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Post by Erika on Jul 4, 2014 22:40:44 GMT -5
Nothing makes history more confusing than retconning, and yet without it, we would be trapped in an unchangingly linear world. Retcon something about your life and describe the before and after.
This is a short answer assignment.
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Post by rypperd0c on Jul 30, 2014 1:37:25 GMT -5
once upon a time.. I was running for cover in a snowball fight. I tried to dive behind a pile of snow, but landed badly and shattered by collar bone. But hey, a girl saw my performance and took sympathy on me. I had a girlfriend and lover for almost a year after that. MY shoulder was never the same after that accident. The problems in my shoulder impacted my military career, and that hurt my schooling. MY life after being medicalled out of the army was limited to low impact jobs as I endured a mediocre career.
Retcon...
Once upon a time I was running for cover in a snowball fight. I tried to dive behind a woodpile, but aimed badly. I ended up with a very bloody and messy gash in my shoulder, that in time turned into an ugly scar. A girl that saw the whole thing though I looked cool in action, and how well I handled the pain, and became my girlfriend for a time. When I later shipped out in the Army I was able to laugh about the stupid way I had gotten hurt. I used that story for years, after I graduated college and became an officer, as a way to remind new soldiers to think things through in advance, and then be ready to look for ways to get make the best out of a bad situation after things went wrong.
Grade: Bonus points for making a small change in your real life that has led to significant impact
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Post by Twitch on Aug 2, 2014 23:38:05 GMT -5
Wikipedia lists three types of Retcon: Addition, which fills in background details without directly contradicting the original events; Alteration, which adds new information that contradicts original events (the original death of Sherlock Holmes and the author's later grudging revival;) Subtraction, new events deliberately ignore and replace original events.
Addition to Vegas Story: Before adding, it probably seems like I wanted go to MCC and went to Vegas to get the money.
When the school dropped my scholarship, it changed everything. Private schools are expensive and this one had a host of pencil pushers trying to get money from my family. Anger doesn't being to describe my state of mind. Even after I graduated on my 'renewed' scholarship, just driving past that part of town was enough to set me off. My dream of a sports-draft into a college had gone up in smoke. I spent next few years working on a humanities degree from a community college. I was the malcontent with a clip on her shoulder.
The same crap from highschool was in the adult world. The only difference how people tried to hide their lies and, oh, do colleges have so many lies. A professor who doesn't believe whats in the textbooks. Love hexagons in all their hormonal glory. The people selling dreams of success at the 'job fairs.' What's really happening in the kitchen. Why a paper gets a 'C-' instead of a 'B.' Only this time I didn't have softball to lose myself in. I hated it.
On first break after I turned 21, I announced I was going to Vegas. The first response was 'WHAT!?' More than a few of our family members have gambling problems - lotto tickets, horse races. I said I just wanted to blow off steam, but I had another purpose in going. I wanted to see if I how good my 'lie detector' was against professional liars and con-artists. I might as well see if I could make some pocket money. I memorized 'Poker for Dummies,' and proceeded to turn $500 dollars into $1000 within an hour. It was wonderful.
As I learned the game, I made bigger and bigger returns. Surprisingly, it wasn't the house I made money off of. It was high rollers. However, I started getting the evil eye from casino staff. The free drinks scheme didn't work with me - I didn't want to get sloppy. I politely refused the offer to play in the private rooms after I saw the first game was stacked with 'friends of the management.' By the third day, attendants and dealers started 'redirecting' people away from where ever I was playing. I simply went to a different location.
When my two-week break ended, I left Vegas with a full bank account and, more importantly, a new fire in my belly. I'd dreamed of being a pro-ball player. Now, I would be a pro-lie finder.
After adding: Vegas becomes more than a stop for cash. It is part of regaining the passion that leads to MCC.
Grade: Ten red chips. a nice example of retroactively fleshing backstory out
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Post by Kashiro on Sept 1, 2014 7:01:59 GMT -5
Before: Attempt to do a flip on carpet without safety mats and, after someone surprises me halfway through the flip, hit the ground, landing on my neck, get rug-burn on my face, almost break my neck and never be able to do a frontflip without a mat even today. After: Attempt to do a flip on carpet without safety mats and land it, getting more and more confident until one day I trip on my shoelaces and break my teeth on concrete. After After: Attempt to do a flip on carpet without safety mats and land it, getting more and more confident until one day I trip on my shoelaces and merely hit my head on grass, giving myself a difficult-to-notice blood clot, dying from a seizure three days later. Moral of the story - never retcon your own history.
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