Frequently Asked Questions
Why the name? Isn't the word "pariah" derogatory?
Well, yes and no. Like many words, it can be derogatory or not. It has a few definitions. I don't
think anyone thinks we regard ourselves as an oppressed caste of people in India, so we'll skip
that one. The other generally accepted definition is that of "outcast." This can be taken literally,
but is nearly always taken in more of a figurative way. Our group is for those who feel outcast,
whether they are in reality or not. Some of us have an overwhelming feeling of "not fitting," and
that's really the root of this.
The word "pariah" (as originally used in English) meant "ceremonial drummer." Tying it back to
the above, such drummers in India were often of the lowest caste. Our group symbol, a series of
off-set concentric rings around a solid center circle, is meant to reflect this meaning. The circle
represents the drum head, the rings represent sound waves, and the fact that it is off-center
harkens to the "odd" nature of our group. After all, we certainly march to the beat of a different
drummer than most groups.
Who's the leader of the team?
As mentioned elsewhere, we are an egalitarian team, which means we have no leader. The group
was founded by Dynamistress. She owns the property on which the group's headquarters exists,
and she serves the role of Facilitator in the consensus "staff," but she is not "leader" of the team.
Is it true that you have villains in your membership?
Only if you assume that everyone who lives in the Rogue Isles is a villain. And that makes no
more sense than assuming everyone in Paragon City is a hero. Yes, we have members who are
from the Isles. It's also true that some of our members may have a less than clean history, so to
speak. But rest assured, none of our members are, in fact, "villains."
Is it true that your group does not have a "No Kill" policy?
The Project holds itself to the same standards as the city's peace officers. Use of deadly force is
something to be avoided, although it is certainly available to us. When and if a fatality does
occur, we are subject to the same investigative examination that a police officer would be, up to
and including legal action.
It has been asserted by some that we should hold ourselves to a different standard than police
officers, due to our abilities. We don't agree. Police officers are not held to a different standard
than the public, even though they have at their disposal weaponry that far exceeds that of the
common citizen. To assert that, due to our abilities (which vary considerably from meta to meta),
we should always be able to avoid the use of lethal force is, to our thinking, naïve.
Is it true that your group does not have a "No Poaching" policy toward members of other groups?
On the contrary! The Pariah Project in no way condones taking members of other groups and
cooking them in a simmering liquid! That's utterly unconscionable.
On the other hand, you might be referring to the practice of recruiting those who already are
members of another group. With regard to that, we do not have an official policy, no. While we
understand that some (including some Project members) find this practice to be rude and
insulting, the Project as a group does not hold this view.
Many of us see it as being akin to a sales pitch. A person may be using one phone service but be
willing to listen to an offer to switch. However, like the sales pitch, such an offer should be made
politely, and the one making the pitch absolutely must take "no" as an answer. Past that, it
becomes harassment, and the Project most certainly does regard that sort of behavior as
unacceptable.
What are the benefits of membership?
In addition to being able to hang out with an awesome group of heroes, you will have access to
the team's base of operations. Unlike the larger groups, we have no need of an entire building
dedicated to this purpose. Rather, the HQ is within Dynamistress's personal home. You will have
access to the rooftop of the building, which includes a bar, an outdoor theater, a pool table, a hot
tub, and more. Members will also receive their own pariahproject.org email address and a profile
on this site.
