You MONSTER! That is one hell of a story, and I wholeheartedly believe it deserves more attention. It’s a really interesting yet scarily realistic scenario and one that makes you think deeply about today’s problem with democracy.
Does the thumbnail mean it got rejected? If so, what a crime. That must have been a 0.1x decision, haha!
This story is incredibly well written, thematically relevant and so important, especially right now. Amber is such a relatable character for most Americans (myself included!) who care deeply, but are still subject to the same biases they scoff at others for having. Really looking forward to reading more of your work! This piece gave me so much to think about
👏 “She was just a quieter version of Gary. More polite. Better vocabulary. Nicer car. But the same level of actual understanding. The same tribal thinking. The same confirmation bias. The same confidence built on a foundation of headlines and summaries and things other people had told her to think.”
“Awareness without action is just another kind of performance.”
Excellent lines. Not that you need me to tell you that. Glad this got rejected so you could share it here. But also sorry you got rejected. Love the mirror here. No one admits it but we’re all guilty of this. Early on while reading, I caught myself thinking, “I’d get a 5.”😂
Love the story! Hypothetical question about the system you developed for this: would voters have been able to retake the test (annually, every four years, etc) if they feel they'd improved their score?
Interesting take. I would presume that if such AI would exist - it would automatically place the voters in the certain bracket, based on their patterns. No testing involved. Your digital footprint is the data, which gives the AI what it needs - the real you.
Ah, you mentioned the characters taking an assessment, which implies a test alongside the review of their patterns. So presumably it can't predict the outcome of the assessment if a person were to become more informed through non-digital means.
This right here..."She approached democracy the same way she approached her recycling routine or her Prius’s maintenance schedule." Perfect. Amber and Gary. Loved it!
Very well written. I agree with Lexis’ comment. How relevant this is to what’s going on right now. The fiction works because it doesn’t feel fictional at all. Everyone wants to be the informed one until the mirror turns around. Then it’s easier to break the mirror than face what it shows.
We keep calling it democracy, but most days it feels more like a contest of who can stay certain the longest.
Wow very disturbing and insightful. Also difficult to predict if it would actually make anything better. If our voting weight were to change, would it make the options to choose from any better? That may be the real issue. Very well written and excellent creativity . Thoroughly enjoyed reading this!!
And, Sir Terry Pratchet’s Lord Havelock Vetinari, the Patrician of Ankh Morpork, who believes wholeheartedly in Democracy and One Person, One Vote - and Havelock is that one person.
This story feels like a black mirror episode that is already happening. The concept of 'informed-feeling' vs. 'informed-thinking' is a distinction we don't talk about enough. Bravo.
You MONSTER! That is one hell of a story, and I wholeheartedly believe it deserves more attention. It’s a really interesting yet scarily realistic scenario and one that makes you think deeply about today’s problem with democracy.
Does the thumbnail mean it got rejected? If so, what a crime. That must have been a 0.1x decision, haha!
And here I was, practicing my acceptance speech:
Ellis Elms walks onto the stage, accepts the award, walks to the podium and leans towards the microphone.
Dead silence in the hall.
"Point proven."
And a slow walk-off...
😂😂😂
On a serious note: THANK YOU. ❤️
This story is incredibly well written, thematically relevant and so important, especially right now. Amber is such a relatable character for most Americans (myself included!) who care deeply, but are still subject to the same biases they scoff at others for having. Really looking forward to reading more of your work! This piece gave me so much to think about
This is a piece which was rejected for an award for Innovative Narration.
I am proud that it did, because it can find my readers' hearts here - where the readers are. ❤️
Thank you for your support!
Fumble by Innovative Narration!! Keep submitting though, because this story absolutely deserves an award!
I'm already racking-in my awards - the comments of you and my other readers.
There's nothing better than that. Trust me.
👏 “She was just a quieter version of Gary. More polite. Better vocabulary. Nicer car. But the same level of actual understanding. The same tribal thinking. The same confirmation bias. The same confidence built on a foundation of headlines and summaries and things other people had told her to think.”
“Awareness without action is just another kind of performance.”
Excellent lines. Not that you need me to tell you that. Glad this got rejected so you could share it here. But also sorry you got rejected. Love the mirror here. No one admits it but we’re all guilty of this. Early on while reading, I caught myself thinking, “I’d get a 5.”😂
Damn... I think of myself as a 2x. Maybe a 2.3x 😅 But 5x?
Woah 😂
I mean AI would probably give me like a .5 but in my mind, I’m informed, okay. 😂
Love the story! Hypothetical question about the system you developed for this: would voters have been able to retake the test (annually, every four years, etc) if they feel they'd improved their score?
Interesting take. I would presume that if such AI would exist - it would automatically place the voters in the certain bracket, based on their patterns. No testing involved. Your digital footprint is the data, which gives the AI what it needs - the real you.
Ah, you mentioned the characters taking an assessment, which implies a test alongside the review of their patterns. So presumably it can't predict the outcome of the assessment if a person were to become more informed through non-digital means.
In this particular piece - assessment is more like assessing the available data, rather than taking a test. But I get your idea.
Thank you for reading this story, by the way.
Makes sense! Thanks!
Midwits, unite! Awesome read, bitter-aftertaste-leaving, but captivating and relatable.
This right here..."She approached democracy the same way she approached her recycling routine or her Prius’s maintenance schedule." Perfect. Amber and Gary. Loved it!
This is really well written and totally descriptive of what's happening today. Love your work!
Thank you!
Very well written. I agree with Lexis’ comment. How relevant this is to what’s going on right now. The fiction works because it doesn’t feel fictional at all. Everyone wants to be the informed one until the mirror turns around. Then it’s easier to break the mirror than face what it shows.
We keep calling it democracy, but most days it feels more like a contest of who can stay certain the longest.
Wow very disturbing and insightful. Also difficult to predict if it would actually make anything better. If our voting weight were to change, would it make the options to choose from any better? That may be the real issue. Very well written and excellent creativity . Thoroughly enjoyed reading this!!
Thank you!
As I read this I thought of two things:
@John Finnemore radio sketch on voting:
https://youtu.be/lPNHguA3CWc?si=eP-ucIdZOkz_78ue
And, Sir Terry Pratchet’s Lord Havelock Vetinari, the Patrician of Ankh Morpork, who believes wholeheartedly in Democracy and One Person, One Vote - and Havelock is that one person.
So relatable! Amazing story telling as always and so relevant!
Thank you!
This story feels like a black mirror episode that is already happening. The concept of 'informed-feeling' vs. 'informed-thinking' is a distinction we don't talk about enough. Bravo.