Would you feel bad about being helpless?

minacia

perpetually sour
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Jun 22, 2020
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So in this scenario...

Imagine that you have transmigrated to an isekai universe as a powerless person.
Due to various features of the universe you ended up in, you are weaker, dumber, less capable, and less attractive than 99% of people in this universe. Basically, everyone in this universe is smarter than you, can use magic, physically super attractive, etc... frankly, there isn't much hope for you in normal society, and in fact you can't even get an ordinary job because you're physically too weak and can't even pass the lowest job interviews because you're too "dumb".
However, out of sheer luck, you meet a party of adventurers who are extremely nice and they pick you up because you're basically homeless.
They don't ask you to do anything, they share their food with you, and they laugh around with you. Basically, you're a freeloader in the party and you do absolutely nothing, but for some reason they're perfectly fine with keeping you around.
Occasionally, you try helping out in any way you can... but often times you make things worse. For instance, you once attempted to gather firewood, but then ended up chased by dinosaurs and almost died until someone rescued you. In fact, your party members tells you to wake somebody up if you need to go to the bathroom at night because you can't even defend yourself from the OP monsters in this world. You need almost constant supervision, or else you're almost bound to get into trouble. You're also ugly (by the standards of this world), you are constantly harassed and heckled by people outside of your party.

1. Would you feel uncomfortable about being a freeloader in the party? Or would you embrace the free stuff while you have it?

2. What would you do in this kind of setting?

3. Where does your own sense of self-worth come from?

4. Assuming that you lost the things that are key components of your self-worth, how would you find your sense of self-worth again?
 

UYScuti

Helium Fuser
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Mar 20, 2020
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1. You’re options are freeload or die. Sure, I can feel bad that I’m dumb, weak, ugly, and useless(I-I’m saying that hypothetically). But I’d rather be alive.

2. Find out if I can get stronger in some way. If not, then I act like the little pet the adventurers see me as. They provide food, safety, shelter. I’m just a cat in their world.

3. By striving every day to be the best cat I can be

4. Maybe I can entertain them in some way. Recite the tales of SH each night next to the fire. Tell them Disney stories. Teach them how to rotate crops and the importance of rice. Things like that.
 
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
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1. Would you feel uncomfortable about being a freeloader in the party? Or would you embrace the free stuff while you have it?

- yes, it's better than dying. I know I feel like I'm a pet though I can not do anything about that. I'll just accept my fate.

2. What would you do in this kind of setting?

- bark? Or meow? Anyway, as long as I'm alive I'll do it.

3. Where does your own sense of self-worth come from?

- don't know, I'm alive but that world was depressing, I'm not sure if I could find that self-worth.

4. Assuming that you lost the things that are key components of your self-worth, how would you find your sense of self-worth again?

-........ Friend? Or family?.... If someone would accept me. The adventurer may like me but I feel like I'm not a human.... Should I wear a furries costume instead?
 

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
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Nov 26, 2019
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1. ... is this a personal attack? Cuz I am already a freeloader.
2. Find ways to get stronger or sudoku myself.
3. Nothing, I just don't want to die.
4. Do something new and die or just die.
 

SternenklarenRitter

Representing Scholarship
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Jun 24, 2020
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It's hard to respond to this without bashing myself, but this hypothetical isn't that much different from my current universe (I feel handsome today). I have a bunch of quirky talents, like advanced number theory, a dry and spicy sense of humor, peculiarly defiant optimism, and being well liked by animals. But since I am rather bad at utilizing my skills to achieve goals, I can't call myself smart. Even holding a job is impractical because I'm so vulnerable to conflict that I might fall into depressive catatonia for nearly an hour at the slightest hint of criticism. And yes, I get in trouble a little too often without near constant supervision. But my value does not stem from measurable productivity, like income, responsibility, or autonomy, but instead from my influence on the people around me. I help the people around me to be a little more patient, kind, tolerant, determined and cheerful. In this hypothetical world, I imagine it would be much the same.
 
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