communication...?

[reportinastorm]

WHO: Flora + whoever
WHERE: Outside the rec room/library
WHEN: Day 94 morning

[A mass cube call comes late morning.]

Hello everyone! Sorry for the interruption to your morning routines, and I hope you're doing well.

Many of us participated in the ritual yesterday. It fortunately was only pretending to be about inflicting dangerous punishments, but since everyone's plays were shared publicly, I'm sure people have thoughts and feelings about the choices other flocks made. Rather than let misunderstandings or resentment linger, I thought this would be a good opportunity to improve communication. I've prepared several options that will hopefully make this easier.

First, there's pen and paper and a submission box inside the library. You can write a letter, either anonymously or not, and I'll post it on a bulletin board outside for others to read. You can explain the choices your flock made, express frustrations with how your flock was treated, or anything else you'd like to share.

Everyone, please read the posted letters... it can be worthwhile to understand where people are coming from. Even if you're not interested in empathizing or changing how you play, you can think of it as strategic information gathering.

Second, if you'd like to start a direct conversation with another flock, but are unsure about approaching them, I'm happy to be a go-between to see if they're open to talking.

Third, if you have a group open to talking, but you're concerned about the conversation escalating, I can help to facilitate and mediate as well.

If there's anything else I can help with, let me know! Thank you for your time!

((If your character writes a letter, comment directly to the bulletin board for people to read. They can sign it or not! If you want Flora's help reply to her. Otherwise feel free to do general mingling/discussing.))

Comments

BULLETIN BOARD

[reportinastorm]

Re: BULLETIN BOARD

[wants_the_phd]

In rituals like the last one, when doing no harm at all may not be an option, we may find ourselves trying to find ways to at least minimize the harm we do. But recent conversations have brought to my attention that we all have different ideas about what it means to minimize harm, and those opinions vary on personal level.

For example, one person might think it's better to torture someone emotionally because then at least you aren't causing physical pain. But others might find it easier to cope with simply being stabbed, rather than deal with emotional anguish that can't be healed with flock powers or limbus.

Some might think it's kinder to give someone a swift death than it would be to break all their bones, while someone else might think it's better to have all their bones broken because at least they didn't die.

Some of us have extensive combat experience and may have high pain tolerances, which might make physical punishments easier to bear. Others are civilians and have higher tolerance for emotional whiplash but can't deal with blood.

This discrepancy can make it more difficult to recognize when a flock is doing their best to be merciful, and, when you're the one doling out the punishments, make it easier to accidentally cause greater harm, even when you're trying not to.

I would encourage you all to talk with your friends and acquaintances on other flocks so you can be aware of the pain points of those you care about.

As for me, let me state my preferences here for the record: I hate physical pain. Under no circumstances am I okay with dying, even if it can be undone. Wring my heart and mind if you have to, but if you hurt my body, I'm going to come for you, and I'm going to make it personal.

Azdaja

Re: BULLETIN BOARD

[heavyliesthecrown]

I would like to simply take a moment to follow in Miss Azdaja's footsteps and state my preferences. I cannot speak for the rest of Bluebell, as I believe our opinions may all differ. But for me, personally, I do not handle excessive pain well. At this point in time, I would prefer dealing with mental effects rather than physical brutality if the option is available.

Though naturally, I prefer to avoid it all.

For my part, I seek to do the least amount harm possible. Since there appears to have been some confusion over this, that does not mean that I or Bluebell wish to simply sacrifice ourselves though.

We are trying our best.

Please let me know if there is anyone else who has particular preferences or something they wish to avoid at all costs. I cannot guarantee anything, as the rituals often take choice out of our hands, and absolutely no one desires pain. But at the very least, I will do my utmost to respect those also caught in the unfortunate clutches of a ritual.

As for me, I do not wish to die. Especially if that would harm the ability of my flock to heal. But if the choice is between grotesque and blindingly brutal pain, I would rather have a swift death than endless torture if I become a target. Thank you.

- Crescendo

[reportinastorm]

[Meryl will be periodically taking letters from the box to post on the bulletin board, making sure she isn't present for anyone putting them in so even she doesn't know who they are from. She will screen any trolling ones though.

You can catch her doing this or cubecall her!]

[finalbows]

[ manifests. ]

I missed that ritual.
What's your read on how that all went, Miss Reporter~?

[reportinastorm]

...There was a wide variety of approaches. Some flocks seemed like they were just trying to minimize damage. Some played special cards to help other flocks, even though they had a disproportionate cost mathematically. And some seem like they were determined to make sure their flock was safe.

But, that's just my interpretation from looking at the card results, and I'm sure people had other lines of thought. For example, Thistle was attempting to pick punishments we could come up with the most creative and harmless interpretation of.

[finalbows]

Ahahah... that's quite optimistic. How lucky it do go well. I find in my experience, creativity ends with exquisite amounts of punishment for trying... but that's for each of us to judge whether it's worth the risk or not, I suppose.

[reportinastorm]

In this case, he specifically said that winners would be rewarded in part for creativity. And in the last game where we had to be creative by coming up with a punishment using our powers, we played it safe making sure the punishment was harsh enough the demon wouldn't step in to make it worse... but the other flocks managed to get away with punishments that were significantly less severe. So I thought it was worth the risk to err on the side of making it harmless this time.

[finalbows]

The one time I miss one and it's when we're SUPPOSED to flex our minds!

Well, I've no feelings that were put on the griddle to be burned, this time, but I do rather like this as an idea. What about if one's concerned their handwriting will be recognized? There's some sharp eyes about.

[reportinastorm]

Hmm, there's the computers? I could type up or transcribe any of them meant to be anonymous, too.

[finalbows]

My, an acceptable solution indeed. I do tend to forget how broadly one can make use of those...

[reportinastorm]

They're very useful technology. I'm surprised people don't use them more.

[electricflock]

[watching the bulletin board from the roof of the library, but not approaching it himself. his tail is flicking back and forth uneasily.]