[Text] Maybe some help?

[reluctantbastard]

So, how many people got those snow leopard things on Selvin-9?

What did you name them? I'm having a difficult time because this is the first time I've had anything like a pet. Um, I think it's a male.

Any suggestions?

Comments

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[whatisright]

Call him Sloth, then, if that is what he represents.

I do not see why other creatures cannot be called by what they seem to represent.

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[reluctantbastard]

Because there are many cats like my own here on the Fleet since our time on Selvin-9. It seems cruel and impersonal not to try and give him some sort of name that is unique to only him.

You don't go around addressing humans as "Man" or "Woman", do you?

[whatisright]

No, I do not. I refer to them as human. Unless they are mages, in which case I refer to them as mage.

It is simpler to do it that way, especially if I do not know them well. ‘Justice’ is the rough equivalent of ‘human’ for a spirit of justice, so I do not see the problem.

[reluctantbastard]

Justice, it's considered rude amongst people to refer to them by their race only.

[whatisright]

Spirits are people and we do not think it is rude. Almost none of us have names.

I call mortals by the kind of mortal they are. You call me by the kind of spirit I am. I do not see the problem.

[reluctantbastard]

Alright, I can see that for spirits. But people, no mater what race they are, like to be addressed by their names.

You don't call Riona "human female", do you?

[whatisright]

Are spirits not people?

Not 'human female.' 'Human.' Or 'Gray Warden.' I called her that for a long time after I first arrived. I call her Riona now because she is my friend, not because of politeness.

[reluctantbastard]

Spirits are different. You don't have names, you have virtues you enspouse, right?

People aren't like that. They're a mess of contradictions and down right enigmas. That's why names are important. Also, we like to name our pets because they have personalities. It's a form of affection for the creatures and it's considered sort of mean to not give them actual names. Any cat can be 'Cat', but only my cat can be what I name it. Does that make sense?

[whatisright]

This is true. Every spirit has a virtue that we are dedicated to. But this does not mean that we are not individuals as mortals are; we simply do not see the need to give everyone an individual moniker as mortals do.

Names do not entirely make sense to me, but I accept that I will not understand everything about mortals. If you feel that a name is necessary, then I am certain others will help you think of one.

[reluctantbastard]

Yes, well, mortals tend to strive for individuality. Probably has a lot to do with our short life spans or something like that.

[After a while, Alistair amends his text to the spirit.]

Are you adverse to having a name that would set you apart from other spirits of justice?

[whatisright]

[There's no response for a while, as Justice thinks on it.]

I suppose that it would not hurt to have a name to differentiate me from another spirit of justice, were one to arrive.

Spirits know thoughts, so it is easy for us to know who we are referring to without individual names, but mortals have no such advantage.

I confess that I find the idea of having a name myself to be odd.

[reluctantbastard]

I'll consult Riona and Anders then. Maybe between the four of us we can find something that fits you.