Did you forgive?

[Vio]

When I played Silent Hill 3 for the first time, I attempted to open every door, in order to catch every detail. Which also meant that I ran into alot of monsters. I didn't figure out the block yet, so I was barely alive at this point rationing my med kits. And in the some of the Otherworld areas, I just said "F@#$ it" and ran to keep alive a bit longer. Anyways, after I almost yelled "Shoot her!" after the first cut scene in the church, after reading the "Stations of the Red God" on the walls, and after I attempted to play the organ, I went into the Confession Booth in the next room. I listened to the story of the troubled, guilt-ridden mother, and when I was confronted with the possibility of Heather as the Mother of God forgiving her - I said nothing. I wasn't that I wasn't moved, I was. But when I tried to view the situation from Heather's perspective - I couldn't see her saying it. And I couldn't even see myself saying it as well if I was in the position, so I just listened to her cry and left. And I couldn't return to that room later, when I thought that the poor woman might need some comfort anyway.

For me, this moment was the most moving emotionally in the entire game, Heather discovering Harry's death was a very close second. Mostly because I wasn't just watching the events via cut scene, but actively participating. And also since the outcome of the game, would be the same either way, there wasn't a separate ending for the people that forgave the mother. It was done solely for its own sake.

On my second run-through, I forgave her, but it felt hollow. I did it mostly out of curiosity to see what would happen. It wasn't that it wasn't done well, the mother's relief and Heather's whisper are examples of the best voice acting in the game. It's just that I already made my decision. In this case, it's the first answer that counted.

So the question I'm asking is: Did you forgive the mother on your first run-through?

[alx]

I didn't forgive simply because I didn't feel like I (or Heather) had the power to forgive transgressions against someone else. Seriously- I can only forgive someone for what they do to me

But then you can think about it from a white lie angle; is it wrong to lie to someone when it would end their needless suffering?

Vio is mistaken about that choice not effecting your ending, though. Pretty sure you get a thousand points if you forgive...

[Vio]

Aug 13, 2011 0:57:11 GMT alx said:

I didn't forgive simply because I didn't feel like I (or Heather) had the power to forgive transgressions against someone else. Seriously- I can only forgive someone for what they do to me

In a literal sense, unless you buy into Claudia's rants and think that Heather actually has influence in this matter as a religious entity then you can forgive. But if you don't then you can't and there really is no debate.

But then you can think about it from a white lie angle; is it wrong to lie to someone when it would end their needless suffering?

I think this is the real question, can you lie to someone to relieve that person of their suffering.

Vio is mistaken about that choice not effecting your ending, though. Pretty sure you get a thousand points if you forgive...

I wonder how many points Jesus has then.

[Tabris]

Aug 13, 2011 0:57:11 GMT alx said:

I didn't forgive simply because I didn't feel like I (or Heather) had the power to forgive transgressions against someone else. Seriously- I can only forgive someone for what they do to me
.

This is a big reason why I chose not to say anything.

In my typical attitude, since people tend to confide in me easily, it's really not my problem, but I can at least listen and understand.

Who the hell am I to forgive? They should worry about forgiving themselves more than anything. That's the hard part. Even if someone forgives you, (even god), forgiving yourself is extremely difficult when you've screwed up that hard.

In the making of, I recall one of the makers of the game went through a situation similar to this in real life and decided to reflect it in the game.

It's kind of a unique element of the game.

[blacky]

Aug 13, 2011 6:45:02 GMT Vio said:

I think this is the real question, can you lie to someone to relieve that person of their suffering.

Yes I can, I forgave her because that's what she wanted and doing nice things for people in video games is normally rewarded.

Yes I was as cold and manipulating as that. I didn't really think much about the morality of it all because in my opinon at that point morality had pretty much gone to shit anyway. I mean I was playing as a character out on an mission to kill someone for petty revenge, noone ever said Killing Claudia would stop God from being born (quite the opposite) but that didn't stop Heather going to Silent hill with that very intention. Heather lost any morality high ground at that point so I saw no point trying to maintain any illusion of it. Besides that woman is or was part of the cult at some point, I had no qualms about using the opportunity to manlipulate one of them if it meant I could get something out of it.

[alx]

...and continues to the boss fight

Aug 13, 2011 6:45:02 GMT Vio said:

I wonder how many points Jesus has then?

Jesus has an infinite amount of points but then he can cheat whenever he wants to...

[Judas]

I forgave her just because that was the best option on the table. If this was reality, the conversation would have taken a different turn altogether, but if I'm presented with forgive, don't, or say nothing, forgiveness seems the best way to go.

[Sindaiin]

I think I said nothing. It's not my place to get involved with cultists who're obviously having a moment they need to themselves. It's been awhile, but I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything. She didn't sound like she was even talking to me. I've always kind of wondered how the lady would've reacted had I said anything. Iono....

[Vio]

It was interesting anyway to see a Cultist in a crisis, and a very human one at that.