#soleyside rambles

All images will be from the wiki!

We all know Cammy's thing in season 4 has been their worship of MePhone (coined MePhoneism or MePhonism or smth as I've heard it lovingly decreed lol)

But I wanted to get a better grasp on what Cammy actually believes. The way he exhibits his devotion has obvious parallels in the show to Christianity (the power of MePhone compels him...), but the context of II's lore is just so different from the real world.

So I’m going to use this post to examine what I perceive his beliefs to be. Disclaimer: I will be considering the parallels between his beliefs and how religions in general are structured IRL in some senses, but not all. It is definitely not going to be focused on any relations to specific real religions because my arguments are very II-context unique

I will be splitting the text into sections as follows:

Narrowing it down (Giving some context for what is not a part of Cammy's beliefs)

Principles and Approaches (The morals/code of conduct facet of religious beliefs)

MePhone-specific beliefs (The lore facet of religion)

The implications (My thoughts on why the messaging of Cammy's beliefs could be harmful to the objects and MePhone)

(Episode citations and quotes may be incorrect since they’re from memory so bear with me)

(Also when I say “the objects” I mean the people generated by MePhone idk how else to describe them)

(Minor spoilers for IV6 just in this next paragraph: I cut out what I think is a pretty compelling point to avoid spoilers so I might reblog to add it once the episode releases! If you've watched it, maybe you know what I'm talking about?)

1. Narrowing it down

To start cutting down and make it easier to sort things out, I want to explore what Cammy's beliefs are not

I could imagine one direction Cammy's character could have gone is believing MePhone is like. the architect of their existences, denying that they were accidental. And that could be interesting, but it's not what I interpret as the case

I want to claim that Cammy IS aware that their creations and any events not directly in the show are not intentional. I think this is an interesting point of tension. It takes power/control away from MePhone, and would seemingly run the risk of shattering Cammy's illusion of MePhone as a godly being. However, I think it's just the fact of the matter, and in section 3 I'll go more into the foundation of Cammy's beliefs that makes it so this doesn't break their perception.

Hopefully I’m not misremembering in saying that we know MePhone didn’t have much conscious influence in creating the contestants. Yes, he wrote and generated them, but iirc (please fact check me) he was not aware he actually made them real, and we are informed of this as an audience. 

I’m not sure to what extent the contestants as a whole are aware that their creations were not intentional (plainly just forgot if this is specified so pls fact check me again). Based on the content of the show, though, I think this information is technically available to them, or they have at least the capacity to figure it out.

For Cammy at least, they say they realized they were “but a manifestation of [MePhone’s] self-hatred” in IV2. The diction of “manifestation” here is tricky to parse, since it connotes intentionality in some contexts and a complete lack thereof in others. I feel like the use of “but” preceding it minimizes the act that follows, though, and that that effect makes more sense for the latter meaning. So that is my interpretation. Therefore, my guess is that Cammy understands that the objects’ creations were not active choices. More evidence from the show may contradict this one day but we’ll see!

I still have thoughts on what Cammy's values/beliefs actually are (essentially what the principles of MePhon(e)ism would be), so even if this section is wrong ig it doesn't really matter. I wanted to bring it up though because it's interesting to me that the other interpretation genuinely could be true, and, as I mentioned, it isolates the true foundations of Cammy's beliefs.

2. Principles and approaches: Gratitude and Justice and Dichotomous thinking

In this section, I'll discuss what I've identified as the principles and cognitive style valued by Cammy.

Cammy states in IV2 that they have “sworn to atone for [their] sinful ways and restore [MePhone’s] good name.” They choose the word “justice” to represent themself for the challenge. They also praise MePhone, with the reasoning that he “blessed [the objects] with life.” Jack offends them when he speaks poorly of the "artistry" that is MePhone's plane.

Furthermore, when he runs out of the mansion in IV5, he states his goal to be "spreading the truth of MePhone," ie. encouraging others to accept MePhone.

So, Cammy is grateful to MePhone for his and all of their existences, and believes MePhone deserves to be praised for it, vehemently opposing negative talk about MePhone. This appears to be a main guiding principle in this belief system: the concept of people—MePhone in this case—getting what they deserve, especially pertaining to special treatment from others (eg. Cammy does not act—or more feasibly, wish he could act—to make MePhone happy, he acts to make MePhone revered and accepted by others)

(Side note: I’m honestly surprised there aren’t more objects who use the train of thought of gratitude to reconcile their complex emotions about MePhone. This is not a flaw of the characters ofc I just wonder if any of the characters share this perspective but without the zealotry?)

Additionally, although they themself have had opinions about MePhone from both sides of the spectrum at separate times, they never permit themself or others to have opinions lying anywhere in the middle. Either he's so terrible they have to kill him for "justice" (III18) or they and everyone must sing his praises (or at least never insult him)

Therefore, Cammy's scenes demonstrate that, under his belief system, gratitude and the pursuit of justice are essential as people all must get what they deserve, this must be taken to extremes, and perception is an important part of how people get what they deserve.

3. MePhone-specific beliefs

In my interpretation, Cammy glorifies MePhone and lets his beliefs take over his life because he believes MePhone’s decisions (conscious or not) in creating them still control their existences. And if this interpretation is correct in any semblance of a sense, Cammy’s beliefs may be quite damaging to themself and others in the end.

Cammy continuously ascribes the way their lives have shaped out in II IV to MePhone. Some examples, not comprehensive

Those who failed the regeneration game, like Bell, weren't “worthy.” Worth implies a standard; loss is not just misfortune but an active failure to adhere to something created. Therefore, MePhone—even indirectly—determines which objects make it (and join the society) (IV2)

Calling the blue-ray, developed from the shimmer energy, "MePhone's purifying blue essence," despite it being a gift directly from the Shimmers (IV4)

Taking credit for waking/healing Fan, but specifically attributing it to the power of MePhone (IV5)

Whether he perceives these acts as unintentional (my belief) or intentional, he clearly views MePhone as a higher power compared to the objects generated by him.

The issue arises with the fact that MePhone isn’t a being of great influence on them anymore. During the game (II1, II2, III), maybe, but in IV? MePhone is a normal person, just like the rest of them. Not just because he lost his generation powers, but because he has no more insight and control on the objects’ actions and lives than the other objects do. He affects them (yes they have baggage), but anyone can be the reason for another’s turmoil in the same way. There’s nothing miraculous about it. 

4. The implications

Cammy certainly has beyond his fair share of moments indicating a diregard for others (like saying to Teddy that people like Bell weren't worthy), but those are more an issue of self-conduct. Even outside of how he treats others on an individual level, his beliefs have a questionable foundation at their core. Cammy’s views on MePhone simultaneously strip agency from the objects AND identity/personhood from MePhone.

As has been shown time and time again, the objects are more than MePhone's intentions while conceiving of them. It wouldn't be fair of Cammy to reduce their accomplishments and pains to MePhone's design when they've been put through as much as they have and are provably not, nor would it be healthy to demand them to forgive MePhone and just be grateful for their creations.

Furthermore, attributing every event in the objects' lives to MePhone when he's ultimately a regular person is unnecessary pressure and even blame cast upon someone who never asked for it. Even in the edge case that he would enjoy Cammy's doings, he was never afforded a chance to clarify that for himself.

I'd like to conclude by saying that I love Cammy as a character (as evidenced by the fact that I wrote this 1k+ word paper on them lol) and simply find it interesting to rotate them in my mind like a microwave <3 I empathize a lot with Cammy's detachment from fact in many instances and how they make connections between MePhone and the events and actions in II IV because that is what their mind has taken as truth. Personally the balance of the reassurance they get from their beliefs with the unhealthy mindset and how others distance themselves because of it all is very compelling and meaningful to me.

I'm excited (and nervous) for the direction Adamation will take him in!