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philosophybits · 7 months

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Some things are believed because people feel as if they must be true, and in such cases an immense weight of evidence is necessary to dispel the belief.

Bertrand Russell, The Impact of Science on Society

#philosophy #quotes #Bertrand Russell #The Impact of Science on Society #beliefs #feelings #emotions #evidence #science #humanity

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utilitycaster · 8 months

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update on the three body problem: i want to play this in-world video game so badly

#i got no reading done this past week due to The Horrors (work) but i did get some done yesterday #and plan to go read a bit today #and like. look man. idc about the physics i am here to read about the sociological impacts of unpredictable weather patterns #in a pre-industrial society #but also about the aftermath of the cultural revolution #the secret about science fiction is that it's almost never about hard sciences. it's sociology with the aesthetics of physics

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bonefall · 1 year

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Actually on Cloudtail, how are you writing his atheism? Is he still very disbelieving of Starclan, and how does that change with the Great Battle? It’d be kind of interesting if Cloudtail went from having little to no belief in their ancestors to literally battling a spirit in the afterlife

Atheism in this rewrite is more like a lack of connection. I think canon warrior cats is weird about atheists. Mothwing and Cloudtail are less "GOD NOT REAL" and more like, "I don't know if they exist but I don't think they do because this so-called benevolent god sure lets a lot of bad things happen in their name"

Back in TPB "GOD NOT REAL" made more sense since StarClan was an abstract thing, even admitting in Darkest Hour that they don't control anything (side note: fuck that), but as they started interacting with the living world more and more it became ridiculous to be ignorant of objective reality.

My StarClan is both more powerful AND more mysterious in a way that can preserve Cloudtail's actual doubt, but I'm not interested in the trope that's like, "Nonbeliever gets a Ding Dong You Were Wrong moment." I have a more complicated connection to religion than that I'd prefer to put in the characters instead.

And god the way canon sets Cloudtail up as like, an antagonistic atheist punk insulting his Clan's religion openly :/ come on.

#Bone babble #Plus in societies before modern science that kind of GOD NOT REAL mindset was incredibly rare #Premodern atheists and heretics were more questioning of God's impacts on daily life #There was no explanation for how it all came to be and god was put in that gap of knowledge #Such a force was near immutable #But over time He lived in an increasingly tiny gap in human knowledge #So I see Cloudtail more like what we'd consider agnostic these days or a dissenter #Bonefall Rewrite

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mudstoneabyss · 1 year

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Lubelle's the type of person who fails to consider the societal aspects when studying anything related to people I think

#i dont know if im making sense with this #studying only natural science when dealing with people without considering the social sciences & a societies impact on the natural #isnt a thorough or valid study. imo #so her trying to explain Night Vale without trying to actually *understand* Night Vale is like. girl youre doing a piss poor study #im actually not fully caught up ive been just listening to and reading the transcripts for some #so forgive me if she did try to actually learn about Night Vale through its existence of a community but i doubt it #as a*#i actually still dont know if im making sense godbless #natural science and social science they are like lovers they impact each other baybee #joyousposting #wtnv

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d0nutzgg · 1 year

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The Implications of Algorithmic Bias and How To Mitigate It

AI has the potential to transform our world in ways we can't even imagine. From self-driving cars to personalized medicine, it's making our lives easier and more efficient. However, with this power comes the responsibility to consider the ethical implications and challenges that come with the use of AI. One of the most significant ethical concerns with AI is algorithmic bias.

Algorithmic bias occurs when a machine learning model is trained on data that is disproportionate from one demographic group, it may make inaccurate predictions for other groups, leading to discrimination. This can be a major problem when AI systems are used in decision-making contexts, such as in healthcare or criminal justice, where fairness is crucial.

But there are ways engineers can mitigate algorithmic bias in their models to help promote equality. One important step is to ensure that the data used to train the model is representative of the population it will be used on. Additionally, engineers should test their models on a diverse set of data to identify any potential biases and correct them.

Another key step is to be transparent about the decisions made by the model, and to provide an interpretable explanation of how it reaches its decisions. This can help to ensure that the model is held accountable for any discriminatory decisions it makes.

Finally, it's important to engage with stakeholders, including individuals and communities who may be affected by the model's decisions, to understand their concerns and incorporate them into the development process.

As engineers, we have a responsibility to ensure that our AI models are fair, transparent and accountable. By taking these steps, we can help to promote equality and ensure that the benefits of AI are enjoyed by everyone.

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imsotallsettos · 17 days

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idgaf i say while definitely giving a fuck about losing a science debate because of popularity

#im so tallsettos #bitch i literally had the better technology y’all are just homophobic #the one i had actually had an impact on society #my science teacher literally said i should’ve won

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healthyhoss · 8 months

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Chocolate Houses and the Age of Enlightenment: Brews of Enlightenment and the Birth of Solid Chocolate

The 17th and 18th centuries witnessed the rise of a remarkable cultural phenomenon in European cities: the chocolate house. These establishments, reminiscent of the coffeehouses that would follow, served as vibrant centers of intellectual discourse during the Age of Enlightenment. The bitter brew of hot chocolate became a symbol of sophistication and a catalyst for enlightened thinking, shaping…

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thejamesrf · 10 months

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I think about the future a lot

#midjourney #digital art #science fiction #progression #lost society #social impact #politics

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thestuffedalligator · 5 months

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It’s been said before but it bears repeating that Discworld is science fiction wearing the skin of fantasy.

Discworld tells science fiction plots and builds them from the material of fantasy. Feet of Clay is about robots and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Lords and Ladies is an alien invasion story. Moving Pictures and The Truth and Raising Steam are about the impact of new technologies on society.

Going Postal has hackers. They hack telegraphs, but they’re explicitly hackers.

Hex is made of magic and bees and ram skulls, but it is a super-computer. Discworld is built out of fairy tales and myths and swords and sorcery and a big hearty helping of Tolkien, but somewhere, deep down in its bones, it has a core of science fiction.

#discworld #gnu terry pratchett #and most of them are some flavour of cosmic horror #what if a shopping mall was an alien

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howdoesone · 1 year

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How does one examine the impact of science fiction or fantasy literature on popular culture or society as a whole?

Science fiction and fantasy literature have had a significant impact on popular culture and society. These genres have not only provided entertainment, but they have also introduced new concepts and ideas to readers, many of which have become a part of mainstream culture. From Star Wars to The Lord of the Rings, these works have become ingrained in our society, influencing everything from fashion…

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#analysis #characters #entertainment #fantasy #imagination #impact #literature #Politics #popular culture #science fiction #social commentary #society #Symbolism #technology #Themes

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humanlifehereandnow · 1 year

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19 Inventions and Discoveries That Changed the World

Introduction

Throughout human history, there have been numerous inventions and discoveries that have revolutionized the way we live our lives. These innovations have profoundly impacted society and shaped our world, from the earliest forms of currency to modern-day technologies like the internet and smartphones. This list will explore some of human history's most important inventions and discoveries, highlighting their impact and importance. The fire, which was the first discovery in human history and would have had the most significant impact on life, was omitted. On the other hand, relativity theory, quantum mechanics, blood circulation theory, periodic table of elements, etc., will be covered again in the history of science.

1. System of clay tokens for trade and commerce

In around 3,000 BC, the Sumerians developed a system of clay tokens representing different goods and services. These tokens facilitated trade and commerce and were the precursor to modern currency. Over time, the use of precious metals like silver and gold led to the development of the world's first coins, quickly becoming the standard form of currency worldwide.

2. Paper

People long sought ways to record their thoughts and ideas in ancient China. They discovered a new material called paper, invented around 105 AD. The paper was invented by a Chinese inventor named Cai Lun, and it was a revolutionary invention that changed the world. Before paper, people had to write on bamboo or silk, which were expensive and hard to come by. People could write more efficiently and affordably with paper, revolutionizing how information was recorded and shared.

3. Gunpowder

Another great invention from ancient China was gunpowder, invented around the 9th century. Gunpowder was invented by a Chinese alchemist named Taoist alchemist. Initially, it was used for fireworks and other festivities, but eventually, people discovered that gunpowder could be used for weapons. It revolutionized warfare and changed the course of history.

4. Printing press

In the 15th century, a German inventor named Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the world of printing. He invented the printing press, which made it possible to produce books and other printed materials much more quickly and efficiently. This invention helped spread knowledge worldwide and significantly influenced the Renaissance. Although Jikji Shimgyeong in Korea was published in metal type more than 78 years earlier, it was not widely used due to the limitations of East Asia.

5. Flying machines and other inventions by Leonardo da Vinci

Another inventor from the 15th century was Leonardo da Vinci. He was an Italian artist, inventor, and scientist who made many important discoveries and inventions. He invented flying machines, underwater breathing devices, and many other things ahead of his time.

6. Steam engine

In the 18th century, a Scottish inventor named James Watt revolutionized the industry with his invention of the steam engine. The steam engine was a powerful machine that could generate energy from the steam. It was used to power factories, ships, and trains and played a vital role in the Industrial Revolution.

7. Discoveries about electricity by Benjamin Franklin

Around the same time, an American inventor named Benjamin Franklin made essential discoveries about electricity. He conducted many experiments to understand the nature of electricity and invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning strikes. His discoveries paved the way for new lighting, motors, and telecommunications technologies.

8. Electric light bulb

In the late 19th century, an American inventor, Thomas Edison, invented the electric light bulb. Edison's invention changed everything and revolutionized how we light our homes and cities. Before Edison's invention, people relied on candles and gas lamps for lighting, which was unsafe or inefficient.

9. Telephone

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, which revolutionized communication. Before the phone, people had to rely on telegraphs or mail to communicate over long distances. With the phone, people could talk to each other in real time, no matter where they were.

10. Airplane

In the early 20th century, two brothers from Ohio named Orville and Wilbur Wright made history with their invention of the airplane. In 1903, they became the first to fly a powered airplane, and their invention paved the way for the modern aviation industry.

11. Penicillin

In 1928, a Scottish scientist named Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, a powerful antibiotic that could be used to treat bacterial infections. Before penicillin, infections such as pneumonia and meningitis were often fatal. Fleming's discovery revolutionized medicine and saved countless lives.

12. Computers

In the 1940s, a British computer scientist named Alan Turing made essential contributions to the development of computers. He helped crack the Nazi code during World War II, which allowed the Allies to win the war. He also developed the Turing machine, a theoretical computer model that could perform mathematical computation.

13. Internet

The internet was invented in the late 20th century, enabling unprecedented connectivity and access to information worldwide. It revolutionized how we communicate, work, and access information and has profoundly impacted society. A team of scientists and engineers in the United States developed the internet in the 1960s and 70s.

14. Smartphones

In the 21st century, smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Smartphones have revolutionized communication and enabled access to information and services from anywhere. The first smartphone was developed in 1992 by IBM, but it took off with the release of the iPhone in 2007.

15. Camera

The development of the camera has also had a significant impact on society. The first camera was invented in the early 19th century by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, and it revolutionized how we capture and preserve images of our world and our lives.

16. Microwave oven

In the mid-20th century, the invention of the microwave oven by Percy Spencer transformed the way we cook and prepare food. Before the microwave, cooking took a lot of time and effort, but with the microwave, we can now heat food quickly and easily.

17. Refrigerator

The invention of the refrigerator by William Cullen and Carl von Linde revolutionized food preservation and storage. The refrigerator made it possible to keep food fresh for extended periods. Before the refrigerator, people had to rely on iceboxes or other less efficient methods of preserving food.

18. Laser

The laser, invented by Theodore Maiman in 1960, has profoundly impacted technology and enabled various applications, from communication and manufacturing to medicine and science.

19. Human genome

Finally, human genome mapping in 2003 transformed our understanding of genetics and opened up new possibilities for personalized medicine and disease prevention. The human genome was mapped by a team of scientists from around the world, and it is considered one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time.

Conclusion

Each of these inventions and discoveries has profoundly impacted society and shaped the world in which we live. They demonstrate human ingenuity's power and ability to create new things and solve complex problems. From how we communicate to how we preserve and cook our food, these innovations have made our lives more efficient, connected, and comfortable. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, we can look to these inventions and discoveries as a testament to the power of innovation and our potential to make the world a better place. Please let me know in the comments if a case has had a significant impact on our society.

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solisaureus · 5 months

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In the wake of hbomberguy and toddintheshadows's takedown of James Somerton, I hope what people learn from this is that you are vulnerable to being scammed and lied to on the internet all the time. Even if you think you aren't. ESPECIALLY if you think you aren't. There is significant financial incentive for people on the internet to lie to you and influence you to think a certain way. It is happening to you every day, on youtube, on tiktok, on reddit, on tumblr. James Somerton is not the only culprit and there are tons of other scammers with reliable reputations that just haven't been caught.

What can you, as an audience member, do to shield your mind from misinformation and propaganda? I'm not going to expect everyone to fact-check everything that they hear or read on the internet, as that is simply infeasible with the sheer volume of information circulating online. But here are a few ways you can sniff out bullshit:

Watch for sources. If you watched the hbomberguy vid, this is probably already at the forefront of your thoughts. If a quote, image, or footage is unattributed, if citations are absent (this is literally the norm for informative posts on social media like tumblr and reddit, I very rarely see sources cited), or if sources cited look dubious and biased, take the information presented to you with a grain of salt.

Pay special attention to shocking claims. If someone on the internet tells you something outrageous, it is likely meant to outrage you. Public outrage is power -- before you get up in arms, verify the information that caused your reaction.

Fact-check when it matters. Some things are more important to verify than others. World news, politics, science, and medicine are rife with misinformation and directly affect people's safety. Before you spread a post you saw about, for example, COVID vaccines, look into how backed up it is.

Keep in mind that some things are disputed or unknown. It's natural to want answers, to want an authority to tell you how to feel about something. But sometimes the truth is unclear, and there are multiple contradictory opinions out there. It is okay to wait for more information to come out before you make up your mind on an issue.

Misinformation that you agree with is just as dangerous as misinformation that offends you. Todd in the shadows touched on this, but people are more likely to look into the validity of a claim if it offends them, and are more likely to accept it without question if it backs up their pre-held beliefs. But if your beliefs are being influenced by bullshit, you need to know about it, even if that causes you to change your stance on something. Especially then. Again, it's infeasible to fact check everything you hear, but keep this bias in mind when considering the above points.

There is way more to this topic and more informed people than me have weighed in on it, but I've been thinking about it since the videos came out and wanted to share my thoughts. These are things that I keep in mind for myself when evaluating info on the internet. There are tons of books out there on how to spot misinformation and the huge detrimental impact that misinformation has on society and I plan to read them next year. Educating yourself is important!

#robin text #todd in the shadows #hbomberguy #james somerton

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deception-united · 27 days

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Let's talk about worldbuilding.

Worldbuilding is a crucial aspect of writing fiction, particularly in genres like fantasy and science fiction.

Remember that worldbuilding is a dynamic process that evolves as you write. Don't be afraid to experiment and make changes to your world as needed to serve the story.

Here are some tips to help you build a rich and immersive world:

Start with a Core Concept: Every world begins with an idea. Whether it's a magic system, a futuristic society, or an alternate history, have a clear concept that serves as the foundation for your world.

Define the Rules: Establish the rules that govern your world, including its physical laws, magic systems, societal norms, and cultural practices. Consistency is key to creating a believable world.

Create a Detailed Map: Optional, but helpful. Develop a map of your world to visualise its geography, including continents, countries, cities, and landmarks. Consider factors like climate, terrain, and natural resources to make your world feel authentic.

Build a History: Develop a rich history for your world, including key events, conflicts, and historical figures. Consider how past events have shaped the present and influenced the cultures and societies within your world.

Develop Cultures and Societies: Create diverse cultures and societies within your world, each with its own beliefs, traditions, languages, and social structures. Explore how different cultures interact and conflict with one another.

Flesh Out Characters: Populate your world with memorable characters who reflect its diversity and complexity. Consider how their backgrounds, motivations, and personalities are shaped by the world around them. (See my post on character development for more!)

Consider Technology and Magic: Determine the level of technology and the presence of magic in your world, and how they impact daily life, society, and the overall narrative.

Think about Economics and Politics: Consider the economic systems, political structures, and power dynamics within your world. Explore issues like inequality, governance, and social justice to add depth to your worldbuilding.

Show, Don't Tell: Instead of dumping information on readers, reveal details about your world gradually through storytelling. Show how characters interact with their environment and incorporate worldbuilding seamlessly into the narrative.

Stay Consistent: Maintain consistency in your worldbuilding to ensure coherence and believability. Keep track of details like character names, historical events, and geographic locations to avoid contradictions.

Leave Room for Exploration: While it's essential to have a solid foundation for your world, leave room for discovery and exploration as you write. Allow your world to evolve organically and be open to new ideas and possibilities.

Revise and Edit: Carefully review your worldbuilding to identify any inconsistencies, plot holes, or contradictory elements. Pay attention to details such as character backgrounds, historical events, and the rules of your world's magic or technology. Make necessary revisions to resolve any issues and maintain the integrity of your worldbuilding.

Happy writing!

#writeblr #writing #writing tips #writing help #writing resources #writing advice #worldbuilding #fantasy worldbuilding #creative writing #deception-united

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a-dinosaur-a-day · 8 months

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New Fear

I have been on tumblr a long time. A looooong time. Far longer than I should have been, really.

And I've been arguing with schmucks about birds being dinosaurs... pretty much that whole time. Folks tend to get angry when a dinosaur blog posts birds, after all. It happens.

And while the game of whack a mole is ancient, it's not unpredictable. Usually, it ends in one of two ways:

the person admits they were wrong, and they back down

the person stops arguing with me and blocks me

I'm okay with either one, really. the former is ideal, the latter at least brings me peace.

Never before this past weekend has someone insisted they were right no matter what I say

And this isn't a coincidence.

Over the past few decades, anti-science sentiment has risen worldwide. I mean you just have to look at the COVID19 pandemic, or general reactions to the problems of climate change.

While of course people who think their opinion matters more than evidence have always existed, they have never been quite this bold before.

The idea that the colloquial definition of dinosaur matters, at all, is a completely new idea and one that has no basis in reality.

And yet, multiple people this past weekend argued exactly that.

And it sounds exceptionally similar to the idea that people could pick and choose things about COVID19 to believe, or the general republican position on science (only things that back up their bigotry are true).

It really seems to reflect a general increase in anti science sentiment and public anti-intellectualism.

Reality isn't actually up for debate. Reality isn't actually subjective. And science is the measure of reality

This isn't the same as the biases of society impacting science and making it worse. Saying "what people think is more important than science" is not the same as saying "science forgot a very important variable / factor / to consider data gained by different cultures / to have a wide variety of perspectives/ etc."

And allowing people to continue to perpetuate and believe in delusions leads directly to the spread of misinformation, leading to more people not understanding reality, and so on

This matters because reality matters. Because the reality of our world is not something we can change or escape. And, in fact, us ignoring the reality of the world - like thinking we can have infinite growth on a finite planet - is directly leading to the destruction of that world (climate change).

I am terrified of the rise of anti-science sentiment. I am terrified of the rise of cherry picking, deciding reality is what you want it to be, ignoring evidence. We see this from purely scientific topics all the way to social justice (how much of racism is ignoring the evidence of a) race being a social construct and b) how much racism impacts people's lives? Almost all of it).

This is bigger than birds being dinosaurs or evolution or climate change. This is about our society going on a deeply disturbing and self-destructive path.

And I really don't know what to do about it.

#birds are dinosaurs #whack a mole #science isn't subjective #climate change #covid19

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fatehbaz · 8 months

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This April [2021], the Iowa Department of Corrections issued a ban on charities, family members, and other outside parties donating books to prisoners. Under the state’s new guidelines, incarcerated people can get books only from a handful of “approved vendors.” Used books are prohibited altogether [...].

In 2018, the Michigan prison system introduced an almost identical set of rules, and Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington have all made attempts to block book donations, which were only rolled back after public outcry. Across the United States, the agencies responsible for mass imprisonment are trying to severely limit incarcerated people’s access to the written word [...].

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The official narrative is that donated books could contain “contraband [...]" -- the language used in Michigan [...]. This is a flimsy justification that begins to fall apart under even the lightest scrutiny. [...] [Contraband] [...] [is] not originating from nonprofit groups like the Appalachian Prison Book Project or Philadelphia’s Books Through Bars. [....] The old cartoon scenario of a hollow book with a saw or a gun inside just isn’t realistic, and its invocation is a sign that something else is going on.

That “something else,” predictably enough, is profit. With free books banned, prisoners are forced to rely on the small list of “approved vendors” chosen for them by the prison administration. These retailers directly benefit when states introduce restrictions. In Iowa, the approved sources include [B&N] and [B-a-M], some of America’s largest retail chains -- and, notably, ones which charge the full MSRP value for each book, quickly draining prisoners’ accounts. An incarcerated person with, say, $20 to spend can now only get one book, as opposed to three or four used ones; in states where prisoners make as little as 25 cents an hour for their labor, many can’t afford even that.

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With e-books, the situation is even worse, as companies like [GTL] supply supposedly “free” tablets which actually charge their users by the minute to read.

Even public-domain classics, available on Project Gutenberg, are only available at a price under these systems -- and prisons, in turn, receive a 5% commission on every charge. All of this amounts to rampant price-gouging and profiteering on an industrial scale.

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The rise of these private vendors has also been mirrored by the systematic dismantling of the prison library system. In the last ten years, budgets for literacy and educational resources have seen dramatic cuts, reducing funding to almost nothing [...]. In Illinois, for instance, the Department of Corrections spent just $276 on books across the entire state in 2017, down from an already meager $605 the previous year. (This means, incidentally, that each of the state’s roughly 39,000 prisoners was allotted seven-tenths of a cent.)

Oklahoma, meanwhile, has no dedicated budget for books at all, requiring prison librarians to purchase them out-of-pocket. [...]

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These practices become all the more abhorrent when you consider the impact books can have behind bars. By now, the social science on their benefits is well-established [...]. [O]ther inmates have reported that reading meant “the difference between just giving up mentally and emotionally and making it through another day, week, or year,” countering the dehumanizing effects of their imprisonment. A book can offer a brief, irreplaceable moment of calm in hellish circumstances. [...]

[There is] a shameful pattern in American society, where many people simply don’t think about the incarcerated on a day-to-day basis, let alone sympathize with their worsening conditions. [...] One of the most common arguments for the American carceral system, and its continued existence, is that of rehabilitation. According to its defenders, a prison is not simply a place of suffering, where unwanted populations are sent to disappear. Nor is it a callous money-making machine, intended to squeeze free labor from them in a regime of functional slavery. Instead, prison rehabilitates -- so the story goes. [...] In these terms, the basic legitimacy of mass imprisonment, and its allegedly positive social role, is taken for granted. [...] But the practice of book banning exposes the lie. Not only do American prisons have little interest in education, healing, and growth, but they will actively prevent them the moment there is a dollar to be made or an ounce of power to be secured.

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Text by: Alex Skopic. "The American Prison System's War on Reading". Protean (Protean magazine online). 29 November 2021. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

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writers-potion · 22 days

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Got anything for dialogue

Writing Dialogue 101

Dialogue is conversation, nothing more, nothing less. The catch is: diagloue is EDITED conversation. It must be more concise, purposeful and witty than the everyday sentences we speak, while sounding natural.

The Purpose of Dialogue

Diaglue is definitely a fiction elements that pops everything up and out. Thus, dialogue is going to have more impact than your normal paragraphs, in order to:

Characterizes/reveals motives

Sets the mood in the story

Intensifies the story conflict

Creates tension and suspense

Speeds up your scenes

Add bits of setting/backgronud

Communicates the theme

Matching the Dialogue to the Genre

The dialogue in a book should speak the reader's language. There is a type of voice that suits each genre/category of fiction, and we must understand what matches the reader expectations and rhythm of the plot we are writing.

Magical Dialogue

"Do not kill him even now. For he has not hurt me. And in any case I do not wish him to be slain in this evil mood. He was great once, of a nobel kind that we should not dare to raise our hands against." - The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein

"As much as I want you and want to be with you and part of you, I can't rear myself away from the realness of my responsiblities." - The Bridges of Madison County, Robert James Waller

This is the language of The Hobbit, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

When writing literary and mainstream fiction (that is targeted at the general public rather than a target audience), we need to go with what sounds real, even with a magical setting

Science fiction and fantasy can be more unreal, i.e. things like "May the Force Be With You."

In romance, magical dialogue takes on a differen form. It's magical in that it transcends the way we talk to each other in normal society. Magical in that all of it makes perfect sense and is said in such eloquent langauge that we marvel at it while at the same time knowing that if we are left to ourselves, we would say something absolutely banal.

Cryptic Dialogue

"You know, the condom is the glass slipper of our generation. You slip it on when you meet a stranger. You dance all night, then you throw it away. The condom, I mean. Not the stranger." - Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk

This is the dialogue in literary and religious stories that dealw ith abstract ideas and vague concepts and has double meanings. Readers aren't meant to understand theses right away.

These bits of dialogue plant sublimnal messages in the reader's mind that help communicate the theme later on, ultimately making sense.

Cryptic dialogue is difficult to do well. If we're not careful, we'll end up sounding preachy, moralistic and dogmatic.

You need to be able to view the world in different perspectives.

Descriptive Dialogue

The literary, fantasy and historical story often relies on dialogue for worldbuilding (expplaining history, magic rules, etc.)

The author's goal in descriptive dialogue is to provide the reader with information. However, the character's goal cannot be sacrificed for the author's. Dialogue can still have tension and suspense and can be inserted into a scene of action so the story doesn't bog down while the readers get some info.

Shadowy Dialogue

In shadowy dialogue, the character's job is to keep the reader suspended in a state of terror/suspense. Then you periodically tighten and loosen the tension.

The key here is uncertainty. The reader cannot trust the speaker, so we're always questioning him, wondering whether he's speaking truthfully or is presenting the full picture.

Keep the tone as dark of possible, using action and background as supporting tools.

Make it cryptic, or even better, offering an omnious threat of what is to come.

Provocative Dialogue

This is the type of dialogue that conveys the theme, talking about the "universla truth" your book is trying to convey.

Readers like to be challenged in their thinking, provoked to consider other ways of thinking, and shaken up in their belief systems with a fresh perspective about the world.

Consider this example from To Kill A Mockingbird:

"...but there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal - there is one humna institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockfeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignornant man the equal of any college president."

There is no way we can read this and not think about something that is bigger than our daily lives.

Make your readers squirm, and shock them out of their comfort zones.

Uncencored Dialogue

Uncencored dialogue in YA stories are of young people, but that doesn't mean it's filled with hip-hop words and slag.

While adults cencor themselves when they speak, teenagers haven't yet learned that skill so their dialogue is more raw, edgy and honest.

Readers of YA novels expect realism, so make it as authentic as possible. The last thing we want to is for our characters to be brash and honest, but NOT sound like they've just stepped out of Planet Way Cool.

For example:

"What if he doesn't like me back?" "You are too much of a chicken to do anything aboutit but mope."

As an adult, how often do you admit fear of rejection out loud to another, or call out your friend to her face? In YA-type of dialogue though, we can just write what comes into these characters' minds.

So that sums up the different types of dialogue. Consider the nature of your plot, what your readers and the genre of the story you are writing to choose an appropriate way for your characters to speak!

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

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