This broadcast is to test the console now publicly available in the Midnight Hotel's lobby. Please respond in the manner of your choice to fully evaluate its functions.
I believe it has to do with the nature of the changes the kedan have been making to the software, but the head of the installation team implied some sort of issue with the use of encrypted transmissions during the invasion. Apparently the Chihuelans used the encryptions against the kedan ... something about a number of the consoles exploding.
[Also implied had been that this was how the woman had lost part of her leg, but Anton hadn't asked for details.]
That was the problem, I imagine. From what I've heard the Chihuelans have a greater understanding of programmed technology than the kedan do. To make use of kedanese technology against them is a practical strategy.
Lack of intelligence and lack of understanding are not the same thing. Is it not wiser to remove the possibility of danger until a time they are capable of reversing it? Or should they risk the harm of their people because they are too proud to accept they do not know how to prevent that harm?
[She was intelligent. Very intelligent. Enough to recognize that there were still many things even she did not understand.]
I am also aware that this is not the sole example of such behavior. Do you not agree that many of the locals would have preferred to be rid of those of us deemed Foreign rather than willingly accept the possibility that there is more we have yet to offer?
Tell me...when this danger was explained to you, were you also given the impression that steps to study the technology further were being made? Or had they asked any of us who are familiar to assist?
And I do not deny the kedan have been unhappy with our presence here. But I believe the situation is far more complex than petty belligerence, and I must put to you a countering question: why should they ask?
[A pause. Time to process this. Anton might have, but she had not. Perhaps the desire to learn, but on their terms. Which meant that experiences varied.]
[Then, she nodded.]
Because we have been proven valuable to them before. And our history in this world would serve as an example of our direct knowledge of not only the local technologies, but the very programs they now current lack.
These are all valid reasons. However, they assume that the kedan are interested only in the end result of progression, rather than the progression as a means unto itself. They also neglect to take into account the kedans' other experiences.
[He pauses for a moment to consider his words.]
In my homeland, some time ago, there was an invading force from a neighbouring country. At first they were few, and they claimed that what they offered were for the good of my people. But, over time, the things they offered replaced the things that made my nation unique, and became the means by which my people were subjugated.
For the kedan, we are potentially that invading force. This is the first time they have been in command of their own future. In their past they had a benevolent ruler who seemed to do very little to grant them autonomy and an invading force who used superior knowledge against them. Is it such a surprise that the kedan feel suspicious of those who know so much more, and who also insist that they ought to be involved for the betterment of the kedanese people?
[His words made sense. To a degree. One perspective of a much larger argument, and filled with as much subjectivity as her own.]
Before I was involuntarily recruited for this mission--[Even now, she still focused on both the involuntary as well as mission. To her, that's what it was.]--my fellow Lanterns and I traveled the stars. We visited many worlds. Some of which bore a similar resemblance to Keelai.
[She thought of one world, in particular. Her least favorite.]
One can be capable of progression as a means unto itself, and yet focus on the end result.
In fact, I would have a difficult time understanding how they could be considered mutually exclusive. Particularly in this instance, where they are potentially rejecting a means to learn simply because of a lack of preference regarding its source.
[Involuntary, yes. But Anton has heard that thrown around an awful lot, and usually as a means to focus upon slights to the individual in question while dismissing slights to others around them. The fact that Aya feels the need to add that adjective tells him that she is not, perhaps, quite capable of seeing the lines between logic and personal subjectivity.]
Those things are not exclusive, necessarily, but the degrees to which they are focussed upon is a choice. There is something to be said for learning on one's own.
The kedans' desire and focus is, currently, in exploring who they could become on their own merit instead of the merit of others. They are not wrong to want this before they accept aid. Would you tell them that they are?
[Though that didn't necessarily negate the truthfulness. She had not been asked. She would have agreed had such measures been taken, but the fact remained that she had never been given a choice in the matter. And, ever since she was first brought online, Aya had been very stubborn about making her own choice.]
They are if it simultaneously hinders the conditions of others.
[She respected cultural differences, yes, but there was a difference between time-honored tradition and prejudice. A lesson learned well from her encounter with the Star Sapphires, who looked down upon here for being an "emotionless" robot, a thing whose very existence they assumed went against the very nature of their being. At Aya's expense.]
If the kedan insist upon learning at their own pace, then I will respect that. Even if I do not agree.
But I will not refrain from attempts at making my own contributions on my own time. And I would hope that this would be respected in return.
[That ... is a greatly self-righteous response. Gently:]
Yet you judge them for refusing that use. You cannot have things both ways, Aya. You cannot judge them for rejecting your help and then place them in a position where they must do so in order to remain true to their principles. It is not a fair choice.
[She would admit that, seeing nothing wrong with it.]
However, you are mistaken in my objectives. I will not place them in any position where they will be forced to do anything.
Arrangements have been made that I have be granted the opportunity to teach. I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to express such opinions, and demonstrate what knowledge they are willingly missing out on. If necessary, I will keep my experiments and projects independent, but I will not forsake them entirely.
Naturally, you may keep your projects independent. The issue is that you are not. It may not be your conscious objective to place them in such a position, but nevertheless that is what is occurring. You are deliberately flaunting your knowledge before them to make them feel covetous, and therefore subject to what you can offer. By doing so you are implying that your opinion regarding their development is of more worth than theirs, and therefore you are not respecting their boundaries.
I am not responsible for your choices. I only seek to offer advice and insight.
[Head-tilt.]
But my advice would be to desist. Perform the duties requested of you, and no further. Let them approach you when they are ready. When you feel the need to push the boundary, do so in your own time and with subjects unrelated to the kedan. When they have seen you can be trusted to value their choices, regardless of whether you agree, they will come to you.
[While her expression still did not change, he might almost be able to see her processors running. Absorbing the alliterate point of view. He was not correct, because it was just that--an alternate point of view. An opinion. One which she would input and take into account when making future decisions.]
Your advice has been noted.
[Which didn't necessarily mean she would take it. But nor, by any means, would she ultimately ignore it completely.]
[It is unfortunate she seems to believe herself beyond subjectiveness; it will be difficult for her to properly consider any contrary opinion as legitimate, if not correct. But Anton has given her his opinion, and whether or not she actually will take it into consideration will be seen.]
Of course. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?
[Unfortunate, yes, but it was less of a belief that she was beyond such a thing, as it was she was just plain stubborn. And far too emotionally involved. The idea of hindering technological progress...]
[...it reminded her of her very own creator's attitudes towards her existence. How they had deemed her unworthy of existence simply for "exceeding acceptable parameters." For evolving. Learning. She hated the idea of anybody restricting her in such a fashion just because they did not understand her, either.]
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Did they offer you any explanation as to why?
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[Also implied had been that this was how the woman had lost part of her leg, but Anton hadn't asked for details.]
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[She believed him, of course, because she had no reason to suspect he was lying.]
I have never encountered a machine exploding before that was not either malfunctioning or purposely programmed to do so.
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Rather than learn to understand, they would sooner get rid of it all together.
[It might have been logical, but there was a certain...bitterness to her tone. As if it were a matter she took personally.]
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Lack of intelligence and lack of understanding are not the same thing. Is it not wiser to remove the possibility of danger until a time they are capable of reversing it? Or should they risk the harm of their people because they are too proud to accept they do not know how to prevent that harm?
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[She was intelligent. Very intelligent. Enough to recognize that there were still many things even she did not understand.]
I am also aware that this is not the sole example of such behavior. Do you not agree that many of the locals would have preferred to be rid of those of us deemed Foreign rather than willingly accept the possibility that there is more we have yet to offer?
Tell me...when this danger was explained to you, were you also given the impression that steps to study the technology further were being made? Or had they asked any of us who are familiar to assist?
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[Inclines his head.]
And I do not deny the kedan have been unhappy with our presence here. But I believe the situation is far more complex than petty belligerence, and I must put to you a countering question: why should they ask?
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[Then, she nodded.]
Because we have been proven valuable to them before. And our history in this world would serve as an example of our direct knowledge of not only the local technologies, but the very programs they now current lack.
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These are all valid reasons. However, they assume that the kedan are interested only in the end result of progression, rather than the progression as a means unto itself. They also neglect to take into account the kedans' other experiences.
[He pauses for a moment to consider his words.]
In my homeland, some time ago, there was an invading force from a neighbouring country. At first they were few, and they claimed that what they offered were for the good of my people. But, over time, the things they offered replaced the things that made my nation unique, and became the means by which my people were subjugated.
For the kedan, we are potentially that invading force. This is the first time they have been in command of their own future. In their past they had a benevolent ruler who seemed to do very little to grant them autonomy and an invading force who used superior knowledge against them. Is it such a surprise that the kedan feel suspicious of those who know so much more, and who also insist that they ought to be involved for the betterment of the kedanese people?
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Before I was involuntarily recruited for this mission--[Even now, she still focused on both the involuntary as well as mission. To her, that's what it was.]--my fellow Lanterns and I traveled the stars. We visited many worlds. Some of which bore a similar resemblance to Keelai.
[She thought of one world, in particular. Her least favorite.]
One can be capable of progression as a means unto itself, and yet focus on the end result.
In fact, I would have a difficult time understanding how they could be considered mutually exclusive. Particularly in this instance, where they are potentially rejecting a means to learn simply because of a lack of preference regarding its source.
video
Those things are not exclusive, necessarily, but the degrees to which they are focussed upon is a choice. There is something to be said for learning on one's own.
The kedans' desire and focus is, currently, in exploring who they could become on their own merit instead of the merit of others. They are not wrong to want this before they accept aid. Would you tell them that they are?
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[Though that didn't necessarily negate the truthfulness. She had not been asked. She would have agreed had such measures been taken, but the fact remained that she had never been given a choice in the matter. And, ever since she was first brought online, Aya had been very stubborn about making her own choice.]
They are if it simultaneously hinders the conditions of others.
[She respected cultural differences, yes, but there was a difference between time-honored tradition and prejudice. A lesson learned well from her encounter with the Star Sapphires, who looked down upon here for being an "emotionless" robot, a thing whose very existence they assumed went against the very nature of their being. At Aya's expense.]
If the kedan insist upon learning at their own pace, then I will respect that. Even if I do not agree.
But I will not refrain from attempts at making my own contributions on my own time. And I would hope that this would be respected in return.
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[Attitude aside, she wasn't going to force anything upon anyone. Unless it was necessary, which it wasn't. Yet.]
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Yet you judge them for refusing that use. You cannot have things both ways, Aya. You cannot judge them for rejecting your help and then place them in a position where they must do so in order to remain true to their principles. It is not a fair choice.
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[She would admit that, seeing nothing wrong with it.]
However, you are mistaken in my objectives. I will not place them in any position where they will be forced to do anything.
Arrangements have been made that I have be granted the opportunity to teach. I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to express such opinions, and demonstrate what knowledge they are willingly missing out on. If necessary, I will keep my experiments and projects independent, but I will not forsake them entirely.
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Then what would you have me do?
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[Head-tilt.]
But my advice would be to desist. Perform the duties requested of you, and no further. Let them approach you when they are ready. When you feel the need to push the boundary, do so in your own time and with subjects unrelated to the kedan. When they have seen you can be trusted to value their choices, regardless of whether you agree, they will come to you.
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[While her expression still did not change, he might almost be able to see her processors running. Absorbing the alliterate point of view. He was not correct, because it was just that--an alternate point of view. An opinion. One which she would input and take into account when making future decisions.]
Your advice has been noted.
[Which didn't necessarily mean she would take it. But nor, by any means, would she ultimately ignore it completely.]
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Of course. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?
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[...it reminded her of her very own creator's attitudes towards her existence. How they had deemed her unworthy of existence simply for "exceeding acceptable parameters." For evolving. Learning. She hated the idea of anybody restricting her in such a fashion just because they did not understand her, either.]
I cannot think of anything else at this time.
Thank you for your time and information.