Microstory 496: Performer

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The member of the team who most easily adapts to the new dynamic is The Performer. She accepts their situation almost immediately, but she has trouble dealing with the future. She’s always done a great job of reacting to problems as they come across, but has never enjoyed, or really even appreciated the concept of, preparing for future consequences. She experiences a constant inner conflict between doing the right thing, and just letting everything go. She is quick to discover the easy way out of a situation, which often involves cutting her losses and running. She feels a strong sense of love for everyone in her group, and develops these connections surprisingly quickly, but then feels an apathy for anyone she has not met personally. She understands on an intellectual level their duty, but does not fully recognize the intensity of their new life. She has a sub-magnus degree in weapons & combat. Spontaneous, and a little ill-tempered, the Performer can be a little delusional about how defiant she is against authority. She wants to be a team player, but doesn’t always realize what that means, and how she should modify her behavior. Her team eventually learns to not turn their backs on her when they’re planning a mission. As soon as she finds out when and where they’re going to be, she’s likely to run off and try to take care of it on her own. If anyone can handle a team mission by herself, it’s certainly her, but that doesn’t make it a good idea. Rest assured as well, if there is too much tension, or awkward silence, in the room, she is going to find a way to break it. She’s always good for an inappropriate joke, or a quip about superficial qualities of their opponents. Her capacity for loyalty is really only outshined by her ability to pretend like it doesn’t exist. She is highly extroverted and entertaining, but very few people truly know her, because she carefully constructs a facade to protect herself, and those around her, as she’ll claim. Work hard enough on a relationship with her, though, and always try to give her the benefit of the doubt, and she will ultimately come through for you.

Microstory 474: Floor 11 (Part 2)

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Lead Tester: Hey, Subordinate Tester, what are you doing right now?

Subordinate Tester: I’m working.

Lead: How are you working? We’ve been locked out of the system.

Subordinate: I’m not working on this job. I’m doing my second job.

Lead: What’s your second job?

Subordinate: Well, I guess it’s not technically a job. I’m...

Lead: What? Come on, tell me.

Subordinate: It’s an app.

Lead: Why do you seem embarrassed about that? Lots of people in our circles have written their own apps.

Subordinate: Yes, but my app is kind of...weird.

Lead: What does it do?

Subordinate: It’s kind of hard to explain. I haven’t worked everything out yet, but it’s all about being spontaneous. Basically, at some scheduled time—or maybe it shouldn’t be scheduled, it’ll give you something spontaneous to do. Like, it’ll tell you to just drive somewhere you’ve never been before. Or perform something random in public. Or even something as silly as stepping into a crowded elevator and facing the back wall, instead of the doors.

Lead: Wow, that’s—

Subordinate: Really dumb, I know.

Lead: Awesome. It’s awesome. What have you done so far, if you don’t mind my asking. I promise not to steal your idea.

Subordinate: I’m not worried about anyone stealing my idea. It’s not a very good one.

Lead: Don’t say that. Don’t sell yourself short. I genuinely think this sounds like a good idea. Could you show me? How much have you written?

Subordinate: Nothing. I actually don’t know how to program apps. I’ve just been working on the content, keeping my head down here at Analion, and hoping to save up for some classes at the junior college.

Lead: Well, if you want to learn how to write code, I’m all for it. But if that’s not your thing, then you’re in luck. I know Java. I could write your code.

Subordinate: No, I couldn’t ask you to do that. You have responsibilities.

Lead: Have you looked at where we are? This is a sinking ship. It’s the bloody Titanic and the Britannic all wrapped into one. I was gonna go back to working for my old boss, but screw that, I have money saved up. Let me help. You could keep hold of all creative control. I just wanna help. And if we make money, then I won’t turn it down. This could be big.

Subordinate: Do you really think so? Because I’ve already thought of even crazier ideas of connecting it to other apps, and directing users to businesses that support their spontaneity goals. Like, if the app tells you to try skydiving, it would pull up a list of nearby airfields.

Lead: That’s even better than the first idea. Oh man, I’m so pumped. I really need this lockdown to end so we can get the hell out of here and get this thing goin’.

Microstory 395: Self-actualization

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Enthusiasm

No one has come up to me and asked what self-actualization is, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Rather, I’m going to do my best at interpreting this Wikipedia article on the subject I have pulled up here in this other tab. It would seem that self-actualization, which is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, is less a goal that it is a state. Self-actualization is the culmination of everything good that makes you who you are. To reach this state, you have to understand what kind of person you are, and how others see you. You have to know what you like, and what you don’t like, and how you should change or adapt. You have to let go of your hangups and biases and presumptions and hatred and pessimism and selfishness and greed and, most importantly, your ego. You have to be comfortable with where you are in life, you have to care for others, you have to be honest and reliable, and you have to always give it your best effort. You have to be clear, accepting, understanding, loving, loyal, brave, and compassionate. You have to be self-reliant but helpful to others, intelligent but respectful, thoughtful but spontaneous, prepared by flexible, confident but interested. You have to have a sense of wonder. You have to be able to accept that not everything is in your control, and that not everything will go according to plan. You have to be good. It’s important to recognize that self-actualization is not an end. When you reach enlightenment, and ascend to a higher plane of existence, that’s your end...that is, assuming your spiritual beliefs do not preclude such a thing. It’s very possible to reach a state of self-actualization, but then drop from it, whether by your own hand, or unavoidable complications. This is, not completely, but mostly, another way of describing life itself, except that it must be morally good. You’re always going to have to work at life, and it will always disappoint you. Some psychologists even say that we reach certain peaks of self-actualization all the time. It’s all just a crazy mix of circumstance (read: luck), effort, attitude, introspection, and critical observation. There’s a difference between being self-actualized, and just operating on the notion that you’re pretty swell. This step is not the last. It’s more of a beginning.

Transhumanism I