People just really want there to have been an explanation that would put fault on either--or both--Rose or Jack, because then Jack's death is less upsetting; it can be rationalized as happening due to a mistake of Jack and Rose's own making.
This protects the viewer from having to face the idea that Jack's death wasn't preventable at all, and therefore allows them to maintain the illusion of a just world in which nothing like this could happen to them, because they're smarter and wouldn't make that mistake in that situation. Of course that's not how life works, but it's a world view that many still cling to because it's comforting despite the harm it can cause.
But forgetting about that for a moment, it's so interesting to me that some of our worlds are similar enough that you and I can have an entire discussion on pop culture and understand everything we mention, while others are so different that there's literally nothing in common, not even the planet.
Dates give a frame of reference, so that events feel less nebulous and more grounded.
I'm not sure about 2018. My friend in Hadriel originally came from a point in time before me, then disappeared for awhile, then returned a few years after me; I think it was probably 2016, maybe 2017. Things were fine, but I know why you're asking, and now I'm a little concerned.
[Because he'd definitely paid attention the dates Ian had given too.]
It's okay. Hopefully my world's timeline diverges enough that they can avoid both aliens and Donald Trump, but I can't do anything about it either way.
[He's not really a part of that world anymore, and that's one of the things he has, at least mostly, truly come to terms with. So while he still worries about his friends and how they're doing, and he'll probably worry a little extra about aliens for the next few weeks, it's something he can deal with.]
I know, man. Completely bizarre. I know it's still the whole world or whatever but it would make the multiverse thing feel a little smaller. You can probably unpack that motivation pretty easily, I guess.
I don't know, man, I'm actually pretty optimistic.
I mean.
My world was a shithole that would have been lucky to make it another decade, it took like three hours of prep to have a warm shower, and I was in a perpetual one-sided dick measuring contest with a guy who's wife left him for Ron with the Cow.
Also, you were super dead.
And now we're here, with taco trucks and you know people we care about
I know, you're right, but that's the problem. I don't mean to give you more to worry about, but this only lasts as long as we get lucky with the interdimensional roll of the dice; if we suddenly disappear, like people do, you're right back in your world and I'm right back in mine.
Which, point of clarification, I wasn't super dead yet in. I think I still had a good ten minutes or so.
[Which is what he's really afraid of, or is when he's registering that kind of emotion on more than surface level.
This place is a challenge, and so was Hadriel, but it's definitely better than what awaits him at home and that's what's distressing; he's much less concerned about being stuck here forever than he is about the idea that he'll leave without choosing to. And that's the same fear he has for Nate, and for Ian, and for all the other people he knows here who don't have anything waiting for them at home.]
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This protects the viewer from having to face the idea that Jack's death wasn't preventable at all, and therefore allows them to maintain the illusion of a just world in which nothing like this could happen to them, because they're smarter and wouldn't make that mistake in that situation. Of course that's not how life works, but it's a world view that many still cling to because it's comforting despite the harm it can cause.
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I wasn't emotionally prepared
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Also I have stronger opinions about Titanic.
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I think Leonardo DiCaprio would feel honored
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But forgetting about that for a moment, it's so interesting to me that some of our worlds are similar enough that you and I can have an entire discussion on pop culture and understand everything we mention, while others are so different that there's literally nothing in common, not even the planet.
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Do you know how your Earth was doing in 2018? You said you had friends from your home show up once, right?
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I'm not sure about 2018. My friend in Hadriel originally came from a point in time before me, then disappeared for awhile, then returned a few years after me; I think it was probably 2016, maybe 2017. Things were fine, but I know why you're asking, and now I'm a little concerned.
[Because he'd definitely paid attention the dates Ian had given too.]
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Weird. To think about.
Sorry, man. Didn't mean to make you fret for your friends. It's just the pop culture and history lining up makes me wonder, you know?
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It's okay. Hopefully my world's timeline diverges enough that they can avoid both aliens and Donald Trump, but I can't do anything about it either way.
[He's not really a part of that world anymore, and that's one of the things he has, at least mostly, truly come to terms with. So while he still worries about his friends and how they're doing, and he'll probably worry a little extra about aliens for the next few weeks, it's something he can deal with.]
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Either way it would've been cool to meet you, with or without leather jacket.
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[He's... Mostly joking, though both really are horrifying.]
Yeah, same to you. It kind of blows my mind a little to think it's totally possible we're from the same world and have no way of actually knowing.
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I mean.
My world was a shithole that would have been lucky to make it another decade, it took like three hours of prep to have a warm shower, and I was in a perpetual one-sided dick measuring contest with a guy who's wife left him for Ron with the Cow.
Also, you were super dead.
And now we're here, with taco trucks and
you know
people we care about
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Which, point of clarification, I wasn't super dead yet in. I think I still had a good ten minutes or so.
[Which is what he's really afraid of, or is when he's registering that kind of emotion on more than surface level.
This place is a challenge, and so was Hadriel, but it's definitely better than what awaits him at home and that's what's distressing; he's much less concerned about being stuck here forever than he is about the idea that he'll leave without choosing to. And that's the same fear he has for Nate, and for Ian, and for all the other people he knows here who don't have anything waiting for them at home.]
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