InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Go ahead, do what you want to"

AKK (akk) wrote,
@ 2009-02-05 14:50:00

Current mood:	amused
Entry tags:	article, info, tokyo babylon

Brain & god - Seishiro's perspective
I spotted a very interesting article in New Scientist. A section of it is about how the human brain is hardwired to differ between objects and people.
Given Seishiro's proclaimed inability to distinguish people from objects, he might not be a sociopath but "common sense dualistically challenged". ;)

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	jjblue1 2009-02-05 04:14 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you for the head up, it was an interesting reading even if I don't think it'll apply to Seishiro... and you probably already know I also don't think he suffers of sociopathy... but maybe it's just me... or maybe I just need to dig up more info about the 'common sense dualistically challenged' people... ^_- (Reply to this) (Thread)

akk
2009-02-05 11:46 pm UTC (link)

I remember your argumentation about his mental status. I use "sociopathy" in the broadest, common lingual sense for a person whose mental / social conditioning deviates from the mainstream. As a clinical term it is listed as "obsolete" and been replaced by several more precise terms. I'm not versed in that field and I don't want to argue about mental conditions - that's exactly why I used the term. Maybe there's a better, less grating word for it, but I typed the note in a five minutes coffee break, I couldn't think of one that fast.

I was mostly fascinated that the ability to differ between people & objects is formed that early in life and already coupled with behavioral expectations (of said people & objects). The comment about Sei was mostly "tongue in cheek"; after all, he did proclaim that objects and people are the same for him! :)

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jjblue1
2009-02-06 08:37 am UTC (link)

What a mean icon... ^_- Tatsumi's so cruel...
I know too well the feeling of being in a rush... the funny thing is that while us fan try to find a label for Seishiro's mind condition according to CLAMP he's just 'a selfish, little kid'... Kids in Japan must be rather scary...
Yep, the article was truly fashinating. As soon as I catch hold of a friend of mine who's in the field she'll be in for a long discussion about it, be sure of this!

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sakurakira
2009-02-06 09:59 am UTC (link)

I think that might be taking his statement too literally. Even though he tells Subaru that breaking his arm is like breaking a glass, he knows it will cause Subaru pain, which is why he does it. A glass doesn't feel pain, so IMO, it's not really the same thing as really being unable to distinguish people from objects. One can treat people as objects, or think of them as such, but know that they are people.

The article mentions "that our brains have separate cognitive systems for dealing with living things - things with minds, or at least volition - and inanimate objects." I think Seishirou has a better understanding of humanity than a lot of people give him credit for, and you seem to show that well in your writing; which is why he is able to manipulate people so well.

Enjoying the updates. I'm really looking forward to this chapter, it seems like it will be highly entertaining.

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	akk 2009-02-06 02:53 pm UTC (link)
	"I think that might be taking his statement too literally." And you are taking my post too seriously. sigh I should have added a humor / irony tag, but I thought that was obvious from the "CSD-challenged"... :) I'm really looking forward to ~~get rid off~~ post this chapter, too. I'm chewing on this text for so long, it's already decidedly without taste! ;) (Reply to this) (Parent)

	sakanagi 2009-02-07 11:38 pm UTC (link)
	"common sense dualistically challenged". XD Ah, Seishirou. Somehow I don't think that Subaru would accept that as an excuse. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	akk 2009-02-08 05:19 am UTC (link)
	..and it sounds so decidedly uncool! ;) (Reply to this) (Parent)