[ the polite smile of yes that's nice but probably not ] I'm not sure that I'd survive, to be quite honest! And then I'd be right back here, and that would be a mess.
Does your world truly not have any magic...? Do you have the technology that some of the others do, then?
That's right. There's no magic, but technology has advanced to the point where most things people here have described as magic are possible, in some way or another.
I can certainly understand that! I'm coming to understand that Rodinia is far behind the rest of you - or at last, many of you. The fact that you have boxes that can keep food is a wonder beyond wonders! Let alone anything else we've looked at so far.
[ local peasant fascinated by technology, news at eleven ]
How do you handle things like healing? Is it more traditional arts like herbal medicine...?
There are a lot of different worlds and timelines, so things develop at different rates. The variety is what surprises me the most to hear about, because as I've always seen it, technology improves at an exponential rate. Something is invented one year and by the next it's the standard, and other inventions have grown from it like a springboard in every direction.
[ anyway, ]
It sort of depends on where you are. But—doctors, generally, and medicine. In this day and age, though, it isn't exactly herbal medicines anymore.
Yes - yes, that's absolutely true! And then those inventions have massive socioeconomic implications, which can in turn have massive political implications... to say technology can be a revolution is putting it lightly!
[ unfortunately taair is also a nerd. look at him lighting up. ]
That's comforting to hear, I think - that medicine has evolved, as well. Is it accessible? That becomes the greatest trouble with our healers, that it's not always easy for the common person to get their hands on medical blends, or necessarily to find themselves a healer in short time.
Exactly. With more technology, there are always new weapons. New influences on society. New ways of communication, and new societal expectations. People just... can't always see it, as individuals when they're standing in the middle of it.
[ *points* follow nerd. anyway they pause for a moment. the vibes are frowny. ]
The accessibility of medicine is... complicated. Even without shortage, government oversight and capitalism have always played a hand in limiting its availability to the masses. While most medicines can be synthesized relatively easily and at a low price, they're then sold to the public at much higher rates. On top of that, there are large social circles that reject medicine due to their religious or political beliefs, and insurance companies that serve as a middle-man.
... On the other hand, people have found alternative ways to live that make the need for medicine near nonexistent. But not all take that option. Which leaves less people who need care... as well as less people to provide care, creating a new scarcity paradigm.
[ i see you're american ramiel. anyway oh EXTREMELY fellow nerd. thank you for using your big sexy brain and suffering with me.
by which i mean this conversation is Enthralling. just completely enthralling. he listens to every word, processing the context clues of what is and isn't familiar - while "capitalism" is not, the rest of it is. scarcity paradigms? this is his SHIT. ]
Ah... whether magical or otherwise, it seems that many of the issues remain the same. I suppose that's what it means to live in society, no matter where or what kind of realm... [ poverty, access -- all things that iria deals with, too, even if in a different flavor. he sounds saddened by it, but completely unsurprised, too. ] Social stratification runs rampant.
And the government limits medicine... Does it also limit this alternative method...? That sounds quite interesting, too - though, I imagine it must come with a catch.
People are people. Wherever they go and whatever changes around them.
[ a little nod at that question. ] There are limits to who is allowed to take it, yes. And whether there is a catch or not... depends on your perspective. It does come with its own concerns. Its own tradeoffs. But those still may not necessarily be a "catch" to some people.
[ it sounds a bit like the luxite experiments - which puts a little bit of ill unease at the back of his mind, but surely it can't be that bad. at least it sounds like these people volunteered. ]
To put it simply, when you walk into one room, you leave the previous room behind. To accept something new is to give up something old. To some people, that's an easy choice. Maybe there was nothing there for them in the previous room. To others, it's harder to let go. So—tradeoff.
It's not so different from the decision you have here. Choosing between your old life or Heaven.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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They transformed into animals...? Worlds with magic are so interesting. So you haven't been there yourself?
Maybe you could go if you take your second chance. [ he just said he doesn't want to talk about that. ]
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[ the polite smile of yes that's nice but probably not ] I'm not sure that I'd survive, to be quite honest! And then I'd be right back here, and that would be a mess.
Does your world truly not have any magic...? Do you have the technology that some of the others do, then?
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[ what a waste that would be! ]
That's right. There's no magic, but technology has advanced to the point where most things people here have described as magic are possible, in some way or another.
no subject
[ local peasant fascinated by technology, news at eleven ]
How do you handle things like healing? Is it more traditional arts like herbal medicine...?
no subject
[ anyway, ]
It sort of depends on where you are. But—doctors, generally, and medicine. In this day and age, though, it isn't exactly herbal medicines anymore.
no subject
Yes - yes, that's absolutely true! And then those inventions have massive socioeconomic implications, which can in turn have massive political implications... to say technology can be a revolution is putting it lightly!
[ unfortunately taair is also a nerd. look at him lighting up. ]
That's comforting to hear, I think - that medicine has evolved, as well. Is it accessible? That becomes the greatest trouble with our healers, that it's not always easy for the common person to get their hands on medical blends, or necessarily to find themselves a healer in short time.
no subject
[ *points* follow nerd. anyway they pause for a moment. the vibes are frowny. ]
The accessibility of medicine is... complicated. Even without shortage, government oversight and capitalism have always played a hand in limiting its availability to the masses. While most medicines can be synthesized relatively easily and at a low price, they're then sold to the public at much higher rates. On top of that, there are large social circles that reject medicine due to their religious or political beliefs, and insurance companies that serve as a middle-man.
... On the other hand, people have found alternative ways to live that make the need for medicine near nonexistent. But not all take that option. Which leaves less people who need care... as well as less people to provide care, creating a new scarcity paradigm.
no subject
by which i mean this conversation is Enthralling. just completely enthralling. he listens to every word, processing the context clues of what is and isn't familiar - while "capitalism" is not, the rest of it is. scarcity paradigms? this is his SHIT. ]
Ah... whether magical or otherwise, it seems that many of the issues remain the same. I suppose that's what it means to live in society, no matter where or what kind of realm... [ poverty, access -- all things that iria deals with, too, even if in a different flavor. he sounds saddened by it, but completely unsurprised, too. ] Social stratification runs rampant.
And the government limits medicine... Does it also limit this alternative method...? That sounds quite interesting, too - though, I imagine it must come with a catch.
no subject
People are people. Wherever they go and whatever changes around them.
[ a little nod at that question. ] There are limits to who is allowed to take it, yes. And whether there is a catch or not... depends on your perspective. It does come with its own concerns. Its own tradeoffs. But those still may not necessarily be a "catch" to some people.
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Tradeoffs...?
[ it sounds a bit like the luxite experiments - which puts a little bit of ill unease at the back of his mind, but surely it can't be that bad. at least it sounds like these people volunteered. ]
no subject
It's not so different from the decision you have here. Choosing between your old life or Heaven.