Mutual Not Getting It

Being asked by my sister's boyfriend to describe the story I was working on at that particular moment (currently titled Ravas Florin for those of you playing at home) I obligingly did so and got back the response "So you DO believe in aliens".

Well, no. Maybe. It depends on the exact phrasing of the question. What puzzles me is this idea that if I am writing a story - a piece of fiction - about something I necessarily believe in that thing. In fact, I think I am more likely to write stories featuring things I do not believe in. I like tinkering with worlds and setting them to spin and seeing what happens (or such is the explanation I tell myself while I still question). I already know the (a) story i would* write if there were real aliens. Since I don't actually know of any real aliens, though, I am going to have to invent them first if I want to write it.

These are the kinds of questions that always throw me because I do not understand how people make the associations they often do or invent the questions they ask. I wish I did. Then I might be a better writer. One of the things I am most interested in, writing-wise, is why people tell the stories they tell (I have mentioned this before). I would dearly love to understand why the people who don't seem to understand the idea of fantasy/science fiction aren't getting it. I have some ideas but they are not clear so I would like to gather some thoughts from others/time first. If pressed I could not say people do write stories in those genres either**, so it is not as though I only have one set of people to learn from. But only one came to my attention tonight so there.

196 words of the story tonight, in case you were wondering. It does not actually involve space aliens. The description I gave was vague enough to include them but I was so completely not thinking aliens I did not even realise it.

*May not actually be true. Not drawn to write anything of that sort so far
**I would be quite surprised to learn there is only one 'it' to 'get'***
***Apologies for all the technical jargon but I can't be having with talking down to all you hobbledyhoi

Won't Happen Again, Promise

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Borrowed from pecunium.

As I Was A-Walking In The Neighbourhood

I had to go out for a spot of job-hunting today. On my way back I encountered Christians. Well, I think they were Christians. One guy was holding what looked to be a Bible, cupping his hands and yelling about Jesus. There was a woman standing behind him holding a large sign saying something about the lake of fire and who goes in and a man in front of them handing out pamphlets to passersby. I took one of course.

I suppose there is not much to be expected from a tiny four page photocopy. It basically says:

• You and all humans are pathetic failure who do not deserve to exist and have earned torture in a lake of fire
• A long time ago someone named Jesus died on our behalf but not really and this did some unexplained magic thing which makes a place called heaven accessible
• If you believe this and grovel appropriately something called 'God' will not torture you in fire after you die

It sounds vaguely frightening and nonsensical but fortunately the pamphlet doesn't provide any reason to think this stuff is true.