Eyes flicked open, and awareness began. It wondered where it was; then, who it was but an answer came easily:
"I am."
Light. Arms, legs. A sense of something... masculinity. He looked at his hands, then planted them firmly behind him and hopped into a crouch. Time passed, and he became aware that the floor - metal? - was cold on his bare feet. He stood, arms reaching for opposing walls. The room seemed smaller now.
His sense of identity coalesced still further, and he spoke his own name:
"Tao."
He was surprised to hear a voice respond to his own.
"Good morning, Tao."
There was something about the texture - feminine. The voice spoke again:
"I am Nogami. I will be your teacher."
Tao looked around, but there was no one else in the bare room.
Since I'm at a computer at the school, doing homework while I check Hatrack, all I will say for the time being is that I really liked this piece.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Okay. It's cinematic -- even down to the quasi-martial arts poses -- and sounds a lot like anime. I'm going to say Mike. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Who is Mike? (not on list given)
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Is Mike Saxon75?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Tom, which Mike?
It's interesting. I like it, but it has a few word choices that struck me at first as odd. A good kind of odd -- makes me think. Like do voices have textures? Yeah, I guess they sort of do.
The words are very deliberately chosen, the rules of grammar, usage, punctuation all punctiliously applied.
Jon Boy?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
I love it when people pick me just because it's grammatically correct and punctuated properly. Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I believe he IS Saxon75. He's a Saxon, anyway. I always get them mixed up.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Well, the deliberateness was a factor too. And the fact that it doesn't have the feel I associate with the writing of several other suspects who have impeccable grammar and punctuation.
Hmm. But then, if it were someone who has a lot of his stuff read by others, he'd have to disguise his style. ScottR?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No and no.
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
voices with textures, undefined, labratoryesque surroundings, i don't speak with certainty but i'll guess :Locke.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Well, well... I've read the excerpt a couple of times and have come to the conclusion that I suck as a critic. This isn't news to me -- generally I'm only able to tell whether it's something I like or not. Switching from literature to law was perhaps the best move I've made yet in my career.
While this piece is too short for me to say for certain whether I like it or not, I can say that it is intriguing and makes me want to know more about what's going to happen -- and that's good, right? The I'm-waking-up-and-don't-know-who-where-what-I-am-scene is perhaps a bit cliché and makes me believe that this may be a young/inexperienced writer; but on the other hand, it is well executed.
quote:He looked at his hands, then planted them firmly behind him and hopped into a crouch.
Presumably the character is lying down when he (it? perhaps it's a robot?) wakes up, and I cannot quite visualize the mechanics of him hopping into a crouch. Perhaps a different choice of verb would be preferable, even though hopping together with the crouching do evoke -- aside from bunny associations -- some sort of martial art impression which might be intended.
My guess: young, male, trying to mis-direct: T_Smith.
[ December 03, 2003, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
I liked it. It seems that Tao is comming out of some kind of suspended animation. Or at least that he has been here before but as a smaller/younger man. I guess suspended animation because he seems to be recalling things as he regains his bearings. I would peg the author as a young man who probably likes Anime, because of the names used. they have a asian flair to them. also some of the springing motions/actions described.
My Guess: T_Smith
edit: T_Smith was already guessed so I 'll change mine to ae
[ December 03, 2003, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: beatnix19 ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No, no, and no.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
I like this piece. It has the feel of someone very comfortable with words. The use of language is great; descriptive, complex, but not overdone. A lesser writer would want to overuse language like "coalesced" or "masculinity," but this one has a great sense for balancing complexity and simplicity.
The writing style flows well. It's not quite a stream of consciousness, but it gives that sense. It draws us into Tao's experience, makes us see it from his perspective.
And the characterization is good too. We're given a portrait of a man who comes into consciousness knowing nothing, and yet maintains his calm. Indeed, he seems more curious than anything.
I can't really find any flaws with this, and it definitely makes me want to read more.
And yes, my name is Mike.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Interesting, seems like a young man. He also seems like he's a fan of anime or Japan... I like the sensory imagery in the piece. I'd be interested in reading a little more. I'm also curious about the symbolism of the name "Tao"....
I guess Human Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
For the being born or reborn aspect, long with realizing that you exist and have an identity, I'm going to take a wild stab and say
Superstation
AJ
[ December 03, 2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
I agree with Mike, the writing flows smoothly in this piece, from description of the environment to thought processes of Tao to dialogue and back.
No obvious flaws to note.
I guess Ryuko, because she is a fan of anime and Japan, and has written fan-fiction anime. This piece has that feel.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
You know, I really do feel like I would disappoint people if I participated and sent in a short story, based upon those critiques that guessed it was me.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
T-Smith: send in your story!
Banna:
Everybody: no.
Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
Okay, posting without reading the other responses: I really like this. The very beginning made me think of a bugger being born. It definitely sounded like another species, and also very Asian. It might just be because of the names, but it really felt Asian. I'm thinking male, though this one could definitely go either way. enjeeo (Even though I think that's a girl, she lives in Japan, right?)
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
dkw Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
Reasoning? Critique?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I have a hard time with characters who have to first figure out that they exist when they wake up. It?s too hard for me to imagine and it?s a bit of a turn-off. There is no warmth in the story. This passage is quite well executed, but I?d like to see more warmth right off the bat. Preferably in Nogami?s voice. Something that hints at Tao?s humanity, if indeed that?s where this story is going. We need to connect to someone, so someone has to feel warm and familiar.
I?m going to guess Jaiden.
Edit: Stupid question marks.
[ December 03, 2003, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: advice for robots ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Nope.
To all.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I like this one, I was drawn into the story very quickly and disappointed when the sample ended.
quote: great sense for balancing complexity and simplicity
I agree: the word choice (except for crouch which I saw strangely due to dyslexia ) didn't detract at all from the story.
I'm guessing Ethics Gradient because the other people I wanted to guess were already "no"ed.
Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
A lot of people seem to be thinking male, so I'm going to go in the other direction and say Maethoriell. Also she's Asian and I still say this excerpt has an Asian feel.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Dragon
you read it as crotch instead of crouch too? so did I.....
<grin>
FG
[ December 03, 2003, 03:17 PM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
You read "hopped into a crotch"? I wonder what's on your mind.... Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
First time I read "crotch" (due to the word 'masculinity' in close proximity, I suppose ), then "couch" and then "crouch". I got it in the end!
I liked this, and it flowed very well except for one bit which made me read it a second time.
quote: He stood, arms reaching for opposing walls
It's the 'arms' that confused me, I think. The arms is understood, so the word is extraneous. Perhaps it would be better without 'arms'.
"He stood, reaching for opposing walls."
The room must be pretty small, too. I immediately visualized it as medium-sized, because of the other person who is never seen.
Also, I agree with Tristan's 'hopping' problem (above). perhaps 'dropping' would be better.
I think this could be a female person being masculine, but I am still going to make a helplessly random guess of a male person...
Morbo
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No to all.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Okay. Male, anime-oriented, and literate. How about fugu13?
(BTW, this snippet feels TOO cinematic to me; it's more visual than literary.)
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Oddly, I'm not all that anime oriented. Not me, anyways.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I like this piece. It reminds me a lot of the start of Dawn by Octavia Butler, but with a male central character.
I would guess moonrabbit since she (he?) recommended Butler to me, but she's not on the guess from list.
Instead I'm going ae.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Oh, good, I thought the similarities to Dawn were all in my head. (psst! imogen, beatnix beat you to it.)
Hmm, I question why we (me included) are so sure the author is male?
Visually-oriented female with impeccable writing skills. Annie?
Posted by :Locke (Member # 2255) on :
KarlEd. Just a hunch.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No, no, no, no.
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
My instinct with this excerpt is that the author is someone who is very comfortable with words and with ideas, but not so comfortable with people. My reasoning:
quote:Arrival.
Eyes flicked open, and awareness began. It wondered where it was; then, who it was but an answer came easily:
"I am."
These three lines are daring—really daring. OSC (I believe it was him) said that you'd better be really sure that any sentence you set on its own line is worth the space and the emphasis. There are two in the first three paragraphs of the story, and they are one and two words, respectively. That, to me, conveys an arrogant tone. That's okay; a lot of sf is arrogant and I like it anyway.
For the record, I like the first sentence on its own line ("Arrival."), but the second, I believe, would be more effective, more understated, if it were left in the line above it.
Words like "coalesce" and, as others have pointed out, the carefulness with words lead me to believe that this is a well-educated person who has read a lot. At the same time, the grammar is not perfect. This person clearly cares more about the story than the mechanics.
But there is so much coldness in the story that it almost becomes like a math textbook. That's an overstatement. At the same time, sentences like
quote:He stood, arms reaching for opposing walls.
seem to me to denote a lack of common sense. I would write that sentence like this:
"He stood and reached for the walls," or even "He stood and groped or fumbled for the walls." Of course his arms would be doing the reaching. We've already established that he has hands and can crouch, so the extra word there is extraneous. And how does he know the walls are opposing? Opposing what? Each other? Can he seriously reach both at once? And if he has to reach, he obviously can't see. Hmm.
The writing is overall pretty tight, but I'd like to see a bit more clumsiness, more emotion, more humanity in the character, since most of us are, at least to some extent, clumsy, emotional, and human.
My first guess is Irami because I've noticed some of these tendencies in his work: a strong intelligence and tightness, but lacking in warmth of character.
[ December 03, 2003, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: Brinestone ]
Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
I liked it too, it's very assured, with an immediate sense of both place and character. Certainly made me want to read more.
I was impressed by the 'tightness' of the writing - there's nothing at all unnecessary there, a sparseness of description which really draws the reader into the situation, and lends it an almost poetic feel, IMO. This is also enhanced by the slightly disjointed, stream of consciousness tone, especially in the first few lines.
In terms of style and tone, I think this particular piece could come from any number of people, but my guess is: Icarus
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I'm very impressed. I like the use of a bare room, yet still there's a lot to describe here. I got a definite feeling of power from Tao and then there's this other presence that sort of takes command.
It was written by a female.
I'm going to guess porcelain girl.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No, no, no.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I think Jeni should guess now, so we can move on to round five.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
dkw...you're wrong. It was porcelain girl.
I swear!
(Dang nab it!!!) How can I keep guessing wrong.
I mean, there's like one shot in 50 or so.
Sheesh!
Posted by Law Maker (Member # 5909) on :
I really liked this piece. The emphasis on gender, the emotional quality, and the status of Nogami as Tao's teacher are all aspects of this piece that make me think the author is definitely female. The writing is certainly tight, so I also think this excerpt comes from a very intelligent and logical thinking mind. That, of course, describes most of us here.
I guess jeni.
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
I agree that this has a very anime feel, however this:
quote: "I am."
led me to believe that the person may be somewhat religious. Not that it makes guessing any easier, because just about everybody here is to some degree or another.
I feel like the write was female. I just pulled that from the air, but the use of the word masculinity may have led me there. It's just not a word that I've heard used by many men.
Nonetheless, my guess: AdviceforRobots
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
You know what? If we're looking for someone who writes like a man, occasionally thinks like a woman, and is passably familiar with anime, maybe BannaOJ should be our target.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Nope.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
By the same rationale that BelladonnaOrchid used to guess me (I think), I'm going to guess Tresopax. It's not really Tres's writing style, but this piece is so careful that the author obviously went over and over it. And the theme does point to someone who considers religion.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Guesses:
Confirmed wrong:
Saxon75 JonBoy ScottR :Locke T_Smith ae Human Superstation Ryoko enjeeo dkw (not sure if this was a guess, though) Jaiden Ethics Gradient Maethoriell Morbo Fugu13 Annie KarlEd Irami Icarus porcelain girl Jeni advise for robots BannaOj Tresopax kwsni Feyd Baron Bob_Scopatz Dan_Raven Celia Beatnix19 Tristan asQmh Filleted Da_Goat Papa Moose Kama Teshi Shlomo sndrake Christy Ryoko Scythrop Rivka Gottmorder Pat Solo CalvinMaker
[ December 08, 2003, 12:19 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
quote:The writing is overall pretty tight, but I'd like to see a bit more clumsiness, more emotion, more humanity in the character, since most of us are, at least to some extent, clumsy, emotional, and human.
See, to me, Tao's apparent agility and lack of warmth or emotion is precisely what makes the character so interesting. It seems to me that the author is intentionally emphasizing these characteristics, most likely for the purpose of making the character, and thus the viewpoint, alien. I think it works quite well.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Not Tresopax.
I wasn't sure if I was officially guessed or not either, but if it mattered I would have asked for clarification. It's not me.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
btw Tom,thanks for the complement, but I'm not passably familar with anime. In fact I'm mostly unfamiliar. I think I've watched total of five half hour anime segments on TV. There was the one that Steve made me watch because there's a super-corgi on the spaceship that I liked though, it turned really wierd about halfway through. But whoever did the corgi, knew the personality to a T!
AJ
[ December 04, 2003, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
I think this author might be female, so on that note I'm going to guess kwsni. I still really like this piece. Whoever wrote it needs to post the rest of it after he/she is guessed!
For the record I guessed Maethoriell and was wrong. You didn't put her on the list of incorrectly guessed.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The author focuses a lot on the details of the room. Maybe our resident architect, Feyd?
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Its tight, mature, focused. I don't have anything to critique about it. Instead I'll give a guess of Bob, who is also know to be occasionally mature, focused, and tight.
(hint. Why hasn't anyone guessed me?)
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Maybe because you're so loose?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Based on Dan Raven's last post, I'm guessing Dan Raven.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I am not loose.
I'm easy. There is a difference.
(ps, never trust Dan Raven when game points are on the line.)
[ December 04, 2003, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: Dan_raven ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Noes all around.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Blast.
Too much loose talk around here.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
This is about as different as possible from celia's sample from the last game. Thus, I guess celia.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
OK, I have a theory. Whoever that is currently the author has a vested interest in keeping the thread moving, right? S/he is probably constantly refreshing the thread in the hope of reading new and flattering comments. If there hasn't been a post in a while, he or she might get impatient and unable to resist bumping the thread to attract more attention. Based on this rationale, I'm going to guess Beatnix19, who has the post after the first somewhat longer time intervall. Also, the comments he provide regarding e.g. suspended animation may suggest a familiarity with the backstory that goes beyond what can be deduced from the sample.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
quote:See, to me, Tao's apparent agility and lack of warmth or emotion is precisely what makes the character so interesting. It seems to me that the author is intentionally emphasizing these characteristics, most likely for the purpose of making the character, and thus the viewpoint, alien. I think it works quite well.
I definately agree!
And based on Tristan's reasoning I'm going to guess...
Tristan
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
Okay, now that I read this again, I am going to take back one thing I said. I said the excerpt lacked warmth of character, but I was in a horrid mood yesterday and wasn't feeling like warming up to anything. Sorry to whoever it was who posted this excellent excerpt. It wasn't you; it was me. *goes back to working on a million projects*
Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
All right, I'm onto my second guess. Based on the tone and style of his(?) posts, and after extensive trawling through other threads, I'm putting in a vote for asQmh
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*whispers* her Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
*Whispers back* Thanks
Sorry asQmh - my bad.
Her.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
Is anyone else a little awed by the ninety people who sent in excerpts.
The first snag I hit was speech and language. Somehow he could name things without having experienced them, maybe some a priori knowledge. I mean, if tao is just coming into the world, and we are seeing this from his perspective, there should be all sorts of, well, sorting problems.
Arms, legs, masculinity, all presuppose that he has a version of the world that he is comparing this one too. Unless these ideas were hardwired into him before he was plugged in. If I were the author, I'd have the awakening like a psychodelic dream, where everything is one thing, and the robot picks up distinctions between objects, and object permanance through interacting with the world.
Cold? What does he know of temperature, or how does he seperate temperature from the thing. Bare feet, what does he know about feet usually being shod. You don't have to answer all of any of these questions, I just there should be genuine befuddlement of the phenoma of waking up. I mean, I can't remember being birthed, but I can't imagine being able to make sense of the sensory information that was bombarding me at the time. Come to think of it, the only things I was probably able to understand were appetites. _________
I do like how you've gotten past Wittgenstein's problem of language acqusition by just having him be able to speak. You have just made a profound epistemological statement.
__________
I like terse opening. It should be. The robot's thoughts shouldn't be long and eloquent because that presupposes being able to make sense of the world.
I should guess. Bright, young, tightly-edited, fledgling rookie writer that nobody would confuse for a pro. I'd guess Irami, but I know I didn't do it. I'll go with Fileted.
[ December 05, 2003, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"Is anyone else a little awed by the ninety people who sent in excerpts."
As I understand it, that guess-from list also contains the name of anyone who has actually guessed, regardless of whether or not they've submitted anything. Apparently the REAL list is much smaller, but dkw prefers to give us a huge field of blanks as misdirection.
------
As a side note, I feel that Irami's suggestion -- that you spend more time on Tao's growing awareness of the world -- is only useful if you intend to make that a plot point. Otherwise, the mere hint of such a development suffices, as far as I'm concerned, as it would be a distracting digression if it's just an ancillary character trait.
It's possible to say that he becomes aware of masculinity -- if masculinity is something that's particularly relevant to him -- without describing every detail of the process.
[ December 05, 2003, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
The close POV at the beginning (which I liked), gets lost in the dialogue.
This definitely feels inspired by anime-- the Oriental names, the cinematic feel. . . maybe just the names.
Although arrival, birth, etc, are all hinted at, we never get to experience just HOW new these things are to Tao. This may just be a shortcoming of having only excerpts-- but he gained knowledge of himself and his surroundings far too quickly for my taste.
How did he know he was masculine, and the voice feminine?
It is a bit too simple, IMO to just throw out, 'His sense of identity coalesced still further. . .' Cheating! howls I.
Da_Goat?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No to everybody.
Only about a third of the people on the list actually submitted something. I'm thinking of pruning it for the next round. (Hear that, slackers? Get your submission in now or you're off the list!)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Erm, dkw, have you sent out confirmation emails to everyone who submitted excerpts?
Ok, going on the theory that the author is male, intelligent, and deliberately using red-herring elements, I guess Papa Moose.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I'll guess Kama for no other reason than she's been in the Hatrack news a lot recently.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
It reads a bit like an anime` feature. It just doesn't grab me in the least, it's just kind of cold and plastic feeling. Of course, that could very well be the intent of the writer.
While I have no idea who wrote it, I'm going to randomly pick the most Japanese sounding name that hasn't been picked yet...
Teshi
And for some reason, my name's not on the choose from list.
[ December 05, 2003, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: Sopwith ]
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I too am going to go with my instincts and say this sounds very much like a young male. . .
Shlomo.
Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
Continuing with the general theme of intelligent males, I'll guess sndrake. This is and excellant piece.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
you know I liked all of Tom Davidson's logic, but I'm guessing he guessed the wrong female because the answer is under his nose.
Christy
AJ
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
nope
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Hm. Well, going with an Asian-sounding name, I'll say Ryuko. Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Hopping and crouching. Sounds like a kangaroo to me.
Scythrop.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Based on her many posts in this thread:
Rivka.
Where's Jeni when you need her?
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
Well, since you called...
I think I saw someone else mention this, but the selection does look overedited to me. I can't place why exactly. Something about the punctuation, maybe. Or the word coalesced, which doesn't really seem very natural to me.
The other thing that bothered me about this was the use of the word texture. I understand what the author means, but it just doesn't sound like the right word to me.
Oh, and I had to read "hopped into a crouch" a couple times before I realized what the author was saying. Probably my fault, though.
Edit: I forgot to guess. Sorry, but I don't think I'll be much help with moving this game along. Every name I looked at on the list left me saying "nah... doesn't sound like them." I'll go with Gottmordor, mostly because I don't know his style enough to say it's not him.
[ December 06, 2003, 11:00 PM: Message edited by: Jeni ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
On the same line of thinking as before, Pat?
Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :
I don't have the energy to make another guess. So I'll look at the list of people not guessed yet, pick someone randomly, and then come up with a rationale: I'll guess solo because it sounds like a male author and because this character seems to be alone since there's no one else in the room. (Get it, solo, alone?)
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
At this point, we're just guessing blindly.
And I'm guessing CalvinMaker.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I guess you should just tell us!!!
Yikes! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
No to everyone.
My computer is broken, so I probably won't be posting much for a couple days. If no one's got it by the next time I log on, I'll give hints.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
Maybe I wrote it and then forgot all about it.
Posted by :Locke (Member # 2255) on :
I guess dkw. Just because.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
She already said it was not hers.
Ok, intelligent, writes well, and not guessed yet. pooka?
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I'm guessing Brinestone, because if it was then he did some masterful misdirection.
Plus, according to his profile, he's an editor. This piece seems like something an editor (or if not, someone who has been edited a lot of times) would write: it is pared down, and each word (with perhaps, the exception of crot - i mean, crouch) has been chosen carefully.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Uh, just so you know: Brinestone is female. I wouldn't have married her if she were a guy.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Oops.
Sorry Brinestone (and Jon Boy indirectly) - mind you, if you guys really wanted it to be clear, you could be Jon Girl instead. Or Brinestone Girl.
I considered editing my post, but I think I'll let it stand.
My guess also still stands.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Good idea, Imogen Girl.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
You know, if I stare at the word Girl for too long, it starts to look really weird.
Edit: I just realised I have absolutely no excuse. I saw a photo on foobonic of you two at your wedding. Not only is Brinestone definately a woman but she's a very pretty one at that!
[ December 08, 2003, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: imogen ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Someone who earlier today was mistaken for a member of the opposite gender perhaps ought not throw stones, imogina. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Yeah, but Imogen is a girl's name. Not my fault if people don't know that. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Don't tell me. I knowed you was a gurl! Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
That you did. But then, you're right about everything. President of the fan club, remember? Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yipes! You don't ask me to live up to much, do you? 'Sides, I think I've been wrong four times in this thread alone!
I remember. "I'm not only the president, I'm a member," hmm?
[ December 08, 2003, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Actually, I do have a qualification. Right about everything except the elusive author (so far, at least).
(I thought I should make an effort to steer the thread back to its original course)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Drat! And you post faster than I edit, too.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Weeell... Most people have guessed that this piece was written by a male author. Perhaps Imogen's recent thread on gender differences in writing styles was prompted by deeper issues than confusion due to androgynous user names.
Well.
Well?
Posted by :Locke (Member # 2255) on :
Who else wishes dkw would just tell us already?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I'm stumped. I give up...
Clues needed.
Or just give us the answer!!!
This is not good for my stress levels you know!!!
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
Maybe in dkw's absence, we should just do the "yes" and "no" answering without her. I assume the person who wrote it knows who he or she is. If we guess right, would that person please let us know so we don't all get ulcers?
And Imogen was not correct; it is not my piece.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: Who else wishes dkw would just tell us already?
*raises hand*
[ December 09, 2003, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: rivka ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Sorry everyone, my computer is dead. I’m posting from a friend’s house, but I won’t be able to post the next round ’till I get my files back. (They’re being recovered and put into my new computer.) I backed up most stuff, but not the guess the author files.
So, I’m going to leave this round until I’m ready to post the next one. If anyone still wants to guess, great, otherwise I’ll bump it (and give the answer) when I get my new computer.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
So??????
I happen to know that dkw HAS her new computer.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that this might be a busy time of year for her. Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
All right, all right. By popular demand, I'll give you the solution.
It was me.
Thanks for the criticisms, everyone.
P.S. I don't like anime, though I am young and male.
[ December 18, 2003, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: twinky ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
dkw does NOT have her new computer. She picked it up this morning and then had to return it because the modem wasn't installed correctly. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Oooh, evil! I had to have a tech person come put in a new modem when the one my 'puter was shipped with didn't work. Took some doing to convince the phone help-desk folks that it really didn't work.
I had to wait a whole extra week to use my brand-new puter!
This was over 10 years ago, and I still remember the trauma. Hope you get a fully-functional (no Data jokes, please) puter soon, dkw!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Is Mike Saxon75?
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
-- makes me think. Like do voices have textures? Yeah, I guess they sort of do. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Well, the deliberateness was a factor too. And the fact that it doesn't have the feel I associate with the writing of several other suspects who have impeccable grammar and punctuation.![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
) didn't detract at all from the story.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
I wonder what's on your mind.... ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
), then "couch" and then "crouch". I got it in the end!![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
'Sides, I think I've been wrong four times in this thread alone! ![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)