kernow | ➳ i am a ghost, just a mirage

[ The dark haired one snorts, rolling his eyes. See also: he makes the Internet disturbing when left alone. ]

Oh, come on. You’re going to deny a “villain” a chance to try again because it’s what “the people” — who are in this case a bunch of internet dwellers and social media addicts — want?

[ R pauses with a chuckle, thinking back to a time in France when the people were not as ready as a small minority for a change. Good, bad, indifferent, on what they fought for, they just weren’t ready to support it. His hands go into his jean pockets, feeling suddenly vulnerable. ]

People are right, people are wrong, E. But they herd like sheep. It’s a matter of who can shout louder, not who’s right. Or wrong.

[He bristles slightly, immediately regretting giving him credit where credit was due.

Credit? Never heard of her.]

You can't seriously be implying the Kevin Spaceys of the world deserve yet another shot at trying and failing to be a decent person simply because individuals are, rightfully, outraged. Groupthink or no, public call-outs are holding people to increasing accountability with tangible societal results. I was just acknowledging those cases in which it went a little...intense.

Those cases? Most of them are like that. Have you looked at comments on the everyman’s content YouTube and Facebook these days? Humanity is savage. No one gets a chance to make a mistake. While the scum of the earth gets a soapbox to stand on.

[ He shakes his head with a familiar, old, wry smile. ]

All cancel culture did is give everyone a voice and make it that much more obvious how much we all fucking hate each other. It’s the idea of a conscience to a ridiculous extreme; We don’t like ourselves and take it out on each other. Call out to make ourselves vindicated.

You're conflating witch-hunting and trolling with genuine public demands for increased accountability. Trolls aren't actually interested in calling out those who abuse authority, and often use good-intentioned people's talking points as a mockery to undermine attempts at change and maintain the status quo; it's not a concidence they're usually white, male, heterosexual, cisgendered, or some combination therein. They're not remotely the same thing. And I hardly think repeated sexual assault, sexual predation of minors, or enacting blatant bigoted political policies falls under "a chance to make a mistake."

[He's doing The Thing again. Enjolras' chest naturally puffs out and his eyes light up in moments like this, looking all but the embodiment of righteous indignation.]

You can't seriously be implying that calling out long-time rapists, racists, and the generally morally bankrupt is just an internal deflection of self-criticism; they're not even on the same playing field. Whatever personal shortcomings someone has has doesn't negate real critique of those in positions of power who abuse it.

[ R barks biting laughter, stopping to face him with an accusatory look. The usually morose and defeated eyes lift in a spark of enjoyment. ]

No, I’m not conflating the two- I’m saying what starts as something “good” will give rise to the bad, as humanity sees time and time again. Most of us start with good intentions, but where does the line draw? Light casts a shadow, doesn’t it? The bigoted trolls are just an extreme of what “every opinion is valid” and encouraging “speaking up for what’s right” gets you. And speaking of- the trolls often get support.

[ His arms fold and he cocks his head. ] So where is your moral high ground if it’s overtaken by the morally bankrupt and their lesser friends by popular demand? What if people truly just don’t care? Why do these people in power remain in power if we detest and call them out so much? Is it really popular opinion then or just a loud minority?

Oh, you've got to be kidding me, that's a completely false equivalency!

[He's getting louder, and frankly bystanders are starting to stare.]

You don't get to turn marginalized groups' increasing ability to speak out against systemic oppression into that shaming "everyone's a snowflake who needs a trophy" garbage, much less compare those groups to bloody trolls. Trolls more than often benefit and assist in perpetuating those systems of oppression and violence, it's an absolute mockery.

[He runs his fingers through his golden curls and looks wild for what it's done to his hair.]

They do not and cannot operate on any moral high ground; the only high ground they can lay claim to the skewed benefits of the status quo, making calling out and ultimately dismantling that power imbalance that much more crucial.

[He crosses his arm and breathe very slowly out of his nose, like a mix of righteous angel and...hmm, angry bull? Just so attractive.]

The people do care, which is why they will not ultimately remain in power. A series of minorities can band together, along with allies willing to call out that toxic behavior, and institute meaningful change. The progression of a democratic society and the development of the social safety net is a testament to it. Progress is not simply mindless mob rule, and you should try to learn. the. difference.

[ R remains quiet for a moment, one eyebrow cocked into his hairline. He stares at the angel for that moment in all its righteous fury. The light in the eyes is the same as he remembers. ]

Let me get this straight then— please. Educate me so that I can learn, then. Are you saying that democracy isn’t mob rule? What was the French Revolution? What do those Americans start their constitution they liven so much with? “We the People?” The people are the mob, an organized mob is a community but it’s still a mob and the mob will yell and scream to be heard and make change. To cancel, or to get then guillotine. It sounds the same shit, different day. It’s how societies have always made any progress, yes, but you have to admit that democracy functions on your so called “mob rule.”

[Enjolras' jaw clicks in and out of place before R gets his requested "education".]

Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying. Ignoring for a moment the sheer idiocy of equating the American war for independence, which was fought against a foreign oppressor and formation of a new nation and the initial oppression system intact elsewhere rather than with a domestic civil war that overhauled a dynasty, you know the social contract demands the governed voice when the governing no longer work in their interests, and in some cases that requires aggressive removal. The violence involved in said process, while obviously the most extreme example you could come up with, does not negate the rights of the governed to liberty and free political expression.

You have any other insulting carte blanche arguments to throw out while we're at it?

I wasn’t talking about the American war I was referencing their constitution’s phrasing but thank you for putting words in my mouth. Say, that’s a lot like politicians do with their constituency’s voices, hm? Democracy.

[ He smiles with absolutely no warmth and a lot of sadness in his eyes. ]

No. I’m out arguments. For now.

[He just leans into his rage with that retort, nostrils flaring.]

Oh please, take your completely unjustified, cynical biases out on representative democracy, because the imperfections of a system and the mechanisms completely negate its utility. Hot take maestro, real mastery of argumentation.

[He's not sure when it happened, but he got close (too close) and that mirthless smile is all he can see and--

He takes a step back and away, moving to head back to his original destination, his flat, without so much as a goodbye; but ever the petty man, he wheels around and--]

And for the record, the backdrop to the formations of the country shape the creation of its governance system.

[ Grantaire rolls his eyes as he turns away, then sees him about face. The parting outburst pushes him past the limit and he just laughs as the angel storms off. ]

Asshole. [ He mumbles fondly with a cigarette he pulled from his pocket between his lips. ‘Class can wait,’ he decides he has to digest that conversation first. ]

➳ i am a ghost, just a mirage

no subject

no subject

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rant rant rant just kiss already

honhonhonhonhon

oh he got the rage in him, the stupid sexy rage

no subject

why storm off when he can bite his head off first

bite bite bite!

in his head take off like a mike drop and not just him pouting and stomping away

oh of course it is