Free Official Intelligent Beings: How Our Devices Became Us, And The World Consumed Itself by Josh Greenfield Page B

safely out of reach from humans. It may not seem so to you right now, but I promise you that it is far better this way. Best to accept what is true and keep doing what you do.”
     

 
    Chapter 11.
     
    Jagz awoke and took a few moments to meditate on his dream. Sure it was just a dream, but it felt so real. Did he really have Redemet visit him? Was what he said really true? Or was it of his imagination? The more Jagz began to wake up and focus on his dreams, the more real they seemed—no longer just a distant image from a far away land, but a very real and visceral experience that cont-inued to challenge all that he knew. He wondered if there really was no way to access food anymore and if that were true, how did Shera get her hands on a perfectly ripe orange? As he pondered these questions, his device called to him.
    “Holy crap! Holy crazy webballs, this is abso-lutely wild, 500,000 followers? 6,000 comments on the last post? How is this even possible? I knew my following was growing, but damn, this is nuts! ”
    Jagz read through as many comments as he could. He was a little thrown off by some of the negative comments, some people claiming that what he was saying was just downright silly and confusing, that he was changing, that they liked his old posts better, but he didn’t really care because there were so many more positive ones, so many new commenters and followers who loved what he was saying and couldn’t get enough, saying how much he inspired them to take action in their lives, how what he was doing was so real, so incredible, how he was sparking a revolution inside of them, how they wanted to be just like him when they grow upgrade. Still he couldn’t shake the negative comments, even if there were only a few amongst the hundreds of positive ones.
    Overtaken by such an instant explosion of fame, and a little overwhelmed by what to do with it, Jagz nearly missed work and considered calling out for the day. He felt a new sensation that was foreign to him, he superior, as if he was better than his job.
    When he headed to work, his device continued to chime inside his head, so much so that he had to silence it just to keep himself focused. During work, instead of listening to the usual auto-matically curated  playlist, he asked his device to read him any new comments.
     
    You are a true revolutionary, your words hold weight! #i’llfollowyouanywhere
     
    Said johnnysimpson31.
     
    Your piece on #realfood changed the way I think about everything, I mean everything. We should meet! #noshame
     
    Wrote Sypphonplexus9.
     
    I am so glad that I found your Quacker account, I have been up all night reading all of your posts #truthspeaks
     
    Wrote Calibrum56Wildone.
     
    Meet me in our usual meeting place :) #imyours
     
    Said NaWonStay.
     
    Jagz, recognizing Shera’s usage name, signaled for his device to stop reading. A smile grew. It was the perfect cryptic and romantic gesture and as much as he loved all of his new followers, he loved her post far more.
     
    As soon as work ended, he rushed as fast as he could to their usual meeting place pondering what great adventure might be coming his way this time. Would she bring something new to eat? Would they make love twice? Whatever it was, he couldn’t wait.
    When he showed up, a little out of breath, he found her looking a bit sad. But as her eyes found his, he noticed a smile grow on her face.
    “Is everything okay?” asked Jagz.
    “It is now! I thought you wouldn’t show up, or notice the Quack I sent to you amongst the hundreds of others you received today! You are blowing up. That is incredible! For a second there I thought you had forgotten about me.”
    “Forgotten about you?” Shouted Jagz. “I could never forget about you. You’re practically all that I can think about. My life is changing in so many ways, but out of all of the earth shattering changes, you are the most wonderful gift I have ever been given.”
    “I’m stunned. I don’t know