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[advocacy]

I've seen a lot of discussion lately about whether or not people on the Barge being too cavalier about death.

Honestly, I don't know if that's true or not. I haven't been around long enough and I don't think I know enough of you to say. I also wouldn't try to tell anybody how they view death. But I guess I'm just wondering what makes people think that? Or what about the Barge would make people start to treat death less seriously?

I guess some could make the argument that coming back over and over again makes it hard to see death as a big, final chapter or the next big chapter depending on your theological or philosophical standpoint. But I know there are some ideas surrounding death that says we do just come back over and over again as different people or even different creatures. And sometimes we remember past lives or past deaths. Or, I guess if you have a more negative outlook, that we're doomed to repeat the same patterns over and over again across lifetimes.

[A pause.]

I guess from my perspective, people just get numb to death when it happens all the time or they stop caring about what happens to them. They just give up. I don't know if that's anything really particular to the Barge.

[Her smile is wry. There's definitely people that have come and gone in her life at home that could fit the profile of just not caring about death anymore.]

I could also be completely wrong, too.

Comments

[wedonot]

What inspired you to ask?

[advocacy]

Curiosity. Boredom. Too much time on my hands. Coming up with a good motif for a friend who wants to get into the film industry. Contemplating becoming a guru for a cult.

[She is just joking at least about that last one.]

I guess you could take your pick.

[wedonot]

Well, with those options, I'm not sure what the best choice would be.

[advocacy]

Some might argue guru as being the best.

[wedonot]

It's certainly the most colorful.

[advocacy]

Gotta keep my options open anyway. College might seem kinda boring compared to all of this by the time I go home.

[wedonot]

As someone who spent the better part of fifteen years at some university or other, I'm not sure I'd agree with that.

[advocacy]

Fifteen years? How many degrees do you have?

[wedonot]

Two Bachelor's and three PhD's.

[advocacy]

Wow...

[Well, then.]

[wedonot]

I was going to be a professor at Oxford before plans changed. So you might say some of the allure of academia has worn off for me, too.

[advocacy]

What made you want to stay here instead?

[wedonot]

I injured my spine while some colleagues and I were attempting to stop the United States and Soviet Union from being tricked into starting nuclear war. The Admiral offered to repair the damage if I graduated an inmate, and when I arrived, I discovered my closest friend was on board as an inmate. I suppose you could say I've stayed to keep him company.

[advocacy]

Oh.

[That's kinda a big deal.]

But you're still graduating inmates, right?

[wedonot]

Yes. I'm between assignments at the moment, but I've helped two inmates graduate in my time here, and I have a bad habit of meddling in the affairs of people I'm not actually assigned to.

[advocacy]

Sounds like you're perfect for the job then.

[wedonot]

I don't know if I'd go that far.

[advocacy]

Well, you got more inmates graduated than I do right now. So, I will for now at least.

[wedonot]

I'm sure you'll get there.

[advocacy]

Hopefully. Selfish as it is, I could use my deal.