dr_conscience | [21st consult]

Restrictions are... important. They keep order, they maintain guidelines, they keep society running, and, most importantly, they're usually put in place to protect people. In many, maybe even most cases where these restrictions are tested, they do accomplish just that. Unfortunately, in order to accomplish that in these cases, one arbitrary rule is put into place. That means there's no room for judgment, no flexibility. there can be no exceptions, because if you let one violation pass for one excuse, it makes it just that much more difficult to enforce that arbitrary rule.

This past weekend brought up a lot in the way of moral ambiguity, it seems. When is it right to do something that's generally considered wrong? Who decides what gain outweighs what loss, how do you determine when the balance is tipped?

People are capable of terrible things, but those same people who have done terrible things are still capable of good. Things aren't always clear, or clean-cut; there isn't pure good and pure evil, at least not in most worlds. If our moral alignment is merely the sum of our actions, how much weight do our intentions, our motivations, have when we're doing the math?

Whatever the case, these people did not deserve this. What they need, those who truly did deserve any form of incarceration, is rehabilitation, encouragement to better themselves, to make better choices, support; not torture and destruction. Even those who can't be reformed, who refuse to change, shouldn't be tormented. Just because the system is on your side, because you call it justice, doesn't make you torturing someone any less immoral.

We all make decisions we aren't proud of, mistakes we wish we hadn't. People have lapses in judgment that lead us to do things we normally know to be wrong, for whatever reason. It's part of being human, or... any equivalent thereof.

What matters most is what you take from those mistakes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't know Amnesty had a branch here. Thanks for clearing that up.

Right, because no individual would ever think that people don't deserve to be tortured and killed?

Of course people don't deserve to be tortured and killed. Most individuals could probably reach that conclusion without needing to write a thesis about it.

It's not a thesis, and it's not entirely related to the prison anyway.

Is it related to your experiences in 'Nam?

Yes, clearly. I was the youngest American soldier, fought in the last few years. I was still learning to read, but damned if I couldn't shoot.

I'm not sure where your close personal experience of incarceration and torture are coming from. Unless this is a metaphor for friendship with House.

It's not the incarceration and torture, it's--

I needed something to divert myself from talking about things the City would prefer I talk about. I'd rather not transmit my own personal indiscretions over the Network.

(no subject)

worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 03:39 (UTC) - Expand

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 03:50 (UTC) - Expand

worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 04:04 (UTC) - Expand

1/3

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 04:14 (UTC) - Expand

2/3

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worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 04:25 (UTC) - Expand

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1/2

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 04:30 (UTC) - Expand

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worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 04:36 (UTC) - Expand

I lied, 2/4

worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 04:38 (UTC) - Expand

1/4

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 04:40 (UTC) - Expand

i totally lied. there's some more coming.

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 04:41 (UTC) - Expand

dr_conscience - 2009-09-18 04:43 (UTC) - Expand

and done. i stopped counting.

worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 04:49 (UTC) - Expand

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worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 05:17 (UTC) - Expand

worksmart.livejournal.com - 2009-09-18 05:20 (UTC) - Expand

1/2 - sob life stop it.

dr_conscience - 2009-09-20 14:53 (UTC) - Expand

dr_conscience - 2009-09-20 15:00 (UTC) - Expand

I doubt the deities listen to reason in these matters.

I doubt they listen to reason at any point, regarding anything.

You're probably right.

I don't know if you know, but Morgana left the City.

Yes, I did.

...I'm sorry.

It's fine, she's where she belongs.

Well, yes, and that's a good thing, for her.

It doesn't change that you're still here, though, and you're certainly allowed to miss her.

Why is everyone so concerned about my feelings and whether or not I'm properly expressing them?

I would imagine because it's a normal reaction to be unhappy when someone you care about leaves. You're certainly free to feel and express your feelings however you wish, I'm just saying that I'm sorry she's gone.

Why do I need to express them at all?

Well, generally, it's considered to be a good idea to let feelings out... Vent, express frustration or unhappiness, comfort yourself somehow. It doesn't have to be verbal, it's just... good to find an outlet, so it doesn't all get bottled up.

thefutureking.livejournal.com - 2009-09-22 03:34 (UTC) - Expand

dr_conscience - 2009-09-22 03:37 (UTC) - Expand

thefutureking.livejournal.com - 2009-09-22 03:39 (UTC) - Expand

Another page from the Gospel According to Wilson.

I promise I'll dedicated the published edition to you.

I'm a direct violation of your credo. Better leave it out. The fundamentalists would never understand.

That's alright, I think I can do without the fundamentalists.

Careful. Keep talking like that and they'll want to invite you to their sewing circle and Bible study. Then you're in real trouble. You'll never escape without a fight. The heathen in you can't be hidden.

You know, I think I can actually take a pass on sewing circle and Bible study, too. Especially the latter, considering my strong heathenistic tendencies.