tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post7946334351971905825..comments2024-02-17T13:12:02.048-06:00Comments on Rockets and Dragons: Fiction Philosophy: ApathyStephanie Barrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-80489996057606600222010-08-05T09:45:37.490-05:002010-08-05T09:45:37.490-05:00Damn it, Shakespeare, you've given me another ...Damn it, Shakespeare, you've given me another idea for a character, one who is determined to be selfish since he's felt like a doormat his whole life, but ends up doing more and more aggressive good as he continues because his innate decency steps in and changes things. <br /><br />It's because he's taking action that the effects increase and, in the end, realizes that doing the good he didn't mean to do is what's making him happy.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-40834378060799653402010-08-05T09:35:30.117-05:002010-08-05T09:35:30.117-05:00Agreed, on intent, as well, with the caveat that i...Agreed, on intent, as well, with the caveat that intent may not be black and white either. Many people plan on doing something for their own selfish sake but, consciously or unconsciously, determine how they do it by the effect on others. <br />An unconscious intent or innate inability to hurt others no matter what they feel they "need" to do can still work for me.<br /><br />But that's me.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-55796625710914926472010-08-05T08:57:08.035-05:002010-08-05T08:57:08.035-05:00I agree, too. I think both INTENT and ACTION are n...I agree, too. I think both INTENT and ACTION are needed, though. If a person intends to serve himself, and it ends up doing others good, that doesn't work for me. At the same time, if he wants to do good, but his ACTION is deluded or harmful, unless he comes to realize this in some real way and learn to ACT differently, he's also lost me. <br /><br />Characters who DON'T act? I don't have time for them. Who talk all the time about what they would like to do, but never do it? Even more irritating. Quiet, caring acts speak far louder than all the bragging in the world. Then again, the bragging can work to create a foil character or villain. Villains need not be openly evil to be harmful. We see this too often in our real world.<br /><br />BTW, just read a book called SUNSHINE, by Robin McKinley. I can't say I loved it, but it might be right up your alley. Lots of sarcasm, and a strong female lead. Think Twilight with none of the teen angst (though I know how much you like teen angst!)...Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-46557681193244980942010-08-03T21:52:11.603-05:002010-08-03T21:52:11.603-05:00Amen. Apathy is EVIL. Terrifying, dangerous and EV...Amen. Apathy is EVIL. Terrifying, dangerous and EVIL.The Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157821003454766570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-38513276862679180242010-08-03T18:51:58.356-05:002010-08-03T18:51:58.356-05:00Project Savior, there is a difference between bein...Project Savior, there is a difference between being an action hero and being active. I can be a laid back, easy going guy without being a doormat or apathetic. I don't have plan on doing good; perhaps I respond reactively rather than proactively to the events around me, but I respond, I make decisions, I do something. And I have to care. If I care for nothing, well, I'm not a character a reader like me will respond to (though they're out there and have a following - see Elric, for instance). <br /><br />There's a difference between the mother who lets her strong-willed forceful husband beat her children and the quiet mother who never starts a fight but manages to bring peace to a family of strong personalities. The first one isn't DOING anything to solve the problem and becomes an accessory by allowing it to happen. The second is doing something, actively doing something, by using her understanding of people to keep them from fighting.<br /><br />Gandhi, for instance, was no action hero and, despite the term, passive resistance, he wasn't apathetic. He resisted and that's an action. <br /><br />If someone follows an apparent script, without trying to put his own stamp on it, even if he's "acting" or even an action hero, he can still come across as apathetic. You have to care and act on what you care about for it to be meaningful.<br /><br />In my opinion.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-57797876852271778422010-08-03T18:22:30.304-05:002010-08-03T18:22:30.304-05:00One problem I have with characters and apathy is I...One problem I have with characters and apathy is I like it when a character isn't out to be the hero or change the world, he just runs into so many things that he finally has to say enough is enough. Unfortunately I've found from getting Beta readers, not just you, that in my writing at least, the first impression of the character sticks so even if they turn into an action hero at the end that's lost so I've given up on that idea for now and having my characters start out as the typical action hero.Darrell B. Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851443183217238218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864423579966406496.post-72272659825056149792010-08-03T18:17:58.954-05:002010-08-03T18:17:58.954-05:00Excellent points... I never gave it that much thou...Excellent points... I never gave it that much thought, but see how it could impact the readers connection and will from now on focus on not making this type of mistake in my writing.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.com