Somewhat real-life-oriented meme

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

Ganked from rivendellrose and sounds like fun:

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want -- good or bad. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified!) about what people remember about you.

Comments

[invisibleshrew.livejournal.com]

Er, for example : Wash is correct in thinking that the relationship between Zoe and Mal is unhealthy. Discuss.

I get the feeling that many Z/W shippers are strongly invested in the idea of the friendship between Zoe and Mal as being a/ very tight, b/ totally asexual and c/ admirable. And since there are so very few male/female media friendships which meet that description I really don't want to dis the value which people lay on it. Because it is cool. But not necessarily healthy, for either of them...

Here is where I may also be totally misreading the language of the show, coming from a (slightly) different cultural background. In NZ usage "Sir" and "Ma'am" are strictly confined to a/ the serving military, b/ the Queen, or her local representative the Governor-General (if it's a formal occasion - the only G-G's I've had occasion to chat with I've called "Paul" and "Cath", because that's what I called them when they were only the Archbishop of NZ, or the Mayor of Auckland, respectively, but I'd dodge around the issue with the current G-G until he asked me to call him Anand - which he would, because he's a sweetheart), or c/ judges while they're sitting on the bench, and if they're the kind of arrogant people who get off on that. Given that 99.5% of the times I've been on the receiving end of ma'am were in the States, and the remaining tiny percentage in Europe when we wandered out of our natural price-bracket (and which ceased as soon as either of us opened our mouths) I'm guessing that the usage isn't quite so loaded in the US.

or : does the Alliance/Independent conflict in Firefly more usefully map to the US North/South Civil War (which seems to be the usual assumption), or to the civilised east/wild west cultural divide (which makes more sense to me, as an entire outsider - as if the cattle barons had taken up arms against railroads, and law which didn't come out of the barrel of a gun)?

But there I run into both the "other people's history" and the "other people's politics" issues. I could be opening cans of worms without even seeing the possibilities, and, trust me, even from here I can see such possibilities.

And so on - I can see so much potential for a innocently intended discussion descending into wank, especially given that I'm working through cultural filters which don't match most of the comm readership - I could stuff it up so very easily! But would also value the chance to discuss things.

Sorry, that was far too long. Will shut up and push post now.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

But there I run into both the "other people's history" and the "other people's politics" issues. I could be opening cans of worms without even seeing the possibilities, and, trust me, even from here I can see such possibilities.

Well, yeah, anytime you bring up a subject there is a possibility of controversy. You can't control it. You can word your post well to try to minimize it but you never know how someone might react. I still think it's worth stimulating discussion though. :)

does the Alliance/Independent conflict in Firefly more usefully map to the US North/South Civil War (which seems to be the usual assumption), or to the civilised east/wild west cultural divide (which makes more sense to me, as an entire outsider - as if the cattle barons had taken up arms against railroads, and law which didn't come out of the barrel of a gun)?

I've never gotten the American Civil War analogy theory, myself. I just don't see any parallels, at least not any that stand up to scrutiny. I'd love to hear more about your idea of an East/West analogy.

You might really have something there on Mal and Zoe not having a healthy relationship. I don't think there's any sexual interest between the two of them, but you could make an argument that something is not quite right. I really sympathize with Wash when he wants Zoe to stand up to Mal more and to make her relationship with him her #1 priority. I face a kinda similar situation with my own partner.

[invisibleshrew.livejournal.com]

Wrt to Mal and Zoe - I agree, no sexual interest. I also don't think that Wash is worried about that either - that's where Mal chooses to take the argument. Wash is fashed by the whole "obeying happening under my nose" thing, and so am I.

Zoe offers Mal the kind of unconditional backing that I'd only expect to see in a military (and probably active combat) situation - and they're fly-by-night crims, not soldiers. I fanwank it away by ascribing her a career military background, and coming from a military family (popular media tells me that such things exist in the US?), so that she is used to looking for a clear command structure - but I don't see it as especially healthy for her.

I do see it as downright unhealthy for Mal. While he knows that Zoe has his back so unquestioningly, he's shielded from the consequences of his dodgy decision-making. In a sense, she's buffering him from having to grow up.

And then there's the whole thing where Zoe chooses to lie to Wash, rather than discuss Mal's decisions which do, actually, affect him. Which : no.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

These are honestly all very good observations. I also believe that Zoe craves that military structure...has she refused to accept that she is essentially a smuggler and not a solider anymore? Does she follow any strong leader unquestioningly? Does she need to assert herself more?

And great observations on Mal.

I still think you should post. Generate some good discussion.

[invisibleshrew.livejournal.com]

I'll try to gather up the gumption to put a post together this weekend. Short and with very open-ended questions, on the Mal & Wash & Zoe dynamic. Still too scared of the politics one!

In other news, I'm still trying to make the smut, well, smutty...

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to read it! I very much look forward to it.

P.S.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

You know, the more I think about it, the more and more I believe you do have some good discussion-starters here. Are you sure you don't want to post something on Z/W?

Maybe I could, if you don't want to. For the war analogy though, I do want to understand more about your thoughts on the East/West cultural divide.

Re: P.S.

[invisibleshrew.livejournal.com]

Wrt : East/West, and why I'm hesitant to post. There's this essay I'd like to write, titled "Might have been the winning side, still not convinced it was the wrong one". But I daren't, because it's really politics. More government/less government - or, even more overtly, socialism/libertarianism. And not my politics. I'm vaguely to the left of the NZ political spectrum, which I suspect makes me a rabid socialist by Fox TV standards.

I'm also entirely jossed by the movie - in which the Alliance government is shown to be acting in entirely bad faith. But going on only Firefly canon there's a fair case to be made that the Alliance is acting in good faith - trying to bring the benefits of civilisation to the settlers on the rim.

So in StP, we meet the Alliance as a scary huge military-type organisation - but they unhesitatingly abandon a sure collar to respond to a distress signal* "Let's go help those people".

Or in The Train Job (pilot take 2), the Alliance is sending wildly expensive drugs to a rim population which manifestly can't afford them, while the bad guys - Niska and our heroes - try to steal them for profit.

So, anyway. East - settled, orderly, rule of law, for the greater good, less autonomy the trade for more security, crowded, sheep-farmers. West - independent, freedom, survival of the fittest, every man for himself, the right to bear and use arms, open skies, cattle-ranchers.

Sorry - messy, disorganised thoughts!

*tangential thought - which establishes the moral ambiguity of the series so perfectly. Because faking a distress call is So Not Acceptable, and our "heroes" are doing it for the sixth time.

Re: P.S.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

And not my politics. I'm vaguely to the left of the NZ political spectrum, which I suspect makes me a rabid socialist by Fox TV standards.

Hell, everyone other than Jesse Helms is a rapid socialist by their standards!

Those of us in the US could really benefit from a non-US perspective like your own.

You have more provocative and intriguing thoughts here. I do like the fact that the show presents moral ambiguity and shades of gray. I'd encourage you once again to post but I really would sound like a broken record. :)