[ WP ] In a world where almost everyone is an unfeeling psychopath , those who can show emotion are shunned -- being able to display or feel emotion is considered a mental illness .

`` Did you ever see that movie with Christian Bale?'' 
 
 `` What, Batman?'' 
 
 `` No, not Batman! The one where he's a gun wizard that goes insane and destroys society.'' 
 
 ``... The Machinist?'' 
 
 `` Now you're just pissing me off.'' 
 
 `` Oh, that is such a lie! I thought the whole reason I'm here is because you and everyone else do n't feel anything but I do. I thought we'd be talking about that! You know, the problem?'' 
 
 `` I think the real problem we have is the fact you've never seen Equilibrium.'' 
 
 `` Oh for fuck's sake... Yes, I saw that dumb movie, alright? I was just messing with you!'' 
 
 `` Why? Were you hoping being deliberately obtuse would... what? Annoy me?'' 
 
 `` I do n't know! Maybe? When you brought up a movie from the Pre-Ascent era, I had thought... you could be a little like me.'' 
 
 There was a smile on the therapist's face, impossible to read by the patient. 
 
 `` I am like you, and you're like everyone else. Do n't forget that.'' 
 
 `` But why the movie reference?'' 
 
 `` Convenience. Despite the advances in our civilization, we're still using an old language that is filled with assumptions of dated concepts. We could have started this conversation by going into pronouns, just as easily.'' 
 
 `` I still do n't get it.'' 
 
 `` My point is, even if I do n't feel the way you do, I'm usually good enough at deciphering words to understand you. I do n't need empathy to want to help you, here.'' 
 
 `` So these therapy sessions, they're... a crossword puzzle for you?'' 
 
 `` Most people after the Ascent took an interest in math- for me it was words.'' 
 
 ``... I do n't know how to feel about that.'' 
 
 The therapist's jaw tightened a bit at that admission. The patient wondered, could he have felt frustration just there? 
 
 `` You know why the call it The Ascent? Most people never wonder why. They should, though. Our words influence how we think. It's called The Ascent because mankind never `` got rid of'' or `` suppressed'' their emotions, we rose above them. All of the wonder and beauty and romanticism that came with feelings is still in our heads somewhere, but we chose to fill our brains with things we *felt* were grander, more fulfilling.'' 
 
 `` Like what? All these feelings I have... they have me full to bursting! They threaten to overwhelm me at times with joy, or sadness, or despair, or hope!'' 
 
 The therapist stopped and considered his next words carefully. 
 
 `` Well, have you ever seen that show where Leonard Nimoy had those pointy ears?'' 

