megane_kun

I'll try to send text to the very beginning of the seven-day period, sending each message on two-hour intervals sent to the point in time one second after the last message.

Let's assume that the seven-day period starts on 2025-05-12 08:00:00.

• The first message will be sent two hours after the seven day period starts, and every two hours thereafter. This first message will be sent on 2025-05-12 10:00:00 and will include:

  1. the timespace-stamp of when and where the message is sent. the time part of this would be written in way that only I can encode and decipher.
  2. all the rules as I understand it so far
  3. what I've done from the the start of the seven-day period.
  4. something only I know that will convince myself that I indeed sent the message from the future

• The messages will be sent to the time one second after the previous message was sent. Hence, continuing the example, the next message would be sent on 2025-05-12 12:00:00 to 2025-05-12 08:00:02, and so on.

• The messages will follow the same format as the first one:

  1. timespace-stamp (when and where I sent the message from), the time portion written in the same code as the first one.
  2. any updates to my knowledge of the rules
  3. where I've been and what I did since the last message
  4. something only I know, and will reassure myself that the message is indeed from me

• If for some reason I am unable to send any messages (for example, I have been asleep, or out of network coverage area) when I should (two hours have passed since the last message), I will send a message immediately when I'm able. This message will be sent to the time one second after the last sent message. So continuing the example, if the last message was sent on 2025-05-12 22:00:00, to 2025-05-12 08:00:07, and I'm asleep until 2025-05-13 09:00:00, I will immediately send a message to 2025-05-12 08:00:08.

With this, assuming I survive for seven days (exactly) and stay awake the entire time, I will receive the last message before 2025-05-12 08:01:24. The timestamps of the last message will also give me a good indication if I survived the seven days, or how long I survived. If I continue receiving messages past that, maybe my future self messed up, or there's something more going on, or my future self just decided it's a good idea to just continue. Nevertheless, I have advance notice of what happens to me.

Of course I will try not to lose my phone. With advance notice, I will try to stay as safe as possible without deviating much from the timeline. Also, I will try to figure out what's going on, but only up to the point that I can keep myself safe.

‘Defacing’ is the proper term in vexillology.

From the Wikipedia article on the term:

In vexillology, defacement is the addition of a symbol or charge to a flag. For example, the Australian flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with a Southern Cross in the fly.

In the context of vexillology, the word "deface" carries no negative connotations, in contrast to general usage. It simply indicates a differentiation of the flag from that of another owner by addition of elements. For example, many state flags are formed by defacing the national flag with a coat of arms.

And the other way is distasteful too! Going around helping people because you want to "fish for friends"? Yeah, you could do worse things, I suppose, but still pretty icky.

Some people though, they can be pretty classy about it and if done that way, and no one is harmed, why not?

attach yourself (politely) to the person who comes to help

This probably explains some of the interactions I've had when all I wanted to do is to help someone in need. Not in the gym, but mostly in the streets. Like someone getting lost, and offering to show them the way. Or offering my seat to the elderly.

But really, being helpful sometimes is all it takes for give someone the reason to talk to you (and vice versa). Not that I managed to be in a relationship with this kind of a start.

Either way, I'm in a bad situation. I'll act under the assumption been framed for the murder.

Do not touch anything, don't leave anything that would indicate my presence in there. Do not attempt to even rearrange the scene to make it seem I wasn't there. It's already too late for that. All I can do now is to minimize any additional traces of my presence.

Drink some water. Find some random container that won't be missed and won't be conspicuous, maybe something from the rubbish bin, and fill it with drinking water. Do not take anything from the fridge. The point is to minimize any evidence that could point towards me.

The clothes might be a problem. Washing it could work, but it might be easier to just tear the bloodied parts or otherwise just go without the top layer of clothes. Do not throw them away inside the house, but be prepared to scatter them later.

Don't leave at night. It'd be too conspicuous. The middle of the day, when everyone is either at work or busy having their lunch, works better. Take just enough water to not die of thirst. The point is not to attract too much attention.

When ready, leave. Don't take the car, just walk. Don't look too suspicious, but don't act too casual either—better yet, don't act at all. However, be cautious. There might be someone watching, following. Don't take any drastic steps, just walk. If choosing to dispose of the bloodied clothes (or portion of clothes), casually dispose of them in pieces in different garbage bins I may encounter.

I will be walking until I reach the nearest urban area, but basically assuming that:

• I'm being framed for the murder, and so going to the police isn't going to help
• I'm basically a "dead person" from that point on. My options are down to
  • try to survive being a beggar. there might be a way to claw my way out of this but being a wanted person makes it nearly impossible. staying a beggar, and hence invisible from the rest of society might be better
  • find a way out of the situation in my own terms

Thinking about it, maybe it'd be easier if I just join the dead guy.

I'm a guy, and if a girl sits down next to me and talks to me in a park or even in a bar, hundreds of red flags will be raised that there'd be an impromptu Soviet parade in my head.

Sure, I'd respond politely, but I'd be constantly wondering what she actually wants from me: recruit into a sus MLM thing? recruit into a sus cult? recruit into a sus MLM cult thing? And I am sure that if the genders were reversed (a guy hitting me up, a woman, all of a sudden), it'd not be a Soviet parade, but an all-out scramble for the bunkers. That's not to say all women think the same as I do, though, but just echoing the OP's sentiment, which I somehow agree on.

There are far safer avenues for talking to the person of your preferred gender (or non-gender), where flirting is tolerated more, than out in public.

I mean, yeah. Somehow I'm aware of that. But also, we haven't bought a TV for almost a decade now, and my biggest mistake is letting it update to the latest version. If there's something these adverts have done is drive me into consuming even less than ever before. I actively don't buy stuff now.

"Smart" TVs.

I just want my TV to show pretty pictures with sound thrown at it by the digital receiver. If I want, I can attach a computer for streaming. How is that such a big ask?!

Oh, yeah, certainly! DLSR cameras back then were expensive, and I'm afraid I'd be made to pay for it if I ever break something.

Right now, they're still kinda expensive for me, but not enough that I get paralyzed fearing any action might break something. 😅

EDIT:

I just did the conversion, and a DLSR at 50€ is kinda cheap indeed! Considering it's like 500€ back then (well, brand new entry level because you've basically got no choice). I think I'm seeing like 1500€ DLSR cameras on display at shops tho, and I'm like "who has the money for these?!"

Thanks for this.

I remember being handed a DLSR (this was in the late 2000's, early 2010's) and I was too afraid to even do anything. I suppose if reassurance is given that no, things won't be messed up, and it's fine to make mistakes anyways, then it'd be great.

I suppose being intimidated by the tech and being overwhelmed by the information given to me is what prevented me from getting further.

I am just someone who is interested in photography, but haven't really embarked on that journey, so please take what I say with a grain of salt.

She having her own camera to use would give her the freedom to take photos of the subjects she finds interest in. She could very well spot something, take out the camera, and take a quick shot. Because of this, I think having a very simple one (just a point-and-shoot) would suffice. One of the things that intimidated me about the hobby is the amount of technical stuff that I encountered, including, but not limited to:

• framing techniques
• usage of lighting
• shutter speed, ISO, and how they affect how the image is formed
• post-processing: image formats, usage of image editing/photo editing software

I appreciate the people who shared me this knowledge, but truth be told, it's only the framing techniques that I was able to practice. That's on me, of course.

I suppose it'd be great to introduce her to these concepts one-by-one, and giving her the freedom to pursue their interests (in what to take pictures of). Maybe she'd be more interested in macro photography, or landscapes, or portraits. I suppose there are techniques that work better in one area than another.

I suggest getting her a more proper camera after she's expressed interest in going further would be a good idea.

Again, not any photographer, not even a hobbyist. Just someone who is interested in the hobby, and had several people share their knowledge.

PS:

Just as an afterthought. Since I suggested that she use the simplest "point-and-click" camera, wouldn't a cellphone camera suffice? IDK.

This! The only time I had my bard perform (use performance) is when I was trying to solicit help from someone, but telling the plain truth (as my character has been doing so far) would put the party at risk, so I told the DM:

I will tell the story as if it were an epic tale told across generations of bards. Can I use performance for this?

The DM allowed it. I rolled the die and got a fairly high roll. The person I was asking help from was so moved they swore they'd help the party with the utmost of their abilities.

Besides, the DM has just told the table the same story (targeted to my character, but the rest of the table had a listen), and it's just annoying hearing me recite that same story they just heard from the DM (who is far better than me at telling stories).

The only time I acted out in character (in the main story in that campaign, and that other time was debatable, as it's more of a caricature than in-character) was in a fairly impromptu scene between me and another character. The rest of the table, including the DM, was just too shocked at the impromptu act. In hindsight, it played out like one of those romcom anime scenes. And I came out of it all: "wtf was that?!"