?"
that_oldsaying: (Hmmm)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Alluka hugged her giraffe and looked down.

"Okay," she said, but it was pretty clear she didn't believe him.
that_oldsaying: (Shiny thing?)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
She thought about that.

"Do you now?"
that_oldsaying: (thoughtful)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
She toyed with the grass, enjoying the way it felt under her hands, and didn't look up as she said, "I have a lot of fun playing with everyone, and I like everyone lots, but when my parents find me, I'll have to go back to my room."
that_oldsaying: (with a bunny)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiled, then looked a little guilty.

"Yes," Alluka admitted. "But it's not bad in my room either. I have a lot more toys and it's all painted to look like the outside."
that_oldsaying: (tell you a secret)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Alluka gave a funny sort of shrug of her shoulders at that question.

"Jono said it's okay for me to be here, and I think I haven't left my room," she said. "But my parents will still be angry."
that_oldsaying: (thoughtful)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... I think so?" she said, uncertainly. "They never told me."

But Alluka wasn't stupid, even though she was very young.
that_oldsaying: (... oh)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] that_oldsaying 2015-05-15 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know what to say," she confessed. "There's not much to talk about, really."
yogurtvore: (Default)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] yogurtvore 2015-05-15 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, I would never have been allowed to room with a boy at home," Blue said. "And if everybody could not mention that to my mom just yet, that would be great." Sorry, Thorin.
yogurtvore: (Default)

Re: Talk.

[personal profile] yogurtvore 2015-05-15 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"It hasn't been as bad as I might have expected?" she said hesitantly. "But I don't know what I expected, because I've never even shared a house with a boy before." Also, she was pretty sure most boys didn't whip up an insanely intricate room divider curtain in about three seconds flat.