User talk:JonBuck/Changing America

Blog Comments?

Just floating an idea for the other Paradise authors. Since much of this story is written through blog posts by the characters, is there any interest in submitting comments I can use? --Buck 03:18, 8 June 2009 (UTC)

I'm guessing some of these comments should be rude, since Serena mentions that she was "outed" by the commentors. After all, the anonymity provided by the Internet does make people more daring and willing to flame, so I guess that it would be logical to have a couple making a lot of insults, sexual innuendo and the such. And also, with the "flame war" that began on the blog, I guess quite some commentors would be interested only in arguing and insulting each other, so I imagine a number of the comments may not even be related to the topic in question.

Not all the comments would be mindless insults, of course, since some of the commentors should be still be, y'know, logical and mature to an extent. So a few might be discussing the topic, some others would be engaged in flaming combat, and others will be trying to break up the fight, right? And the comments don't have to have any part in the storyline, right?

If the above is correct, I can try dropping a bunch of comments for you! If you don't mind? Just give me the green light, and I'll do my very best! Oh, and great story, by the way! It's awesome. :)--Drake 18:15, 10 June 2009

Go ahead and write down your comment ideas here. If I like 'em I'll make them official. :) --Buck 06:56, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

Followup: Thinking about it, "canon" comments should add to the story in some way. Otherwise I doubt people will read them. --Buck 20:04, 11 June 2009 (UTC)

The Envious Alan

Of course you're being manipulated. We all are. Some people have been since as long ago as 1987.

Think about it. There's no possible cause that could explain the Change. No disease, no nanite grey goo, no genetic mutation, nothing. Maybe some of those could explain the form change, but what about the intelligent nature of the "reality distortion field" around us? The way it first kept anyone from seeing anything weird, and now it selectively edits everything associated with us? When "John Doe" suddenly wakes up Jane and a doe, and not only has all his ID cards and all photos of him everywhere changed to female but suddenly has a wardrobe full of girly clothes to match?

Something is messing with reality—editing reality. There are all kinds of theories floating around about what or who, but I don't think we'll ever really know. I would just like to point out that one philosopher thinks there is a 20% chance we're living in a simulation instead of real life. So if we are, maybe whoever's running it is poking the anthill.

It does seem like whoever's doing it at least isn't randomly cruel. If we're being forced "out of the closet" by the veil slipping away, it seems to be doing its best to smooth things over. Your furry comrades might have been hassled in Detroit, but they weren't chased by a mob with torches and pitchforks. Something's overriding humanity's tendency to hate and fear what they don't understand.

From my perspective, that can only be a good thing.

Posted by: A vixen fixin' to get her licks in, March 22, 9:17 a.m.

(Perhaps it might be too blatant, but on the other hand it's so obvious that it has to be said out in the open sometime... —Robotech Master 20:42, 11 June 2009 (UTC))