You see the same pattern in Clockwork Orange. Why does making Alex not a sadistic murderer necessitate destroying his love of music? (Music is another of our highest values, and so destroying it is a lazy way to signal that something is very bad.) There was no actual reason that makes sense in the story or in the real world; that was just an arbitrary choice by an author to avoid the hard work of actually trying to demonstrate a connection between two things.
Now people can say “but look at Clockwork Orange!” as if that provided evidence of anything, except that people will tolerate a hell of a lot of silliness when it’s in line with their preexisting beliefs and ethics.
I had fun talking with you, so I googled your username. :O
Thank you for all the inspirational work you do for EA! You’re a real-life superhero! I feel like a little kid meeting Batman. I can’t believe you took the time to talk to me!
Touche’. I concede, but I just want to reiterate that fiction “can and often does involve revealing important truths,” so that I am not haunted by the ghost of Joseph Campbell.
You see the same pattern in Clockwork Orange. Why does making Alex not a sadistic murderer necessitate destroying his love of music? (Music is another of our highest values, and so destroying it is a lazy way to signal that something is very bad.) There was no actual reason that makes sense in the story or in the real world; that was just an arbitrary choice by an author to avoid the hard work of actually trying to demonstrate a connection between two things.
Now people can say “but look at Clockwork Orange!” as if that provided evidence of anything, except that people will tolerate a hell of a lot of silliness when it’s in line with their preexisting beliefs and ethics.
I had fun talking with you, so I googled your username. :O
Thank you for all the inspirational work you do for EA! You’re a real-life superhero! I feel like a little kid meeting Batman. I can’t believe you took the time to talk to me!
That’s deeply kind of you to say, and the most uplifting thing I’ve heard in a while. Thank you very much.
Touche’. I concede, but I just want to reiterate that fiction “can and often does involve revealing important truths,” so that I am not haunted by the ghost of Joseph Campbell.