[ The reassuring constant in Hadriel was exactly as Lance says: the reliability of Curufin being wishy-washy about something, of Law thinking himself above the constraints of their world, of Caedra believing everyone else was insignificant because of their humanity. Of Lance's perception matching reality, of Nate's tendency to get into trouble. Of Taako Taaco's flirting. The threads ran through through everyone with a consistency that was reassuring, because at least some things were predictable when their surroundings were not. It gave them commonality. Equal ground.
Here, it feels like a lot of lip service being paid toward "the greater good," only no one is actually collaborating on a level that permits free discussion - a very loud, very small minority shouting everybody else down. Nate would be lying if he said he hasn't been repeatedly disheartened by people's best attempts at encouraging open dialogue being completely derailed by the kind of crap that went down in his post about the moon.
It was the first time it happened to him, but it's not the first time it's happened on the network. He's beginning to lose track of how often someone will try to have a public conversation with all viewpoints right before an aggressive peanut gallery starts pelting tomatoes. ]
...look, it's-
[ He starts, fiddling with his ring finger and trying to find the words. ]
It's really, really tempting to just think that- maybe the problem is you, you know? But it's not. It's a bunch of limelight-loving assholes who shift their position to make themselves look good even when it contradicts something they've said before. It's not sinister, it's self-serving. Whether their ideas pan out correctly or not, it sure as Hell doesn't excuse their behavior. I've seen playground bullies with more self-awareness. [ Nate shifts, resting a hand on Lance's shoulder. ] That's all they are, Lance.
[ Telling him not to get suckered into it is easier said than done, but Nate knows the toll of fielding that kind of abuse, and he knows himself. Sooner or later you snap. Whether it ends in a black eye or a bruised ego, it happens either which way. ]
no subject
Here, it feels like a lot of lip service being paid toward "the greater good," only no one is actually collaborating on a level that permits free discussion - a very loud, very small minority shouting everybody else down. Nate would be lying if he said he hasn't been repeatedly disheartened by people's best attempts at encouraging open dialogue being completely derailed by the kind of crap that went down in his post about the moon.
It was the first time it happened to him, but it's not the first time it's happened on the network. He's beginning to lose track of how often someone will try to have a public conversation with all viewpoints right before an aggressive peanut gallery starts pelting tomatoes. ]
...look, it's-
[ He starts, fiddling with his ring finger and trying to find the words. ]
It's really, really tempting to just think that- maybe the problem is you, you know? But it's not. It's a bunch of limelight-loving assholes who shift their position to make themselves look good even when it contradicts something they've said before. It's not sinister, it's self-serving. Whether their ideas pan out correctly or not, it sure as Hell doesn't excuse their behavior. I've seen playground bullies with more self-awareness. [ Nate shifts, resting a hand on Lance's shoulder. ] That's all they are, Lance.
[ Telling him not to get suckered into it is easier said than done, but Nate knows the toll of fielding that kind of abuse, and he knows himself. Sooner or later you snap. Whether it ends in a black eye or a bruised ego, it happens either which way. ]