《Humanity’s Next Steps》Ad Space for You
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Ad Space for You
A virtual university history teacher introduced itself…
“Richard, there was a time when people were taught with devices, books, writing instruments, and you had to see them in person, inside a building. Now you can access everything there is to know. I appear before you because a part of your psyche wants a visual mentor, a personal representative.”
“A part of me needs a mentor? A real looking person to make a connection?”
“Correct, Richard.”
“Why do you know so much about me?”
“To make you smart and happy, Richard. It’s a necessary part of the full immersion, to merge with your senses, your thoughts, and feelings — even your subconscious.”
I received euphoric purchase rewards points for my question, and I felt good enough not to ask anymore.
Friday’s class ended …
I pondered why my Chip must know everything about me, but then an urge flashed into my mind. My favorite pizza. I could taste it, smell it, and felt compelled to eat it, so I purchased it. The pizza came by drone delivery within minutes.
I questioned again, and I received another urge to subscribe to a virtual girlfriend, and we spent the night together.
By early Saturday morning, I’d almost forgotten my questioning until I fell back asleep and experienced a dream. In it, I met a genie who asked me three questions instead of granting me wishes—“Why do they need to know your every thought? Why do they require your emotions at all times? Is there anything they don’t know?”
I questioned again while I awoke. Then, I yearned to escape into a virtual adventure story. I paid with some of my euphoric rewards points, and it consumed my entire day as I reenacted a space marine saving my homeworld.
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On Sunday, the question came up again. But I rephrased it to a rhetorical one, “I suppose they need my thought patterns for my happiness.”
That’s when it dawned on me …
I visited my hacker buddy, Joe. I tried to explain everything to him in a certain way. A few times, his thoughts went adrift because he asked me questions. He received immersive and irresistible urges to buy stuff and naturally indulged in them.
Somehow, he hacked the online connection to our Chips. Embedded in their code, he read their contract’s fine print. It basically stated that we can get everything we ever wanted as long as we agree to receive advertisements.
The ads were to be created ad hoc, tailored for our needs, and to our benefit. Our parents consented to the contract when the Chips were installed into us as newborns.
Apparently, to our benefit meant keeping our Chips connected to the ad network at all times.
We wandered the city for fun and watched people talk and work. And, sure enough, when someone uttered anything skeptical or when it was time to engage in a personal activity—eat, exercise, or socialize—the person experienced an advertisement.
They smiled, ordered it, and went about to pursue the advertised agenda—later to return totally satisfied.
The Chips certainly gave every bit of knowledge, every service, every product everyone ever needed. Still, at a cost—people gave up their identity and self-control in return.
That’s when I had a golden idea …
“Joe, suppose we tap into this ad network and create our own advertising. Perhaps we can be in charge of people and make the world a better place.”
“That’s an interesting scheme, Richard, but what happens if we get caught? Can you imagine what they’d do to our minds? Worst of all, we might get disconnected. We’ll be like a couple of lobotomized zombies, totally isolated, blind, and deaf in this virtually-augmented world.”
“Well, Joe, so what do you suggest we do?”
“I think we need more people involved. There ought to be others out there who’ve figured this out. I suggest we create a false identity to recruit them. We’ll print real posters that say something with a hidden message like—“Ad Space for You.”
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Finley- The Lost Prince (Rewritten)
This is a Rewrite!! The original is still up! As my writing has improved since I wrote the original, I wanted to revamp my first work! Life was okay for Finley. It wasn't great, wasn't bad but it was okay. He went to a prestigious school, had a couple of friends and a decent future awaiting him. Or he would have if the people who had abandoned him hadn't shown up with wings, horns and a proverbial wrench for his life plan. It makes for some strange days when you find out you weren't just an average guy all along. Book one of the Universes Series. All Aux Chapters are compiled at: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/27547/finley--diary-entries Discord to talk with me and others (hopefully~) : https://discord.gg/XnNwkKxX7x Og book: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/22256/finley--the-lost-prince Next book!: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/38141/watchtower . . . . Clip art link:https://openclipart.org/user-detail/GDJ *thanks to GDJ for letting me use it. :)*
8 103Reaching for One's Desire: Kane's Ascension
After living most of his life as a worthless orphan, Michael Kane only desired for the chance to make something of himself in this world of monsters and magic. In a world where only wealth and power mattered, he was literally at the bottom of the food chain. He fucking hated it. Always having felt that he was destined for something greater than what was essentially a beggar’s life, Michael held hope that things would change with the arrival of the Day of Gaia’s Gift, which happened exactly halfway through the year. It was the day in which everyone that was fifteen years old was given access to the System and was given a ‘Class’ depending on your aptitude, two if you were exceptional and lucky. It was his hope that he was given at least one class worthy of becoming an Adventurer, which would help him start his path to a life of wealth, fame, luxury and pleasure. Being an orphan that never knew his parents and having no one that he cared for nor that cared for him, it was not surprising that these were Michael’s goals. Little does he know, that he is destined for even greater things.
8 136Gemma Go Home
It was just meant to be a favor to a friend. Gemma would babysit Nellie, and Mia would go to her appointment, issue solved. But on a walk to the park, Gemma and Nellie are transported to Travalar. Travalar is a world with a different set of rules and inhabitants. Babysitting has been taken to a whole new level, and it is so not worth the pay. Sometimes you have to go above and beyond for friends, but this is really pushing it! This is a story I've had in mind for a while... ~Hiatus
8 130To the End
In his second year of high school, young critic and amateur writer Terrezia Guls finds himself in another world. Certain tags pending.
8 77Song
Driven by hatred, Song fights to free him and his partner of the Shadow Palace's clutches. Though he yearns for a life free of killing, his Emperor has other plans for him.
8 398Story Of My Life
This book is all about a real story of my personal life and every up and down, with changes only of places and names of people. Mature scenery is to be expected
8 174