A dark-haired man sits in a dimly lit room with a table before him, a few sheets of paper set before him. He picks up the papers and shuffles them impatiently as if waiting for someone. Then a flash of blue and red lights up the room, and across the table a teenager appears, the first thing anyone would notice is his grey eyes flecked with blue and red continually shifting. The teen looks shocked, and the man sitting across the table sighs a bit in relief. "Ah, so you are finally here, Soran! I'm shocked this worked. A pleasure to have you with us!"
Soran blinks. "How do you know my name? And why am I here? What is going on?"
"Oh, it's simple; you are here by magic, of course…. Ah ah ah, don't complain, I know you can wield the elements of fire and water, tis an interesting power source you have there. That is just as strange and impossible as teleportation across dimensions. Also, you may call me Interviewer."
Soran pauses for a moment and then shrugs, "Fair enough. I assume you are going to ask me some questions."
"Good observation, first I will describe to you a phenomenon in our world and ask you your opinion of this theory. Understandable? Good, let's begin. We will be drawing all of our information from Juvenile Delinquency and Urban areas by Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D. McKay."
Soran nods, and the Interviewer takes a deep breath and begins. "Our world is very different from your world. We have much more infrastructure and industries much as your world is developing and instant communication. From these massive cities developed and are now the norm. Consequently, this is a theory that came to be known as the Theory of Social Disorganization. Basically, it states that areas that are well organized have social institutions that reinforce the social order of these neighborhoods keeping their children from becoming delinquents easily. However, areas that are unorganized due to the lack of resources, specifically capital, whether social or cultural or economic…."
Soran raises his hand slowly and asks. "What do you mean by capital as social or cultural."
"Ah, sorry, I took it for granted you understood me. Capital something gathered that gives benefits to its owner. For example, cultural capital may be an understanding of how to play an instrument or who painted this painting; social capital may be having specific relationships with wealthy people. Do you understand? Good, I will move on. Therefore, if a neighborhood doesn't have the institutions to carry out social order or properly teach generations morals, the number of organized crimes and criminals will increase in these areas. These areas are often found in cities, especially where disadvantaged people live, like immigrants or racially discriminated against groups."
The Interviewer pauses and looks carefully at Soran, who is alert and also taking in the information on the table in front of him, giving some visual aid and further technical aid. "So, how do you think this theory would hold up in your world?"
Soran begins to speak slowly. "Well, let us see. Institutions are the building blocks of any society because they ensure that social order is carried on. In my world, we have a different phenomenon that is similar to your own. The family doesn't exist anymore, having been destroyed because of the high amounts of casualties in war. Therefore, a single man will be given a certain number of women he has no responsibility save for giving them, children. The government takes the place of raising these children in various militaristic organizations. Out of this has come many children only good for one thing, war. I'd say the way the society orders its communities does have a huge impact on how the children shape up. However, in our world, no area of society is untouched by this heavily militaristic government, so there is no place to see how it might be without this rigid structure."
The Interviewer nods and takes some notes before he asks another question. "And what do you think about this in my world."
Soran grimaces. "I am not particularly adept with your world so far; however, let me hazard a few guesses. If your structure of society broke down in these areas because of different reasons like family disintegration and poverty, without some form of authoritarian or even a normal form structure to replace it, some vacuum must be there. That can easily be filled by the worst kind of people trying to take advantage. In our case, it was the government, better than some forms of authority but not that great, in your case, it was gangs and organized crimes if I have read correctly. Now, I agree with this theory to a degree. I see it casting too far a net. Even in our world we have great deals of crime that the younger people are exposed to, and that they join. Despite this, in my world and your world, other forms of crime continue to exist and thrive outside of these areas and in my case, all around."
"So what is your conclusion to this?" the Interviewer asks, raising an eyebrow and leans back in his chair somewhat unnerved by the eyes of Soran continually changing color.
"Well, in my world, the social organization is not positive but does help direct youth away from a criminal path. While in your world, the lack of social organization in specific areas is dangerous but not the sole cause of all the problems in your world. It does open up areas of discussion around what is beneficial to do to replace this social order, or is it beneficial to have this kind of social order everywhere. Correct me if I am wrong."
The man interviewing Soran smirks. "We will never get full answers to all of our questions on this earth, so we do our best. Thank you for coming this week. Perhaps one day, you will be back to discuss another topic."
"Wait, what are you…." The Interviewer snaps his finger as Soran speaks, and Soran instantly disappears, "Till next time."
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