"That's dumb. Words don't count as fighting, come on."
"No, Ericthonios has a point." Taiki cupped his chin, trying to find the words to explain. "Imagine for a moment that I went in front of a crowd of people and attempted to convince them that you, Gazimon, were a terrible digimon."
"What? Why would you do that?"
"The reason is, for the purposes of the exercise, immaterial, nor is it even really needed. For some people, it is enough that you are different. But if I said things like 'Gazimon is a thief', or 'Gazimon is a liar and you can't trust him', would that not hurt you?"
Gazimon snarled. "But those things ain't true! I mind my own damn business. I don't start shit-"
Taiki held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I do not, for an instant, believe these things are true. But clearly the idea of people saying them hurts you. Not just because you have feelings and those are valid- though that is an important consideration- but also... because actions are informed by belief. If people believe you are a thief, they will act on that. You won't be dealt with fairly, people may throw you out of their shops, or be hyper-attentive to everything you do because they don't trust you. If I were particularly convincing, someone with extreme opinions about how thieves should be treated might decide you deserved to die for it. Words... are, themselves, actions. To pretend otherwise is willful ignorance." Gazimon looked disquieted by the notion, so Taiki relented, bowing to his partner and new acquaintances. "Forgive me. I have a tendency to ramble, sometimes."
Concept. Right. This was going to be very difficult to keep his story straight, and he was privately thankful, at least, that he didn't have the peanut gallery watching him try to hold on to the 'Azem's Familiar' nonsense. "As to your other questions, I'm... somewhat unique." He cleared his throat. "That said, it does make you stand out, but if I may offer an opinion... is that a bad thing? I've never understood the cultural obsession with conformity. Wear what you're comfortable with, and damn what everyone else thinks. Is a meadow of wildflowers less beautiful for every colour on display?"
no subject
"No, Ericthonios has a point." Taiki cupped his chin, trying to find the words to explain. "Imagine for a moment that I went in front of a crowd of people and attempted to convince them that you, Gazimon, were a terrible digimon."
"What? Why would you do that?"
"The reason is, for the purposes of the exercise, immaterial, nor is it even really needed. For some people, it is enough that you are different. But if I said things like 'Gazimon is a thief', or 'Gazimon is a liar and you can't trust him', would that not hurt you?"
Gazimon snarled. "But those things ain't true! I mind my own damn business. I don't start shit-"
Taiki held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I do not, for an instant, believe these things are true. But clearly the idea of people saying them hurts you. Not just because you have feelings and those are valid- though that is an important consideration- but also... because actions are informed by belief. If people believe you are a thief, they will act on that. You won't be dealt with fairly, people may throw you out of their shops, or be hyper-attentive to everything you do because they don't trust you. If I were particularly convincing, someone with extreme opinions about how thieves should be treated might decide you deserved to die for it. Words... are, themselves, actions. To pretend otherwise is willful ignorance." Gazimon looked disquieted by the notion, so Taiki relented, bowing to his partner and new acquaintances. "Forgive me. I have a tendency to ramble, sometimes."
Concept. Right. This was going to be very difficult to keep his story straight, and he was privately thankful, at least, that he didn't have the peanut gallery watching him try to hold on to the 'Azem's Familiar' nonsense. "As to your other questions, I'm... somewhat unique." He cleared his throat. "That said, it does make you stand out, but if I may offer an opinion... is that a bad thing? I've never understood the cultural obsession with conformity. Wear what you're comfortable with, and damn what everyone else thinks. Is a meadow of wildflowers less beautiful for every colour on display?"