꒰𖥻ᴍᴀᴛᴇᴏ!!꒱

I think what I like about it is. Well. In the real world, there’s this tendency to treat high-control groups as if they’re 100% adult converts. Oh, people will pay lip service to the concept of childhood indoctrination, but as soon as it comes time to actually vote on protections, the “parental rights” advocates are out in force while everyone else shrugs and lets them have it. Even in more progressive areas/countries, people can be surprisingly hands-off as long as the parents are “only” doing it with their kids and not anyone else’s. And then they’re shocked when those kids grow into adults that have no contact with objective reality, after we willingly let their parents pull them out of it.

They scoff at their lack of Basic Reasoning Skills™️, but when exactly were they supposed to develop them? Every science textbook since they were 6 years old and their parents yanked them out of public school has told them that Big Science is literally in league with the devil. Every history textbook has taught them to be warmongers, because peace is a trick of the antichrist. Their economics teacher maintains that anti-poverty measures are pointless, because the poor you will always have and he who does not work shall not eat. Their government curriculum says that people are inherently sinful, so maybe it’s best if democracy is rolled back. Their literature classes opine on the degeneracy of modern art. Even their math textbooks had parables in the sidebars.

But they’re adults, now, and that must mean they’ve chosen to believe these things. Or maybe it’s the internet that’s corrupted them! It can’t be the same old boring story as it has always been: this is what they were taught by real people in their physical community, hidden away from anyone that might offer an opposing viewpoint. Their parents have the right to spirit them away to an entirely different planet, and we as a society have decided we’re cool with that.

The great thing about Paradise is that it almost follows that familiar script. For most of the episode, the kids are borderline scenery. Look at what a life these people have made! They have children and everything!

But then the ending comes. All the people have returned home, satisfied with how things turned out. And there’s the punishment crate, still, and the kids are just staring at it. Alixus is gone. Harmony is restored. Starfleet’s work there is done.

The crate is still there.

bubble stimboard!! for someone in my server :3

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Sweet pea