They are likely to appear much in need of help. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HELP THEM. It's a trap!
Hopefully, you won't get Student #5 or 11. Although if you do, you (a) probably will not feel inclined to help them and (b) if you do, it may be for the best.
I'm not sure if Vae can avoid attempting to help them! It might be better instead to come up with a list of easily remedied minor afflictions that can be dispensed if someone happens to desire something that should not be granted, but will be anyway, out of reflex.
For example:
"I wish X could see things like Y does!" where X or Y could be the self-referential 'I', or might not.
Wrong Ways To Help:
- Transform X into Y (or vice versa) - Make X think like Y does (or vice versa) - Merge X into Y somehow, i.e. by combining their bodies
Less Wrong Ways To Help:
- Apply a spell so that X sees things as if he or she were in the position of Y, for a limited amount of time - Transform a memory of X to be from Y's point of view and then ask X to review that memory - Give X a miniaturized copy of Y to explain what it is he or she is seeing and doing in some particular situation, but one which will obey Y's feelings on privacy and thus will not share information Y does not want shared
Right Way To Help: (note that this will probably not happen but is listed for completeness)
- Nod wisely and ask the complainant to explain why Y's viewpoint is better than X's - Ask if it is good for everyone to think alike in a worldtree with so much diversity of situations - Mention that you were recently in a Heaven where conformity of culture was enforced lethally and ask if the complainant thinks that is really a good idea
Mention that you were recently in a Heaven where conformity of culture was enforced lethally and ask if the complainant thinks that is really a good idea
... I have a feeling Student 5 would say yes to that... what should Vae do then?
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no subject
Date: 2010-12-02 05:18 pm (UTC)Hopefully, you won't get Student #5 or 11. Although if you do, you (a) probably will not feel inclined to help them and (b) if you do, it may be for the best.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-02 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-02 08:00 pm (UTC)For example:
"I wish X could see things like Y does!" where X or Y could be the self-referential 'I', or might not.
Wrong Ways To Help:
- Transform X into Y (or vice versa)
- Make X think like Y does (or vice versa)
- Merge X into Y somehow, i.e. by combining their bodies
Less Wrong Ways To Help:
- Apply a spell so that X sees things as if he or she were in the position of Y, for a limited amount of time
- Transform a memory of X to be from Y's point of view and then ask X to review that memory
- Give X a miniaturized copy of Y to explain what it is he or she is seeing and doing in some particular situation, but one which will obey Y's feelings on privacy and thus will not share information Y does not want shared
Right Way To Help: (note that this will probably not happen but is listed for completeness)
- Nod wisely and ask the complainant to explain why Y's viewpoint is better than X's
- Ask if it is good for everyone to think alike in a worldtree with so much diversity of situations
- Mention that you were recently in a Heaven where conformity of culture was enforced lethally and ask if the complainant thinks that is really a good idea
no subject
Date: 2010-12-03 12:28 am (UTC)... I have a feeling Student 5 would say yes to that... what should Vae do then?
no subject
Date: 2010-12-03 12:31 am (UTC)