Inspiration: Unintended Consequences

Posted by Kevin Lawver 7 months ago | Permalink | Comments (9)

I owe you guys a challenge post, but I just saw this quote in someone’s e-mail signature, and thought it was a good springboard for something I’ve been thinking about lately.

No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible. —Voltaire

It makes me think of well-intentioned folks who don’t realize they’re a small cog in a big disaster. So, that’s your inspiration today. Can you tell a story that conveys both the mundane nature of day-to-day life, but also tells the story of one person’s small role in a larger tragedy? Or, how can one seemingly small act lead to something much larger and unintended?

Comments

  1. THX 0477's Buddy IconTHX 0477

    Posted 7 months ago

    Sounds very socially conscious as a topic. Hmm, how can I twist it around to being utterly absurd? Time will tell. Thanks for keeping us thinking deeply.

  2. Kevin Lawver's Buddy IconKevin Lawver

    Posted 7 months ago

    Absurd is fine too. It could be the lazy Oompa Loompa who led to the great gumdrop avalanche of ‘06. That would be pretty absurd, methinks.

  3. Blusparrow's Buddy IconBlusparrow

    Posted 7 months ago

    Hmm..An Idea seems to be forming. hmmm.. good inspiration!

  4. Ana Cristina's Buddy IconAna Cristina

    Posted 7 months ago

    That reminds me of one of the big fires, Chicago I think (?), which began after someone knocked over a pail or something, this seemingly innocuous moment that somehow led to this disastrous fire. Crazy. Anyways, great inspiration.

  5. Crown Me Tarzan, King of Mars' Buddy IconCrown Me Tarzan, King of Mars

    Posted 7 months ago

    Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was framed! Framed, I tells ya’!

  6. BARomero's Buddy IconBARomero

    Posted 7 months ago

    I’ve always wanted to do a story on blowback…

  7. flute faerie's Buddy Iconflute faerie

    Posted 7 months ago

    This seems cool.

  8. Valley Fey/Pinprick's Buddy IconValley Fey/Pinprick

    Posted 7 months ago

    I am completely doing this :)

  9. Compound Fracture's Buddy IconCompound Fracture

    Posted 7 months ago

    Reminds me of:

    “The Avalanche has begun. It’s too late for the pebbles to vote.”
    – Ambassador Kosh – Babylon Five