as_damaged | ☤ thirteen

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☤ thirteen

Things are rarely as simple as we'd like them to be.

If we outlaw fur and leather and the eating of meat--just one example of the causes I've heard today-- it may lessen the suffering of animals, but what of the families who've made their livelihoods as farmers? When you attack them, in a way you're causing as much suffering as you claim to wish to prevent. Taking away their source of income adds to the problems of poverty, homelessness; and as for the animals themselves, most captive minks and foxes don't know how to survive in the wild; when they're let loose at best they die, at worst, they run feral and attack humans and other domesticated animals.

Social problems are no less complex; as nice as it would be to put a roof over every head, to ascertain that every person has enough to eat, clothes and shoes and all the necessities of life... what's to stop the person you give a dollar to on the subway from using it to buy beer, instead of dinner? When does an attempt to regulate charity infringe upon someone's freedom, their right to choose their own life?

It makes me think of that old man-- well.

Even if we were all able to agree upon our ideal world-- which is doubtful-- I don't think achieving our goals would be as simple as we imagine. This isn't to say we shouldn't strive for change-- we have to, if we want to better ourselves and our environment-- but we need to be aware of all the effects we have, not only hold up the successes.

We can't afford to aid some without at least considering the strain it will put on others.

Self-sacrifice is more persuasive than violent protest.

[ooc: Prone to playing the devil's advocate as she is today, you can probably milk her for donations if you can convince her your motives are pure |D But she does tend to be a little wishy-washy in her beliefs, if only because she'd ideally like everyone to be happy and thriving. ;_;

EDIT: hit by soulcrushing exhaustion, sob. i will get back to you in the morning. ilu. ♥♥♥

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Self-sacrifice is crap too, you know.

What makes you say that?

In the end, all that self-sacrifice does is make people feel like shite.

I don't know that I agree. I think a willingness to support a cause at the expense of one's own life is admirable.

Yeah? To what end.

If no one in a position of privilege is willing to trade it in order to help the less fortunate, how can we ever expect anything to change?

I'm not saying everyone should die for their cause, or even that everybody should be willing to. But people with that sort of devotion inspire others to do better.

I'd rather say someone should be willing to kill for their cause.

I don't consider violence an answer.

No? Sometimes it's the only answer.

I can't agree with that.

It might make sense, to some people in some situations; but once you allow for that, where do you draw the line?

When people start marching on you you'll find reason.

There's a difference between protest and self-defense. Violence draws animosity towards a cause, not support.

Wow. Go ahead, put those controversial views out there and fight for them.

I don't think change always needs to be controversial.

So you're not going to be throwing paint at me when I come back to get my things? What if I stop to give a homeless guy a dollar?

What does flinging paint accomplish except to breed animosity towards your cause, and contribute to ecological problems by necessitating the cleaning or the replacement of someone's clothing?

You can do what you like with your money, though you might serve him better by buying him a sandwich.

Did you swallow Al Gore?

If the hypothetical homeless want to drink themselves to death, let them. You're probably shortening a bloody miserable life. What the hell's up with you today?

How compassionate of you.

And nothing's "up with me." I'm just commenting on what people have been talking about, today.

You can't save some people. You're definitely not going to save them by buying them a sandwich instead of a beer. And you're not commenting, you're perching so firmly on the middle of the fence you must have a post stuck somewhere painful.

Just because you can't save them doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

I'm... just not persuaded by any of the extremes.

No, that's exactly what it means. But I guess it's your time to waste.

The fact that you can't save everyone means that you shouldn't try to help anyone?

Right, because that's what I was saying. Never mind, I'm sure there's a long career in politics I'm keeping you from.

[If action's okay, any minute now comes the sound of a key in the lock. No, he hasn't given it back yet.]

[That certainly interferes with her plan to not dignify his comment with a response. Knocking would be nice, Chase, but she's not surprised. Ffft, you get a Look for being impolite.]

[Sorry, he's not looking at your look. He's got two grocery bags to carry, after all, and the sooner he can get into the kitchen and unload, the better. No, no one asked him to get groceries. And yes, he's moving out today.]

[She might be faintly pleased if she weren't in the mood to pick a fight; it's an almost chivalrous gesture, born of his concern for her well-being. Of course, she can take care of herself, and today she's desperate to point that out. Well... cursed or not, maybe things aren't so unusual today.]

Planning a big dinner?

[She's leaning against the doorframe, watching him settle his burdens onto the counter.]

Nope.

[Not unless he's taken up eating fishy chunks in delicious gravy, which are what he starts taking out of the first bag.]

Cat food. [He announces, setting the last tin down and starting to pull out bags of coffee beans in every flavour but natural.] Coffee.

[The next bag isn't quite as stuffed, but full of odds and ends. He starts reeling off the contents as he unloads.] Shampoo. Toothpaste...

[She arches an eyebrow.]

Afraid I can't manage on my own?

[So much for making a kind gesture...]

[Well now he glances up, questioning her with an eyebrow of his own.]

It's stuff I've used. You didn't want paying, so I thought I'd set you up for a while.

[A rustle of paper and he turns his attention to the bags, and to Gray, who is trying to fish the last few items from one of them.]

I know it hasn't been easy.

Is that so.

[It's more challenge than question. Her tone couldn't be any flatter if you went over it with a steamroller.]

What do you have against altruism?

[Double take. He steps back, spreading his hands defensively.]

You were just about to get mad at me for buying you groceries. Now you're, what? Going to tell me off for not feeding the nation's poor?

You only bought me groceries because you dislike the fact that I'm not charging you rent.

[Which, apparently, annoys her. Go figure.]

[And, busted. There's only a momentary twitch at the corner of Chase's mouth before he sails smoothly into the lie.]

I'm fine with you not charging rent. I'm broke, remember?

[One paycheck still counts as broke in his terms. Even the sizable paychecks he's made sure he's bringing in. He casts a glare down at his feet and mutters, less softly than he should]

Maybe I should have picked up some other feminine hygiene products.

That is so typically male, and so typically you, to assume that if a woman is ever in the least confrontational, she must be PMSing.

[She's scowling, arms crossed in front of her. Don't think she doesn't know she was right, either.]

I'm a typical male, sorry. Mind I don't club you and drag you back to my cave.

[He rolls his eyes, abandoning the shopping to stare back at her as he runs an internal debate over how risky pushing past her to get the rest of his stuff might be. He's only got a few things so far, no sense in watching them get tossed out of the window.]

I'm sure it takes all the restraint you can manage. Would you charge rent if you did?

[Chances are glaring is the worst he'll get. Chase should consider himself lucky-- she hit Wilson for less, though that was a much more severe curse.]

[Then hopefully she'll forgive the next comment. He's a typical male; it can't be helped.]

If I was going to charge for that, you'd have had the bill already.

Get out of my house.

[No sense of humor at all, obviously. She steps back, both to widen the distance between them, and to open his path to the door. Making an issue of his clothes might be unwise.]

[Well that backfired, and this might be more than a bad time of the month. Chase flails slightly but doesn't make a move yet, because he obviously doesn't know what's good for him.]

I was kidding. Obviously I wouldn't-

It was just a joke.

Obviously, you aren't listening. Go.

[Her tone is deceptively calm, and she doesn't move a muscle; she just stands there, all but daring him to argue.]

[And he goes. At least as far as the kitchen door, where he attempts an awkward shoulder pat. This is the voice he reserves for breaking bad news to relatives.]

Cameron...

Don't.

[She turns her face away from him, not at all interested in whatever apology he might want to make. Any other day this would have been a much quieter misunderstanding; but right now, this is an I-never-want-to-speak-to-you-again moment.]

[Hands off her then, raised up in evidence even though she's not looking.]

You're being ridiculous. [He asserts, though not spitefully, and then follows the directive. Luckily he'd stowed a box with most of what he's taking under a table by the door. Collecting it, he gives the sharp angles of her shoulders one last, confused glance, then kicks the apartment door shut behind him.]

Fuck self-sacrificing. It just gives you ulcers.

Hello Allison. Long time no speak.

That's a pessimistic way to look at things.

Hello, Cindy. You're right, it has been-- I think I've been a hermit this month, without realizing it.

No, it's a realistic way or looking at things. Or at least less stressful.

I say you owe me a drink for the weeks of no scintillating conversation between us.

Less stressful, but not conducive to change.

I think that's a fair judgment.

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☤ thirteen

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oh god. |D

HAD TO BE DONE.

bwahaha. She might apologize for throwing him out, later, but will still call him an ass. >D

if the label fits...

just a little bit. :/

H-he thought it was funny.

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