I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972 • Hacker News Board

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#41

Post by tjoff » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 9:21 AM UTC

learning_still wrote: post #37

hugh4 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One wonders: does one really fly four bombing sorties in a week, get discharged, and get home within seven days? That sounds remarkably quick by government work standards.

Yes. The post is clearly fake. Even if the author hadn't messed up with any facts, the style of the writing gave it way. You'll notice that there are tons and tons of details. Everything is as specific as possible in an effort to adhere to "Show Not Tell". Even if we believed someone could have a memory this crystal clear after 40 years, many of the details are completely meaningless to the premise that is presented…

Even if we believed someone could have a memory this crystal clear after 40 years, many of the details are completely meaningless to the premise that is presented

I'm not claiming the story is real, but just presenting a counter view to the above. You seem to be assuming that:

A: This is real memories, given the story he's obviously thought about that encounter a lot. So, it's hardly been 40 years, it's been constantly repeated in his mind - also evolving. Some of the details might be wrong, some only carry the sentiment of what he believed he would have felt at that time. If, 40 years ago, he heard the same story he told now he might barely recognize it. Given that he contemplated suicide and add to that that he believes this be the turning point for getting past that (whether that is true nor not is irrelevant). It is no surprise that he has strong feelings and vivid memories from it.

B: Since when is memory organized by meaningfulness? Also, what is meaningful?

I'm not even 40 years old but, as an example, I could tell you in ridiculous detail of a presentation I did in school with two friends of mine when I was 11 years old. (~20 years ago), I could tell you about memories of the notes that we had for the presentation (handwritten notes written on the printed document we had produced) - I remember some of the images we used (and how they were completely irrelevant to the topic). Is that in any sense meaningful? God no. Is my memory crystal clear? Not at all, for one there are huge gaping holes that I either won't mention or that I must interpolate to get at (I do remember the overall context and sentiment, from that I could just assume (and believe) everything else was ordinary), but as an observer you'll mostly forgive that because I can tell you the color and the shape I used to circle a specific note on that document - and how I messed it up and rather than circling the note a lot of it ended up on the outside of it. Or how we messed up the order of the overhead sheets etc.

And that is about a boring presentation that I've not given much thought on, not a life-changing event that had a very sudden and thought-provoking ending.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#42

Post by reledi » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:06 AM UTC

learning_still wrote: post #25

Cidan wrote: post #4

I think a lot of people miss the point of this posting -- it doesn't matter if it's real or if it's fake, but rather it's an evolution of artistic expression. Someone is using Craigslist as an entirely new medium for writing a bit of poetry or short story. The potential for this type of work to reach people is huge, and that to me is the most exciting part of it all.

Presenting made up stories as authentic is by no means a new idea. To say it's an "evolution of artistic expression" is to give this piece and its author far too much credit. You're right, it does not matter if it is real or fake, but it absolutely matters if it is believable. You and I have read and believed many made up stories in our lifetime. Our instinct is to believe what we read. There could not have been a gr…

Your comment is exactly what Cidan is criticising. The authenticity of the story is not interesting but instead how an old platform was used in a novel way.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#43

Post by datalist » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:09 AM UTC

nappy-doo wrote: post #29

Camillo wrote: post #28

I'm not sure what people find "beautiful" or "touching" in this story. A man is wracked by guilt over what he has done to the point of deciding to end his life, but then he forgets all about it as soon as a pretty girl gives him attention. Inasmuch as it is believable, this is a story about how all our lofty notions of justice, honor, purpose etc. are just bullshit, and it's really all about fucking, consuming and ke…

I bet you're fun at parties.

I am sorry, but thats all you have to say? Camillo is absolutely right on that subject. This person killed hundreds (if not more) of beings, realised his guilt, subsequently wanted to choose the "noble" path of taking the consequences (even though, realistically, it wouldnt have changed a single thing for those he bombed) and suddenly forgot everything the moment he met a pretty girl.

Fake or not, if you are saying people are only fun if they admire such a bunch of a wannabe-romantic story and go "aaaaaawwwww", then I am really sorry.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#44

Post by littletimmy » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:11 AM UTC

Camillo wrote: post #28

I'm not sure what people find "beautiful" or "touching" in this story. A man is wracked by guilt over what he has done to the point of deciding to end his life, but then he forgets all about it as soon as a pretty girl gives him attention. Inasmuch as it is believable, this is a story about how all our lofty notions of justice, honor, purpose etc. are just bullshit, and it's really all about fucking, consuming and ke…

Let me guess - you are an idealist turned cynic?

Lighten up. Just see the human animal as it is - warts and all - without judging it.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#45

Post by mjs » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:22 AM UTC

I once read a story (I think in the Washington Post) about two people meeting up in similar circumstances sometime in the 60s or 70s, and then, when parting, promising to meet again at a specific location and time far into future.

And so after decades, one party went to the arranged meeting point with great anticipation having told their family about the story, etc. But the other party didn't turn up. Eventually the reporter tracked them down, and they couldn't remember anything about the original meeting.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to find this story again, despite spending quite some time looking! But, going by this story, I think it's quite possible that often when something like this happens it's far more significant to one person than the other, partly because some people have more drama in their lives than others.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#46

Post by netrus » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:29 AM UTC

tjoff wrote: post #41

learning_still wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. The post is clearly fake. Even if the author hadn't messed up with any facts, the style of the writing gave it way. You'll notice that there are tons and tons of details. Everything is as specific as possible in an effort to adhere to "Show Not Tell". Even if we believed someone could have a memory this crystal clear after 40 years, many of the details are completely meaningless to the premise that is presented…

Even if we believed someone could have a memory this crystal clear after 40 years, many of the details are completely meaningless to the premise that is presented I'm not claiming the story is real, but just presenting a counter view to the above. You seem to be assuming that: A: This is real memories, given the story he's obviously thought about that encounter a lot. So, it's hardly been 40 years, it's been constant…

Memory is a wonderful thing. If you still have papers from your time at school, I suggest to go through them and press yourself to remember details.

I learned Latin for 3 or 4 years, and from the top of my head could come up with maybe 100 latin words. But when I look at a latin text we translated back than, it comes back bit by bit. I might remember the ending of a meaningless story I translated 10 years ago in a rush before class started. Maybe I will remember specific mistakes I made in translating the text, or I will remember the picture that was next to the text in the course book. It is remarkable that memory is able to do. Granted, we know that a good part part of these memories are in fact incorrect. But as long as I don't have to talk to a court or write a memoir, it does not bother me.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#47

Post by cousin_it » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:51 AM UTC

Sad story. I guess the girl was interested in the guy at first, but then lost interest when he started talking about his emotional problems.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#48

Post by bambax » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 10:59 AM UTC

Cidan wrote: post #4

I think a lot of people miss the point of this posting -- it doesn't matter if it's real or if it's fake, but rather it's an evolution of artistic expression. Someone is using Craigslist as an entirely new medium for writing a bit of poetry or short story. The potential for this type of work to reach people is huge, and that to me is the most exciting part of it all.

Yes, real or fake, it's a great story, superbly told; I'd like to think it's real because it's more beautiful and more touching that way.

One sentence I find very profound is this: the prospect of suicide was suddenly less appealing than the prospect of discovering what had happened in that restaurant.

The other takeaway is this: do not go to the bathroom. Do not leave. Do not take your eyes off the object of your interest for one second, or she might leave and you'll never see her again.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#49

Post by eecks » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 11:00 AM UTC

Camillo wrote: post #28

I'm not sure what people find "beautiful" or "touching" in this story. A man is wracked by guilt over what he has done to the point of deciding to end his life, but then he forgets all about it as soon as a pretty girl gives him attention. Inasmuch as it is believable, this is a story about how all our lofty notions of justice, honor, purpose etc. are just bullshit, and it's really all about fucking, consuming and ke…

What I got from it was that the man is wrecked by guilt. The woman provided him with a distraction and allowed him to get his life back on track (marriage, family) but in the end he is still wrecked by guilt - he cries everyday.

Very sad story.

Re: I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972

#50

Post by bambax » Sat, Oct 03, 2015, 11:02 AM UTC

exodust wrote: post #36

Camillo wrote: post #28

I'm not sure what people find "beautiful" or "touching" in this story. A man is wracked by guilt over what he has done to the point of deciding to end his life, but then he forgets all about it as soon as a pretty girl gives him attention. Inasmuch as it is believable, this is a story about how all our lofty notions of justice, honor, purpose etc. are just bullshit, and it's really all about fucking, consuming and ke…

It's creative writing, which some people like no matter how authentic. The writer has some skills. The flow and efficiency would earn marks as a school assignment! "scaled the hill with its golden dome, and meandered into that charming labyrinth divided by Hanover Street" It might seem simple, but in those few words a lot of information is communicated. "Ironically, the torture of your abandonment seemed to swallow m…

> would earn marks as a school assignment

Oh, come on. I can't tell if you're being ironic or clumsy, but if it's the later I strongly disagree. This is fantastic writing, much better than what we read everywhere everyday; in school it would warrant to take the teacher's place.