fandomhigh | Morality of Action, Wednesday Afternoon

"The concept of cruelty has fascinated all societies," Kreia began. They would find themselves in a large, grey classroom, bereft of light - the Danger Shop, but not a particularly inspiring creation within it. "Why do men become monsters? One theory this particular world seems enamored with is that power naturally inspires cruelty and abuse."

She waved her hand towards the back. There was a simulated prison there, prisoners and all. "Many decades ago, scientists on this planet ran an experiment. They created a prison, and divided their subjects into two groups: prisoners and guards. The experiment was ended after six days, because the circumstances had grown inhumane. This came to be, the scientists claimed, because putting power over another being in one being's hands would inevitably lead to that being abusing their prisoner."

She dropped her hand. "But these results were manipulated," she said. "The true cruelty sat in the hands of those who created the experiment, forced their charges to play roles, misled them and pushed them to make circumstances worse than they had been. Yet for decades, this experiment stood as a true study of the nature of the people of this place."

Disappointed, as always. "What does this tell you about the circumstances that inspire cruelty?" she asked. "About its uses? And could the behavior of these scientists be justified? Do you feel there was some true worth to their beliefs about the source of needless cruelty, despite the taint upon this experiment - that something as simple as merely wielding power corrupts, always?"

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Corrupted.

Sir Graham of Daventry

Illyana Rasputin

Liliana Vess

If one wishes. It is a touch depressing in here.

"What does this tell you about the circumstances that inspire cruelty?" she asked. "About its uses? And could the behavior of these scientists be justified? Do you feel there was some true worth to their beliefs about the source of needless cruelty, despite the taint upon this experiment - that something as simple as merely wielding power corrupts, always?"

"Power is power," Illyana said neutrally. "Can it come from a tainted source, which can influence the unwary? Of course. But the fact remains the power itself is a tool, and how it is used is the responsibility of the wielder."

She gestured in the direction of the prison. "In this case, a tainted power flowed from the scientists, to easily manipulated children to create the outcome they anticipated. It's no wonder the whole thing twisted."

"Some people choose cruelty because it's easy. Others because it's safe, or fun, or as self-protection. Power just makes it easier to choose cruelty because it wards against consequences."

Liliana looked over to Illyana, beaming. "Well-spoken, darling," she said.

Kreia nodded. It might go too far to call her clearly pleased about the answer - for when was she clearly pleased about anything? - but she did not seem to directly disagree.

"Why do you believe it is so tempting to blame power for our own sins?" she asked. "Why might these scientists be so eager to prove this conclusion?"

"Any 'good man' can succumb to temptation," Illyana said dryly. "It puts the blame on the external factor."

"It is much harder to admit to yourself that the weakness was always within you, that you have always been capable of evil, and when granted the ability to behave as you want, you folded like a paper airplane." She whooshed her hand through the air as she said it. "Oh no, you have been taken by the winds of fate. It is not your fault, it was the nature of power to corrupt what it touches!"

"Because it is one thing to intellectually know that no one is infallible, and that all people are capable of 'sin.'" Yes, you could probably hear the air quotes. "It is another to admit that you made a choice, and that choice hurt other people, and you were not possessed by a ghost or a demon or some other entity overriding your free-will."

"Any time someone attempts to reduce something as complicated as the influences of power over people into a simple, pithy little statement such as 'power corrupts absolutely' or something, I practically have to sprain my eyes to keep them from rolling so far backwards I can see my own brain," Liliana declared.

"That saying only serves to push the blame for people's own corruptions and failings onto another source, distancing themselves from blame and culpability. 'It's not that I am weak and venial, it is the power that is to blame.' It is as Illyana says, what power does is make things easy. Not only by insulating you from consequences, but by making it easier for you to get what you want. And when you get what you want too easily, it becomes tempting to believe you should always get what you want, that it is right that you should have it. That it is wrong for anything to oppose you receiving it. And that when you are wronged, that it is okay and even right for you to lash out about it.

"Furthermore, power provides opportunities that you would not otherwise have had, but does not dictate how you respond to it. One of the myriad problems with scenarios such as these is that it looks at the ability and confuses it with the cause. For example, one of the reasons people go into positions like prison guards is because they want the ability to push people around and engage in cruelty - they seek out the power that will allow this desire to be expressed, rather than somehow 'falling victim' to it."

"Would cruelty then be an innate quality?"

This week, at least, the students appeared to be sharp and self-reflective. She approved. (To some extent, always.)

"Or is it something that is nurtured, outside or in?" she continued. "More practically, what causes the future prison guard to manifest this desire to be cruel? Can we take a guess? Or do we hang its causes on the hands of some impenetrable force of fate?"

"Fate," Liliana said with a hiss, her lip wrinkling. She didn't call it bullshit, but she certainly looked like she'd like to spit on something.

"I won't deny that there are just some people who are born with a thirst for it, but more often than not, cruelty is nurtured. I certainly nurtured mine. Many things can feed it: a family that practices cruelty and models it for their child; a desire to feel or have meaning or be seen; a sense of righteousness; of ruthless pragmatism; of simple, decadent boredom. Back before we were lessened, there were plenty of Planeswalkers that would birth whole planes and create whole races to fill with them just to hunt them for sport once other pleasures had paled."

If you must.

Will be out for most of the day as I entertain a

betterthanaplan, but will ping back later!

Morality of Action, Wednesday Afternoon

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