(4/2, morning.)

[erythristic]

To the users of Retrospec:

This message comes from both Grell Sutcliffe and Lucian Trevelyan. There’s been discussion recently of certain changes coming over our userbase. Changes that come in different forms, from certain unexplained moments that feel like dreams or perhaps memories, items showing up without cause, or certain physical attributes undergoing shifts in inexplicable ways. It’s to the latter that we address ourselves.

We are both medical professionals, and as such we’d like to say that if you undergo such changes and would like someone to take a look at what’s happened to you, for any reason, we’re capable of doing so and willing to provide you with what information and care you need. Anyone that comes to see us will be treated with the same standards as we’d give any patient - your information will remain confidential, and your visits will be at your discretion.

[ Here is the address to an establishment in Chata, along with the phone number. ]

If you’d like to make an appointment for your visit, contact Dr. Trevelyan, and standard clinic hours will apply. Weekend morning appointments can also be arranged. If you require care outside of office hours or need things to be looked at immediately, contact Dr. Sutcliffe.

We are here to help you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us should you have any sort of question or concerns. Feel free to comment to this post as well if you see fit.

[[ooc: since they co-wrote the post, either or both Grell (erythristic) and Lucian (accordance) will reply to threads - if you want one in particular, just say so in your thread header!]]

Comments

[clear_eyes]

I'm going to echo what Alicia said above. I'm very thankful that people are taking this kind of step. I've wondered about changing myself, and my mother is a doctor... so it's made me wonder what will go down if it happens to me.

If she doesn't realize it, like she has with the changes to the world, I'm glad I have someone who can make sure whether I'll be alright.

[erythristic]

she may notice. some changes, it's been observed, are noticed by others. others pass by without question.

has she been unable to notice retrospec itself?

[clear_eyes]

They have? I didn't know that. What kinds of things have been noticed?

But no, she hasn't. When it first appeared I tried showing it to her and it deleted itself. She thought I was stressed and imagining things, and I haven't tried since then.

[erythristic]

more information than that is not mine to disclose publicly.

it's a troublesome and clever little app. almost as though it were alive, showing itself only to those that it wishes.

[clear_eyes]

You're right. I should have known better than to ask that. I'm sorry. Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me.

... You know, I never considered that it might be a form of artificial intelligence. Beyond the kind used by most technology already, I mean.

[erythristic]

it's simply one of the more outlandish thoughts i've had about this app. perhaps i've been taking in too much science fiction.

[clear_eyes]

At this point, I don't think we should discount anything for being outlandish. This resembles science fiction already!

[erythristic]

resemblance is not enough reason to truly and fully cast aside consideration. fiction's fiction for a reason. else we call it history.

[clear_eyes]

You're right. I'm not thinking very scientifically. Something fantastic happening isn't precedent for something else that's bizarre being the case.

[erythristic]

i'll try to analyze it scientifically before casting off all reason. if that proves futile, then i'll open the floor to more unique answers.

[clear_eyes]

Right. And unique answers are often the key to finding new areas of understanding!... But that doesn't mean you have to be too quick to set aside what we already know, either.

[accordance]

You can come see me anytime if you like. My offer from a while back still stands.

[clear_eyes]

Of course. I'll take that offer in mind for both of you if the need arises.

private now

[accordance]

On that topic though, has your mother mentioned anything strange happening recently? From a non-Retrospec user's perspective.

I have been collecting information and looking at patterns, when I can.

[clear_eyes]

Nothing outside of my behavior around the time this all started. I've done my best to avoid giving her any more reason to worry on that front.

[accordance]

You have done well.

It does help confirm my suspicion that Retrospec screens all of its effects to other people, even if it is not tied to the application. I have not progressed much beyond data gathering right now, but hopefully that will change soon.

[clear_eyes]

What do you mean not tied to the application? Are you thinking it's Retrospec causing the changes, instead of them just being connected somehow?

[accordance]

Yes.

Usually, one would consider the principle that correlation does not equal to causation. However, the company has shown itself to be capable of many inexplicable things. I would not rule out the possibility of them being the cause of these changes, though it would still beget the questions of how and why.

[clear_eyes]

I suppose you have a point. I guess I didn't think of it because this app doesn't seem as big as changing the entire world...

[accordance]

Indeed it does not. However, we must consider probable possibilities, as outlandish as they may seem.

Without any confirmation from them, we can only try to guess an answer ourselves.

[clear_eyes]

At the same time, your colleague just got finished telling me we can't stray too far from the scientific method. So we have to be open minded and grounded at the same time.

[accordance]

The two are not mutually exclusive.

You can be open minded to come up with ideas, and then test them using the scientific method.

[clear_eyes]

Right. You need to find a middle ground between reasonable assumption and open mindedness too.

[accordance]

That's the spirit.

I welcome your ideas equally as anyone else's. I am trained in certain scientific fields, so this might predispose me to glossing over other valid possibilities.

[clear_eyes]

I'm re-evaluating all my theories right now to be honest. I'll let you know if I come up with anything else.