I have no idea if this is the right spot for this -- modz, if I'm in the wrong place, please feel free to move this fread.
I'm convinced that part of the reason America is so fuxxored is the simple fact that our primate brains keep getting flooded with the "everything is fine, spend spend spend, who gives a shit" message from The Machine.
As such, I have decided (and I know I'm not the first, don't get me wrong) that it's high time that a little mindfuckery got circulated on the mass media market.
On this vein, I'm seriously considering writing a book. This book will be about Fat City,Ñ¢ USA¬Æ, wherein a small knot of daring pranksters challenge the norm and illustrate that complacency is folly. My thoery is that if the book gets popular it'll filter into other media markets, thus trickling the message into enough minds that it MIGHT make a ripple in the pool.
First things first.
I need some help. I don't normally ask for help when I'm writing, well, anything, because I don't want to feel like a rip-off artist for using someone else's suggestions to good effect. At the same time, this is probably one of the reasons I haven't written anything important for some time.
I'm looking for suggestions on jakes that would be good for shaking up an entire city. Please consider the following:
1. Assume a flexible, but not unrealistic, budget.
2. Think of any jake you've ever wanted to pull -- NOT just for the sake of jaking, but for the sake of making a point -- but decided against on the grounds of funding, personnel requirements, or questionable legality.
3. Try to keep in mind that the point is to capture the attention of a large city, and eventually the nation. The idea is to make a point and then have it spread like a virus.
If you'd like to PM them to me, that's fine. If you want to post them here, that's fine too.
I will give proper credit in any finished work, along with a reference to the web site of your choice. If it's really good you'll get a copy of the book if and when I publish.
Thank you all in advance for your time and consideration.
QuoteThis book will be about Fat City,Ñ¢ USA¬Æ, wherein a small knot of daring pranksters challenge the norm and illustrate that complacency is folly. My thoery is that if the book gets popular it'll filter into other media markets, thus trickling the message into enough minds that it MIGHT make a ripple in the pool.
...Have you read
Illuminatus!?
Yeah, a few years back.
Like I said, I know I'm not the first.
lol
this is like what people around here are trying to do in the first place, aint it?
they bond together and thru trial and error they begin a multimedia development machine to broadcast comedic and subversive messages throughout the universe whle everything bad crumbles
true story
I think that's why someone suggested I come poking around here.
:-D
I'm always partial to a good old hoex
make good reading too, expecially if it starts spiraling out of control...
:lol:
Well, you'll find plenty of mindfucks, and plenty of organizational ideas.
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 06:47:24 PM
I think that's why someone suggested I come poking around here.
:-D
no doubt
now all we need is a time machine to jump ahead and figure out exactly how it happens
then come back here
and you can write it
it would be a pre-biography
:-o
Shit.
Now I want a time machine.
Fight Club?
Of course, if you are really lucky, the book will be so huge that you will get offered a movie deal, happy meal toys and computer game tie-ins  :wink:
It just occured to me that it might seem a little lame of me to post here asking for help, rather than just poking around for ideas.
My difficulty is that I don't know what the policy is on snitching ideas, especially for what could (in my fantasy world, I know) become a commercial endeavor.
So I was asking, rather than just quietly poking.
:-D
Everything here (with the exception of Roger's rants) should be kopyleft, but it's best to doublecheck with the original poster.
You can steal all of my shit, BTW.
take take take and dont look back
the worst that can happen is somebody feels bitter and tries to come after you
jealousy, etc
look through history as well
could get a lot of good ideas from things such as the salamader letter, priory of sion, ect....
Quote from: LHX on December 19, 2006, 06:59:03 PM
the worst that can happen is somebody feels bitter and tries to come after you
I'll
Kill you and all your family!
It's not a bad idea - it's only that the 'the further it spreads, the greater the dilution' rule applies.
This can lead to 'victim of it's own success syndrome'.
That's not to say that all is hopeless and no one should do anything. Maybe it'd be an idea to do some research and ask ourselves:
What was the last book published that caused ripples? Or to qualify that, the last time that meaningful ripples were caused.
I can think of 2 very influential books of recent years that resulted in global phenomenon. The only trouble is, both books were unfeasibly stupid. (Being 'The Atkins Diet' and 'The DaVinci Code').
What works have created changes lately? What lessons can be learned from them? What mechanisms could be employed?
Anyways...it's SSOOKN pizza time.  :-D
Okay, I think I get the idea. Thanks for the pointers thus far.
Are there any classics I should start with?
Not looking for URLs, but search terms would be a good start.
Are you looking for plot structures, thematic ideas, stylistic moves, or what?
the internet was a great jake
Jakes specifically.
I still have to come up with the plot, but pointers on some really good fuck-the-man pranks would be a good start.
Pranks, or conspiracies?
Quote from: LMNO on December 19, 2006, 07:11:26 PM
Pranks, or conspiracies?
Hmm. Well, pranks, I thought.
Lemme give you a little background.
I often drive to Buffalo on the weekends, and every time I do I have to drive past a sign that reads:
QuoteBUFFALO
AN ALL AMERICA CITY
The wife, English teacher in-training as she is, often complains that she'd like to paint an "N" on the end of "AMERICA," a common complaint shared by the denziens of Buffalo I'm acquainted with.
The last time I passed that sign, I started putting together the necessary steps to descend upon that sign, modify it radically, and get away with it. First it was going to be a city-wide systematic attack on the signs during National Literacy Week, then I got a little giddy and figured I'd repaint the second line to say "A CITY," then I decided I need to repaint it to say "AN ERISLAMIC JIHAD."
Poof. Here I am.
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:15:02 PM
figured I'd repaint the second line to say "A CITY,"
thats the shit right there
subtlety has no impact, but it sure packs the mega-LOLs
Well, my original thought was twofold:
1) Encourage some brain-wave activity
2) Display some hijinks that would result in some monkey-see-monkey-do
. . . thus spreading the love far and wide.
its tough man
people have been jaked into submission and obedience
i dont know if you can jake them out of that
unless you can bring a dinosaur back to life and let it loose in a densely populated suburb
and spray paint PD.com on the side of him
that would turn some heads
In that case Daniel, go spelunking in the "Operation:Mindfuck" Forum.
You'll find a hell of a lot of pranks there.
Alright, LMNO, will do. Thankya.
And LHX -- you might be right, but I've got nothing to loose but some free time.
Might as well try.
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:25:38 PM
Alright, LMNO, will do. Thankya.
And LHX -- you might be right, but I've got nothing to loose but some free time.
Might as well try.
no doubt
nothing but support from this section - dont get me wrong
trial and error is what its all about
What do you guys think would work better:
1) Anonymous pranksters, where the plot is more about public reaction
2) Prankster characters that we get to watch and cheer on
?
If you choose to have characters, you'd better make it clear how they're hiding their tracks. You know as well as I do the PTB would squish anyone who pulled too many pranks, or too large of one.
If you want to use any of my stuff, feel free, but DO NOT credit me. Seriously, do not mention me whatsoever.
#1 would be interesting if you had a good fully developed protagonist that your audience could identify with. If you want your audience to react to the prank more then the "mission"
#2 would be better if you wanted to illistrate the prank and create some good conflict - expecially if the prank becomes bigger then expected and goes out of control
depends what direction you want to go
Quote from: DJRubberducky on December 19, 2006, 07:34:45 PM
If you choose to have characters, you'd better make it clear how they're hiding their tracks. You know as well as I do the PTB would squish anyone who pulled too many pranks, or too large of one.
PTB?
Quote from: DJRubberducky on December 19, 2006, 07:34:45 PM
If you want to use any of my stuff, feel free, but DO NOT credit me. Seriously, do not mention me whatsoever.
Understood. Danke.
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:28:44 PM
What do you guys think would work better:
1) Anonymous pranksters, where the plot is more about public reaction
2) Prankster characters that we get to watch and cheer on
?
Both. ¬†First one, then the other. ¬†However, to have a story arc, have your protagonist be a greyface who becomes enlightened, and joins in the fun, only to be destroyed by the System,Ñ¢
Quote from: LMNO on December 19, 2006, 07:38:11 PM
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:28:44 PM
What do you guys think would work better:
1) Anonymous pranksters, where the plot is more about public reaction
2) Prankster characters that we get to watch and cheer on
?
Both. First one, then the other. However, to have a story arc, have your protagonist be a greyface who becomes enlightened, and joins in the fun, only to be destroyed by the System,Ñ¢
OOO!
Have the anonymous pranksters, then someone gets the idea and signs up, they get totally stomped, and then the pranksters spring them out!
Ha...I see "someone" was right.
:thanks:
Quote from: Jenne on December 19, 2006, 07:45:17 PM
Ha...I see "someone" was right.
:thanks:
Do I know you?
:-D
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:40:15 PM
Quote from: LMNO on December 19, 2006, 07:38:11 PM
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:28:44 PM
What do you guys think would work better:
1) Anonymous pranksters, where the plot is more about public reaction
2) Prankster characters that we get to watch and cheer on
?
Both.¬† First one, then the other.¬† However, to have a story arc, have your protagonist be a greyface who becomes enlightened, and joins in the fun, only to be destroyed by the System,Ñ¢
OOO!
Have the anonymous pranksters, then someone gets the idea and signs up, they get totally stomped, and then the pranksters spring them out!
If you want my 2 cents, no hollywood ending.
Imagine Fight Club if the bombs didn't go off, and Ed Norton blew off the top of his skull.
in my opinion
that would be one hell of an improvement
Hmm. What about the sort of ending where the protagonist would've been totally squished, but The Machine had to run off and deal with the anonymous jakers?
He still looses his job, his house, his wife and his dog, but he gets to wander off.
I'm no big fan of happy endings either, but what's to encourage the consumer if it looks like there's no point to trying?
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:52:50 PM
Hmm. What about the sort of ending where the protagonist would've been totally squished, but The Machine had to run off and deal with the anonymous jakers?
He still looses his job, his house, his wife and his dog, but he gets to wander off.
I'm no big fan of happy endings either, but what's to encourage the consumer if it looks like there's no point to trying?
You could do the "two-ending" thing, where you show the reader what they WANT versus what IS.
Quote from: Daniel on December 19, 2006, 07:52:50 PM
Hmm.  What about the sort of ending where the protagonist would've been totally squished, but The Machine had to run off and deal with the anonymous jakers?
He still looses his job, his house, his wife and his dog, but he gets to wander off.
I'm no big fan of happy endings either, but what's to encourage the consumer if it looks like there's no point to trying?
Think of the original
Rocky.  he loses, but he becomes idolized as a thing to aspire to be.
That is tosay, it's the fight which is important.
Hmm.
So he gets stomped, but other people see, cheer, and go and do?
But that was a set up for Rocky II, y'all. There wouldn't be a Rocky XXII coming out this week otherwise...
As an ending, though, I think I like it.
The best thing about this is that you could make it as non esoteric as possible, unlike earlier works. Sure, you could talk about the Machine, and maybe put a hint in there about the BIP, but it would be really great to do this and stay away from the culture of the sixties.
I guess my plan was to drive home the point in terms that the average reader would be familliar with.
Referencing things in terms of concepts like The Machine and the BIP would probably put off a great many folks who hadn't come to terms with those concepts, much less understood what they were.
Baby steps.
Yeah, in no way attempt to imitate RAW.
RAW = ?
Robert Anton Wilson.
No, I think I was going to stay away from the Illuminatus! approach.
I wasn't aiming for silly, esoteric, or global conspiracies.
Quote from: Rabid Badger of God on December 19, 2006, 08:48:32 PM
Yeah, in no way attempt to imitate RAW.
Thanks for saying what I wanted to but instead said crappily.
Nah, you did fine.
Especially since I was the dunce who had to ask who/what RAW is. :-D
Spelunking round here is your friend, Dan da Man!
Quote from: Pope T.Mangrove xvii on December 19, 2006, 07:04:28 PMI can think of 2 very influential books of recent years that resulted in global phenomenon. The only trouble is, both books were unfeasibly stupid. (Being 'The Atkins Diet' and 'The DaVinci Code').
What works have created changes lately? What lessons can be learned from them? What mechanisms could be employed?
so i wonder, what's against the hollywood ending?
ok i would rather have the hero fail miserably and get squashed as well (gives me more closure than they lived happily ever after) but if you're aiming at popularity .. ?
I'm looking to find a cross between "the hero dies" and a Disney ending.
I hate Disney endings, but I also want to leave the reader with a sense that it's not all entirely futile.
Quote from: triple zero on December 20, 2006, 12:48:04 PM
Quote from: Pope T.Mangrove xvii on December 19, 2006, 07:04:28 PMI can think of 2 very influential books of recent years that resulted in global phenomenon. The only trouble is, both books were unfeasibly stupid. (Being 'The Atkins Diet' and 'The DaVinci Code').
What works have created changes lately? What lessons can be learned from them? What mechanisms could be employed?
so i wonder, what's against the hollywood ending?
ok i would rather have the hero fail miserably and get squashed as well (gives me more closure than they lived happily ever after) but if you're aiming at popularity .. ?
In my mind, if they feel good about the ending, people tend to become complacent. We want to wake people up, not perpetuate their sleep.
(this may have already been suggested but) possibly the right kind of ending would be then with the heroprankster dying/getting squashed/locked up/etc, but having waked up a lot of people, following in his footsteps, jaking the fuck out of the rest of the world.
or you can do the nyarlathotep-ending:
QuoteScreamingly sentient, dumbly delirious, only the gods that were can tell. A sickened, sensitive shadow writhing in hands that are not hands, and whirled blindly past ghastly midnights of rotting creation, corpses of dead worlds with sores that were cities, charnel winds that brush the pallid stars and make them flicker low. Beyond the worlds vague ghosts of monstrous things; half-seen columns of unsanctified temples that rest on nameless rocks beneath space and reach up to dizzy vacua above the spheres of light and darkness. And through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled, maddening beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the detestable pounding and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic, tenebrous ultimate gods — the blind, voiceless, mindless gargoyles whose soul is Nyarlathotep.
nobody will like that.
maybe you should do the scooby doo ending.
Quote from: triple zero on December 20, 2006, 01:45:14 PM
(this may have already been suggested but) possibly the right kind of ending would be then with the heroprankster dying/getting squashed/locked up/etc, but having waked up a lot of people, following in his footsteps, jaking the fuck out of the rest of the world.
or you can do the nyarlathotep-ending:
QuoteScreamingly sentient, dumbly delirious, only the gods that were can tell. A sickened, sensitive shadow writhing in hands that are not hands, and whirled blindly past ghastly midnights of rotting creation, corpses of dead worlds with sores that were cities, charnel winds that brush the pallid stars and make them flicker low. Beyond the worlds vague ghosts of monstrous things; half-seen columns of unsanctified temples that rest on nameless rocks beneath space and reach up to dizzy vacua above the spheres of light and darkness. And through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled, maddening beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the detestable pounding and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic, tenebrous ultimate gods ,Äî the blind, voiceless, mindless gargoyles whose soul is Nyarlathotep.
nobody will like that.
maybe you should do the scooby doo ending.
I need to have that Lovecraft quote on my tombstone.
Quote from: LMNO on December 19, 2006, 06:57:46 PM
Everything here (with the exception of Roger's rants) should be kopyleft, but it's best to doublecheck with the original poster.
You can steal all of my shit, BTW.
I just wanted to echo this. I consider my stuff kopyleft as well and I require and insist on no credit.
You can, however, give me a free copy of the book when it is published. :-D
Quote from: triple zero on December 20, 2006, 01:45:14 PM
(this may have already been suggested but) possibly the right kind of ending would be then with the heroprankster dying/getting squashed/locked up/etc, but having waked up a lot of people, following in his footsteps, jaking the fuck out of the rest of the world.
Yeah, I think that's what I'm angling towards.
I always liked just a semi-happy ending with a soft hint of melocholy in the background
im a sap
no big explosions, but the main character coming to a realization
I wouldn't want to read any happy ending. That doesn't echo the times yo.
mang's ending of ultimate compromise:
the hero achieves the effect he/she wanted
however, they get squished in the process
but, he/she survives and has to fade out in the background (like when jack bauer faked his own death and went underground)
but the people who were awoken to the hero's doings carry on.
thus the central figure is removed and yet is commemorated.
it's not a totally happy ending, isn't totally nihilistic either
Isn't that a plot for Moore's Dark Knight series?
Quote from: LMNO on December 20, 2006, 07:46:46 PM
Isn't that a plot for Moore's Dark Knight series?
it might be....but i've never read that. i was just trying to keep everyone happy with an ending that wasn't entirely happy.......or sad.
8-)
Cop out, ITT. :wink:
Quote from: Pope T.Mangrove xvii on December 20, 2006, 07:41:08 PM
mang's ending of ultimate cop out:
the hero achieves the effect he/she wanted
however, they get squished in the process
but, he/she survives and has to fade out in the background (like when jack bauer faked his own death and went underground)
but the people who were awoken to the hero's doings carry on.
thus the central figure is removed and yet is commemorated.
it's not a totally happy ending, isn't totally nihilistic either
:lol:
i just realized that i'm not actually being that helpful.
:-D
You helped.
You made me giggle.
:-D
Quote from: Daniel on December 20, 2006, 11:19:53 PM
You helped.
You made me giggle.
:-D
well that's something.  :-)