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 a low caste of people in India, so we'll skip that one. The other generally accepted definition is that of "outcast." We don't take this literally, but 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" also refers to the pariah drummers. Our group symbol, a series of off-set concentric rings around a solid center circle, is meant to be a nod to these drummers. The circle represents the drum head, the rings represent the 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.
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. In fact, we have a base of operations in the Isles, as well as in Paragon. 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 other group members 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 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.