I started out a solid 4.2 which was almost enough to qualify for a table at Trois Mec. “Sorry,” the doorman said, you’ll need to be a minimum of a 4.32 to dine here. Well whatever then, and it was all good till I headed to the gas station and some old geezer barked at me and said I cut him off on 7th Street right by Party Town Balloons. Then two dumpy old grandmas, Fake Jesus Chasers, marked me down for reminding them that Jesus wasn’t a Republican. Finally, inside the Pit Stop, I headed for a spigot of caffeine and spilled my Giant Chug, it slipped right through my grimy hands like wasted time. Why the hell did I take off today?
“What are you TRYin’ to do?” The counter girl yelled at me.
“What are you looking at?” I yelled back at her.
She might have been able to do her job if she had more meth. Undaunted, the counter girl grabbed her phone along with five customers waiting in line and they all marked me down. My score plummeted into free-fall mode.
I called my friend Stacy Marie.
“What? Don’t scream. What’s your score?”
“2.8, no, 2.5, no…”
“Geez! You’re pathetic. I can’t be caught with a looser like you now!” I could hear stars falling all around me.
“You won’t help me? You gold digger slut!” CLICK!
I called my boss, Ray.
“I’ve already seen the alerts about you. You are no longer employable at 2.3. 2.8 was the lowest I could go on employees, and those are bottom-feeders.”
“No, Ray, listen!” CLICK!
I walked out into the broad light of clear day, the heat of the asphalt rushing up to greet me. For sure now I would be dissolved. No longer eligible to be human. No longer privy to freedom even as mediocre as it was. All around me the falling stars plotted my doom, my ultimate downfall reverberated in one terrible thud.
I was both amused and dismayed by this… how long until that’s really how the world works? Already, we rate every kind of business and product. Why not each other? An intriguing premise, believable dialogue. Well done, Lana. 🙂
Thanks, Joan. Yes, what if that became a reality, a world where the worth of people was rated and decided by others. A bit scary for sure!
Fantastic! We have credit ratings, product ratings, you name it ratings. I can see us all bowing to the 5 star rating monster.
It’s insane, yet maybe completely plausible in a weird sci-fi way!
Very creative! It seems tMhose five stars were only for hotels or restaurants but I see them everywhere. Sort of similar to “likes” and followers. As one person comments, when are we all going to be rated that way. Now I will be wandering around wondering what my STAR rating is! Thanks! Maybe it will just make me more aware of my behavior, attitude and how I treat others. Well done!
Thanks, Jo. It does make you wonder if we aren’t headed in that direction, yeeesh! I’m sure your STAR rating is good, just don’t lose your temper, haha!
Great look at a possible future, Lana! You made it so very scarily real.
Hey Linda, thanks. In some ways, it doesn’t seem like we are that far from it. Scary!
Unfortunately, that’s true, Lana. 🙁
Such an ominous and Orwellian post Lana, and fits in perfectly with the bizarre climate. <3
I thought it was also fitting with this insane world that we’ve found ourselves in! Yikes. … xo
I got your message loud and clear! <3