Elon Musk : Twitter Purchase / Cultural Influence Thread

Episode 5: Three Men Along the Rails

The lone traveler Kino is traveling along an overgrown, unused railroad on her trusty motorcycle when she looks ahead and sees that the railroad is polished and the weeds have all been removed - and taking a break by the side is a worker. She sits down and has a talk. "The railroad company has decided to reuse this stretch of road, so I've been sent out to clean it up," he says. She asks how long he's been doing it, and he goes "oh, about fifteen years now - I really wish I could see my family, but they're getting my paycheck at least. So traveler, do you have any good stories about places you've seen on your journey?" Dumbfounded, Kino stares at the man for a moment before telling him of a country where people don't have to work...

A Country Where People Don't Have to Work

This country is technologically advanced. Every facet of life that can be seen is perfectly managed by AI. And yet, the streets are busy with men and women in office clothing rushing to and fro to large buildings. Kino enters one of the offices and sees rows and rows of people lined up at computers furiously typing away. When the bell rings, most everyone gets up and leaves, looking exhausted, save for one man who continues to work, taking out a small lunch and eating it at his desk. Curious, Kino speaks to him: "What are you working on?" she asks the man. "I'm checking the computer's calculations," he replies. Kino says to him "Oh, so you *do* need to check the computer's calculations!"

And the man replies... "Oh, no. The computer is always right. If we don't match up, it's our calculations that are wrong." And then he goes on to explain that although the machines perfectly manage every facet of life, people were so bored by constant free time that they begged to have their work back. And so a currency system of "stress" was introduced. The more stressful your job, the more currency you have access to for leisure. Many (like himself) are working overtime to get the money they need for a good life. A lot of people even commit suicide because they can't handle it. Now please excuse him, but he does need to get back to work...

Kino tells this story to the Railroad Man and he laughs, "Boy, if I lived in a place where I didn't have to work, I'd take it easy all my days!"

Kino thanks him for the conversation and starts to leave before he asks one question to which we never hear the answer: "By the way, traveler... where are you going?"

The next day, Kino is traveling along the railroad until she looks ahead and sees that it is gone. Alongside stacks of torn up rails there is a man taking a break. Kino goes up to him. "The railroad company has decided to demolish this stretch of road, so I've been sent out to clean it up," he says. She asks how long he's been doing it, and he goes "oh, about fifteen years now - I really wish I could see my family, but they're getting my paycheck at least. So traveler, do you have any good stories about places you've seen on your journey?" Dumbfounded, Kino stares at the man for a moment before telling him of a country where people don't have to work...

Kino tells this story to the Railroad Man and he laughs, "Boy, if I lived in a place where I didn't have to work, I'd take it easy all my days!"

Kino asks him "don't you find it strange that the road you're demolishing is so well maintained?" And he replies "A bit, but I have a job to do anyway." She thanks him for the conversation and starts to leave before he asks one question to which we never hear the answer: "By the way, traveler... where are you going?"

The next day, Kino is following the dirt path when she looks ahead and sees a shiny new railroad up ahead - and taking a break by the side is a worker. She sits down and has a talk. "The railroad company has decided to use this stretch of road, so I've been sent out to lay down tracks," he says. She asks how long he's been doing it, and he goes "oh, about fifteen years now - I really wish I could see my family, but they're getting my paycheck at least. So traveler, do you have any good stories about places you've seen on your journey?" Dumbfounded, Kino stares at the man for a moment before... apologizing that no, she doesn't have anything interesting at all, sorry.

Kino thanks him for the conversation and starts to leave before he asks one question to which we never hear the answer: "By the way, traveler... where are you going?"