004 ☓ anon text

[envy_the_sinners]

[Scar's been lying low in Olivine ever since the hurricane, and he's starting to go a little stir-crazy. Being left bored with his thoughts can only end in one thing. Anon questions.]

In my time here, I have come to find that there are a great many "worlds" that are home to people who wouldn't be considered human, but experience the same depth of thought and range of emotion.

[Even he can make that conclusion, now.]

In that case, what is humanity? A measure of physical traits? A state of mind? Something into which one must be born?

Comments

[islandshore]

Maybe there's nothing special about it.

Might be because I've made friends with a former pony, but I think the fact that there are worlds out there without humans at all proves that the idea of humanity's kinda... short-sighted, I guess? But I guess it can't be helped when some of us come from worlds where humans really are the top dogs.

You also gotta think about the connotations. Humanity tends to bleed over into being... well, humane. And someone's considered a monster or animal if they step back from good morals. In most worlds, language is a human construct, and it shows.

But even here, you kinda have to set those ideas aside. Even the Pokémon are pretty smart.

[envy_the_sinners]

I have been thinking about that, how the Pokémon are not like animals. They are almost an existence unto themselves; not person but not animal.

Yours conclusion seems to be the general consensus among the others who are trapped here. I wonder how different the answers would be, if we had only all just arrived here.

[islandshore]

It's especially clear when you look at Psychic types. Or Pokémon that've tried to teach themselves to talk. Sure, you got parrots that can do the same thing, but good luck holding a conversation with one.

I think it'd vary from person to person. Like that pony I mentioned? I'm sure she'd have a lot to say about the whole concept of humanity. As for me... well, I'll say this: when I started out, I saw Pokémon as weapons instead of friends.

[envy_the_sinners]

A misguided point of view, indeed.

[Not that Scar can talk about misguided points of view, but he's always held a fondness for furry friends, be they animal or Pokémon.]

I am glad that you have reconsidered.

[islandshore]

Well, it sure wasn't easy. Had to get my butt handed to me in a battle for me to get a clue, and even then, I didn't take it sitting down.

But it's... kinda come with consequences. Got an Aerodactyl that's impossible to use in battles because she got too aggressive. Just goes to show that even Pokémon have limits. Train them too hard, and that's all they can do.

[envy_the_sinners]

They are eerily similar to people, in many ways.

[islandshore]

It's weird. I mean, I guess it's not too weird after meeting a former pony, but I think the fact that most Pokémon can't speak makes it easy to overlook just how smart they really are. Guess that ties back to the whole humanity thing, too. I think we like to think of ourselves as special, and that's not always a good thing.