It's safe to say that given electronic & temporal oddities, I should stop attempting to number these

[notjohnsmith]

Even in an ordinary city, the saying 'be careful what you wish for,' isn't without merit, because of how easy it is for people to, with Epimethean lack of foresight, waste their time and energy on frivolous things that they won't enjoy, or take foolish risks, or simply to want things that are bad for them, like a child with a cavity and a bag of Halloween candy. In a place like New Moore, however, it takes on new and unseen dimensions, like a cube expanding to a hypercube. However, despite the purported feline fatality rate, curiosity is a central enough trait that it's impossible to avoid... Given all the imponderable variables that have been introduced on this island so far, there's no way of knowing, but I still find myself wishing I knew what's likely to happen next.

Comments

[maiditoutalive]

the solution to that is time travel!

[notjohnsmith]

Even if time travel was likely to solve anything rather than simply cause an endless succession of open time loops with cross-temporal crises that need to be fixed one by one by starting more time loops... I don't have access to anything like that.

[maiditoutalive]

well with that kind of attitude you will never manage to use it to fix anything
either that or the time travelers you know are not particularly experienced in the establishment of stable time loops

[notjohnsmith]

I'm afraid that's classified information.

[maiditoutalive]

what??
why is that classified information?

[notjohnsmith]

Something a friend of mine used to say whenever I wondered about time travel.

[maiditoutalive]

that is a terrible response and they are not a very good time traveler if thats what they say
there is no reason not to be transparent about what you are doing
at least at some point

[notjohnsmith]

While circumstances prevented her from being open, it wasn't as though secrecy was something she freely chose. Think of it as a rule she was made to follow.

[maiditoutalive]

well thats dumb
there isnt any rule like that i ever heard of and i think it should be broken if there is

[notjohnsmith]

Without going into an extremely abstract and uninteresting discussion of the specifics of the situation, suffice to say that circumstances made this impossible.

[maiditoutalive]

that sounds like youre covering up for not really knowing how it works

[notjohnsmith]

Since in either case I can't discuss it further, is that kind of speculation really necessary?

[maiditoutalive]

maybe
all kinds of speculation is worth ruminating all

[notjohnsmith]

It isn't going to be productive.

[maiditoutalive]

i dont insist that everything i do be productive

[notjohnsmith]

When it comes to discussing this kind of phenomenon, I have a hard rule on the matter.

[maiditoutalive]

i have a feeling i will find it silly but go ahead and tell me

[notjohnsmith]

I don't engage in unproductive conversations when it comes to espers, aliens, time travelers, or dimension sliders, as long as I'm given any choice in the matter.

As this rule has repeatedly preserved my sanity, please forgive me if I adhere to it as firmly as a monk would stick to any religious restrictions placed on him.

[maiditoutalive]

i was right
i do think thats pretty silly
you realize that limits your conversations to
actually i dont know who you could possibly talk to at school that doesnt fall under those categories

[notjohnsmith]

Have you met Haruhi?

[maiditoutalive]

hmmm maybe
shes the one who does the announcements for your club right

[notjohnsmith]

When she doesn't delegate them to the secretary, yes.

[maiditoutalive]

is that you or is that somebody else?

[notjohnsmith]

That's me.

[maiditoutalive]

ah
well i dont think ive actually fully been introduced to her yet
feel free to explain regardless

[notjohnsmith]

Unproductive conversations about the supernatural, based on reckless, improbable, and unprovable speculations completely devoid of rational pattern are a recurring feature. For self-defense purposes, some countermeasures are necessary.

[maiditoutalive]

how do you know i couldnt provide you with a rational pattern for some of it?

[notjohnsmith]

I'm not sure it's worth the risk.

[maiditoutalive]

how will you know unless you try?

[notjohnsmith]

Maybe I should just introduce the two of you and see what happens.

[maiditoutalive]

somehow i dont think you mean that in a positive way

[notjohnsmith]

That's not it at all.

It seems like you might be the sort of person who's more suitable to deal with her directly than most. I wouldn't want her -- or myself -- to be misunderstood.

[maiditoutalive]

uh ok
what does it take to be suitable to deal with her??

[notjohnsmith]

An interest in the supernatural, a tolerance for irrational behavior, and a willingness to explore sudden unexpected tangents without losing composure.

[maiditoutalive]

sometimes i think all i do is deal with unexpected tangents

[notjohnsmith]

Then you'd fit in well with the rest of us.

[maiditoutalive]

i will look forward to meeting her then