Cam leaned back in his chair, fingers loosely wrapped around a mug, watching Jam pace the room like a man arguing with gravity itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d<\/em> Cam said gently, \u201cstart from the beginning. What exactly is bothering you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam stopped, turned sharply. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t exist.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s a strong position. Why?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s unnecessary and dangerous. That should be enough.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDangerous for everyone? Or for some people?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam groaned. \u201cThe \u2018some people\u2019 argument. Predictable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just want to understand,\u201d<\/em> Cam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy reasoning is simple. If something poses serious risk to even part of the population, why keep it? Why celebrate it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam took a sip. \u201cWe keep a lot of things that aren\u2019t safe for everyone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s different.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s avoidable,\u201d <\/em>Jam snapped. \u201cWe don\u2019t need it. It\u2019s optional.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOptional things can still have value.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cValue?\u201d <\/em>Jam laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re calling it valuable?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo some people, yes. It brings enjoyment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a hazard disguised as a treat.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam leaned forward. \u201cDo you think people who enjoy it are careless? Or unaware?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoth. Careless at best, selfish at worst.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s harsh.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s accurate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think they intend harm?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIntent doesn\u2019t matter if the outcome\u2019s the same.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt can matter,\u201d<\/em> Cam said. \u201cIt shapes how we respond.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam waved it off. \u201cIf someone supports something dangerous, they\u2019re the problem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat if they don\u2019t see it that way?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen they\u2019re not paying attention.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr they\u2019ve had different experiences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDifferent experiences don\u2019t change facts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes they change how we interpret them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam stared. \u201cYou\u2019re really defending this.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to understand both sides.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re failing to agree with me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstanding isn\u2019t agreement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam groaned. \u201cConvenient. You stay calm while others deal with consequences.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam\u2019s tone softened. \u201cThis sounds personal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam hesitated. \u201cIt is. I\u2019ve seen what it can do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d <\/em>Cam said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brief silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo your solution,\u201d<\/em> Cam continued, \u201cis to eliminate it entirely?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes. No exceptions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven for people who can use it safely?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy should their convenience outweigh someone else\u2019s safety?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s fair,\u201d<\/em> Cam said. \u201cBut is it only convenience?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam threw up his hands. \u201cYou keep romanticizing it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think small pleasures matter to people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam muttered, \u201cUnbelievable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think removing it solves everything?\u201d <\/em>Cam asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about education? Labels?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat puts the burden on the vulnerable,\u201d<\/em> Jam shot back. \u201cWhy should they always be on guard?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRemoving it puts the burden on everyone else.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood. Maybe then they\u2019d understand.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou want people to lose something to build empathy?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf that\u2019s what it takes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOr it just frustrates everyone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re passionate,\u201d <\/em>Cam said. \u201cBut do you think how you\u2019re saying this helps people hear you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey don\u2019t deserve to be coddled.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m talking about connection.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam scoffed, softer now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf people feel attacked,\u201d<\/em> Cam continued, \u201cthey defend instead of listen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo I\u2019m supposed to be nice?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRespectful. Curious.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam frowned. \u201cThey\u2019re dismissive.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome are. Meeting that with hostility escalates things.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam paced again, slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou might be right about the risks,\u201d <\/em>Cam added. \u201cBut if people tune you out, the argument goes nowhere.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam stopped. \u201cSo I\u2019m sabotaging myself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA little,\u201d<\/em> Cam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam exhaled. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 irritatingly possible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam chuckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I still think it\u2019s ridiculous people are so attached to it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam grinned. \u201cYou mean peanut butter?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You knew?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had a suspicion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam shook his head. \u201cAll this over peanut butter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt matters to some people,\u201d<\/em> Cam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam sighed. \u201cI still don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam glanced at him. \u201cBut maybe calling everyone who eats it an idiot isn\u2019t helping.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam huffed a small laugh. \u201cGreat. Now I have to be reasonable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cam raised his mug. \u201cIt grows on you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jam smirked. \u201cDon\u2019t push it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully..<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR for Cam & Jam<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cam leaned back in his chair, fingers loosely wrapped around a mug, watching Jam pace the room like a man arguing with gravity itself. \u201cAlright,\u201d Cam said gently, \u201cstart from the beginning. What exactly is bothering you?\u201d Jam stopped, turned sharply. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t exist.\u201d Cam nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s a strong position. Why?\u201d \u201cBecause it\u2019s unnecessary and … <\/p>\n