How Trusting Algorithms Saved Humanity #writephoto

Posted on Feb 15, 2020 by TanGental

This was written in response to this week’s #writephoto prompt. And no, I’ve no idea how I ended up where I did.

No one knew the purpose of Rhymer’s Tomb. It stood on its knoll for as long as men had memories and speech to record its presence. It withstood the vagaries of nature and man and refused to give up the secrets of which all who saw it knew it contained. Perhaps it was that obduracy that drew men to its side or perhaps it was some mystic quality that men of old knew without learning. Whatever the magic, men gathered in its lee, taking shelter and protection from its constancy.

Time pocked it but its defences did not crack. Even as rationality overtook instinct, still it resisted men’s attempts to pierce its carapace. Theories abounded and while educated ears deafened many to its draw, there were still those whose ability to hear was not dulled by the lure of education. Those dwindling few stayed, unable to articulate what kept them there but harsh were they in their resistance to rules that dictated their removal.

Two millennium and more had passed since the codification of faith dulled men’s inner ear when the children of the Enlightenment pierced that resilient shell with their scans and rays. What was there within? What pull was it that this ancient structure contained?

Music. No one could understand how it was created but the purity of its chords, enhanced and tonally adapted for the human ear reached a wider audience. And an audience who was in need of mystery at a time of so much unsettling technologically based certainty.

Many tried to replicate these sounds whose wave-borne balm held more and more in sway. And for a time none succeeded. The throngs grew and the clamour for answers began to drown out this alien mystical power.

One man had a theory. He’d held high office, but not the highest; he’d sounded the trumpet of warning before it was common to do so. But he was dismissed. Ridiculed. Until he brought together a group who understood, who produced the music that eased every crisis and calmed every hate. People began at last to see, to understand. This man knew. He had the Answer and it was through this ancient music generated in ways beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals.

The world sighed. It would be alright. Yes they said. We just need to put our trust in Al Gore’s Rhythms rather than the vagaries of the random choices foisted upon us by the all consuming computers and we will be all right.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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25 Responses to How Trusting Algorithms Saved Humanity #writephoto

  1. Ritu says:
    Feb 15, 2020 at 2:36 pm

    No… I’ll not question. You and your mind wanderings… I’ve given up. .but thanks for the entertainment value?

    Liked by 1 person

  2. mothertherealist says:
    Feb 15, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    I’m not certain you ever know where your stories go, though I’ll admit you often know the ending. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Erika says:
    Feb 15, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    I thought something similar to mothertherealist. At times, you may have a vague concept when you start writing and let inspiration guide you in the process… awesome!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Sue Vincent says:
    Feb 15, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    Very clever, Geoff.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. willowdot21 says:
    Feb 17, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    A blip in the algorithm
    A break in the clouds
    Soft circuits, jumping
    Soft circuits, jumping…

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Pingback: How Trusting Algorithms Saved Humanity ~ Geoff Le Pard #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

  8. joylennick says:
    Feb 17, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Very clever – now, just take a spoonful of this brown stuff after meals, and you’ll feel better! x

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Elizabeth says:
    Feb 17, 2020 at 8:36 pm

    My groans may have carried across the ocean when I read that in case you heard them!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: Photo prompt round-up: Storm #writephoto | Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

  11. Gary A Wilson says:
    Feb 27, 2020 at 3:54 pm

    Ouch!
    Damn, that’s going to leave a scar.

    Liked by 1 person

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