[voice] Into the great laugh of mankind

[fistfullofmagic]

I have wondered for some time...

[A pause as the speaker rethinks his approach to the topic, then starts again.]

...It is generally accepted that humans are a separate kind of being from Pokemon. It is not something that is usually thought about, but I cannot help but wonder if this is the truth of the matter.

All life that we are aware of that have minds of their own are Pokemon, save humans. Why is this, if it is true? Why are those we call Enlightened able to gain abilities as Pokemon do, or even become both Human and Pokemon at will in the case of Shifters. Why can some speak as Pokemon do when most humans cannot?

Perhaps... Perhaps Humanity was punished not solely for its abuse of Pokemon in the past, but in part because in its arrogance the people of bygone times forgot that humans and Pokemon are one and the same...?

[Another moment of hesitation.]

...But perhaps I am incorrect. Still, I believe it is a thought at least worth consideration.

Comments

[Audio]

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

I don't think humans and Pokémon are any different from each other. We both have feelings, we both can be hurt, we both have things we want... Just because we have different bodies and abilities doesn't mean that we aren't the same.

[fistfullofmagic]

My point exactly.

[So glad you understand.]

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

It surprises me whenever humans don't understand that, but Grandpa says that it's because most humans can't talk to Pokémon like me.

[fistfullofmagic]

Your grandfather is a wise man. Although I do believe that the honestly rather disparate ways humans and Pokemon make sense of the world is the main factor, the difficulty with communication most have is the primary reason that a full understanding of our similarities has not been realized by most.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

He taught me almost everything important that Pokémon didn't.

Couldn't you see our similarities just by watching Pokémon?

[Considering that Apollo's been able to understand Pokémon his entire life and has been in the company of Pokémon for almost all of that time his assumptions about how much interaction other people have with Pokémon may be a little unrealistic.]

[fistfullofmagic]

Perhaps so, although I doubt most who are not trainers spend near enough time in the company of Pokemon to observe their habits quite so intensely.

[At least that's the impression he's gotten from occasionally reading people's minds, in between the useless information and the things he really would rather have gone the rest of his life without knowing. ...There is a reason he tends to prefer the company of Pokemon.]

[Audio]

[radiantwingedone]

[ He recognizes your voice. ]

Arrogance and abuse of what ought to have been remembered as equals?

[ Did you get really bored? ]

[fistfullofmagic]

[Hello Duke. No, he's not bored so much as conducting something of a social experiment.]

Precisely. Obviously I have no proof of the claim, but I believe it would be a disservice to let the possibility remain unvoiced.

[radiantwingedone]

.... Could also explain how some pokemon use tools already, or why some hold shapes similar to humans?

[ If not outright human looking shapes? ]

[fistfullofmagic]

Indeed it could. I have heard that some of the older legends occasionally mention some humans having psychic abilities well before the Great War as well.

[usedstringshot]

It's an interesting thought experiment. But from a scientific standpoint there are some of issues. Chiefly, even vastly disparate species of Pokemon tend to share some traits that haven't even been witnessed in Enlightened humans. The most obvious being that Pokemon hatch from eggs, while humans give live birth.

[fistfullofmagic]

I am well aware that there are some issues that cannot be satisfactorily answered from a scientific standpoint. It did occur to me that perhaps live birth versus hatching from eggs has to do with the relatively large size of human brains, but like most every other part of this hypothesis, it would likely be beyond our current means to definitively prove or disprove it.

As of this time, I simple meant it to provoke thought.

[Well, that and record the reactions of those who respond for further study. Don't worry, it's not meant for any sort of nefarious purpose.]

voice;

[myfedorarocks]

I've always heard that Pokemon and humans were once the same thing. We may never know what makes the Enlightened different from humans without abilities, but the fact that the Enlightened exist at all is proof enough that we're not any different.

We evolve just as Pokemon do, after all.

[fistfullofmagic]

Indeed. We have fundamentally different thought patterns from Pokemon, but a Zubat and a Venonat do not view the world in the same way either.

[myfedorarocks]

Just as humans from outside of Union may view the world differently from us?

[fistfullofmagic]

Not precisely, but it is similar to that, yes.

[myfedorarocks]

If we had access to better technology, we might be able to research it more. As it is, we can't ever know for sure. We have the legends, but those shouldn't be taken as fact.

[willbethebest]

Shifters aside, humans are pretty different. You build stuff and write stuff down and think about things all the time. Pokemon are more...simple.

[fistfullofmagic]

My hypothesis aside, I believe this difference may be the result of long ago having been presented with the various questions of how to survive. Pokemon answered by developing special abilities. Humans likely could have answered in kind, and yet somehow decided the pursuit of knowledge would serve us better. From there, humans and Pokemon developed ever more disparate ways of dealing with the world, and our ways of thinking grew to reflect this.

The minds of different types of Pokemon also vary, as I'm sure you well know, but there are still certain similarities not shared with most humans.

[Dhaos can comprehend this better than most non-Shifters since being part psychic type grants him... certain abilities that he asks before using on people.]

[willbethebest]

Like I said, we're simpler.

Does it matter?

[Not said dismissively, he actually is curious.]

[fistfullofmagic]

Perhaps, perhaps not. It encourages discussion, so I thought I might share the idea.

[willbethebest]

Just like I said: Always thinkin'. I'd rather just DO stuff.

[video]

[actsmagnificent]

You're a philosopher.

[fistfullofmagic]

In a manner of speaking. My profession lends itself to asking questions that are often somewhat philosophical in nature.

[actsmagnificent]

And what would you do if your theory turned out to be right?

[fistfullofmagic]

I imagine I would be asked to publish a paper on the subject and the University and Library would see to it that my finding were released to the general public. Other than perhaps a slight increase in wages however, I do not believe my life in particular would be particularly affected?

[actsmagnificent]

Thought for thought's sake, then.

[ This seems to amuse her somewhat. Her tone stays pleasant, but there's the slightest hint of mocking in her smile. ]

It's good we have people like you to keep us all well-informed.

[fistfullofmagic]

Thank you for the vote of confidence, but I do not feel it worth praising my work more than that of any other hard working citizen.

[Weird as it might be for one who talks distinctly like a noble, he's completely sincere in that sentiment.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Okay, you're a good person. She'll hold off on the teasing, then. ]

We'll see.

Are you researching the past right now?

[bejustorbedead]

Huh - it is an interesting theory, and if true, what caused the separation in the first place?

[fistfullofmagic]

I believe it likely started with humanity simply deciding to pursue knowledge as our route of survival in exchange for what powers we had going dormant, and in time it was forgotten that we had ever had them. Perhaps the appearance of the Enlightened was less the gods bestowing powers where mankind had none before, and more a blessing that we may slowly reawaken to what we have forgotten so that the rift might be repaired in time.