Equality for Darkeyes

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

Why must a man be judged by the color of his eyes instead of the content of his character? 

[ChickenPlague Envisager]

You think darkeyes have it hard? Do you know how annoying it is to be a greyeyes? No one knows how to behave around me!

[sheep Listener]

If you want a build a social pyramid for a feudal society, you have to use something that can be easily seen and not easily changed.  If it was something simple like clothing, for example, or little star shaped fabric patches, people could just take them off or turn their coats inside out.  You wouldn't like it if riffraff could just come into your exclusive treehouse, wouldn't you?

 

Eye colour is an interesting marker for your status in the hierarchy.  Most of the time it's usually something along the lines of skintone or accent.

[Eagle of the Forest Path Soulcaster]

"What do we want!"

"Skaa Rights!"

"When do we want it!"

"After the Lord Ruler's dead!"

Edited February 3, 2016 by EagleOfTheForestPath

[Stormgate Mistborn]

In Sanderson's books, having magic powers generally indicates or causes a high place in society. You have the Elantrians ruling Arelon, the nobles in Mistborn are supposed to be the only ones with powers, the Returned in Hallendren are treated as gods, etc. We know from Kaladin that, progressed far enough, light eyes appear. It is not unreasonable to assume that at some point this becomes permanent. Since the Knights Radiant were superheroes in every sense of the word I can think of (Reckoners doesn't count) it makes sense that they would naturally get power.

 

If nothing else, those with Shardblades usually beat those that don't.

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

I didn't think that so many people would reply to this topic. 

[Kaymyth Sliver]

I didn't think that so many people would reply to this topic. 

 

Welcome to the Shard, where social equality is a common interest.

 

...don't get me started about the plight of left-handed lighteyed women.

[maxal Dawnshard]

Welcome to the Shard, where social equality is a common interest.

 

...don't get me started about the plight of left-handed lighteyed women.

 

   

 

Being a left-handed woman myself: I totally relate to this plight. Poor girls being labeled as clumsy and unsatisfactory due to being forced to write with their weak hand and it doesn't stop here: they can't use their left hand for nothing... As a left-handed, I don't even eat the same way 

 

I'd say darkeyes have it easier: at least they get to use both of their hands and their women don't get to wear silly dresses which render one of their hands useless. They just wear a glove 

[Kaymyth Sliver]

   

 

Being a left-handed woman myself: I totally relate to this plight. Poor girls being labeled as clumsy and unsatisfactory due to being forced to write with their weak hand and it doesn't stop here: they can't use their left hand for nothing... As a left-handed, I don't even eat the same way 

 

I'd say darkeyes have it easier: at least they get to use both of their hands and their women don't get to wear silly dresses which render one of their hands useless. They just wear a glove 

 

I'm not a lefty, but both of my parents are, which makes me more apt to pay attention to these things.

 

It's really harsh when you factor in the fact that lighteyed "womanly" arts are things like scholarship and artistry, things that depend heavily on being able to use your hand(s) for things like writing or drawing.

 

(And...how in the heck do they manage musicianship?  They're playing flutes, for crying out loud!  You can't do that one-handed!)

[natc Mistborn]

Obviously Roshar has developed some sort of one-handed flute.

[Kaymyth Sliver]

Obviously Roshar has developed some sort of one-handed flute.

 

That would make for a very limited number of notes that an individual instrument can play.

[Delightful Dragon]

I was under the impression they can use their safe hand while its covered by the sleeve. Shallan uses it to hold her notebook, for example. You can't do anything terribly dextrous because I assume its improper for individual fingers to be seen, (otherwise gloves would be fine), but you could probably hold a flute to your mouth with your safehand, and play the notes with your freehand.

[Darkness Ascendant Steel Inquisitor]

Ahhh,but every darkeyes know in their hearts that they are better than what a light-eyes ever will be save for some,. Take me for example, a peasant and yet a peasant with a better reputation than others even if I do say so myself 

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

All of us are forgetting the biggest problem here. No one is upvoting my posts.

[Kaymyth Sliver]

I was under the impression they can use their safe hand while its covered by the sleeve. Shallan uses it to hold her notebook, for example. You can't do anything terribly dextrous because I assume its improper for individual fingers to be seen, (otherwise gloves would be fine), but you could probably hold a flute to your mouth with your safehand, and play the notes with your freehand.

 

To an extent, but that's a lot of fabric that's just gonna get in the way, and it's easy for a flute to slip out of a person's grip due to its size.  There's a reason we all had to cut the fingertips out of our uniform gloves in marching band.

[The Invested Beard Listener]

So no one really got this was a play on a Martin Luther King Jr. quote?

 

Are we suggesting there should be a civil rights movement in Alethkar? I say yes.

[ChickenPlague Envisager]

 

Are we suggesting there should be a civil rights movement in Alethkar? I say yes.

Yes. For Aimians of course. They suffer far more than any darkeye's.

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

So no one really got this was a play on a Martin Luther King Jr. quote?

 

Are we suggesting there should be a civil rights movement in Alethkar? I say yes.

Not just Alethkar, ALL Vorin nations, *pointedly looks at Jah Keved 

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll have to go back on on the lam, Highprince Aladar doesn't like what I'm posting, let your voices be heard!

[Stormgate Mistborn]

Aon Daa, please don't double post. It's considered bad manners, or something. Instead, edit your previous post. 

We all do it once when we join, and then we're informed. It's like a rite of passage, or something.

 

I'm not a lefty, but both of my parents are, which makes me more apt to pay attention to these things.

 

It's really harsh when you factor in the fact that lighteyed "womanly" arts are things like scholarship and artistry, things that depend heavily on being able to use your hand(s) for things like writing or drawing.

 

(And...how in the heck do they manage musicianship?  They're playing flutes, for crying out loud!  You can't do that one-handed!)

 

How are you right handed when your parents are? I thought that left-handedness was recessive. (I'm a lefty myself)

[Kaymyth Sliver]

Aon Daa, please don't double post. It's considered bad manners, or something. Instead, edit your previous post. 

We all do it once when we join, and then we're informed. It's like a rite of passage, or something.

 

 

How are you right handed when your parents are? I thought that left-handedness was recessive. (I'm a lefty myself)

 

*shrug*  I dunno.   I think it's a lot more complicated than dominant vs. recessive.

[The Grand Conspiracy Bridgeman]

Aon Daa, please don't double post. It's considered bad manners, or something. Instead, edit your previous post. 

We all do it once when we join, and then we're informed. It's like a rite of passage, or something.

Sorry, didn't know, I'll be sure to remember. Thanks!

[maxal Dawnshard]

How are you right handed when your parents are? I thought that left-handedness was recessive. (I'm a lefty myself)

 

Both my parents are right-handed, but my aunt was left-handed. As far as I can tell, both my children are right-handed though my little son lack of interest in drawing makes it hard for me to determine if he has a preference.

[natc Mistborn]

I'm rather sure not double posting is general etiquette for every forum on the internet with an Edit button, really . . .

I demand equal rights for chasmfiends!

[Paragrin Lord Prelan]

Actually, I'm pretty sure Rosharan "flutes" are more like recorders. I seem to remember that when Hoid's playing his flute Kaladin comments on how he holds it.