unpopular opinions

Do you think people are too sensitive? Or that Superman isn't so super? Think cats aren't cute? The Beatles are overrated? Love pineapple on pizza? Maybe you just don't like chips rly. Even the best of us have some controversial opinions. Let people know what a monster you are.

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with your characters’ unpopular and/or controversial opinion. Or share few of them at once. In person or via text. Prepare for disagreement.

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to tell them why they're wrong, validate a kindred spirit, or just troll them for caring about such a silly-ass thing in the first place.

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[The corner of Marik's lip twitches as he's keenly reminded of his own father's behavior.

He certainly fits the bill.]

Hn. Is it usually a cycle? Like if one's parents were abusive, were their parents also that as well? Is that what they call a "vicious cycle?"

In general, yes. We learn from the examples that our parents give us. If one doesn't make an effort to learn new ways of parenting, or if they honestly don't know that an alternative method exists and works, one will probably end up falling back on how they were raised.

There's some variation based on personality, of course. We're not exact clones of our parents. But I've heard of plenty of cases where someone who was abused as a child will lash out at their own children.

[Marik was already aware of the fact that he's inherited his father's behavior. Hell, he even looks like a miniature version of him.

His jaw clenches and he grinds his teeth. This is hitting too close to home and he's not in the mood to open up to a stranger, social worker or not.]

I see. That's good to know.

[The anger subsides, replaced by curiosity.]

... What made you look into social work?

I wanted to do some good in the world, after experiencing a lot of the bad.

And I felt like helping children and the elderly -- who often have trouble defending themselves -- was doing the most good.

[The Egyptian tilts his head.]

... Why? Does it make you feel good? Is it satisfying?

[Nessie quotes Pearl Buck when she replies, by saying,] “Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.”

I find it satisfying, [Nessie elaborates, after a pause.] People have always been people. There's evidence from even before we were modern humans that we tended to the sick, made accommodations for the disabled, and cared for the elderly. Even when we hunted with sticks and lived in caves, we showed compassion. Why stop now?

[She certainly knows her stuff. Marik's morbid curiosity wonders if Nessie can see through his learned behavior and the mask he's put on. He's not the most subtle though so it wouldn't be entirely surprising if she did.

The blonde doesn't experience emotions like most people do. Especially now with him technically only being half of a soul.

He takes her words into consideration, thinking over them for a minute or so before he speaks again.]

Hmm.

... I don't think I'll ever understand that level of compassion. There's nothing particularly good to gain from doing such things. Loyalty perhaps but it almost seems a waste.

Well, as I said, you can't trust all parents to have their children's best interests at heart... and similarly, you can't expect all people to be able to fill the same roles.

You might not be able to understand the value of showing compassion to less fortunate, but from a purely value-based point of view... those who learn how to administer medical care by "practicing" on the young, the disabled, and the elderly become more skilled in ways that can be used to help, say, the able-bodied injured recover. The collective does get a benefit in the long term, if you look at it that way.

As long as people who want to are allowed the space and support to help as they see fit, not everyone has to "pitch in and help" in the same ways.

Edited (rephrase for clarity) 2022-10-05 18:12 (UTC)

[For him it's not so much the less fortunate than just... everyone. Doesn't matter who they are.

He's quiet for a bit again, thinking things over.]

That makes sense.

[It's best he tends to the dead rather than the living. At least there's that.]

... Your passion for this subject is admirable. I haven't spoken to many who know the trade as well as you. Most just claim to have a big heart and don't understand the nature of people at all.

[Nessie gives herself a little shake and smiles wryly at Marik.] Oh, listen to me! I feel like I ought to award you college credits for this conversation. I can really get going if nobody stops me.

[She rolls her eyes at the 'big heart' descriptor.] Oh yes, we get plenty of those folks, every year. A big heart is admirable, but it has to be tempered with a strong spine.

It's fine.

[He waves his hand dismissively. Really, the more he can learn about people, the better.]

They're generally the ones that haven't actually gone through trauma of their own, right? At least from my experience...

Generally, yes. I don't want to say that trauma is a requirement for being a social worker, but... I think understanding trauma is important.

Sometimes these "big hearted" people don't even understand how kindness can be viewed with suspicion.

I just meant people in general, not specifically social workers.

... They can also bad at picking up when they're getting manipulated as well.

[Which just makes it all the more fun. For a while at least.]

Ah, sorry. [Nessie gives a little smile and nod,] You're right. It applies to people in general as well.

[That follow up comment gets a raised eyebrow from her.] That's true in my experience, as one of the manipulated.

Don't worry about it.

[Marik's trying his luck. He really should be but it's in his nature. Let the mask slip a bit, word things in a specific way, see how the person reacts. It's just innocent curiosity, right?]

I apologize that you had to go through that. I'm... assuming you're the type that got stronger afterwards. At least, that's the impression you give off to me.

Stronger, maybe. More suspicious of compliments? [She smiles thinly at him.] Certainly.

[She just thinks that he's flattering her, maybe for flirting purposes? She doesn't know, but she's not interested.]

[Marik and flirting go together like oil and water most of the time.

Still, he laughs.]

A smart move, honestly.

... But thank you. For... looking out for those less fortunate.

[Time to drop some truth to her.]

I could have used someone with your knowledge growing up.

I hear that a lot. [Nessie smiles sadly.]

I think it's important to be better than what we grew up with. It's not easy to be a better partner, or parent, when you have nothing else to model your behavior on, but I think it's worth it.

[This is a sincere offer, though Nessie doesn't know if it will be taken that way.] If you do want to talk... about when you grew up, or anything, you can talk to me. Doesn't have to be now, but whenever you feel like it.

[He has no reason not to believe Nessie.]

Mn. Yeah... It's been tough but... I'm slowly learning.

[Marik has had someone to be a good role model but instead he mistreated him just like his father did to them both. It's only recently that he's begun to feel some guilt for what he's done.

He shifts a bit, deciding to lower his guard.]

I'll keep that in mind. I've never had anyone to talk to about... well, anything.

[He holds his hand out.]

My name's Marik.

[She shakes his hand and gives him a warm smile.] My name is Vanessa. Friends call me Nessie. It's nice to meet you, Marik.

We're all learning. Keeps life interesting.

Nice to meet you too, Vanessa.

[They're not friends so he's not going to call her that. Not unless she tells him, at least.]

Yeah... Yeah, it does. I've got so much to catch up on... Feels like I'll never be able to sometimes.

[Some people jump right in to calling her Nessie, others are a little more reserved. She offers the option when she doesn't mind being called one or the other.]

Who are you trying to catch up to? With your learning, I mean.

No one in particular. I've just lived an extremely... sheltered life. So I haven't gotten to experience a lot of things someone my age normally would have by now.

... I think. If popular media is to be belived, I mean.

[90s media is probably not the best teacher. Nor is growing up in a cult though so what can you do.]

Popular media exaggerates a lot. Teenage me didn't realize that, and had a lot of anxiety about not being mature enough... which was nonsense.

I wouldn't take movies and TV shows as guides to life, except maybe in a broad strokes sense.

Huh... Okay. I had wondered how much was just being dressed up rather than being accurate.

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