039. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

One of the things I've always found admirable about humanity is their power to initiate change. Not just within themselves, either; that particular power includes the unique ability to instill change in other people – and for some, the world. It's always been rather appalling to me, that so many people would fail to understand how rare a gift that actually is: the actions of a single person have the potential to affect all of human society and leave their mark on the world, affecting and changing the course of the future itself.

It's a good amount of power that most people choose to do nothing with; it's a bit of a shame, really.

But whether we do anything with that power or not, we're all affected by it in some way; after all, the reason it exists at all is because people as individuals are volatile. We can change the world, and so it follows that the act of being in the world can also change us – whether through the actions of others who do choose to utilize that particular power, or just through the inconsistent nature of our surroundings. It follows the law of Equivalent Exchange rather well, I think.

Normally now is when I would suggest some sort of thought experiment to the network at large, probably morbid or inflammatory in nature, but I did promise someone that I would try not to be pointlessly negative for the sake of the holiday. Instead, my interest is elsewhere today – I want to know how this place has changed you. Positively or negatively, it matters very little to me; I'm just curious about what this place has given you, or perhaps what it's taken away.

Be as literal as you like, and as anonymous as you like; as usual with these sorts of things, your name interests me less than your answer.

Comments

Text - Anon

[nvcr]

I've only been here for two months.

There's some things you just sort of take as universal. Like everyone going around saying that Santa is real when we all know that in reality he's just a myth fabricated by the CIA (and also, probably a drugged-up government bear.)

But apart from...okay, there was this time when I was younger and I spent a few weeks in Luftnarp? Along with some other countries. I haven't left my hometown since then.

It's been years since then. Possibly even decades. It's good to get out of that crystallized point in time and space where you assume your thoughts and very way of life is the only one that exists.

Hell, I've even had some time to think--for time is all you have when responsibilities such as work and family all fade away into a distant nothing--and some of the stuff I did back home?

Probably not acceptable in this or most other worlds. Or okay in any sense, now that I think of it.

[ANONYMOUS TEXT]

[diamondo]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of cliched answers to this like "this place has given me a second chance at life". Sorry, but that's my answer too.

I was in a really bad place back home and from what I've learned from people I know here, I would have done something awful. Being here doesn't change what I'm going to do, but at least here I can deal with everything and try to make amends for it in whatever way I can.

...That sounds kinda self-centered, honestly. The point is that I'm really glad I'm here, I'm really glad that my friends are here, and even if things don't always go perfectly, at least there's an opportunity for things to go better here.

[Man, typing in proper sentences with proper punctuation and capitalization is annoying.]

text;

[ossifragant]

You're well aware of the literal, so I won't waste your time with that part.

I've been here eight months now. Not nearly as long as you have, but things change in that time. I've never been the kind of person to just sit down and relax. That's not a smart thing to do in my situation, and yet I've found myself doing it here.

I'll be honest: I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.

[text; anon]

[unkinder]

I have been here for six months, now. That's hardly enough time to compare to the length of the stays many have spent here, but the very nature of this place makes it a large influence, obviously.

Prior to showing up here, I was beginning to adjust to a...new way of life, I suppose you could say. This place has taken that away and is now forcing me to readjust, to an extent. If I want to be honest, I don't know if it's been a good thing or not. I've done well enough to get used to things as they are. Whether or not it is preferable to how things were before still remains to be seen.

That isn't to say I find this to be a wholly terrible experience. I just don't know how I feel about it, yet.

[dead philosophers | i'm not late i'm fashionably on time]

[doitrockapella]

Happy holidays to you too, Nietzsche.