You found a banned history book, and it told of a time individuals thought for themselves. A time with names like Plato, Webster, Hobbes, Rousseu, Locke, and Descartes. A time when different ideas and philosophies were batted around freely. You want that back. That's why you're a Soap.
        Well, that and it's a lot of fun. You must admit there is something delicious about seeing your opponent squirm when you've caught them on a point. There's something almost drug like about the feeling you get when a new idea strikes you. Also, there's that feeling of power that comes from standing on a soapbox (where your name comes from), spouting your ideas, and having people listen. There's nothing quite like it.

What you look like
        You value independent thought and expression above all else, so you avoid a consistent dress code. Your dress reflects your own particular style. There are Soaps in leather, T-shirts, and suits; it all depends upon their individual views. Many Soaps wear buttons or shirts that promote their own philosophies, whether it is anarchy, communism, democracy, or monarchy.
        Occasionally, when preparing an action to support free speech, you disguise yourselves to avoid retribution (you love to dress like MegaViolents or Street Fighters). After all, if you're going to try to put a statue of Ghandi pinned under the BuReloc sign, a witness seeing one of you wearing a bright red "I love Lenin" T-shirt would serve as a very distinguishing characteristic. By disguising yourself, you protect the group. Aside from that, fashion is free reign.

Subculture
       Simply put, you're the new set of philosophers and debaters for your era. Where many of the other yogangs enjoy stretching their bodies to the limits, you enjoy stretching your minds. Your entire world is based around intelligence and eloquence, because debating is your drug. It doesn't matter how weird or bazaar an idea is, as long as it's given logically and well. You may doubt everyone's existence or just your own. If it's a concept, chances are you've given it thought.
        Unfortunately, the ISA doesn't like you freewheeling philosophers. If nothing else, your presence is disruptive and often revolutionary. The only reason your yogang isn't hunted as actively as the EcoRaiders is because the authorities think you're all talk and no action. Nothing could be further from the truth. At some level, all of you support freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas, and it's these concepts that are your driving forces. In support of free speech you've helped set up pirate stations, destroyed propaganda mills, and cracked data fortresses. However, you're almost never caught. You plan your raids to the second. Some juves call these plans obsessively complex; you call it cautious. All of you know that it's risky to stand up in the middle of a street and spout your philosophy to the world until security turns up, but it would be suicide if CorpSec connected you to any physical attack. Therefore, your forums seem like inactive lumps, while carrying out intricate raids. Until you're caught, your words will be loud, and your actions hidden.
        The corps probably would have an easier time tracing your activities if you were as organized in your forums as in your raids. Fortunately, your yogang is one step short of chaos. The only thing that provides any sense of order is respect. Respect allows your debates to continue with little need for any concrete rules. To act unfairly would be disrespectful of your opponent, your opponent's ideas, your ideas, and yourself. Anyone can become a leader, provided they can support why anyone should follow them in their plans. This very transitory structure makes it very difficult for the corps to defend against you or track your activities and that's just how it should be.

Belonging
       Most Soaps were brought in by friends, but you just moved here. At first, they ignored you. Then certain things began to appeal to them. They saw you reading texts that weren't government sanctioned. Your presentations in class were logical and eloquent. You didn't answer the teachers' questions the way they wanted. They could tell you liked to think. At last, they invited you to try out. In order to join, you had to pass through a grueling twelve hour debate concerning everything you ever believed or thought. Luckily, you didn't fall into their traps or miss their subtle clues. In the end, it wasn't your beliefs or your success they were judging. It was a test of mind and voice, and you passed. You could speak and think up to their standards. You were in.
      It's very rare for a forum to force a Soap out. This only happens because of betrayal or closed mindedness. Since removal is such a drastic step, most try to convince the offending member of the error of his ways. Luckily, the verbal tirades and caustic remarks keep most on the right track. If that doesn't work, the Soaps hold a trial. The accused decides the trial's format, but usually, it's a traditional jury. If the forum finds them guilty, there is no appeal. If they are found guilty of betrayal, they may be banned for life or even executed. If they are guilty of close mindedness, they are banned until they re-apply, and the forum re-accepts them. Soaps tend not to hold grudges against the close minded, so getting back in isn't that difficult, just say you want to, take the test again, and they might accept you.

Allies and Enemies
       Your closest allies are the Rads. They view you as non-active, but clever allies, and often invite you to their rallies. You view them as overly risky, but enjoy helping them shake out flaws in the messages of the Machine. You also have a good relationship with the Taggers, V-Punks, and Vidiots, who help to spread your message. The TinkerTots respect your work because you tinker with concepts. Unfortunately, the MegaViolents, Moshers, Goths, and GoGangers enjoy picking on you because you aren't action oriented and so cerebral. Despite how much the corps hate you, the cops are bigger problem, since they're the ones sent to break up your philosophy free-for-alls.

Slang
Go Hemlock: To turn corporate
Webster: A terrific speaker
Stepping: To issue a challenge
Forum: A Soaper yogang
Landie: An exciting debate
Stotle: To dominate a debate
Socrat: To get confused, to miss the point (sometimes intentionally)

Yogang Skill: DEBATER (Int)
       Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dr. Martin Luther King. All of them, stirred their followers to tremendous heights. Their words were the most powerful force in their arsenal. You know what these men did, what it takes to lead others. Therefore, you may use Debater instead of Fearless Leader. In addition, the hours spent arguing about absolutely everything has trained your mind into a smooth running logic machine. You can use your Debater skill instead of Get A Clue to catch a flaw in logic or reasoning.

Using your DEBATER skill

• You look at things from other points of view so often that it has become second nature. Therefore, you may use Debator-1 for any negotiation, haggling, or other appropriate roll.
• Debating and public speaking is the basis of many an Edgerunner's success. Your debater skill is equivalent to the Edgerunner skill Oratory.
• You have spent most of your life studying, so you may use Debater instead of Schoolin' for any history, economics, or other appropriate subject.

If you're a Soap,
1) Tell me your name, age, and sex.
2) Describe what you look like.
3) Aside from your v-trodes, tell me 4 things you are carrying.

• 10 V-cards of speeches
• One book on philosophy, government, or economics
• Hand tazer
• Armored Duster (AR 3)
• Loudspeaker
• Briefcase