(no subject)

[belheir]

Sender: Anonymous
To: Everyone
Subject: Question

What do you think human nature is closer to? That of gods, angels, or demons?

[ It's been something that's been bothering him for some time. He knows the answer he had given, but it'd seemed like it was... incorrect, at the time. ]

Define "human" as whatever your worlds closest equivalent is, if you need to.

Comments

[belheir]

[ Leave it to Joshua to wax poetic.

Though... that was essentially what Naoya had told him too. His Naoya, not the one here from a different path taken. ]

I was told what you just said once. That humans are neither like the unwavering rigidity of angels and gods, nor like the free form chaos of demons. That in a good sense they were flexible enough to lend to either or. In a bad sense, too vague to be fully trusted to either.

[empyreancatastrophe]

[He is nothing if not consistent!]

Obviously I agree with this person’s assessment.

However, I am curious about yours. It sounds as though you don’t entirely agree. Although I could be mistaken.

mobile tagging kills me 9/10 times

[belheir]

I'm still deciding. My initial answer to that question posed was that humams were more like demons than angels and gods.

I still believe that, though how much I'm not sure of.

😭 it's the worst

[empyreancatastrophe]

What led you to your initial conclusion?

[belheir]

My own choices. It's something I guess I have to believe.

[empyreancatastrophe]

You say that as if you've no other alternative.

[belheir]

I don't, really. It's a bit complicated, and I don't know how to explain without going into details I'd rather not.

[empyreancatastrophe]

Understandable. Beliefs are complicated even without confounding factors, be they explicit or implicit.

As I'm sure you've witnessed first hand with the responses you've received.

[belheir]

Yeah, it's pretty complicated, though I guess I'm making it more so.

And you're right. More people came up with the answer that the one who asked me had, rather than take the options I gave. I guess maybe that lends more into proving him right than I'd like.

[empyreancatastrophe]

If I may be presumptuous for a moment, it is also a reflection of how humans tend to act.

One could place a hundred options in front of us, all equally viable, and we will still opt to find a hundred and first.

[belheir]

You're not wrong, but I also chose from the list of options presented to me at the time, instead of thinking about it too deeply.

I guess that goes to show it's definitely an individual thing, more than a whole.

[empyreancatastrophe]

I agree that the question invites one to think on an individualistic level. To consider what being a human entails, to consider the nature of the metaphysical.

It's an enjoyable thought experiment. Thank you for proposing it.

[belheir]

You're certainly welcome, though my reason for asking was certainly more selfish than you think.

I'm glad people are thinking about this, though. Like I said, more thought than I did when I was asked, at least.

[empyreancatastrophe]

In a way, all such questions are. We pose them because we seek answers, and when we answer, it is because we wish for others to hear our opinion. There is nothing wrong with that kind of selfishness.

Would you say you’re satisfied with the responses you’ve received, then?

[belheir]

I can't say I am. A little frustrated, actually. So many people believe something that I don't think is correct. Or rather, that I can't believe is correct.

It makes it a little difficult.

[empyreancatastrophe]

To have beliefs that are contrary to the norm is difficult, yes.

I assume--and please correct me if I'm wrong--this ties into your complicated situation

[belheir]

You'd be correct.

[empyreancatastrophe]

I wish I could offer you specific words of advice.

I suppose what I can say is that if you are confident in the choices you've made, then then opinions of others needn't threaten yours. If your frustration stems from doubt in your beliefs or the decisions that coincide with them, then acceptance is key.

But that is, of course, unsolicited counsel. Its worth is only as much as you give it, and I won't take offense to your judgment thereof.

[belheir]

The counsel is very much solicited. I'm the one who asked, after all.

It's hard to explain where my frustration stems from, since it's a little bit of everything that you mentioned. Some of it feeding into it more than other bits.

[empyreancatastrophe]

I see.

I’ve found that writing thoughts with little care for formality and without pausing can reveal much about the state of my mind and emotions.
If it will not reveal too much of your situation, you’re more than welcome to use this conversation to try it. Otherwise, it is obviously something that can be done in private.

Should such an exercise help you pinpoint just one specific source of your frustration without noise from the others, you can use that thread to unravel the rest of your knots.

Or you can find a trusted friend who will listen. Although I understand that depending on the severity of the matter, this is potentially not an option.

[belheir]

That does seem like a good idea, though you're right in that it would reveal more than what I really want aired publicly.

[There's a long, long pause before the next message comes through.]

I think you're right. In that finding someone I trust and explaining it to them might be the best thing I could do.

[empyreancatastrophe]

I’m happy to help.

Take time to mull over your options. When you are ready, whomever you choose will be ready, as well.