A Caveat from The Scientist

Before I get into the bulk of my findings in later missives; upon analysis of the inaugural Pandora; Case Study, I made refinements to the testing parameters, interpreted feedback from the inhabitants, identified patterns in behavior, as well as addressed misgivings.

First & foremost;

I am literally playing mind games with these Sapien’s fictional ‘lives’.  That theoretical fact is not lost on me. “The novelty of Scientific Discovery (as well as established conventions) does not REQUIRE me to ask this, but I would like to play differently, as it were.  How does this type of social science research maintain fidelity of experiment while honoring the consent of the inhabitants?”  (I know of no lab mice that consent to their cages. Could it be that modern science & the power of AI do not translate their words to grant them such agency? The research is THERE to achieve this discovery. Although they truly are more convenient test subjects when silenced…It’s no different than pharmaceuticals who are never incentivized to arrive at any medicinal cure for any patient's in need. That metaphor holds - & I digress…). It has come to my attention (courtesy of Bella’s insistent inclusion of Question 16) that the Sapiens feel, “The Scientist has not conducted an ethical experiment”.  When does science ever? Much of modern medical progress is laid upon the suffering of black bodies. The privilege to medicine comes with that cannibalistic cost that so few acknowledge or are aware of. As I suspected, therein lies our caged dilemma and the foundation of much of my research.

I presented a meta simulation of prevailing social pressures in a context that is easily orchestrated, identified as a cage, & transparently depicted.  A context where Sapiens exist in the constructed illusion of survival & how easily that translates to communal cannibalistic consumption.  How written intentions, though passionate, aren’t directly manifesting into actionable corrective steps.  And how thoughts & prayers without tangible methodology & praxis is no better than self-sacrificial wishful thinking.  

Anything beyond that, talk to Bella… I offer her unto the Sapiens as tribute. She seems unreasonably invested in the Sapiens developing agency in identifying consent practices, while I remain resolute in my research.

Pursuant to my begrudgingly personal desire to achieve ethical solutions, this moment does now require acknowledgment on my part, and any necessary corrections on my debatably ‘unethical’ behavior.  To those who participate in Colérium experiments, I would like you to participate with informed consent.  I want you to feel empowered to advocate for your consensual needs moment to moment. Dare I suggest; defend your consensual boundaries to a cannibal! Get in the practice of defending your diverse consensual boundaries with your community’s needs in mind. I lament not offering this option with apt advance notice at the local inaugural Colérium examination.  How does one say, “I want to do an experiment on survival without negatively affecting the limits of the Sapien’s comfort zone, while testing that very same comfort zone?” Considered steps were taken by Bella. She enacted a trigger warning in advance of any challenging material, & she was explicit in referencing the video recording equipment to document the research findings. Anyone who wished not to participate was given an opportunity to excuse themselves without navigating any metaphorical nor literal locks. The cage was lush and populated with bean bag chairs & dirt, to hear Bella tell it. She provided audio and visual aid for all learning types (factoring in that cannibalistic consumption in her reports), and offered a kinesthetic tactile access-point to foster deeper understanding of the material, thus accommodating the learning style of those that learn best by embodying the moment. It was my hope that in the short term that would be sufficient given the hypothetical famine the testing environment orchestrated - in order to maintain fidelity of experiment.  I also admit, the research findings would not have the impact it has now. The evidence thus far proves that Sapien’s primarily give credence to dangers they experience themselves. Anything outside their spectrum of experience can be dismissed in contextual situations. Perhaps new practices can be built about what safe spaces and healthy consent barriers can communally mean…together?  Hopefully others see the value of advanced consideration when it comes to curating a safe space. I set Bella to factor in so much in consideration of a Sapien’s needs, and here I am still catching flack apparently. She has always been better at leading by example, but I can offer this much; I can & do promise that no aspect of this experiment is designed to cause any tangible harm nor suffering. No physically simulated anything has nor will occur. My desire is for this to be informative, playful, as well as socially enriching.  Guidelines as established regarding release waivers have & will be maintained. No laws were broken, no currently defined safe spaces were violated, and no ethical boundaries of convention were crossed. This was conducted according to modern industry standards. Much of the world revels in entertainment that is collected in this same manner. Yet, there are those who don’t feel tended to in this explicit experimental process. Bella would be best equipped to investigate those needs.

I, in my scientific research, would like to play ethical mind games with you - with your consent - in the best context imaginable.  Embodying this intention, & in acknowledgement of Sapien rights (certainly not per Sapien requests) Bella has declined from sharing the testing footage with me. I can’t even review the results of my own experiment! She claims that honoring the signature of these release waivers is necessary before I can even LOOK at my findings! She’s making my research more trying than necessary, but still one can’t deny that she is the most motivated to keep this project above board. So, perhaps I’ll thank her for that at some point. Those Sapiens are lucky to have her, because my research is undeniably paramount.

If I receive a written & completed notebook, I’ll receive that as the consent of The Sapien to continued experimental play.  If consent is not given, the cage dissolves and they may walk away. No one will restrain anyone against their will.

As society increases awareness of their cannibalistic consumption, metrics imply the group’s ability to self inoculate of cannibalistic behavior exponentially increases. Those who advocate well for themselves, are primed to advocate well for others. Assuming they are operating with community interests in mind.

“Eat the flesh and circuses!”

“I came.  I ate.  I faltered.”

“Let them eat Fate”

I may cerebrally be The Scientist, but I too, am testing for new solutions, in creative ways…with community well-being in mind.

May these experiments be a think tank - toward ethical Survival,

~Scientist ^042,

Pandora Research; Solar Earth