I’m just enjoying the interesting use of text, visually. You don’t often see social media within a visual medium, and it’s always interesting to me to see how it’s handled (more so in movies, where you don’t have the time to carefully take in the details, but it’s also neat here).
And, it totally makes sense to do it this way. Wonder if the kids’ll pick up on it, though?
It was even easier back in the days of cordless telephones. Just dial in the neighbor’s frequency and listen to yur hearts content. Oh, wait, I’m forgetting Party-Line phones; just pick up the phone and listen. Those were the days!
I remember when you used to HAVE to get a warrant to tap a phone. Hahaha, I’m so old school.
Meh. If they had a reason to tap Todd’s phone they probably already know the basics about Sarnothi and such. Probably not a lot is going to be revealed to them in this conversation.
Let’s see, odds of agent brown preparing for the worst case of Andi believing Amanda, instead of assuming it’s a lie, and the past and potential future relations between tod and Andi, I’m betting Andi’s apartment and phone are taped, prob with some anti fallout code to keep Andi’s mom from learning over the phone (as in forced disconnect if the phrase “selfie isn’t actually…” or such comes up). Extending to media outlets as well, naturally.
No need. Seven minutes into this panicked texting convo, Tod gets another text.
Agent_Brown: “Tod, please tell your ex that electronic communications are not sufficiently secure for Top Secret rated content… OR let us replace your phones with our own high-security versions. Don’t expect to be able to do social media through them — that’s what makes them secure.”
I really do not know how much Andi knows about what or how much nastiness Amanda did to Selkie. Someone may have left out the important nasty bits when giving their re-telling of the story… I’m going with; “Andi doesn’t know how bad,” and therefore she cannot be as worried as I am.
I’ll worry for her.
To me, there’s a parallel in real life. A1 child having a confusing mess of a hard time in school, gets a diagnosis, “Bi-polar, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Turrets” etc. Next thing, family is freaking out “Bi-polar! Aaagghh!!! HOW am I supposed to DEAL with this?” etc. There’s frequently feelings of alienation and distance, like the kid is a different creature now. Guess what, folks? NOTHING HAS CHANGED! NOTHING! It’s just that, now, you have the knowledge to help you know and understand this person better. My personal experience is with relatives that are no longer “family”, and my child’s diagnosis of Autism.
Guess what Andi, Selkie is still Selkie. (Ok. I admit that the whole species/civilization thing is quite a bit more to adjust to. It’s just within the context of people she already knows that this thought of mine applies. 😉 )
The same way you deal with anyone different than you — you politely ask questions if they are okay with it and otherwise go on with your life.
Then again, honestly, everyone should’ve figured it out by now. There is no possible way that a simple genetic condition that is at all survivable can turn you purplish, give you black sclera, make you an obligate carnivore, give you FREAKING GILLS…etc. Anything that deforms the human body enough to look non-human pretty much kills you.
In fairness, I think Andi is taking it reasonably well considering that it’s not just a genetic anomaly, but an entirely different SPECIES she’s now dealing with.
Andi’s not focusing on Selkie, the kid she knows, not being human. She’s grappling with the idea that a non-human species is here on Earth at all. That is a pretty mind-boggling thing to have to digest. Sure, science fiction stories have dealt with First Contact scenarios since forever, but that’s fiction. You come to the end of the story. You may say to yourself, “That was pretty good. It made me think!” Then (if you’re sane) you re-enter a real world where the story’s premise isn’t true.
I think any science fiction reader has probably wondered, “What would I do if…” But it’s always, and only, hypothetical. Comfortably hypothetical. Todd has come to acceptance piece by piece, and there were still moments when it pretty much blew his mind.
What makes acceptance possible is the fact that, despite being very different physiologically, Sarnothi have a psychology and a range of personalities that are very, very similar to humans.
Is Andi a child or something? Seriously. How do you deal with that? The way she’s been dealing with it. Her life hasn’t changed, she just learned something new. She needs to grow up.
Easier said than done. It’s a lot to take in when an entirely different species on par with humans suddenly gets dropped on you. It will take some adjusting as well as learning. I mean, if I had a young child and learned her classmate had venomous spit, fangs and claws I’d be like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on now, what? Is my kid in danger? Please remove my child from that class.” and probably a little later, “How venomous is she? Has she ever hurt anyone intentionally? Has she hurt anyone unintentionally? How often has it happened?” I would need to be really certain Selkie wasn’t a danger to my kid. You don’t just accept a dangerous being just because they’re a lot like humans. It’s bad enough serial killers and psychopaths blend in with society so easily and they don’t look any different. You can be damn sure if a humanoid species that had actual harmful things visible on the surface would take a hell of a lot of adjusting to.
Wow. That’d make them pretty prejudiced and narrow minded. Also why would they need to know about her spit. That seems highly unnecessary. It’s literally like the X-Men. Just cuz someone looks scary doesn’t make them a monster. If their looks frighten someone that much then they need to work it.
I guess it’ll really happen one day. Wouldn’t want to have to make the decision as to how. A sudden revelation would look like an invasion, and a gradual introduction like an infiltration. Even a stand-off period of remote communication has its pitfalls- witness “Not Final!” by Asimov.
BTW, Happy Saint David’s Day! From a Wales completely shut down by snow.
“how am I supposed to deal with that” is a pretty bad question in this situation imho. This isn’t about you Andi, all you have to do is be an adult and treat Selkie the same way you already did.
Yup, this is the kind of reaction I expected. Actually a bit surprised everyone else so far just took it in at face value.
I’m just enjoying the interesting use of text, visually. You don’t often see social media within a visual medium, and it’s always interesting to me to see how it’s handled (more so in movies, where you don’t have the time to carefully take in the details, but it’s also neat here).
And, it totally makes sense to do it this way. Wonder if the kids’ll pick up on it, though?
#securitybreach
It’s just too easy to tap into electronic communication.
It was even easier back in the days of cordless telephones. Just dial in the neighbor’s frequency and listen to yur hearts content. Oh, wait, I’m forgetting Party-Line phones; just pick up the phone and listen. Those were the days!
I remember when you used to HAVE to get a warrant to tap a phone. Hahaha, I’m so old school.
Meh. If they had a reason to tap Todd’s phone they probably already know the basics about Sarnothi and such. Probably not a lot is going to be revealed to them in this conversation.
Any bets on how long before Agent Brown shows up? I’d be truly surprised if he didn’t have a monitor on Todd’s phone.
Let’s see, odds of agent brown preparing for the worst case of Andi believing Amanda, instead of assuming it’s a lie, and the past and potential future relations between tod and Andi, I’m betting Andi’s apartment and phone are taped, prob with some anti fallout code to keep Andi’s mom from learning over the phone (as in forced disconnect if the phrase “selfie isn’t actually…” or such comes up). Extending to media outlets as well, naturally.
I am less concerned that Agent Brown is monitoring Todd’s phone and more concerned that Agent Brown will be concerned that someone else could be.
No need. Seven minutes into this panicked texting convo, Tod gets another text.
Agent_Brown: “Tod, please tell your ex that electronic communications are not sufficiently secure for Top Secret rated content… OR let us replace your phones with our own high-security versions. Don’t expect to be able to do social media through them — that’s what makes them secure.”
I’m waiting on the “is she dangerous” question, because considering all Amanda has done to Selkie that can’t go over well.
I really do not know how much Andi knows about what or how much nastiness Amanda did to Selkie. Someone may have left out the important nasty bits when giving their re-telling of the story… I’m going with; “Andi doesn’t know how bad,” and therefore she cannot be as worried as I am.
I’ll worry for her.
Well, that and the massive freudian excuse Amanda has in regards to that adoptive “family” she got.
You could try saying “Hi,” Andi.
To me, there’s a parallel in real life. A1 child having a confusing mess of a hard time in school, gets a diagnosis, “Bi-polar, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Turrets” etc. Next thing, family is freaking out “Bi-polar! Aaagghh!!! HOW am I supposed to DEAL with this?” etc. There’s frequently feelings of alienation and distance, like the kid is a different creature now. Guess what, folks? NOTHING HAS CHANGED! NOTHING! It’s just that, now, you have the knowledge to help you know and understand this person better. My personal experience is with relatives that are no longer “family”, and my child’s diagnosis of Autism.
Guess what Andi, Selkie is still Selkie. (Ok. I admit that the whole species/civilization thing is quite a bit more to adjust to. It’s just within the context of people she already knows that this thought of mine applies. 😉 )
The same way you deal with anyone different than you — you politely ask questions if they are okay with it and otherwise go on with your life.
Then again, honestly, everyone should’ve figured it out by now. There is no possible way that a simple genetic condition that is at all survivable can turn you purplish, give you black sclera, make you an obligate carnivore, give you FREAKING GILLS…etc. Anything that deforms the human body enough to look non-human pretty much kills you.
Google the “Blue Fugates” family. Or “werewolf girl”. Genetics are weird.
The gills is the big giveaway but most people don’t know about that particular trait.
In fairness, I think Andi is taking it reasonably well considering that it’s not just a genetic anomaly, but an entirely different SPECIES she’s now dealing with.
To be fair, the gills are hidden.
With alcohol, lots and lots of alcohol….
Andi’s not focusing on Selkie, the kid she knows, not being human. She’s grappling with the idea that a non-human species is here on Earth at all. That is a pretty mind-boggling thing to have to digest. Sure, science fiction stories have dealt with First Contact scenarios since forever, but that’s fiction. You come to the end of the story. You may say to yourself, “That was pretty good. It made me think!” Then (if you’re sane) you re-enter a real world where the story’s premise isn’t true.
I think any science fiction reader has probably wondered, “What would I do if…” But it’s always, and only, hypothetical. Comfortably hypothetical. Todd has come to acceptance piece by piece, and there were still moments when it pretty much blew his mind.
What makes acceptance possible is the fact that, despite being very different physiologically, Sarnothi have a psychology and a range of personalities that are very, very similar to humans.
PING PING PING!
“What’s that, Mother Box? Lightray fell down the old well?”
Is Andi a child or something? Seriously. How do you deal with that? The way she’s been dealing with it. Her life hasn’t changed, she just learned something new. She needs to grow up.
Oh come on, like we haven’t all practiced for this moment
Treat them with respect like you would anyone else. It isn’t that difficult Andi.
Easier said than done. It’s a lot to take in when an entirely different species on par with humans suddenly gets dropped on you. It will take some adjusting as well as learning. I mean, if I had a young child and learned her classmate had venomous spit, fangs and claws I’d be like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on now, what? Is my kid in danger? Please remove my child from that class.” and probably a little later, “How venomous is she? Has she ever hurt anyone intentionally? Has she hurt anyone unintentionally? How often has it happened?” I would need to be really certain Selkie wasn’t a danger to my kid. You don’t just accept a dangerous being just because they’re a lot like humans. It’s bad enough serial killers and psychopaths blend in with society so easily and they don’t look any different. You can be damn sure if a humanoid species that had actual harmful things visible on the surface would take a hell of a lot of adjusting to.
Wow. That’d make them pretty prejudiced and narrow minded. Also why would they need to know about her spit. That seems highly unnecessary. It’s literally like the X-Men. Just cuz someone looks scary doesn’t make them a monster. If their looks frighten someone that much then they need to work it.
Just like Andi does.
I guess it’ll really happen one day. Wouldn’t want to have to make the decision as to how. A sudden revelation would look like an invasion, and a gradual introduction like an infiltration. Even a stand-off period of remote communication has its pitfalls- witness “Not Final!” by Asimov.
BTW, Happy Saint David’s Day! From a Wales completely shut down by snow.
“how am I supposed to deal with that” is a pretty bad question in this situation imho. This isn’t about you Andi, all you have to do is be an adult and treat Selkie the same way you already did.