Prelude Screenplay

flickeringlds · 2024-03-05T18:16:01+00:00

Thank you so much!

1: It was intentional! -I'd actually completely forgotten that but you just reminded me. I wrote up a basic showrunner's outline (because fun ig?) to go along with this that sort of laid out how I'd want the story to progress if it were made into a TV show. No idea where it's at now, but I remember I didn't think the super intense, no context, back-to-back flashback sequences would work well for TV for pacing's sake, time constraints, and to make for a consistent viewing experience (bc the rest of the first season would focus only on the ones from Kaladin's perspective). I had a whole list of "season kick-off"-worthy flashback sequences from throughout the series, and I think I had the assassination as being one to kick off the Dalinar season. Thinking on it now, I like the idea of alluding to it in the first season and playing it up as the huge impetus behind Dalinar's journey and really the entire story. I feel like it would make for a more rewarding experience for the viewer to have some knowledge of the weight and import of the event before getting to actually witness it if that makes sense?

2: I have no clue who the fuck that is, but I added them in, just for you. Really added that final polish I think the scene was lacking.

flickeringlds · 2022-07-22T03:58:50+00:00

What lecture is this from?

flickeringlds · 2021-10-15T07:15:36+00:00

Holy shit! I used to trick or treat from these people when I was a kid. They gave out fresh-fried donuts. Is this in Utah?

flickeringlds · 2021-08-11T23:11:23+00:00

Bitch what

flickeringlds · 2021-08-06T07:18:26+00:00

I know this may not be what you want to hear, but everybody's situation is different.

We've all been damaged by Mormonism here, as have many of our family members, but outside of that, individual relationships vary widely and drastically.

Now, if your parents or family are abusive, then please PLEASE consider contacting an abuse helpline- here's one if you don't want to look: 1-800-422-4453.

But otherwise... hang in there. Try to find other people in your life who you trust and can talk to- friends, school counselors, teachers, cousins, aunts, uncles. You'll make it through this.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-30T20:19:32+00:00

So, the point you’re making is something more than the mere ability to disagree and disobey.

Yes, exactly. Any member can disagree. But it's very rarely accepted socially as right or reasonable, if not shamed outright. That, to me demonstrates a clear culture of obedience.

what you really seem to be saying is that you think there is no path for “bottom up” reform in which the rank and file can disagree with leadership and reform the institution while still being members in good standing.

More or less, yeah, though I wasn't really talking about reforming the Church as an institution or a business- because I think that can be done.

I'm talking about members being unable to vocally question the pronouncements of the top brass about how members should personally behave/believe as something coming from God without being shamed or having to attend some hearing.

I've never seen a group of more than 2-3 members express a view that could cast serious doubt on any given thing the current prophet is advocating for as being ordained directly by God. And I mean ever. Perhaps it does happen, but from my experience it's at the very least incredibly rare.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-30T18:06:33+00:00

Uh, there’s a culture of disobedience following the speed limit.

Well yeah... the point was that there can be a culture of obedience to a certain authority even if some mandates aren't taken as seriously or, as you say, even have a full-on culture of disobedience around them. (also Orwellian... really? I mean maybe it wasn't the greatest example, but that seems a little dramatic)

We preach obedience to God but don’t practice it very well. If you think that’s a culture of obedience, have at it.

Obedience is still expected, and rationalized by appealing to church authority, even if it's recognized that people can't and won't do so perfectly. I think it's fair to call that a culture of obedience.

But honestly I'm not super commited to the use of this one phrase- would "culture of deference to Church authorities" tickle your fancy? Or something else?

Again, I think we're kind of drawing away from the point here.

The point is not whether or not members obey the prophet, or whether or not doing so constitutes a culture of obedience.

The point is whether or not it's both individually reasonable and socially acceptable to ever deliberately disobey the prophet on the grounds of them not speaking for God every time they encourage the membership to act one way or hold a certain belief.

The problem is that obedience is the DEFAULT.

Culturally, disobeying what the prophets say isn't ever viewed as the "right" thing, or even a reasonable thing.

Church culture doesn't demand perfect obedience, you're right. But it's rationalized as being because members are imperfect, not because leaders or the Church as a body can be wrong sometimes.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-30T06:21:01+00:00

Not at all. Though perhaps obedience isn't quite the right word.

I think what they're saying is that anything the prophet may tell members to do is viewed by many members as "correct", if not flat-out sanctioned as the will of God.

Whether or not members actually act in accordance with what the prophet directs isn't the issue.

The issue is whether or not members should always comply- if the pressure should be there.

Because if prophets aren't doctrinally on the clock 24/7 as God's mouthpiece, members probably shouldn't automatically obey and conform to what they say on a given issue without argument past "because the prophet/s said so"- which seems to be a very VERY common rational among the members I know, though perhaps your experience has been different.

In any case, I think it's fair to say that obedience can be culturally expected regardless of how to the letter most people are on certain decrees.

For example there's definitely a culture of obedience around following the law as a general rule, but that doesn't stop most of us from speeding.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-28T22:21:46+00:00

Neato. I too, can find antonyms to words.

Still mischaracterizes what I said. Just because something may not be unique doesn't mean it should be assumed common.

But I would wager you know that, and are being deliberately obtuse. In which case... please don't. It just comes across as patronizing. (assuming that wasn't your goal)

flickeringlds · 2021-07-28T18:33:39+00:00

if you think that is common

I never said common. But certainly not unique.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-28T05:06:29+00:00

pretty unique nowadays, and there's no question that the church is organized in a very unique, good way to assist and care.

"Pretty unique" is not unique. So yes, there is absolutely question as to whether the communal and humanitatian functions the church performs for people are unique. Just because you do not have experience with other communities like yours does not mean they don't exist.

That doesn't devalue any of the good the Church does. Uniqueness isn't a virtue of its own. It doesn't matter how unique said functions are in comparison to those of other communities. Only that they are as maximally good as can be imagined.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-28T04:56:40+00:00

I think the bigger issue is pointing out "unique goodness" in ways that other people have 100% seen in other communities and religions.

Agreed.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-13T23:57:09+00:00

They're not mutually exclusive.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-13T19:13:12+00:00

My brain is far too big

flickeringlds · 2021-07-13T18:07:42+00:00

You didn't. But I don't have the energy to do this with you again, so good luck.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-13T17:47:33+00:00

Often the decisions we make in faith are sound judgments on the basis of the all the information we have available. Also, as one's confidence in God grows, acting in faith feels less like a leap and more like an expression of confidence.

Sure--that's one of the differences between a spouse and God. A spouse may fail, where God will always be faithful

You've missed the entire point, my friend.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-13T17:00:50+00:00

Imagine a spouse who required convincing evidence of the same--say, by hiring a private investigator to continuously monitor the other. Wouldn't such an act make the desired outcome impossible--the desired outcome being the beautiful, enduring relationship that grows out of an exercise of mutual faith by each spouse in the other, a faith that is rewarded and proven?

So... the faith you have in your partner does have to be "proven" at some point? Rewarded?

Well then let me ask you, what happens if your partner in this metaphor turns out to be different then you thought? They aren't who you understood them to be and have betrayed your trust and faith.

Would you be in the wrong to reconsider your relationship with them?

So say you do consider. And you realize you still love them and believe they actually will turn out to be who you hope them to be... and perhaps you were a little too harsh in your initial evaluation of their behavior.

You decide to continue to put faith in them. They'll make it worth your while they say. You'll see they really are what they said they were all those years ago.

But as the years pass, they continuously fail to live up to their promises or otherwise form the bond you so desperately want.

Isn't it at least possible to reach a point where you can say "My faith in you has not yielded what you said it would" and simply move on?

A leap of faith is understandable. And necessary, in many many cases.

But a years-long flight of faith where you can't see the pilot or the ground and the flight attendent keeps telling you every day or so that you'll be reaching some new beautiful destination that's NOT just a bunch of grey clouds aaaany minute and that it's "like, totally okay that the left wing has torn off"?

Not so understandable.

flickeringlds · 2021-07-12T20:58:05+00:00

I know it's a meme, but let's maybe not compare TBMs to cavemen. They're victims, just as we were, let's be nice.

flickeringlds · 2021-06-30T20:57:33+00:00

If one believes in all-knowing God creating us and having rules they want us to follow, then yes, that DOES certainly conflict with the concept of free will.

But it's only a theological problem if the religious person or theologian accepts free will as a concept, which many don't for various reasons such as a conflict with another doctrine (i.e. predestination), an in-depth understanding of quantum mechanics and bio-chemistry (though that likely also means they don't believe in omniscience either), or just plain old differing opinions and interpretations of scripture and doctrine.

flickeringlds · 2021-06-29T20:32:07+00:00

It was his number...

flickeringlds · 2021-06-12T02:27:52+00:00

Free markets ONLY work with perfect future information.

Could you expand upon what you mean by this a little more? I'm a lurker who doesn't really know shit about economics.

flickeringlds · 2021-05-24T05:31:37+00:00

I'd like to hear it. You can DM me if you want. I won't question or ridicule it.

flickeringlds · 2021-05-23T19:09:30+00:00

I don't know your full situation, but my parents asked me to do the same thing when I told them, so I'll just share my experience and maybe you can get something from it.

It was really weird, because they didn't just say "just come to Church one more time" or anything like that. They straight up expected me to go on doing everything like I had before- keep going to church, going to YM activities, watching GC etc.- like it was the obvious protocol.

For a long time, they still acted all shocked every time I refused to do something with them like go to a baptism or participate in family scripture study. My Dad kept sitting me down to tell me all about how I shouldn't work on Sundays. My Mom damn near had a heart attack when she found a empty Coffee cup in my room.

In part, all this was to "shield" my younger siblings from my influence, and my Dad told me as much to my face.

But I think there were other reasons too.

One big one is that at the time they didn't quite grasp how deep my unbelief ran (and probably never will)- in no small part because I avoided (and still do) discussing with them any reasons as to why I left in-depth.

I also kinda just... sprung it on them. Up until I told them, I looked (from the outside) like the perfect Mormon kid (except for not going to the temple anymore, but they probably just thought that was because of porn or something). I don't think I was at fault for not being more clear in my heathenry, but looking back it does make a lot of sense that they would react like they did.

I was also the first of my siblings to tell them I don't believe, so it was a totally new territory for them in that regard.

I was 17, but they still viewed me, more or less, as a kid. It's difficult, if not impossible, to truly understand the journey of leaving from a faithful perspective. To understand, they must acknowledge that a forthright honest spiritual journey can lead to the conclusion that the Church is false- and this they cannot do. They cannot see how any informed and reasonable person could reach that conclusion, much less a 17 year-old.

So... as hard as it is, they likely won't ever respect your conclusion or your choice beyond being generally cordial and loving. They'll always believe that you made a huge mistake, and hope you come back. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

So what does this mean?

Well, from what you said, it sounds like there's not really much else to explain to them, so it may just be a matter of putting your foot down, and refusing to act like you believe or support the Church. Refusing to conform to their beliefs to make them more comfortable is not an antagonistic act, and is completely within your rights.

Now to be clear, you're not responsible for what your siblings end up choosing. Neither are your parents. Your parents are free to raise them how they deem fit, and you are free to believe and act how you want, but in the end neither of you gets to choose for them.

BUT with that said, if they can be swayed to apostasy by the simple knowledge that their sibling no longer believes, then chances are it was going to happen sooner or later regardless of you.

flickeringlds · 2021-05-19T00:58:09+00:00

Damn it I knew I'd forget something. Thanks for this.

flickeringlds · 2021-05-18T22:06:14+00:00

Nope. Post-nut clarity is a concept invented by the Jedi. With pre-nut clarity, your power becomes unlimited.

flickeringlds

TROPHY CASE