Board Thread:False Info and Speculative Discussion/@comment-207.254.224.12-20140717193212/@comment-19765459-20140718054440

Jackson Van Kleeck wrote:

Then explain other situations in which Derek proves to be a better alpha, because I disagree. Derek proactively thinks about the safety of Beacon Hills, whereas Scott tends to be reactive to immediate threats that impact him.

Granted, Derek did a sucky job assembling his pack. His motives were well-meant though. He had the existing problem of the Kanima and the looming threat of the Alpha Pack. Derek had virtually no personal life because he was spending his nights doing things like trying to find the Kanima and bring it down, whereas Scott was squeezing in Allison, lacrosse, etc. In fact, a huge chunk of his Argent problems were driven by his determination to keep seeing Allison, and unlike Jennifer and Derek, she was not relying on the allure of three sacrificed virgins to boost her allure! Twentysomethinsg deserve a life as much as teenagers (especially since Derek's teenage life was a disaster!), but he was putting himself at the bottom of the priority list!

Scott, in fact, was prepared to protect the Kanima because it turned out to be Jackson, somebody he knew, and all the people it was killing were people he didn't know! That demonstrates a fundamental selfishness. Scott protects what's close to him. Derek had technically no reason to protect anything at all!

Unlike Scott, he's not a  minor subject to a parent. He could leave Beacon Hills and go back to New York if he really wanted! At the time he didn't know Cora was making her way back to town and he thought Peter was dead. He had no family or friends left in town. There was no reason for him to go out and play Batman, despite risk of hunters and homicidal reptiles. The connection between his Bite and Jackson did not get made until fairly late (initially Lydia was suspected of being the Kanima and she was bitten by Peter). Derek could have just said "The Hell with it!" and walked away.

But he felt a sense of duty. Scott, on the other hand, was a reluctant hero. Were it not for Stiles, he may not have been a hero at all! Scott only gradually expanded his concerns beyond himself and those close to him. When Jennifer was running around committing sacrifices left and right, it was actually Allison, Stiles, Chris and Isaac that were doing most of the legwork trying to figure out who was behind it! Scott was, as usual, prioritizing himself. The Alpha Pack was looking to recruit him and that was his big worry - something that threatened HIM! Beacon Hills could become an abattoir for all he cared, so long as it happened outside of his eyesight!

Scott makes fewer truly personal sacrifices than Derek. And, in kindness, Derek was actually trying to make that possible for him. That is only just beginning to change.