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Reading the beginning and end is like eating just the buns off a burger and declaring it bland and tasteless. Part of the magic of this story is that it can ch

Reading the beginning and end is like eating just the buns off a burger and declaring it bland and tasteless. Part of the magic of this story is that it can change what you agree with (as it did for me.) Not saying it will do the same for you, but it is a compelling vision; I can't think of other ways to get there without getting unscientific.

hosh 10mo ago
I am familiar with NLP and persuasion techniques, and when I started feeling it creep in as I read this story, I started skimming. I have learned that a compelling vision alone does not mean it is correct or even wise. The analogy is not correct. I know that burger is rich in taste and marvelous. It is also my opinion that it is an illusion, and lacks substance. There is so much more to the cosmos than science, though I get that this is the current preoccupation of our civilization. Maybe one day, people will expand their consciousness beyond science the way the main character expanded her’s to communicate with aliens. Until then, I recognize I am in the minority here in HN with this view.
- GolDDranks 10mo ago
  Where in the story does NLP (I guess you mean "Neurolinguistic programming" and not "Natural Language Processing") factor in?
  - hosh 10mo ago
    It isn’t in the content of the story, but in the craft of storywriting itself. The author does not have to know these to make use of the methods identified by NLP. Rhetoric (as a study in and of itself) and persuasion has long been studied and practiced by humanity.
    - solenoid0937 10mo ago
      I do not understand why you'd intentionally close your mind to persuasive arguments. Sure, let's say the author does use NLP. What of it?
    - procaryote 10mo ago
      As I understand it, NLP is pseudoscience. Rhetoric and persuation has long been studied by humanity, but that doesn't make NLP real
amenhotep 10mo ago
It's pretty obvious what it's doing, honestly. I did skim the entire thing but I don't think you need much more than the beginning and end once you see the point. Which is more or less lampposted by the title.
- tenuousemphasis 10mo ago
  Ok, what is it doing?
  - sdwr 10mo ago
    It's technology propaganda. The protagonist is initially skeptical, but learns to accept the wonders of tech as her life is magically transformed by it.

hosh 10mo ago

I am familiar with NLP and persuasion techniques, and when I started feeling it creep in as I read this story, I started skimming. I have learned that a compelling vision alone does not mean it is correct or even wise. The analogy is not correct. I know that burger is rich in taste and marvelous. It is also my opinion that it is an illusion, and lacks substance. There is so much more to the cosmos than science, though I get that this is the current preoccupation of our civilization. Maybe one day, people will expand their consciousness beyond science the way the main character expanded her’s to communicate with aliens. Until then, I recognize I am in the minority here in HN with this view.

GolDDranks 10mo ago
Where in the story does NLP (I guess you mean "Neurolinguistic programming" and not "Natural Language Processing") factor in?
- hosh 10mo ago
  It isn’t in the content of the story, but in the craft of storywriting itself. The author does not have to know these to make use of the methods identified by NLP. Rhetoric (as a study in and of itself) and persuasion has long been studied and practiced by humanity.
  - solenoid0937 10mo ago
    I do not understand why you'd intentionally close your mind to persuasive arguments. Sure, let's say the author does use NLP. What of it?
  - procaryote 10mo ago
    As I understand it, NLP is pseudoscience. Rhetoric and persuation has long been studied by humanity, but that doesn't make NLP real

amenhotep 10mo ago

It's pretty obvious what it's doing, honestly. I did skim the entire thing but I don't think you need much more than the beginning and end once you see the point. Which is more or less lampposted by the title.

tenuousemphasis 10mo ago
Ok, what is it doing?
- sdwr 10mo ago
  It's technology propaganda. The protagonist is initially skeptical, but learns to accept the wonders of tech as her life is magically transformed by it.