Loveless Survey

[youmaynot]

Please put your Name and Team Name in the subject line! (ie: Tiger's Eye - Phoenix)

For each topic you may list 2-3 threads that you feel exemplify your answers. You don't need to complete each section, but please don't submit incomplete sections. Surveys are due at 6pm PST on July 1st

Words

1. How well do you feel that you were able to use your words to exert your power over others? How effective were you in bringing those who opposed you to submission?
   
2. What change do you feel in your understanding of the power that words might hold now?
   
3. What harm did your words do to those you faced? What benefit did you find within them?

Bonds

1. How do you feel that this game has strengthened your understanding of your partner? How has it been weakened?
   
2. What strength do you feel you gained from the bond you shared within this game?
   
3. Do you feel that there is another who would have been more suited to partner with you? What reasons do you have for thinking such a thing?

Change

1. What changes did you observe in the physique of your companions? What do you feel was the criteria for such change?
   
2. How do you feel the treatment of those altered differed from those who were not?
   
3. If the private affairs of your fellow heroes and knights remained visible in such a way, do you feel it would be a welcome change? What makes you feel this way?

Any additional thoughts/comments:

Comments

Amethyst - Jill

[maidmalapert]

Words

1. How well do you feel that you were able to use your words to exert your power over others? How effective were you in bringing those who opposed you to submission?

I did better than I thought I would, to be quite honest. When it's words against words or ideas against ideas, it can be quite interesting to see how power goes back and forth and who's going to come out on top in the end... I mean, we won two fights with the power of talking about kittens, for Pete's sake.

But the first time it was really because we pulled the fight sideways, away from what our opponents understood, so they couldn't get any ground back, and the second time it was because our opponents wanted something particular, and we gave it to them our way until there was nothing they could do.

Talking about exerting power over people, or bringing them to submission, through words... it feels ugly. But that's what you're trying to do in any fight. And with words or with force, you can still decide to do it with... well, honor.

2. What change do you feel in your understanding of the power that words might hold now?

It was quite clear from the beginning that if you're going to be completely vile about it, anyone can use words to hurt and bully other people by picking at things that are personal or that frighten them. But that isn't news, and you don't need to turn the words into magic to find out about it.

I suppose what I found out is that even when you're fighting with words, even if you're fighting against bullies who do try to hit at you that way, you can fight back without resorting to the same tactics.

3. What harm did your words do to those you faced? What benefit did you find within them?

I don't think I did any real harm. I hope I didn't. I tried not to. But I found out that how you talk about things can change how you feel about them, and I think... I can use them better now, to move forward.

[vs. Functionless (kittens 1)|vs. Guileless (kittens 2)|vs. Boundless]

Bonds

1. How do you feel that this game has strengthened your understanding of your partner? How has it been weakened?

It hasn't been weakened. I already know he'll lead me right. I suppose I understand a little better now about some of the things he's unsure of. That's all right. It ought to help me support him, knowing them.

2. What strength do you feel you gained from the bond you shared within this game?

It felt... right. I'm his fighter whether there's a magic bond between us or not. I mean to use my own power to stand up for him no matter what. Against anything.

I wish it weren't just for the game. I do feel stronger, being connected to him. Like... like my convictions, not just my words, became real power, because I could feel what they meant, right there, like touch.

3. Do you feel that there is another who would have been more suited to partner with you? What reasons do you have for thinking such a thing?

Nobody. I'm his fighter. He's my king.

[Discovering the bond|King Edmund the poleaxed]

Change

1. What changes did you observe in the physique of your companions? What do you feel was the criteria for such change?

Well, there was the ears and tails, and they say if you had them it was because you hadn't -- you know, you hadn't been intimate with anyone... yet... and if you didn't have them, you had. And there were the name tattoos for the fighting pairs.

2. How do you feel the treatment of those altered differed from those who were not?

Honestly, mostly people either ignored the changes or thought they were cute and were a nuisance about it. Some people tried to pick on the names, too.

3. If the private affairs of your fellow heroes and knights remained visible in such a way, do you feel it would be a welcome change? What makes you feel this way?

No, it jolly well wouldn't be welcome! It's nobody's business! And even if people mostly didn't treat each other any differently from usual, it can cause all sorts of misunderstandings! I mean, honestly, I learned that the most humiliating way possible, didn't I...

[Is it really that cute|The most humiliating way possible]

Any additional thoughts/comments:

I wish you'd tell us what you expected from this. Did it go the way you thought it would? I bet we didn't learn what you were trying to teach. And what about you? What did you learn?