In terms of messing with the little-many for the benefit of the large-many, a metric shitload of women that were going to have relatively simple lives just had their existences turned arse over teakettle, to save the sanity of three or four women (the ones who'd have been called during their prime).

As for the future -- dunno? Did they expend all now and forever slayer power and spread it? What happens when all these girls/women are dead? Are all potentials born slayers now?

The text doesn't tell us a thing.

The text doesn't tell us a thing.

No, it doesn't. And I think they can make something really grey and interesting out of it, if someday, Joss decides to continue the story of slayers. I wouldn't mind seeing it on Angel, even.

I just don't think in the Jossverse, empowering a girl (in and of itself) -- giving her strength, is seen as a "problem". There can be/will always be plenty of room for disaster (Faith), but the story is about empowerment.

a metric shitload of women that were going to have relatively simple lives just had their existences turned arse over teakettle

How ass over teakettle though? I mean, the text doesn't tell us that, either. The text told us Buffy and Willow let the potentials (the ones in Sunnydale) choose whether or not they would join in the battle. It isn't explicitly stated, but is strongly implied (by the fact that worldwide, women got slayer strength from the spell) that the Sunnydale SiTs would have gotten the the strength, even if they refused the responsibility of using it to fight.

Even with the life I pretend to live, suddenly becoming superpowered and getting prophetic dreams is going to mess with stuff.

Do I still keep doing krav? Is it fair? What do I do about the dreams, should I decide not to join the battle? Am I going to become a target? How many people do I injure by mistake?

It'd be a big deal ... otherwise what is a slayer?

Just, from sheer bewilderment... if the Slayer power is from the black evil demon slime, what about those times when the Slayer saved someone apparently on instinct, i.e Cave!Slayer, Faith killing the spider in Choices etc. Saving people seems bound up in the Slayer ethos, and I don't get how that got in there.

I agree it would have an impact. I guess I don't see becoming super strong, and having prophetic dreams as turning a person's life upside down, assuming the person is informed what has happened to her.

Am I going to become a target?

Yes, we don't know about that part. However, lots of people are targets for lots of reasons.

How many people do I injure by mistake?

Yes, we don't know this, either. Although in either Killed By Death or Helpless, it seems implied that it's not only strength that's imparted to slayers, but also speed, co-ordination and good reflexes, so I'd say you might injure one or two before you realized you were super-powered, but I can't see it being an accident you keep having. Even with normal human strength, you can control how hard you hit someone, etc.

Even with normal human strength, you can control how hard you hit someone, etc.

Or so you'd think.

My normal self stopped play punching a LONG time ago. Completely cannot gauge it.

I just don't see how superpowers don't rock my world.

And I think they can make something really grey and interesting out of it, if someday, Joss decides to continue the story of slayers. I wouldn't mind seeing it on Angel, even.

I'm really hoping Joss will pick this up in the next series of Fray. And it would be nice to see it passingly addressed on Angel. I really don't want Angel to be Buffy Redux. Not even one episode.

What if instead of talking about strength, we were talking about women getting a political voice, another form of power. Some may not have wanted it, some decided it was needed to fight oppression .

Gettting that power was of the good. Some choose not to use it, some use it for good, others don't.

t /poorly drawn analogy on a rainy Sunday with little coffee and real life issues clouding the brain

poorly drawn analogy on a rainy Sunday with little coffee and real life issues clouding the brain

Not so poorly drawn, as that's essentially the metaphor we're playing with here.

What if instead of talking about strength, we were talking about women getting a political voice, another form of power. Some may not have wanted it, some decided it was needed to fight oppression .

Gettting that power was of the good. Some choose not to use it, some use it for good, others don't.

Bless you Heather, and what Victor said.