[Event] The Day The Network Stood Still

[trpmememods]

The Day The Network Stood Still

The datapoints are a great equalizer, bringing all who come to them the same level of knowledge with the systems they are associated with. Or that's how they're theoretically supposed to work. Truth of the matter is that coming in with some level of competence and understanding can go quite far, and being completely oblivious can have its own repercussions.

Especially when one learns something is theoretically possible and wishes to understand the how of it. Usually such explorations of an apprentice in a skill tended to be better guided by a master to avoid disasters. Well, perhaps disaster is too big of a word to cover what happens from the exploration of the communications systems by Dedicate Initiate Lark.

All it take is looking into a hidden directory here, accidentally deleting some data there, a frantic bit of trying to fix the system from memory, and a true lack of knowledge of Ctrl+Z as a lifesaver. And just like that the communication system's user database was horribly tangled, posting was down, and poor Lark was none the wiser of the chaos she had inflicted.

And so it happened that there came a Day The Network Stood Still.

Well not fully still, but it's sure being difficult. The posting process for public messages is glitching out, video and audio and even text posts bouncing back with a 'System Error: Please Try Again Later' message. Over, and over, and over for hours. Good news? The direct message function still works properly right? Right?

Wrong. Any message sent directly to another He Row will find itself caught up in the error and delivered. But never to the right person. The good news is that once a conversation chain starts, at least the system is sending back and forth reliably. People will just have to live with their mis-sent texts getting out there to other people. Who knows, maybe it will be good for some laughs.


FAQ

When does this event take place?

This event covers one day and one day only. It starts at 5 AM Temba Standard Time, Tuesday April 12th and continues for 24 hours. We are posting it early, but it technically only takes place in that 24 hour window. Joining in late is allowed, don't think you missed the event just because you missed the specific in game day.

Can my character make a public post during this event?

No matter who your character is, what their powers are, or even what datapoint they took, there will be no ability to make public posts in any form on this day. It will also not be possible to send a direct message that actually reaches its intended target. Any message sent will get to a another He Row it was not meant for.

So what do we do?

If you want your character to receive a misfired message, post a new reply to this with the character's name as the Subject Line. If you have any rules about the sort of thing you'd prefer to avoid, please leave it in the body of the comment. Then wait for the messages to come in. We ask that you Do Not post your own initial comments there. This isn't Texts From Last Night. Think of it more as your character is reaching out to someone they're prone to messaging, and it just doesn't end up where they want it to go.

My character doesn't send a lot of private messages. How would I get them involved in this?

Part of the whole build up of this structure is that it's good for bringing in characters who might not send out messages themselves. Maybe they aren't sending many messages out, but if you want them involved, you can post a comment for them, and messages may come to them anyway. Who knows, maybe they can make a new friend/pen pal of sorts! Or just get caught up on the juiciest gossip they didn't want to know about.

I'm still not sure I understand the format of this. Any examples?

You're in luck. We actually did this about a year ago as a meme. So we have a functional example over here. Only difference here is that this time it's game canon.

Wait, so I can use this for AC?

Yes you can. But there are some important notes here. Your top comment serving as your character's 'inbox' for this? That won't count for AC. And the section of comments you give us for AC should have an average of three sentences per comment. This is part of our AC rules. If you don't have that, at least give us a longer chain so we can use that for consideration instead.

What about content warnings/other possibly triggering stuff?

Please do not send unsolicited triggering stuff, and remember not to send adult content texts to the few 'children' in the game. No racy pictures to Omega or Peter. When in doubt, remember you can message other people AND all players maintain a permissions post. Check those first before getting racy/potentially emotionally intense. You wouldn't trauma dump on someone you've never met before, would you?

Can we see who the misfired text is from?

No, that's sadly not possible. Even those with the Communications Datapoint, or insane hacking skills won't be able to decode the mess Lark has unwittingly made here. He Rows will have to use context clues, shared photos (if any are sent), or flat out being told who it is to know who they are talking to.

Can senders see that messages didn't get to their intended recipient?

Also a no here. The messages will label the person they are speaking to as if they were the intended recipient. As an example, if you meant to send a message to Lark and it went to Tommy, the message will insist that it's Lark who got it, and all responses would be labeled with Lark's name, even if it's Tommy.

Can I just play this out in my inbox?

Because of the nature of this event, we ask that all participation in it happen in this post. This allows everyone to engage equally. If you're looking to limit your interactions with it, then either focus on tagging out to other people, or when you put up your character's comment for this, indicate you would like no more than a certain number of people to respond.

Does my character have to keep interacting after they figure out it's the wrong person?

Absolutely not. Characters are still themselves. They can choose not to engage at any point. It is polite, though, to let the person know that your character is no longer responding. This lets people know that the thread is closed and not to expect more.

I don't know who to send something to. Help?

Well, use this Random number generator with the number of comments already posted, and use that to figure it out.

Comments

[plate_builder]

Perhaps they are. Perhaps they are not. Perhaps the two of you are both extremely aggressive and the fault lays on both sides.

[buildingitsir]

if it's your magic that gives personality
maybe mini takes after you then
secretly an asshole cat in disguise

me
aggressive?
no idea wtf you're talking about

[plate_builder]

No, the form gives the personality.

Yes, you do know what I'm talking about.

[buildingitsir]

maybe you should've made a dog
go for walkies

omg humans can't fucking joke
or is it just you

also i don't like to think of it as
aggressive
more like
assertive

[plate_builder]

I do not like dogs. They're not bright.

Actually, I'm rather sure it's just me. I've been told that same thing many times.

Two words that say the same thign.

[buildingitsir]

some are

yikes on that i suppose

and they don't?
'having or showing a confident and forceful personality.'
vs
'ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression,'

holes vs. pits
people think they mean the same thing
they don't

[plate_builder]

You know exactly what I meant by it, and you are quibbling about it. Truly taking after Stark heritage there.

[buildingitsir]

oh i did
just giving a correction
i'm helpful like that

yeah i don't think your stark
and my stark are the same tho
a small thing to be thankful for
in this shithole of a city

[plate_builder]

Yes, this city is rather unfortunate, is it not?

[buildingitsir]

yeah
probably not the word i'd use
but it's whatever at this point

difference in opinions i guess
holes vs pits
aggression vs assertion

[plate_builder]

You truly seem intent on having differences of opinion.

[buildingitsir]

not really
just how it's presented in this conversation
we agreed earlier that cats are assholes
i'm sure there's other things we probably agree on

[plate_builder]

Such as?"

[buildingitsir]

architectural designs
you mentioned it when we met
just before we parted ways
how you're an architect
city planner
electrical engineer

which means we have architecture in common

[plate_builder]

Yes. I was. I built a city in the sky once. Though I realized my errors later I suppose.

I miss those days, though. Building for hte good of others.

[buildingitsir]

never built a city
two houses
skyscraper
that's what i got
artistic house in malibu
more subtle one in detroit
skyscraper in nyc

all of them connected to the ground
how do you build in the sky
not sure it's possible
but that's my world

[plate_builder]

Well, not really 'in the sky'. Supported by pillars. But yeah.

[buildingitsir]

huh
interesting design choice
i imagine there are a lot of pillars
so that the structure is sound
especially if it's a city
with all of those people inside
any stress tests with it?

[plate_builder]

Eight pillars and a central major pillar. No more. quite a few stress tests. She was stable.

[buildingitsir]

makes me think of a spider shape
i would've liked to see the structure

if i could
i'd show you my malibu layout
it was great
part of a cliff over the ocean
until cyberlife decided to try and take out my dad and brother
sent it into that ocean

[plate_builder]

Spiders have nine limbs in your world? Terrifying.

I can sketch it for you.

[buildingitsir]

no
just the eight legs
and then the central major pillar as the cephalothorax area
spiders don't really scare me
there are scarier things in my world

a sketch would be nice
if i can get my hands on some paper
i could draw the malibu plans
unless you guys have a printer
that's capable of networking with me

[plate_builder]

A fair point to be made there.

I've got paper. And drafting tools.

[buildingitsir]

paper and drafting tools?
maybe you're not a terrible human after all
just your sense of humor

(that was sarcasm don't zap me)

[plate_builder]

My heart is my work. I could never be without the supplies. I use the replicator for them when I'm not using it for coffee beans.

And yeah, no sense of humor. It happens here. }

I won't zap you.