quinque

[nos_servabit]

Being selfless is not an easy thing.

[Hello, Vatheon. Once again, your resident not-god of a spiritual being, Jacob, is here to illuminate your lives with philosophical pondering and introspection to boot.]

[Don't mind him, it's just what he does on a regular basis.]

In fact, no one is completely selfless. Everyone has the need and desire to take care of themselves before anyone else. It's a natural thing. But even so, it's amazing that people can put aside their own wants and needs to help others around them. It goes against the grain, so to speak.

Sometimes...somebody is so selfless that they put their life in harm's way in order to protect others. For in those moments that mean life and death, they put aside the thought of danger and charge into it willingly. All because they realize that their life was, at that moment, not the thing that mattered most.

[A pause as he glances at the camera with those wide blue eyes of his which are as unchanging as the horizon of a calm sea.]

Sacrifice is a powerful thing, indeed. For sacrifice can impact people so deeply that they can experience an entire turn-around in their character. Because, I think, sacrifice makes us all realize that we are all miniscule specks in the cloak of the universe. We are not as important by ourselves as we think. And therefore, selflessness comes into play- we do things for a higher goal. A higher purpose. We hope that one day, our actions can influence things as large as an entire nation or an entire world.

[He lets the words sink in for a bit, and then:]

So, people of Vatheon. What do you see selflessness as? Is it a means to an end, or are we all just specks that can barely put a ripple in the fabric of the universe we live in?

[ooc: Don't forget to fill out Jacob's permission post if you haven't done so already!]

Comments

[ninthserenade]

Haa... Man, this is reminding me of when I did that with Lea. I could've died way back when that curfew was put in, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to make sure Lea was safe.

_{[A beat.]}

But I dunno. Can there really ever be an end for something that isn't meant to exist in the first place?

[nos_servabit]

[He smiles warmly at the camera.] Did you now? That was very brave of you.

I don't know. But you exist, as I am talking to you and you are talking back, and you've shown that you care, so I think that you have as much right to a proper end as other people do.

Text, attempted anonymous

[zelda_hylia]

Sacrifice is very rarely born from true selflessness. People act in such a way so that they can feel better about themselves. That is not to say that those people are bad, but it isn't about being selfless.

[Video]

[nos_servabit]

Is that so?

Yes, smaller forms of sacrifice may be born from selfish desires...but I do not think it's so easy to explain when they give up their entire life for something. How can a person make themselves feel better by giving up their own life?

voice

[bufudine]

[While he doesn't understand all the words mentioned, Serph understands the general gist of it.

...This is a very painful post for Serph. He knows the strength gained by having comrades; he can barely remember a time he hasn't done something with his Tribe in mind. As the leader of his Tribe, he's known nothing but sacrifice from his members. Sometimes sacrifices need to made... but he's working to reach a world where they don't need to be made; in the end, most of his comrades, hundreds of them, are now dead.

But his voice is calm, unfaltering.]

It's what you are to help a comrade. But we are still ourselves.

[video]

[nos_servabit]

Of course you are still yourself when you make such decisions. Because you and only you makes that decision for others.

Nobody should stop caring about themselves completely. But no one should care only about themselves.

[video]

[seablaze]

[Sitting down with his arms crossed against his chest and a brow raised.]
I think it's one of those things ya think too much about, when ya really should just be enjoying the ride.
No one is selfless. If ya help another by putting yourself at risk, it's for your own reasons, aye? Whether it's for the bond ya hold with your crew or mates, or if the person is important, you're doing it because you want them to make it. Your own reasons which you push on another without thinking of what they might say if ya bite the big one.

[video]

[nos_servabit]

That's true. But even so, those thoughts, while they are your own, are not about you. They are about others. And that is what selflessness is- not necessarily doing thing because you want to, but doing things because you know it will benefit someone over yourself.

No one is truly selfless. But everyone has selflessness in them.

Video

[not_heavens_adam]

Seems a little dark, Jacob.

I've seen a lot of people come and go. In the great scheme of things, no, I don't think people have much of an effect on anything...but they do on each other.

Dunno if I'd call them 'specks' though.

Video

[nos_servabit]

Well, life is a little dark, but we still live it every day, yes?

That is certainly true. But us being specks is also true. Even the greatest king is only a tiny peak in the endless line of time. But even so, what matters is here and now. Not what will happen a hundred years to come.

Flitered/ Private and TEXT for now

[brbstealingpknm]

Sounds like the idiot back home. [...Silver, using proper punctuation and everything in text?

...Something must be up if he's making the effort.]

...You got time to talk?

Flitered/ Private and video :3c

[nos_servabit]

Which idiot?

[A nod.]

Yes, I do. Do you want to talk now?

[sealedtruth]

I've known a few people whom were what you might consider selfless. Sometimes the smallest stone can end up causing the largest ripples.

[nos_servabit]

That is certainly true. One person can change the lives of thousands, just with a single action.

I know that from experience.

text

[chivalrygrudge]

[He doesn't feel like talking about this out loud. Not now.]

it's stupid sometimes. sometimes people deserve what they're going to get before someone steps in and tries to save them.

and some people sacrifice themselves without even asking, or trying to find another way.

[video]

[nos_servabit]

That could be true, but in the end, it is the person's decision to make that sacrifice. Yes, the people around them might think it's not a good idea, but they believe with all their heart that they are doing the right thing.

It's tragic, yes, but people are people. Sometimes they can't be wavered from their decisions.

voice;

[replacing]

[ oh gosh everything this man just said hits him on such a personal level it's ridiculous. ]

There are those who used to call me selfless--and I was. To the point of idiocy. I was naive then. The more I learned of the true nature of the world, the more selfish I became. But selflessness can be genuine. There are those who do good for others, who sacrifice themselves for others, with no expectation of or desire for personal gain. I was once one of those people, for better or for worse, before I realized how cruel the world can be. I am actually very selfish now.

[video]

[nos_servabit]

Hmmm.

That's good, that you recognize that selflessness exists. And I do not blame you for being selfish. Being selfish is not necessarily a bad thing. It's when you are so consumed by your own selfishness that you become a cold unfeeling person, that's when you have already crossed the line.

voice;

[pactum]

There isn't a human being alive who isn't self-serving and arrogant.

[ hello, Jacob, did you need your daily dose of cynicism? Ciel can deliver in spades. ]

[video]

[nos_servabit]

[He just smiles in amusement at that.]

I never said that wasn't true. But some are more arrogant than others. We all have our own levels of selfishness and selflessness, and it is up to us which one we want to act on.

[p2iioniicii2t]

II thiink II have met only one per2on that 2hould qualiify for the de2criiptiion of '2elfle22' in the 2en2e of actiing only for the be2t iintere2t2 of other2.
IIt ii2 far two 2mall a 2ample 2iize two draw any conclu2iion2.

[nos_servabit]

That is good, that you are withholding judgment on the collective group of people around you before you have gathered enough information. Sometimes people jump to conclusions when they haven't even talked to the right people.

[warrior_king]

Selflessness is one of the qualities that defines a true warrior.

I come from a place where even the most insignificant and least intelligent individual is aware that he is entirely expendable in the fight for the glory of Evron.

We act as a single body, a single mind, a single soul! Even the soldiers we lose are part of the metabolism of the amazing, whole being that is the Evronian Empire!

[video]

[nos_servabit]

A true warrior? I see.

Of course, it is very important for an army such as yours to work together in unison. You are part of a whole, and you must be the best you can be to keep that whole as good as it can be.

But at the same time, individuality is a precious thing. One should not lose sight of it.

[mothersunlight]

Hnn....

[Ammy whines a bit, at this whole post. Sacrifice was made, not for their own sake, not exactly for their own preservation or for those dear to them, but for the greater good. Ammy has a hard time perceiving some of the sacrifices from her journey not being selfless.]

[nos_servabit]

You have some things to say about sacrifice, too?

[A nod as if he understands.]

Truly, I think that sacrifice is truly a selfless act. It is impossible for one to think of only themselves when they give up things and people who are most precious to them.

Text

[saiyan_prince]

Is it about being selfless, or about doing what's needed for the survival of the whole? People that sacrifice themselves probably don't see any alternative paths where they would survive, anyway.

[video]

[nos_servabit]

I don't know. What do you think? It's a good question. Is sacrifice truly born of selflessness or selfishness? Where does its origin lie?

And what you said is also correct. It is, in their mind, the only thing they can do in order to help.

video;

[geass]

If one is determined enough, they may cause more than a ripple in the fabric of time - or the universe.

[At least, he hopes that's how it would turn out.]

The degree of selflessness varies from person to person, but generally it means they would do whatever it takes for another.

[And of course, he's only thinking of Nunnally.]

video;

[nos_servabit]

True. And it also depends on what they do to make such a change.

And you are correct on that point, too. But it also means that they thinks of others before themselves.

voice;

[allures]

[Her voice is soft, but curious.]

You like asking people these questions, don't you?

[video]

[nos_servabit]

Effy.

[He sounds happy to hear her voice.]

Of course I do. What people answer is very interesting.