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Side sim - Time to hang out in the Lounge

Posted Oct. 14, 2021, 11:08 p.m. by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Chief of Psychiatry) (Matt Evans)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim - Time to hang out in the Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Séan Iven (Chief of Psychiatry) in Side sim - Time to hang out in the Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim - Time to hang out in the Lounge
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Séan shook his head firmly at this. “While I respect your point of view, I have to disagree. Logic doesn’t allow for the happiness of others when taken to the extreme and the exclusion of emotion. Similarly emotions when taken to the extreme often ignore what would be the logical conclusion. I believe that emotions can be tempered by logic to not cascade into a melt-down, while logic can be guided by considering the emotional response of others as well as yourself. An example to help convey what I mean, a person could be convinced through various tonal and body language clues that their partner is cheating on them. There is nothing conclusive to prove this but they’re dreading any sort of confrontation and confirmation of their conjecture. This in turn would feed a vicious feedback loop of negativity which would tear apart the relationship in time, with or without the confrontation. Logic could help at this point in calming the emotions enough to inquire regarding the various ‘signs and clues’. They may find that their partner was working late on a project that couldn’t be talked about. On the flip side, exclusively approaching a relationship whether personal or professional with just logic is bound to make the other people dissatisfied to some extent. If this was a Vulcan science ship without any other races aboard, then maybe that approach could work. I don’t think it’s the best approach on a Federation ship though. There is often the need to accommodate others emotionally, even if it’s words of praise or affirmation.”

CoP Iven

“Happiness is an emotion, logic by definition cannot allow for it,” Solal replied, “And if your couple did not rely on conjecture in the first place, there would be no negativity to tear them apart. Rely on hard evidence. I also fail to see how a purely logical professional relationship could be dissatisfying. It is efficient and effective, removing the factor of emotion and hurt feelings from the process. Logical personal relationships happen between Vulcans and humans, I am living proof of this. Overall, I think we must agree to disagree on this topic.” Some of what Séan said sounded a bit like Solal’s parents, and that gave him a moment’s pause, but he was certain of his convictions, that the logical way of Vulcans was the best philosophy.

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

Séan studied Solal’s face for a moment before he shrugged then finished his hot chocolate. He didn’t feel belaboring his point would be helpful or wanted at this juncture. It was interesting how Solal mentioned his parents abstractly though. Vulcans and Humans… so he was half-Vulcan. “I can only speak from my experiences which a number of crewmembers of all different races. I’ve never been with an all Vulcan crew and would probably be the odd one out there anyway. I just know that efficiency can be anathema to a healthy relationship.”

CoP Iven

Solal was not bothered by Séan’s disagreement, the debate had been interesting to Solal. “I haven’t either, and I have only served on two ships, I cannot debate your experience. But I cannot see how logical efficiency could be anything but a good thing, at least professionally.”

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

Séan put an elbow on the bar top and kind of relaxed his head onto his hand. He looked at Solal with a hint of amusement on his face. “How deeply do you interact with coworkers? Have you been invited to a lunch, dinner, any sort of social event?”

CoP Iven

“Social events do not get my work done,” Solal said. He wasn’t usually invited to anything, he generally didn’t let it bother him. He used the spare time to meditate. Or read. “And I used to- never mind.” He used to play violin with Achilleas, but there wasn’t any way in a thousand years he’d tell Séan that. There was no logical purpose to the instrument.

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

Séan nodded slowly. “So there was something social you used to do but that you’re not doing anymore. Are you sad about no longer doing whatever it was? Or was it because you were doing it with someone but can’t anymore?”

CoP Iven

There was a flash of irritation on Solal’s face, gone as quickly as it appeared as Solal refocused himself. “Sadness is a human emotion. I don’t do it anymore, that is fact.” Solal hadn’t quit violin (again), he’d practiced since Achilleas left. Just not as frequently. It was an illogical thing to do, he should quit. But it reminded him of home, and he liked it. It was confusing to him.

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

“Mhm.” Séan verbalized, which could have been doubt, agreement, or simply acknowledgement. “I think you’re putting too much focus on emotions being ‘human’ in origin, which isn’t correct. Compared to Vulcans I know humanity is seen as being more emotional and that comparison is accurate, but try to suppress or deny emotions as much as they can… Vulcan’s still have them. The women of the species seem slightly less controlled emotionally but then they do not need to outlet all of their pent-up emotion every seven years either. I know it’s passed off as a biological happening, similar if somewhat crudely compared to an animal going into heat, but that isn’t the full story behind it.”

CoP Iven

“I am aware Vulcans have emotions, however through meditation, these emotions are not expressed nor reacted to.” Solal had not been taught by Vulcans but he’d done his homework. And he had personal experience. Emotions were too volatile without the control the mediation and logic granted. “You refer to the ritual of the Pon Farr. It has been studied and documented, it is a hormonal imbalance. That’s biological. And the women do experience it.” To be fair, Solal had yet to experience the Pon Farr himself, but he had studied it, in preparation. He was of the age many Vulcans began to experience it. The twenties or thirties appeared to be a common time for it. He was twenty nine now.

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

“Yes, they do. I wouldn’t say it’s quite as… explosive as the males though.” Séan mused. “Not expressing or reacting to something doesn’t mean it doesn’t influence the person feeling it though. Even unconsciously a person can come into a lounge and have tea when they could much more efficiently have tea in their quarters.”

CoP Iven

Séan had a point. Solal had read the males tended to… get a little angry. He glanced at Séan, shaking his head. “So I had tea in the lounge because I’m subconsciously reacting to emotion.” He said it like it was ridiculous. This was precisely why Solal did not like psychology. “Perhaps I did not want to spend the time making my own tea? Why else would I be here?” His voice was level as ever, he did not sound angry or irrate. But he looked to Séan awaiting his answer.

~ Lt JG Solal, Doctor

Séan lifted a hand in a placating gesture even though he had a small grin on his face. “I’m not saying that coming to the lounge in lieu of your quarters is a bad decision or one that flies in the face of logic. Logically I should’ve stayed in my quarters and gotten some sleep to be better prepared for tomorrow, but I didn’t feel like it and figured I’d prepare in another way. I had two non-conflicting reasons to come here. It may not be the optimal use of my time but it’s not a waste of time either. In the same way your coming to the lounge is sub-optimal, but it’s certainly not a waste of your time.”

CoP Iven


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