Supernatural

[annwfyn]

Last night Supernatural was on. Supernatural, for those who do not know, is a TV show about two brothers who...ermm...hunt the supernatural. It's on ITV2, has fantastic music and is generally well worth watching.

Anyway, last night, the plot of the show was based around a faith healer, who seemed to be able to heal people of apparently terminal illnesses. He performed miriacles. Of course, it later turned out that there was a catch, and for every person he cured, another person would die an untimely death.

And it got me thinking.

If you had the power to do that, to cure anything, in the knowledge that someone, somewhere would pay for it, would you? I know it's easy to say 'we shouldn't play god', but would it be cowardly if, for example, you were able to recognise that someone had all these amazing things things they could do (such as Dean Winchester from Supernatural, who keeps saving other lives as long as he lives) and still wouldn't heal them because you didn't want to play god?

And what would make it worse? If you cured someone and an anonymous person, somewhere, keeled over dead, or if you could chose the person who would die? Do you really truly believe that something like a serial killer, or a child molestor, really is better off being alive in the world while people who could be curing cancer, or writing Shakespeare die? Or even that someone like Mugabe lives, while someone's mother dies?

*looks hopefully around for a debate*

In other news, the temp job is relatively painless. It's straight secretarial work, which I rather like. So far I don't seem to have screwed up horribly, and I have discovered I rather like audio typing. I just don't understand why people insist on hand writing letters for me to mangle later. I'm (on the quiet) sure it would just be quicker for them to write them themselves!

Comments

[tooth-fairy.livejournal.com]

I don't know what I'd do in the 'cure one and another one dies' situation.

As to playing god...Well if we have these natural talents then it can be argued that they are a gift from God. That by using them we are giving back to the world, our contribution etc, etc.

[chrisvenus]

I'm just going to comment that I'm alwasy amused that people go "Supernatural was on last night" and my first reaction is always "eh?". Then I realise that maybe not everybody realises it shows on Sunday too. I always think I've lost a day... :)

Awesome show though, n'est-ce pas? I keep thinking its like charmed but for blokes.

[flamma-lupus.livejournal.com]

I would, without question, but thats because I look at vast swathes of humanity and wish for an Uzi...

[melsner.livejournal.com]

It's easy to understand doing anything to prolong life of yourself or a loved one.

But I'd be too worried that I'd be the anonymous person. Or that someone would decide that my life is less important than someone else's. It's kind of hard to tell how someone might contribute or the lives they touch.

Part of me wonders about state-sanctioned harvesting organs of "bad people" like serial killers. But that seems creepy to me on various levels. Do you really want a monster's heart? Seems like a poisoned well.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

It is great, tho I do kinda wish they would bring more reoccuring characters in. Two guys is a pretty small group and there's a limited amount of dynamic you can get going on there.

But yes. Awesome. Last night's (or Sunday's for those competent people who remember when it is on) was particularly good, I thought.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends whether you believe that there is any carry over when you receive someone else's organs. It would make a great plot for a story, it must be said.

[chrisvenus]

I'm not sure I'd say it was particularly good since I think theya re all of a very high standard.

And the whole "limited amount of dynamic" just shows that you didn't really understand my comment on being charmed for blokes... Let me clarify.

There are two blokes. One well educated, the other a more practical upbringing. All blokes can sympathise with one or other. They go around killing all manner of supernaturals things by blowing them away with sawn off shotguns, using cool magic and so on. They find the prettiest girl in any episode and make her a sidekick, sometimes after her boyfriend gets killed to make things simple.

Do you understand the writing style more now? You don't need much more dynamic. A slight hint that they are destined for even cooler things than they already are and enough tension to be amusing from time to time is more than enough.

Besides, I don't reckon 5 in that car would be hugely comfortable. :)

[chrisvenus]

And it has been done before, I'm sure. I jsut can't think where right now...

[melsner.livejournal.com]

It's been done a few times... Both as a supernatural thing and in mundane stories.

Clint Eastwood played a detective who received a heart transplant, then tried to find the person who killed the donor. There was also a movie about a guy who lost his wife and unknowingly fell in love with the woman who got her organs.

Supernaturally, there have been a lot of "I have an evil heart or hand from a serial killer" movies and stories.

[elethiomel.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I tend to view the question slightly the other way around: "one of two people must die - someone you know (and presumably care for) or an anonymous person you don't. You must choose which"

In that circumstance I would choose to save the person I know (choose that the person I don't know dies). I couldn't choose otherwise - the person I don't know has no value to me; the person I do know does. Assuming that that value is positive then the only rationally self-interested choice is to save the person you know.

I realise that answer is, from some quarters, morally suspect but I tend to be slightly solipsistic.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

OK. In less subtle phrasing I want a female character I can identify with. Damnit :p

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that given that power I'd plan not to use it, then find myself having to. There are too many people that I couldn't stand to see suffer and die knowinbg that i had the power the save them. I'd feel bad for a bit, but probably get over it.

What would be more interesting would be if you could transfer lesser ailments... like a cold or something... then I'd definitely do a roaring trade in curses.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

why do you need a female character to identify with? In Buffy I never identified with Xander or Giles but was able to identify fine with Willow (super-powerful, used the internet, liked girls). Frankly there wasn't a male in the Buffiverse to identify with until Wesley went bad.

[melsner.livejournal.com]

In an upcoming episode, there's a blond girl that Sam meets while on his own that I think you can identify with.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I've always had this weird mental block which says I find girls easier to identify with than guys. It's why I can't play cross gendered characters at all.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

What if you have to actively chose the person who dies?

Are you prepared to make those kind of judgements?

*curious*

morals? oh - like ethics? no, don't have those either...

[wraithwitch.livejournal.com]

If I had that power, I wouldn't go round hospitals at visiting hour using it. Because in truth, it is just swapping things around: gifting one person and cursing another. I would only use the power if it effected someone I knew and cared for, because - as someone else commented - that's the only way to get something of positive value from the equation.

If however, I had that power and could choose who it effected both ways (ie, who died) I would in all likeliness use it a hell of a lot more. When it really gets down to it, would I rather that someone's benevolant granny - whose only sin was smoking when younger - dies, or would I rather it was a psychotic murderer?

(there would have to be some research done on both sides as not every terminally ill person is nice, and not everyone who committed a crime is actually evil.)

if i was feeling REALLY immoral, i could set myself up as the ultimate assassin....

or I might just get twitchy about the whole thing and never use the power at all.