opnet [OpNet] That Sinking Feeling

[Neil Preston]

Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?

Maybe I hope they can do more than we have, or at least will try.

[The White Rat]

Too many novas still think they are human and can retain their humanness. Maybe the next generation will grow up understanding that they are not human, and that the only people they can trust are other novas.

[Wakinyan]

What does that even mean Rat?

I know I am not human. But I feel and think. Are those things a definition of human? Is love or hate the providence of humanity only? When I am betrayed it hurts. Maybe even more so than when I thought I was human.

So until someone can clearly define what they mean by what human is and isn't and what we are and are not then we are not going anywhere.

[Madison 'Vali' West]

Blaming baselines is ignoring the trouble inside for all the troubles outside.

[Vixen]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?
Maybe I hope they can do more than we have, or at least will try.

Because novas typically have big egos, overly high opinions of themselves, and are used to being the center of attention and getting things done their way. (Except, of course, for all the ones reading this post... )

Any unified nova movement's going to suffer from having too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. Even if you take out the factors of people's fascination with novas and their willingness to shower them with money and fame - and I'm part of the problem here myself since try as I might I watch N! a little too much - not only are there a small number of novas but there's far fewer novas who would have the exact combination of abilities and outlooks you have. And a grand total of one who truly understand what it's like to be you.

Which is true of anyone, really, but with novas it's a bigger deal than normal.

Honestly, I'll join a unified 'nova movement' once I find one that doesn't make me roll my eyes. This messageboard community is the closest thing to that I've ever seen, and even then there are days I just shake my head.

[Edison]

I'm just trying to survive on my own, why the hell should I be trying to make some sort of unified theory.

[Gerald Haney]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?

Because from the word go we became superstars, pop icons, lords of war, definers of fashion, defenders of faith, cities and nations, sex symbols, monsters and economic powerhouses.

It's a little hard for a bunch of people who up until one particular moment were ordinary folks. The second generation of novas will probably look upon being nova as a little more normal than I know I do. They'll be more apt to address those kinds of concerns.

[Sam Grey]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?
Maybe I hope they can do more than we have, or at least will try.

My parents used to wonder that, my family men associates used to talk about that, and their little shits used to whine about it. You're asking a question of the ages, kid. There's probably not a happy answer to it, but it show's that you're paying attention by asking it.

Deep down we're all selfish fucks, that's why shit is the way that it is. It takes a lot of work, dirty work, to make altruism overcome that nasty need we all have to get more shit than everyone else and no one wants to get their hands dirty.

[Bic]

Don't worry Preston! We're all just picking sides according to those personal goals that most strongly divide us (and which factions got their hooks into our heads strongest or first). It's all perfectly natural.

If you're wondering what's in store for future generations, read a history book but imagine how it would go if the major players had fundamental control over the fabric of reality.

We're in for some fun, let me tell you!

On a side note:

,,

Quote:

Originally posted by The White Rat:

...the only people they can trust are other novas.

Not to nitpick but does that make even a little bit of logical sense? Can't we have some standards for our paranoid ranting around here?

[Doctor Nova Madigan]

Mr Preston,

I popped about a month ago. Does that make me the next generation?

I never thought to criticize Novas for not being more unified, because evey time homo sapiens ______ gets together and makes a movement or writes a rulebook, some other group of homo sapiens ______ gets royally screwed.

Without committing too deeply to any philosophy, I'd like to opine that perhaps it's better not to have made such a monolithic movement.

Yet

[Wakinyan]

Flicker, I used to be a strong proponent of a Nova Goverment and I believed we needed it immediatly. Anymore though I just dunno. You may be very right about "Yet"

Reason for me is. I realize we are all so different it is more than a racial issue like the humans have. How can I relate to someone like V who can turn into lightning? How can I see things like Preston when the two things we do the same have such different roads of getting to the conclusion? How can I ask many of you to relate to me?

I just don't know if this could ever work. But maybe putting it off and letting those of us with large throbbing... Brains work it out for awhile. Maybe we can make it work. Just not to hopeful anymore.

[Neil Preston]

Aaakkkkk!!!!!

Flicker, call me Neil, please. Mr. Preston is my Dad.

[Doctor Nova Madigan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Flicker, call me Neil, please. Mr. Preston is my Dad.

Sorry, Neil.

[Troy]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?

Because its human nature to be lazy and want it already done for you by someone else.

[Neil Preston]

Quote:

Originally posted by Flicker:
Sorry, Neil.

Zo-kay. Suddenly someone is polite and calling me Mr. Preston and I'm not even thirty yet. Very Scary.

Troy, the handful of novas I have talked to about this either harken to our differences, or about their own personal wants and desires.
Do you feel you are letting an opportunity to advance a nova social agenda pass you by?

[Troy]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Do you feel you are letting an opportunity to advance a nova social agenda pass you by?

No.

[Deezy Klatta]

Not to hijack, but with all the lamentations about 'nova movements' (and I am assuming that doesn't refer to one's supercharged bowels), I found myself curious as to what exactly the agenda for a 'unified nova movement' would be.

I mean, -in general- novas live scattered around the world, part and parcel of the cultures they lived in before they erupted. Celebrities, sure, but no more or less so than big name actors or popular political figures. The usual sequence of events seems to be: You live, you erupt, you readjust to your new status, you go on living.

This seems eminently...-workable- to me. Obviously it's a grotesque oversimplification, as aberrations and taint can make that whole 'readjustment' phase harder for some than others. Even so, is there really a NEED for a special "Nova Movement?" And if so, what would we be espousing? Equal rights for novas? Most places HAVE that. Voting privileges? Ditto.

If you're looking for a big nova group that thinks they oughtta be exempt from 'human' laws and cultures, there IS one. If you're looking for a nova group that tramples local cultures and laws in the name of global betterment...there's one of those too.

So if we're gonna talk about nova movements, maybe we should be more specific as to what we're really talking about. What do we mean by nova movement?

[Neil Preston]

Issues that concern me:

Taint as a problem that affects, or will effect, each and every one of us.

Longevity - barring accident, we should outlive most of our current baseline associates, loved ones, and friends.

Power - entities that accumulate power tend to find relationships for dealing with other entities of power, be it for good, or ill.

Do you accept that a nova will want to live among baseline humanity as one of them (more or less), or won't you? Its a social issue.

Does it concern you that Aberrancy Syndrome effects baselines? What about harmful taint manifestation?? Do you worry about the social effects of actively anti-social novas?

Personally, I am not sure what shape any nova society, or movement, would take. I am curious how other people feel about it.

[The White Rat]

Taint: Is only a problem if you fear it.

Longevity: Since when was outliving everyone else a bad thing?

Power: They say power corrupts. I disagree. Power is a device wielded by those who know its proper implementation. Those who don't understand power, end up being crushed under its foot.

Mao Tse Tung, who knew power's uses, once said "true power lie at the end of a gun"

[Bahamut810]

You know, I was reading this thread and (no offense) you are all sounding like a bunch of whiney goth-babies.

I know that we are all different, individual. But we have powers that are well beyond a normal humans.

The Rat is close, but what you guys are forgetting is that we have the means to work with all that. The Major(KIA, Chad) who was killed in my last assignment in Chad was an *expert* in tactics and troop management. There are nova's who can tell if someone is lieing with no problems. Telepaths who can read minds. We can build cities in days (instead of decades). People like the Count who people like so much (and are so intelligent) that they would make excellent leaders.

Now, I am not a proponent of a nova-only movement. I have too many 'baselines' that I love to just give them up. But its easy to see just what we could do if someone wanted to work with it. People are just too wrapped up in their 'Im so special! Im so different! I just *cant* start something without someone who thinks *exactly like me*!' mindset to just get it done.

Of course this is the same thing that homo sapient ______ has been going through since they decided to get together.

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Issues that concern me:
Taint as a problem that affects, or will effect, each and every one of us.

Wrong way to look at it, Fleshsmith. Wrong way. Taint isn't a problem, not anymore than homosexuality, cross-genders, or Neil Diamond fans are "problems". It's different and you adjust.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Longevity - barring accident, we should outlive most of our current baseline associates, loved ones, and friends.

So? Son's usually outlive fathers. Children outlive beloved grandparents. We move one. Life isn't for pussies.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Power - entities that accumulate power tend to find relationships for dealing with other entities of power, be it for good, or ill.

Humans tend to find relationships for dealing with other humans. Novas will do the same. I don't see it as a problem.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Do you accept that a nova will want to live among baseline humanity as one of them (more or less), or won't you? Its a social issue.

Jane Goodall got all gooshy-drawered for chimps and Dianne Fossey wanted her some gorilla dick. Meh, that was there buzz. You want to fuck with humans by treading their world, that's your business. And when they freak out and gun your ass down because you're just too fucking out there for them that'll still be your business.

Crap, now Geryon's gonna give me shit.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Does it concern you that Aberrancy Syndrome effects baselines?

Yeah, kinda. I don't have any wish to fuck with folks just because I like to mingle. So I don't. Though I don't have this fucking "Aberrancy Syndrome" you're talking about.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
What about harmful taint manifestation??

Well, stop fucking around and learn how to play the game and you should do okay. Trying to pretend you're Wally Cleaver but with a node is just gonna make shit hard.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Do you worry about the social effects of actively anti-social novas?

What kind of effects? Specifics, Bloodstauncher.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Personally, I am not sure what shape any nova society, or movement, would take. I am curious how other people feel about it.

Gotta do more than just ask questions, Skinknitter. Wanna have a say in the game you gotta play in the game.

[Ulysses Bailey]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lemmy Chillmeister:
Wanna have a say in the game you gotta play in the game.

Not the exact words I would use, but it is worth repeating.

[Neil Preston]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lemmy Chillmeister:
Wrong way to look at it, Fleshsmith. Wrong way. Taint isn't a problem, not anymore than homosexuality, cross-genders, or Neil Diamond fans are "problems". It's different and you adjust.

My bad. I was meaning the "common" perception that both novas and baselines have about taint. I know its not some kind of terminal disease. Personally, I think it is way to early in the game for anyone to say if its good/bad. My experience tells me it is a bit of both.

Quote:

So? Son's usually outlive fathers. Children outlive beloved grandparents. We move one. Life isn't for pussies.

Referring to novas who maintain baseline relationships. They will almost certainly outlive ALL their current human aquantainces. How will we deal with that?

Quote:

Humans tend to find relationships for dealing with other humans. Novas will do the same. I don't see it as a problem.

Well, that's certainly one answer.

Quote:

Jane Goodall got all gooshy-drawered for chimps and Dianne Fossey wanted her some gorilla dick. Meh, that was there buzz. You want to fuck with humans by treading their world, that's your business. And when they freak out and gun your ass down because you're just too fucking out there for them that'll still be your business.

Crap, now Geryon's gonna give me shit.

Its the "monkey-lover" moniker that disturbs me. I don't care about the novas that don't like my hanging with baselines. Its the novas who come after me and my friends that bother me.

Quote:

Yeah, kinda. I don't have any wish to fuck with folks just because I like to mingle. So I don't. Though I don't have this fucking "Aberrancy Syndrome" you're talking about.

Meh. Aberrancy Syndrome is the term PU gave us.

Quote:

Well, stop fucking around and learn how to play the game and you should do okay. Trying to pretend you're Wally Cleaver but with a node is just gonna make shit hard.

I've been out there and been learning, LDS. It is that experience that makes me ask questions.

Quote:

What kind of effects? Specifics, Bloodstauncher.

Edward/Cull going out and eating people. DeathSquad in Uganda. HeadHunter and his atrocities. You know, novas going out and killing people just because they can.

Quote:

Gotta do more than just ask questions, Skinknitter. Wanna have a say in the game you gotta play in the game.

Yeah, but not every answer is within me for easy access. Learning often requires listening as well as doing.

[Ashnod]

Referring to novas who maintain baseline relationships. They will almost certainly outlive ALL their current human aquantainces. How will we deal with that?

WE do not have to deal with that. That is a danger you willingly entertain by developing attachments to them. It is not a problem for the race, but rather for the individual. This is not something to be brainstormed, with an action plan, delegated to the appropriate parties, and then reported back to at the next meeting.

It is a fact - we will outlive them on an individual basis. Interact with them on an intimate level at your own risk. Accept that it will be as hard on them as it is hard on you, and they may not be pleased to have a lover or friend that is still young and vital when they are reaching their twilight years (and perhaps you will feel the same in reverse).

[Wylde]

"Taint" is really a misnomer though isn't it? I mean, it's a word to describe a set of phenomena that seem to be becoming more and more common in Novas. Permanent physical and mental transformations (Mutations) and an acute feeling of disassociation to the baseline condition.

I don't really know if this is a good or bad thing 'cause I'm not going through it myself, but I bet it's one of the big reasons Novas haven't banded together in any cohesive way to build up a "Novas only" societal model. If you have some Novas suffering from "Aberrant Syndrome" and others viewing the world through the baseline paradigm, you're bound to have a level of conflict that would preclude those two groups working together on any meaningful level.

Just a thought anyways.

[Lemmy Chillmeister]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
My bad. I was meaning the "common" perception that both novas and baselines have about taint. I know its not some kind of terminal disease. Personally, I think it is way to early in the game for anyone to say if its good/bad. My experience tells me it is a bit of both.

Too early? Nope, not to this little nova's life. Been learning it's all a matter of getting a handle on it by learning to walk that pumped up road of quantum instead of trying to do the baseline minuet.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Referring to novas who maintain baseline relationships. They will almost certainly outlive ALL their current human aquantainces. How will we deal with that?

Same way. You want to hang with baselines you treat it like losing old friends and making new ones. We lose dogs man, they've got a shorter lifespan. And watch it, Lifewelder, I ain't saying baseline=doggies. I'm saying difference in lifespans mean shit when dealing with pooches and we've dealt with that. Harder? Maybe, but kinda the same.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Its the "monkey-lover" moniker that disturbs me. I don't care about the novas that don't like my hanging with baselines. Its the novas who come after me and my friends that bother me.

Hey, chimps and gorillas ain't monkeys. They're apes. And don't go after that thing with a trunk. It's irrelevant. I'm talking about folks who seemed to dig the company of beings, creatures, what the fuck have you, that weren't their own tribe. If you'd asked Fossey if she thought Gorilla's were beneath her she'd have slapped your pink ass silly. If novas want to hang with Billy and Betty Baseline then that's their thing. It ain't mine. If it causes problems for them then it's their fucking load to figure out what to do about it.

We clear O Master of Boo-boos?

Sweet.

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Edward/Cull going out and eating people. DeathSquad in Uganda. HeadHunter and his atrocities. You know, novas going out and killing people just because they can.

How do you deal with folks that do that now?

[The White Rat]

Mr. Chillmeister,

I, as a nova who has read some of the Teras philosophy, would like to know more on how to walk that path and transform taint. I don't want to have some baselines telling me taint is bad and that I should be ashamed of it. I want to find out how to embrace it and become stronger. I wish to understand how Leviathan and Geryon use taint to remove their baseline failings.

[Wakinyan]

Leviathan and Geryon don't have jack shit to teach anyone. They are fucking pricks, and their asses are on borrowed time.

Yeah I know you two assholes lurk on here and will read this. Go fuck yourselves you should finish what you started.

[The White Rat]

Whoa fuzzy-wuzzy, what crawled up your cloaca. Oh yeah, that's right, I heard those two punked you. It was all over the OpNet. Anyways, unless you can teach me how to walk the path, I'll have to work with someone who can. Even if you hate their guts.

[Wakinyan]

Best make those lessons quick or by correspondence little morsel.

[The White Rat]

Be careful, I've been known to give people the runs.

[Wakinyan]

You and Taco Bell both.

[Maria 'Serendipity' Fianelli]

Heh.

If I was in the same town as Geryon, I'd bust my butt getting outta there. I'm not averse to a little ass-kicking, but when I know it's gonna be mine, I don't push my luck.

A T2M'er I ain't.

[Wakinyan]

You dont have to be T2M to want to kick Geryon's ass. Being a Terat isn't all the brotherly love and making smores around the campfire. The bullshit stacks up so quickly you need wings to stay above it and sometimes that doesn't help either.

[Maria 'Serendipity' Fianelli]

Honey, I'd like to see his punk-ass beat into the ground, but it ain't gonna be me who's doing it.

He'd kick my ass in about two seconds if he was feeling nice.

[Deezy Klatta]

Hmm. Seems like there's a lot of people talking, but not much getting said. Lemme try to clarify what I meant, and maybe get the thread on topic again.

What would the -objective- of a nova movement be? For example, the objective of the women's movement was equal rights (and later on equal pay, etc) for women as men. What's the hypothetical Nova Movement out to change? Why would I, your ordinary nova on the street, be interested in throwing in my lot?

Sizzle it, fellas. Make it sing.

[Bahamut810]

I would think that a movement to bring novas and baselines together would be the best. I know that there are a few novas who think we should seperate ourselves entirely, and some that say we should become the equivelent of their slaves. Why not just compramise and work to make sure that neither side is taken advantage of. Improving relations, redusing misunderstandings and increasing information reguarding nova's would help out a lot too.

[The White Rat]

Have you tried to have a conversation with a baseline? They are either intimidated by us or they worship us. It's like trying to have a discussion with a dog who wants to growl at you or hump your leg. It's pathetic.

[Bahamut810]

I live with three of them. Our relationship has not really changed since I erupted, just where we live. Now that I am making the big elite bucks, I can take care of them the way I always wanted to. They are family closer to me then my actual blood family.

And like it or not, Novas and baselines are going to have to get along. If we dont we will kill each other. I dont even think that Pax can stand a nuke or two. Thats not even taking into account what nova weapons developers can cook up. We may as well make the best of it, instead of going through another cold war (and one that may not turn out as well as the last one between the USA and Russia did).

[Tarot]

Quote:

Originally posted by Neil Preston:
Why is it that I get this sinking feeling that the next generation of novas is going to really wonder why we didn't do make more progress towards a unified nova movement?

I take a vacation and come back to find we're still talking about this shit?

Okay. Look. Neil puckers up to Charr, Preston senior lays a fat wet one on Ashnod's heiny, while Lemmie goes down on Carver, and Slattern reads a book to a kindergarten class to be named later. I'll immortalize the whole thing in Tarot Pigments. Afterwards we can sit down and decide how we're going to deal with the future.

Sometimes you just got to go to extremes to get anything done. Besides, anything less is just not going to work or it already would have.