My hypothetical was crafted to parallel the hypothetical about Mojo, our masseur, and to include all the salient elements of that scenario and it's subsequent discussion. What I considered salient, that is.
Both had pixilated protagonists who were swimming against the current regarding their beliefs and actions on matters where they had firm and long-standing convictions. Both thought that their beliefs and actions were harmless so they should be free to pursue them. In each case, others perceived harm and sought restrictions.
In both scenarios, the difference between the poster and the protagonist was ambiguous. Both protagonists resembled their creators enough to cloud the distinction.
Both protagonists had motivations that were self-serving and both had rationales that focused on the best interests of society. The extent of the influence of the self-serving vs. the more noble in both cases was arguable. Regarding the more noble motivation, each had a perspective that was contrary to the perspective of the experts and the "law" at least in a manner of speaking. Both were committed enough or arrogant enough or pixilated enough to think that their perspectives trumped both mainstream perspectives and the perspectives of the experts and steadfastly pursued their own approaches. Both had iffy data that they claimed supported their positions.
Each was given suggestions on how to mitigate the conflict. Both were given suggestions that maybe they should be engaging themselves elsewhere rather than banging into walls.
Are our protagonists "adorable eccentrics" or "self-absorbed kooks," to use your terminology. Or even noble as Jewel claimed for his protagonist? That is the question. Should we tolerate them, accept them, admire them, or toss them out on their ear?
The reason I created this little exercise was that I'm still stuck on trying to get Jewel to see Mojo the way that others do or at least see it as reasonable, albiet incorrect, that others might not view him the same. Mojo and Auntie K are oddballs. Karen knows that of Auntie K. (Actually, she knows that of Karen, as well, but that's another matter. <g>) Jewel doesn't seem to get that about Mojo and has been stressed and defensive when others look at Mojo's beliefs and actions with a less than adoring eye. Not that there's anything wrong with Mojo, mind you, only that it is reasonable for people to question him just as they are questioning Auntie K and that's OK.
As for your being able to guess that I was in role, I don't know. It's pretty confusing with just creators and protagonists let alone trying to roleplay emulations of other creators--and while I'm good at analyzing scenarios, role playing is not my forte--so I can't blame <g> you for not guessing. |
