[network] Night 378 | @Ecks | I am two and what is this | video [open]

[ecks]

[Many people here will recognize the inside of the sports shed on the campus of the elementary school. Newer people may not have seen Ecks's face before; she's a patchwork woman with a perpetually blank expression, and when she speaks (turning the tablet around as she does so, so that she's only visible for a moment at the start of the video) her voice is flat and inexpressive.

The new subject for viewing is a conical hat with the word 'DUNCE' written on it in big, red letters, which she has set on the floor of the building.]

What is this? What is a dunce? This hat is not comfortable or warm. What is its purpose?

Comments

[onlytwothings]

[ Good, because the less that Ecks gets lead astray, the better. Even if this particular issue is minor in the long run.

And then he's reminded that Ecks often takes things literally. ]

No, I don't think it is. [ He's going to attempt to explain himself without confusing her further. ] I mean, it could be in the sense that being made to wear it is a motivation for not doing whatever action brought it on in the first place.

[ecks]

It is a punishment. It is a hat for punishment.

[She picks it up and looks at it with renewed interest, disturbed by the thought.]

I did not know that clothing could be a punishment.

[onlytwothings]

Yes, it is.

Almost anything can be used as a punishment.

[ecks]

...Can ice cream be a punishment?

[How far does that "almost" go?]

[onlytwothings]

Technically. I mean, if someone decided to force another person to eat it and not let them stop, that could be a form of punishment.

[ecks]

That would be an unacceptable use of ice cream.

[onlytwothings]

I guess it would, huh?

I was just trying to think of ways to punish someone with ice cream.

[ecks]

I think it would be an effective method but also unacceptable.

[onlytwothings]

All right, so what would you consider an appropriate use of ice cream as a punishment?

I'm really curious now.

[ Really, he is. This isn't just him humoring her. ]

[ecks]

There is not one. Ice cream is good and it should not be used for punishment.

But also you could put it in the person's clothing.

[onlytwothings]

They'd be in for a surprise, but how would you get it in there without them realizing it?

[ecks]

I am very fast and dextrous. I would sneak close to them and put it down the back of the shirt.

[onlytwothings]

Well, that's something I'd like to see.

[ecks]

I would show you but I do not have ice cream, and if I had ice cream I would eat it instead.

[onlytwothings]

[ Can't argue with that logic. ]

Well, I don't blame you. Ice cream is usually meant to be eaten and enjoyed, not put down people's shirts.

[ecks]

There are a large number of indications that its purpose is for eating, yes. Like the part where it is delicious.

[onlytwothings]

Again, another very good point. If you had to pick one flavor, and you could only eat that flavor the rest of your life, which would you pick?

[ecks]

Vanilla. I would pick vanilla.

[There's zero hesitation on her part. Of course, she's only had three flavors of ice cream in her entire life so far....]

How would anyone make sure that I did not eat other flavors, though?