006 Those Things Send Us Down A Road

[speterman]

[Someone sure was missing from classes and didn't eat all day. His handwriting is different than usual, awkwardly paced, as if pausing when finishing some of the words trying to decide what to say.]

Can I get the homework and an idea of what we did in class today?

[Ink blots and a couple of smudges.]

It's odd how often humans consider themselves the superior species and assume all organisms below them are shallow and un-feeling.

There have been multiple examples - how animals can feel depression or even happiness just as us.

[Sure isn't as light-hearted as usual.]

Comments

[bonafide_divinity]

You were talking to the goats this week, weren't you?

[speterman]

That's not what spurred this, but they were talking to me when they could before.

[bonafide_divinity]

Are you sure? Because I'm starting to think your goat is severely depressed, Parker.

[speterman]

[There's a long pause.]

And why do you think that?

[bonafide_divinity]

Well Parker, she is your goat. I think I would probably feel a deep sense of hopelessness and disappointment if I were in her position.

[sugaredpotions]

...you sound like you need company. And possibly tea.

[Someone's sneaking down to the kitchens and getting tea, some sandwiches, and some cookies before coming back to the Ravenclaw common room with them.]

[speterman]

I'm not good company right now, but if you want.

[He hasn't left his bed all day, Bonni, he looks horrid, and the on and off crying has made his face all pale and red and puffy and ugly and his hair's a mess, geez gosh you don't want to see him.]

[sugaredpotions]

Mum always said that it's when we're at our worst that we need company the most. So get down to the common room, that far corner where it's hard to see stuff. I've got tea and sandwiches and stuff.

[speterman]

Alright, but I warned you.

[He takes some time to actually make himself look presentable and heads out there, quiet and meek demeanor, keeping his eyes to the ground. He moves quickly, despite all of that, immediately finding Bonnibel and finally offering her a weak smile when he stops by her.]

[actuallyspeakslatin]

Are you ill?

[speterman]

I don't feel well.

[TECHNICALLY NOT A LIE.]

[actuallyspeakslatin]

You should go to the infirmary. If no one in your year gets your work, I'll go get it.

{Filtered}

[speterman]

[Ink blots]

I've actually worked myself up to being ill, I doubt it's anything that can be sorted at the infirmary, other than the dehydration.

Thank you.

[moveslikejaeger]

[Wow Peter, wow. If there was ever a post to ping Maxim's interests, it's this one. Especially after his little fight with Bruce]

like how people think werewolves are less than human because the animal instinct is more prominent and even in control for about 12 days out of a year i always thought it was funny because humans are animals too and i never could figure out what it was about us that was supposed to make us so much better

[speterman]

[Wow, Maxim, what is punctuation, holy nuts.]

What I assume makes us tend to think we're better than other living organisms is that we can talk and have opposable thumbs. Which, is kind of silly. Because thumbs don't make us not an animal, and multiple animals have shown the ability to have their own dialects that are typically understood among each other. Yes, we have large complex brains, but so do dolphins, and even octopodes have shown stunning intelligence.

There is also the common animalistic reaction to be scared of or hostile to that you do not understand - I think that ties in greatly with werewolves, though I can say I don't know much about werewolves or vampires.

[moveslikejaeger]

[punctuation is for smart people, clearly]

see thats exactly why i dont get it its not even that hard to tell i just sit out in the goat pen and you can hear them bleating at each other and interacting so their clearly talking to each other even if we dont undertand them like what if i started talking german all the time no one would understand me but that doesnt mean that im not saying words and i have an uncle who lost both his thumbs but hes not an animal either just because he has no thumbs thats silly

and also just think how so many people even with their complex brains arent very smart its also not really a good example i dont think

i suppose that is true ignorance is the greatest source of fear maybe i should do a fact post about werewolves and vampires some day call it "*~monsters are people too!*~" do you think that would help?

[speterman]

Both very valid, very good points made. Humans are still animals after-all, we just pretend to be better than everything else.

That is also true. I think it will always be a running argument though, whether or not humans are animals, or something more.

Maybe - I mean, if you didn't call it that. Don't call it that, that's horrid.

[drivensnow]

Just because they are capable of feeling the same basic emotions as us does not mean we are not superior, you know.

[speterman]

Would you care to explain?

[drivensnow]

We are smarter and far more skilled than any animal out there. We can also use magic, whereas they can not.

[speterman]

So your contention is that we have a higher intelligence and we can use magic? Interesting, I haven't heard the latter before.

[HE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO POINT OUT ALL THE FLAWS IN THAT ARGUMENT MAN.]

Out of curiosity sake, I'm sure you know this, but were you aware that scientists are looking into the possibility that all plants have sort of emotions of their own?

[arrogantalloy]

Hey kid.

Where are you right now?

[speterman]

Sat on my bed, why?

[arrogantalloy]

You alone?

[speterman]

Yeah, just me and the cat.