(no subject)

[childofkrypton]

[Chris has been thinking about various things for a while now and he's wondering about something. He's a little hesitant and unsure about this question, so he's writing it out.]

What makes someone a bad person?

Comments

Dictated forever

[whichwayyoulean]

[Hooo boy, isn't this stepping on a billion landmines all at once?]

The things they do. The actions they take. Even if they might not even realise it's bad at the time.

[childofkrypton]

So you can be bad without knowing you're bad...?

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah. In fact, it's even easier to be bad without knowing it, because at the time you think you're doing good. You can't see how bad you're being until it's too late.

[childofkrypton]

How are you supposed to fix things if you don't know what you're doing is bad? You can't...?

[whichwayyoulean]

Exactly. Hence the 'until it's too late'.

[childofkrypton]

Oh. [Well that's just depressing.]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Welcome to the world of the Once-ler]

Why were you asking, anyway?

[buttonless]

Wanting to hurt other people.

[childofkrypton]

What if you just think about hurting other people? Does that still make you bad?

[buttonless]

I don't know, I guess it just depends on how bad you want to hurt them.

[childofkrypton]

What if you're just angry and want to hit someone?

[buttonless]

That's not bad. Everyone gets angry.

[childofkrypton]

But that's wanting to hurt someone.

[shepherdsveritas]

[quietly]

A lot've things could make someone a bad person. Why d'ya ask?

[childofkrypton]

[He's quite for a while before he speaks hesitantly.] I was... just thinking about my mom and dad. My real mom and dad.

[shepherdsveritas]

[Oh no. He doesn't like where this is headed already]

Why? Were they bad people?

[childofkrypton]

Real bad.

[shepherdsveritas]

I'm sorry t'hear that. [Oh man this poor kid. He rakes a hand through his hair] Y'said yer "real" mom an' dad... does that mean y've got other ones?

[childofkrypton]

Yeah! [He brightens at that.] Mommy Lois and Daddy Clark took me in after they found me and rescued me. They're the best foster parents ever. They're here too.

[payback]

I think if someone enjoys causing pain to other people, they're not a good person. But it can also be really complicated.

[childofkrypton]

Why is it complicated?

[payback]

Good people can do bad things. Bad people can be bad, but they can still treat some people well, or be kind to somebody for a reason that's not their own gain... I think. So, what pushes someone over the edge? If somebody is on the right side but they do bad things are they a good or a bad person? What about good people who work with bad people? Does that make them bad people too, especially if they're just using that person to do a job they don't want to do? What about if good people love bad people? Does that make them bad too?

[childofkrypton]

... That really is complicated. [It's making his head spin a little mulling it over.]

[payback]

Mm! I don't think it's a question that anybody can just answer for you, forever.

[childofkrypton]

Never ever...?