Values survey
Thanks to penknife for this survey.
What's the worst thing someone could do?
I don't know. There are a lot of bad things people can do.
What's the worst thing someone could do to you?
Separate us. Pan and me, I mean. Intercision. Maybe that would be the worst thing for anyone to do to anyone, but I'm not sure. Being apart from him is worse than anything, really.
What's the worst thing someone could say about a person?
That they didn't care. That nothing mattered to them.
What's the best thing someone could say about a person?
I guess it would be the opposite: that someone really loved, a lot, and that they loved the right things.
Are men and women basically different?
Besides having differently-shaped bodies? No.
[The interviewer skips several questions.]
Is it possible to change genders?
*Lyra considers.* I've never seen anyone do it, and it might not be possible in my world, but there are a lot of universes with different kinds of creatures, and maybe in one of them... [Lyra's thinking of physical body alteration here, note.]
How old is old enough to have sex?
When you're old enough, you know. It's like ... like a door you didn't know about opening, and lights turning on. [That translates, in Lyra's case, to fourteen or so. Thank you, Philip Pullman.]
Is it wrong to have sex if you're unmarried?
Of course not.
Is it wrong to have sex with someone other than your spouse if you're married?
Mrs Coulter did. My mother. She had sex with Lord Asriel when she was married to Mr Coulter, and Lord Asriel is my father. I don't know if that was wrong or not. Mr Coulter didn't like it. If the husband or wife didn't mind, I suppose there wouldn't be a problem.
Is it wrong to have sex with a person of the same gender?
No!
Is it wrong to have sex with a person of a different race (or a different intelligent non-human species)?
[Lyra has to get the interviewer to define 'race' before she can answer.] *appalled* You mean there are people who think you shouldn't, just because of where the other person comes from or what colour their skin is?
Is it wrong to have more than one sexual partner at the same time?
If your partners know about it, and they think it's all right, it wouldn't be wrong.
Is it wrong to have sex with someone you don't love?
It depends on what you mean by 'love.' I didn't love Anthy in the way that I love Will, but I loved her, and it was right for me to have sex with her. If she needed it, and Will didn't mind, I would do it again. Having sex with someone you don't like, or don't want to have sex with - that's wrong.
What are the responsibilities of a mother toward a child?
I don't know. I guess Ma Costa is a good mother, and she watches her children and makes sure they have everything they need, and punishes them when they misbehave. I never had a mother like that, but if I ever had children, I'd want to care for them in that way.
What are the responsibilities of a father toward a child?
I don't know. Do fathers have responsibilities? Maybe they can choose to take care of their children, or not, if it's not important to them.
What are the responsibilities of a child toward a parent?
There aren't any, not really.
Which should be more important to you, your parent or your child?
My child would be more important to me - but I don't know if that's how things should be.
Which should be more important to you, your parent or your spouse?
My spouse. I suppose that means Will, but I don't think I'll ever marry him.
Which should be more important to you, your child or your spouse?
Spouse.
Is it wrong to have a child if you're unmarried?
No, not at all.
Is abortion wrong?
No. It's dangerous, though, unless you have a really good midwife, so it's better to take care of the problem before it starts.
Is contraception wrong?
Of course not. *thinks* I suppose if Mrs Coulter had been trying to prevent pregnancies, I wouldn't have been born. But then I wouldn't have known about it, if she did.
Is there one true religion?
No!
Does a deity or deities exist?
The Authority is dead, and he never did create the universes in the first place. He lied about that. I don't think there ever was a real God.
How important is it to believe in a deity or deities?
It's bad to believe that there is someone controlling everything and watching you to make sure you do the right things. The Church in my world, it uses belief for horrible purposes.
How important is it to actively practice your religion?
I guess if I turned this question around, I could get a different answer. It's important to be good and kind and patient, and love people, and work to build the Republic of Heaven. I guess doing that's like practising my religion. Except without believing in God.
Does magic exist?
It depends on what you mean by magic. It's like experimental theology - all sorts of things can happen, because of the laws of the universe, and every universe has different rules and we don't always understand them. Serafina Pekkala and the witches, they have something they call magic and they don't talk about it much, but I think it has rules, like experimental theology. People used to think the alethiometer was magic but it works by particles, right? Dust. That's not magic.
Is practicing magic wrong?
You can do things that are wrong with any kind of knowledge. It doesn't matter what kind of knowledge it is.
Is killing always wrong?
Oh, no. Sometimes people deserve to be killed, or have to be, to save other people.
Is war always wrong?
No.
How old is old enough to fight in a war?
When we were taken to the Gobblers, we were with lots of children who were trapped, and going to be killed, or worse. And no one was there who could help us, so we had to be brave and fight back, and it was the right thing for us to do, to keep ourselves and each other safe. Sometimes children have to fight, because no one else will fight for them.
Is rape always wrong?
Yes.
Is torture always wrong?
Yes, I think so. I’m not sure.
Is theft always wrong?
No. Sometimes stealing something is the only way to get what you need.
Is slavery wrong?
Owning another person? Yes.
Is lying wrong?
No!
Is swearing wrong?
No.
What's the worst thing someone could do?
I don't know. There are a lot of bad things people can do.
What's the worst thing someone could do to you?
Separate us. Pan and me, I mean. Intercision. Maybe that would be the worst thing for anyone to do to anyone, but I'm not sure. Being apart from him is worse than anything, really.
What's the worst thing someone could say about a person?
That they didn't care. That nothing mattered to them.
What's the best thing someone could say about a person?
I guess it would be the opposite: that someone really loved, a lot, and that they loved the right things.
Are men and women basically different?
Besides having differently-shaped bodies? No.
[The interviewer skips several questions.]
Is it possible to change genders?
*Lyra considers.* I've never seen anyone do it, and it might not be possible in my world, but there are a lot of universes with different kinds of creatures, and maybe in one of them... [Lyra's thinking of physical body alteration here, note.]
How old is old enough to have sex?
When you're old enough, you know. It's like ... like a door you didn't know about opening, and lights turning on. [That translates, in Lyra's case, to fourteen or so. Thank you, Philip Pullman.]
Is it wrong to have sex if you're unmarried?
Of course not.
Is it wrong to have sex with someone other than your spouse if you're married?
Mrs Coulter did. My mother. She had sex with Lord Asriel when she was married to Mr Coulter, and Lord Asriel is my father. I don't know if that was wrong or not. Mr Coulter didn't like it. If the husband or wife didn't mind, I suppose there wouldn't be a problem.
Is it wrong to have sex with a person of the same gender?
No!
Is it wrong to have sex with a person of a different race (or a different intelligent non-human species)?
[Lyra has to get the interviewer to define 'race' before she can answer.] *appalled* You mean there are people who think you shouldn't, just because of where the other person comes from or what colour their skin is?
Is it wrong to have more than one sexual partner at the same time?
If your partners know about it, and they think it's all right, it wouldn't be wrong.
Is it wrong to have sex with someone you don't love?
It depends on what you mean by 'love.' I didn't love Anthy in the way that I love Will, but I loved her, and it was right for me to have sex with her. If she needed it, and Will didn't mind, I would do it again. Having sex with someone you don't like, or don't want to have sex with - that's wrong.
What are the responsibilities of a mother toward a child?
I don't know. I guess Ma Costa is a good mother, and she watches her children and makes sure they have everything they need, and punishes them when they misbehave. I never had a mother like that, but if I ever had children, I'd want to care for them in that way.
What are the responsibilities of a father toward a child?
I don't know. Do fathers have responsibilities? Maybe they can choose to take care of their children, or not, if it's not important to them.
What are the responsibilities of a child toward a parent?
There aren't any, not really.
Which should be more important to you, your parent or your child?
My child would be more important to me - but I don't know if that's how things should be.
Which should be more important to you, your parent or your spouse?
My spouse. I suppose that means Will, but I don't think I'll ever marry him.
Which should be more important to you, your child or your spouse?
Spouse.
Is it wrong to have a child if you're unmarried?
No, not at all.
Is abortion wrong?
No. It's dangerous, though, unless you have a really good midwife, so it's better to take care of the problem before it starts.
Is contraception wrong?
Of course not. *thinks* I suppose if Mrs Coulter had been trying to prevent pregnancies, I wouldn't have been born. But then I wouldn't have known about it, if she did.
Is there one true religion?
No!
Does a deity or deities exist?
The Authority is dead, and he never did create the universes in the first place. He lied about that. I don't think there ever was a real God.
How important is it to believe in a deity or deities?
It's bad to believe that there is someone controlling everything and watching you to make sure you do the right things. The Church in my world, it uses belief for horrible purposes.
How important is it to actively practice your religion?
I guess if I turned this question around, I could get a different answer. It's important to be good and kind and patient, and love people, and work to build the Republic of Heaven. I guess doing that's like practising my religion. Except without believing in God.
Does magic exist?
It depends on what you mean by magic. It's like experimental theology - all sorts of things can happen, because of the laws of the universe, and every universe has different rules and we don't always understand them. Serafina Pekkala and the witches, they have something they call magic and they don't talk about it much, but I think it has rules, like experimental theology. People used to think the alethiometer was magic but it works by particles, right? Dust. That's not magic.
Is practicing magic wrong?
You can do things that are wrong with any kind of knowledge. It doesn't matter what kind of knowledge it is.
Is killing always wrong?
Oh, no. Sometimes people deserve to be killed, or have to be, to save other people.
Is war always wrong?
No.
How old is old enough to fight in a war?
When we were taken to the Gobblers, we were with lots of children who were trapped, and going to be killed, or worse. And no one was there who could help us, so we had to be brave and fight back, and it was the right thing for us to do, to keep ourselves and each other safe. Sometimes children have to fight, because no one else will fight for them.
Is rape always wrong?
Yes.
Is torture always wrong?
Yes, I think so. I’m not sure.
Is theft always wrong?
No. Sometimes stealing something is the only way to get what you need.
Is slavery wrong?
Owning another person? Yes.
Is lying wrong?
No!
Is swearing wrong?
No.