Fighting the brainwashing

[starsplinter]

Here's something I'm curious about.

Do you think that someone can realize that they're under control of the notebook? Would they realize, "No, this isn't like me. Why am I doing this...oh shit." Or would they justify their actions to themselves somehow, or just lose all self-awareness as soon as the notebook takes control?

I think it's possible

Comments

[serria]

Well, it is explained that the Death Note can't make someone do something that is grossly out of character or impossible. During Light's experiments, he figures out that it at least has to be something that the person could come up with on their own. At the same time, most people have some potential to do a lot of things. So I don't think it'd really be possible to figure out that you're being controlled. If you found out, you might be inclined to fight against it, which technically you can do - in which case, the person doing a certain action would become impossible, and they'd simply die of a heart attack.

So, yeah, I think they'd rationalize their actions. I don't think you could make them do something that is absolutely contrary to their psyche.

[starsplinter]

It is, but the definition of "impossible" is a little strange at times. The coded suicide notes were possible, but a legitimate suspicion about the relationship between L and the police wasn't. And Kal Synder, revealing the location of his base - I can't see that being in character for him. (To say nothing of how he knew who to send it to...)

I tend to think...even if they do fight it, they would - as you said, just die of a heart attack - or the events would find ways of happening. Like if someone was supposed to die in a car wreck, and knew they were and thus avoided cars, a car would crash into them while they were walking on the sidewalk, or something like that. Unless, of course, they or someone else makes sure they die before they are killed.

[boxofcookies]

I don't think the person can fight what's been written, because that seems too contrary to the rules of the notebook. I'm theoretically amenable to the theory that you can't make a person do something completely contrary to their psyche, but I don't know if there's anything I could actually believe fits into that category.

But I could imagine them becoming aware or suspicious of what was going on! The person I really wonder about is Naomi Misora. At first I was thinking it has to be possible to be aware because Naomi must be aware - she knows that Light has said he's Kira, she knows she's not trying to report this to L, and she probably got the hint that Light was going to kill her. It seems like she would have to be aware that what she's doing doesn't make sense, and that Kira had defeated her. She would still be overwhelmingly compelled to do it, but she'd know

[starsplinter]

The rules don't actually talk about the control, much. And as I told Serria, they're a bit strange.

Naomi...I can actually see her rationalizing her actions, some, even if she knew that she was being controlled by Kira. Kira is working for L, Raye was dead, and she was going to die one way or another. May as well choose her death - a sort of, "You can't fire me, I quit!" But even that isn't complete. Naomi Misora questions, investigates. It's hardwired into her brain. The fact that she is no longer asking, no longer fighting - that would raise some mental warning bells, I think.

If nothing else, I guess, it's more interesting having her be aware. As a writer, it's more _fun_ having them conscious. So I might be a bit biased on this. (And oh goodness yes. There's fic there, absolutely. I'll have to remember that.)

[starsplinter]

IMO, if she was aware it would only contribute to the suicidal depression. Who would she communicate to? For all she knows, Kira is running the police by proxy by now. The thing is, I don't think Naomi could justify it to herself, except with the depression. She isn't acting like herself. And it would be risky - but the notebook doesn’t care about risk to the user. It does what it's told, and occasionally seems to make trouble for the user. ("Plagued by misfortune...")

I think that *most* justify their actions, but exceptions are possible.

[starsplinter]

She could, I suppose. But being refused by one person does not mean that no one will listen, and she knows that. The NPA wouldn't listen - so she would contact the leader of the FBI. *is surprised she didn't* Naomi fights, and the fact that she doesn't want to fight would alarm her. Some people react to pain by becoming sad - she reacts by getting angry.

This whole thing is a mess...