Solipsism
"Really? Seems a bit boring," said the other voice.
"Well, I didn't ask for your opinion," I said. "This time around, I'm going to create a simple world. What could go wrong?"
I started with the landscape- open fields of grass, with the occasional river or forest. The topsoil was rich in nutrients, and the ground beneath was filled with minerals necessary for technological advancement. I decided to start with a race of gatherers, willing into existence a race of people whose primary means of life was farming. The men hunted game and tended to the fields, while the women were more focused on domestic life, although they too spent time in the fields. It was a simple life, and I found myself content to watch their tranquil existence.
It was fascinating to hear them tell stories of how they thought the world came to be. They were completely wrong, of course, but I found their creativity to be quite charming. Theirs was a peaceful world, and I soon found myself quite relaxed.
That, of course, was a mistake. It occurred to me that I hadn't heard the other voice speak in quite some time. Had he gotten bored and left? I hoped so, but deep down I knew it couldn't be true. And sure enough, I soon found where the other voice had gone. There, on the horizon, was an armada of highly-advanced spacecraft.
"You cannot be serious," I said. "You ruin everything."
"Don't look at me," said the other voice. "I didn't make those. Gosh, I hope your people can survive. Of course, I don't know how effective those flint spears will be against titanium alloys..."
He was right, of course. My people had no hope against such technology, if I didn't interfere.
I'd have punched the other voice right in the face, if he had one.
"Well, I didn't ask for your opinion," I said. "This time around, I'm going to create a simple world. What could go wrong?"
I started with the landscape- open fields of grass, with the occasional river or forest. The topsoil was rich in nutrients, and the ground beneath was filled with minerals necessary for technological advancement. I decided to start with a race of gatherers, willing into existence a race of people whose primary means of life was farming. The men hunted game and tended to the fields, while the women were more focused on domestic life, although they too spent time in the fields. It was a simple life, and I found myself content to watch their tranquil existence.
It was fascinating to hear them tell stories of how they thought the world came to be. They were completely wrong, of course, but I found their creativity to be quite charming. Theirs was a peaceful world, and I soon found myself quite relaxed.
That, of course, was a mistake. It occurred to me that I hadn't heard the other voice speak in quite some time. Had he gotten bored and left? I hoped so, but deep down I knew it couldn't be true. And sure enough, I soon found where the other voice had gone. There, on the horizon, was an armada of highly-advanced spacecraft.
"You cannot be serious," I said. "You ruin everything."
"Don't look at me," said the other voice. "I didn't make those. Gosh, I hope your people can survive. Of course, I don't know how effective those flint spears will be against titanium alloys..."
He was right, of course. My people had no hope against such technology, if I didn't interfere.
I'd have punched the other voice right in the face, if he had one.