Browncoat Principles by Piz

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Browncoat Principles

POSTED BY: PIZ
UPDATED: Friday, July 7, 2006 10:40
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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:14 AM

I'm curious as to what people think it means to be a Browncoat. I'm not talking about being a Firefly fan, but things like the metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and perhaps even esthetic fundamentals that underly and motivate someone like Malcolm Reynolds or Zoë Washburne.

Discuss.

(Note to certain folks, who probably know who they are: I'm not going to have anything to say in this thread except little prompts to keep the discussion going, like "What makes you say that?" or "Could you elaborate on this?" So relax and have at.)

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:36 AM

CYBERSNARK

Way I see it, Independence is as good a term as any. Individual rights. Like the wiccan rede; "An it harm none, do as ye will."

It's that "harm none" thing that raises questions. Getting people to follow you (either literally or by proxy) voluntarily is one thing. They have the choice. Forcing people to follow you, or forcing a single "choice," Mal counts that as harm.

There's a careful balance between freedom and responsibility. You have the right to be free, but you also have the responsibility to use that freedom constructively.

"Anyone tries to kill you, you kill 'em right back." Left unstated is the idea that, if someone doesn't try to kill you, you've got no reason to take arms against them.

Of course, a big part of freedom (and a part many people have trouble with) is the idea of forgiveness. We know Mal practices it, as evidenced by his willingness to deal with Patience after she shot him, and his deliberate not killing of her after she shot him again.

Sometimes being an independent means letting others do things you wish they wouldn't --they got rights, same as yours. Hard feelings are fine (you're free to hold a grudge too, and only a fool doesn't learn from experience), but no need to make it personal when it isn't.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:40 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Loyalty.. loyalty to family and crew.

Seems high on Mal and crew's list.

I believe it to be so as well.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:55 AM

PIZ

I'd like to add that if you're replying to something specific that someone says, please use the "Reply with Quote" option so that the context isn't lost and folks can tell what you're responding to (many, many posts around here don't make sense because it's not clear what's being replied to).

If you're only responding to part of a post, just delete all the parts you don't want, leaving the (QUOTE) and (/QUOTE) markers in place at the beginning and end (they acutally use square brackets, of course, but I had to use parens so they'd be visible here). Add your own quote markers where necessary to break something into more than one part.

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:57 AM

CALIFORNIAKAYLEE

Great topic! Personally, I think being a Browncoat is all about fully owning the position of the underdog, the outnumbered, and yet still doing the impossible. The unique thing about Bronwcoats, as compared to other fandoms, is that we *haven't* given up when most others would have. That fighting spirit is the reason that Firefly hasn't faded away quietly.

~CK

You can't take the sky from me...

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:58 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
There's a careful balance between freedom and responsibility. You have the right to be free, but you also have the responsibility to use that freedom constructively.

Please elaborate.

Quote:
Of course, a big part of freedom...is the idea of forgiveness.

Why is that?

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 9:58 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:
Loyalty.. loyalty to family and crew.

Care to say more about this?

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:00 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by CaliforniaKaylee:
Great topic!

Thanks.

Quote:
Personally, I think being a Browncoat is all about fully owning the position of the underdog, the outnumbered, and yet still doing the impossible.

Are you saying that being the underdog is fundamental?

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:05 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Quote:
Originally posted by Piz:
Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:
Loyalty.. loyalty to family and crew.
Care to say more about this?

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

I honestly can't resist.

No, I don't care to say more.. I'm terse.. even laconic.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:06 AM

MSG

It's about making a family out of nothing...all the different people, personalities, voices and opinions who might argue with each other, but heaven help any outsider who takes them on...
Kinda thinking of the town that tried to burn River as a witch and Mal's face when they say she's a witch..he says " yeah, but she's our witch"
Then back on board when Simon says " you don't even like me why'd you come back" and mal says" you're part of my crew" and Simons says" but why" Mal responds " you're part of my crew...why are we still talkin about this"

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:07 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:
I honestly can't resist.

No, I don't care to say more.. I'm terse.. even laconic.

LOL! Laconic is fine.

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:16 AM

FOLLOWMAL

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:20 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by msg:
It's about making a family out of nothing...all the different people, personalities, voices and opinions who might argue with each other, but heaven help any outsider who takes them on...

What ideas lie behind that thought?

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:29 AM

CALIFORNIAKAYLEE

Quote:
Are you saying that being the underdog is fundamental?

I think it is, to some extent. I think we're a much closer group of people than we would be if we had had Firefly served up to us on a silver platter for the past 4 years. I don't think Serenity would have been made if we hadn't been such fighting underdogs, and I certainly don't think we would have done things like the Serenity Now charity screenings if not for that attitude. There's something about not being top dog, not having everything handed to you, that makes you both tougher and more giving.

~CK

You can't take the sky from me...

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Friday, July 7, 2006 10:40 AM

PIZ

Quote:
Originally posted by CaliforniaKaylee:
[BI think it is, to some extent. I think we're a much closer group of people than we would be if we had had Firefly served up to us on a silver platter for the past 4 years....

Just want to point out that I meant to discuss the philosophy of characters like Mal & Zoë, rather than what's behind fandom. No prob, though.

--
"That's what government's for: get in a man's way." - Mal

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