Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Programmed People


At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)

What if everyone else was just a construct in a computer program built to contain you?

Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...


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51 comments:

  1. Alex J. CavanaughApril 19, 2016 at 8:03 AM

    Now that would be a scary thought. Be like being trapped in the Matrix.

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  2. shortybearApril 19, 2016 at 8:28 AM

    wow

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  3. bettyApril 19, 2016 at 8:40 AM

    Then I would hope the computer system doesn't crash. What would happen then?

    betty

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  4. UnknownApril 19, 2016 at 8:44 AM

    Those are scary thoughts. What happens when you get a virus???

    @Kathleen01930
    Meet My Imaginary Friends
    #AtoZchallenge

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  5. Darla M SandsApril 19, 2016 at 8:46 AM

    They are doing a good job. ~grin~ At least I'm breaking out of this 'burb in a few weeks for a beach vacation! So there, constructs.
    Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
    I hope you are having a day as lovely as what I’m enjoying on my back porch this fine Tuesday.

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  6. LilyElementApril 19, 2016 at 9:05 AM

    I thought of the Matrix as well lol

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    1. Liz A.April 19, 2016 at 4:58 PM

      Partly. But they're not real, only you are.

      Delete
  7. Silvia WritesApril 19, 2016 at 9:30 AM

    It would be tough finding that to be true, waking up to some strange reality such as that one day. So long as I don't know, nothing changes. Good question, though.

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  8. DEZMONDApril 19, 2016 at 11:03 AM

    I have felt contained all me life,so that is probably not an imagination :)

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  9. AnooshaApril 19, 2016 at 11:21 AM

    That sounds Scary .Its like being trapped without an end .

    Happy A to Zing :)

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    1. Liz A.April 19, 2016 at 4:59 PM

      Oh, I'm sure there'd be an end. Eventually.

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  10. PL KeenorApril 19, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    It would be nice if you had some kind of control over the other people, to make them behave in ways you approve of. You could put an end to war, famine and all the ills of the world. In the Or have completely misunderstood your premise?
    That's Purrfect

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  11. Amy PutkonenApril 19, 2016 at 11:57 AM

    Ooh, I LOVE that what if! Fun!!

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  12. Amy PutkonenApril 19, 2016 at 11:59 AM

    I also really love your knitted letters. I'm curious: did you knit them all? Are they specifically for the A to Z Challenge, or something else? They are great for this challenge. I admire your verve.

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    1. Liz A.April 19, 2016 at 5:01 PM

      Yes, I did. I did them in time for last year's A to Z. This year I'm just reusing them.

      Delete
  13. PaulaApril 19, 2016 at 1:26 PM

    I am glad that isn't the way it is. Too scary to think about it!

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  14. J E OneilApril 19, 2016 at 1:33 PM

    Then I would hack into the program and make some much needed rewrites.

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  15. Megan HerbertApril 19, 2016 at 1:49 PM

    That would be bad. Hope it wouldn't crash as someone else said. ~Meg Writer‘s Crossings

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  16. mshatchApril 19, 2016 at 3:35 PM

    I'd go look for the Oracle.

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  17. bookwormApril 19, 2016 at 6:18 PM

    I would demand my programmers do a better job. Eliminate pain, suffering, death. You're welcome. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. Liz A.April 19, 2016 at 7:14 PM

      You've got to wonder why they programmed it like that, though.

      Delete
  18. Yvonne VentrescaApril 19, 2016 at 6:25 PM

    I'd have to wonder what I was capable of if people went to so much trouble to contain me. :)

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  19. Roland D. YeomansApril 19, 2016 at 7:44 PM

    Matrix time, huh? B.F. Skinner believed we all were programed people to one extent or another. :-)

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    1. Liz A.April 20, 2016 at 3:56 PM

      But everybody in the Matrix was real. In this case, only you are.

      Delete
  20. SunniApril 19, 2016 at 8:56 PM

    I'm my own person and hate to be contained or controlled by anything. This would be a hard situation for me.

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  21. BirgitApril 19, 2016 at 9:37 PM

    This is where I would say ignorance is bliss.

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  22. saniyaApril 19, 2016 at 10:10 PM

    The whole world a computer simulation? Well...

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  23. UnknownApril 20, 2016 at 12:23 AM

    As long as I wasn't being manipulated by a thirteen year old boy it might be okay :)

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  24. CynthiaApril 20, 2016 at 12:41 AM

    Your thought-provoking question reminds me of The Truman Show, where everyone in Truman's life are actors cast to "contain him," similar to the concept that you're presenting.

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    1. Liz A.April 20, 2016 at 3:59 PM

      I hadn't considered The Truman Show, but you're right. Similar idea.

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  25. Random MusingsApril 20, 2016 at 4:11 AM

    I guess it would be ok until you found out! I would then have to question why I was so important that someone built a computer program to contain me because I'm really not all that interesting lol.
    Debbie

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    1. Liz A.April 20, 2016 at 3:59 PM

      Maybe you're not interesting in this reality, but in that one...?

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  26. M.J. FifieldApril 20, 2016 at 6:16 AM

    I, too, thought of the Matrix, as well as the Truman Show.

    I don't think anyone would bother 'contain' me...Like Debbie said above, I'm not all that interesting, either. :)

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  27. Mary BApril 20, 2016 at 9:12 AM

    Sounds a lot like a nightmare I had a few times. Let me out! LOL

    Mary
    #AtoZChallenge Q is for Quatro

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    1. Liz A.April 20, 2016 at 4:00 PM

      Now, that's an interesting idea. I want to hear more of this nightmare. Did it make a good story?

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  28. ElizabethApril 20, 2016 at 10:11 PM

    Like others said, I thought of The Matrix and The Truman Show. Both of those movies have led me down a similar train of thought...it's a strange thing to fathom!

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  29. Anna (herding cats-burning soup)April 22, 2016 at 12:59 PM

    Oh dear. My luck with computers that would not go well. lol But as long as they all leave me alone to read...I'm good :D

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I appreciate your comments.

I respond to comments* via email, unless your profile email is not enabled. Then, I'll reply in the comment thread. Eventually. Probably.

*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.

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