Atrocious Indifference

Atrocious Indifference

Thank you, Derrick, for your time, thoughts, and words. Couldn’t have done it without you. The following is a reprint of "Wicked Theft" - Contest 277.

Here we go, new week, new story. It must have a beginning, middle, and a satisfying end. I need a topic, setting, and scenes.

Who shall be my main character, side character, and what point of view shall I use? Should I opt for an omniscient narrative? First-person narrative? Or how about the second person? That's always a challenge.

And let’s not forget the plot.

I can help.

Sh. I’m thinking. Plot, plot …

Theft.

Huh? What? Don’t bother me now.

How about theft?

You’re not going away, are you

No.

(Sigh) Okay, I’m listening. What do you mean by theft?

The theft of your thoughts.

What did you say?

The theft of your thoughts.

No, I mean explain yourself.

What if someone steals your thoughts?

Oh, come on! How can someone steal my thoughts?

You write your story.

Yes …

Where do the words come from?

From me, of course.

So, these are your thoughts.

Yeah, sure. My thoughts. So?

And then you post the story on this website, right?

Yeah …? So …?

And anyone with as little as a phone and a printer can print your stories from the site, right?

Get out of here! They can?

No, I can’t leave, but yes, they can print. Try it.

(Printer clicks, hums, and grinds)

I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.

Excuse me?

Never mind. Anyone? Or just other members?

Well, this is a members-only site, so yes, members only. Do you know all the members?

No, of course not. I don’t even know how many members there are. There could be 4000 or more of them. Not to mention the ones who sit and watch.

And they can all read your story.

Yes. Isn’t that the whole point of the site?

If that’s all they do.

Sure. That’s all they do, right?

Do you know that as a fact?

What do you mean?

Do you have children or grandchildren who post stories?

No.

Do you have close, personal friends or other relatives who have a weekly story here?

There are many authors I think of as friends, but I’ve never met them in person, no. But ..

If you weren't posting a story or supporting your child or Uncle Joe, would you come here and read 128 stories about people who yearn and 71 stories about people who make food?

No, of course not! That’s preposterous. But …

So why are they a member if they don’t contribute? What’s in it for them?

You mean …?

You tell me, why are they here?

You think they would copy or print any story? And … and …

Finish your thought. I’ll wait.

And use it. Sell it? Maybe under their name?

They could if they wanted to.

But that’s …

Theft.

But my name is on it.

Of course, it is, but how will you know if someone copies your story?

But why would they?

Why not?

No, really, why would someone take this little thing? This drivel.

Is it?

Is it what?

Drivel. Do you write junk?

Well, I try not. So, you're saying that anyone could sign up as a member and copy any or all stories without our knowledge.

Absolutely.

I mean, most people would ask, wouldn’t they? Most people would say. “Hey, I like that story. Would you mind if I use it in my class?” or something like that.

I imagine most people would.

Right. But not all. Did you know that not too long ago, someone posted a story, and then the same person reviewed 101 stories. And they were not merely a “like.” The reviews were half a page long, in-depth, and in some cases, brutally honest. And he did it all in less than an hour and fifty minutes.

Yes, I did know that.

I guess he had to take a potty break somewhere, because the time between posts was no more than a minute or so apart. I’m good, but I can’t read two to three thousand words in under a minute. Can you?

Well …

How do they do that?

The program they use will download and read the story, then generate a review based on preset criteria, including character description and development, narrative arc, plot, timing, climax, and denouement. The program will review the story for consistency in spelling, style, sentence structure, and grammar. Additionally, the program has criteria for rating and providing suggestions for improvement. These programs are very popular with editors, schoolteachers, students, and authors.

So, then the program generates an artificial review.

No, it’s a real review. However, it’s fully developed and generated by what is called artificial intelligence. In other words, human eyes haven’t seen it. Human brains have not thought about it.

That’s scary. Maybe I should stop writing. Or at least stop showing my stories to other people. And maybe delete what I have posted now. Maybe you’re right. Maybe my thoughts could be stolen. What do you think?

That would be a terrible idea. It would disappoint so many people. Your beautiful writing and creativity, along with your mastery over words and evocative imagery, would be a loss to the world if taken away. Readers depend on it. Readers anticipate it. Readers expect it.

Really? That’s nice of you to say, but you’re exaggerating my skills. I mean, I’m not widely published or anything, but … Come to think of it, I do have my followers, I suppose. And yes, I do look forward to their comments and banter. And love it when I get feedback that helps me grow.

Yes, you do.

But thinking that people are hanging around every week, counting the hours until I post another little story, seems a bit too much. On the other hand, if you are right, I wouldn’t want to deprive them of that small pleasure that I can provide, however insignificant.

Oh, it’s not insignificant at all, Trudy. Not to them, your readers. The ones who lap it all up. Like Michael in Atlanta, who has just been offered a slot in a Simon & Schuster anthology with your story “The Night Watchman”, which he had published in the Atlanta Review under his own name. Or to Agnes in Oslo, who has been gaining considerable popularity with her blog and is close to signing a deal with an online publisher, courtesy of a slightly tweaked version of your story “The house with five doors”. And then there is Margaret in Melbourne, who is presenting “Cheers Mom” as her original one-woman play in a community festival this week, and is receiving glowing reviews, I might add. To name just a few.

But, but, but …

No, you wouldn’t want to cut your fans off, Trudy. What would they ever do without you?

Now, wait just a minute!

No, let’s get back to this week’s story, shall we? Jiya in Jaipur is already standing by to translate it.