One of the things I end up doing when I start getting back into novel writing is to write dialogue. Just random conversations to get back into the flow. Sometimes, I will mimic actual conversations and other times, I will go on long tangents just to see where it goes. If I find it very interesting and useful, it may end up in a story that I’m writing. So in that essence, I decided to really write a conversation about a person who believes the exact opposite of what the other believes.
Most times this ends up being an experiment that I play out in my head and then transfer it to the keyboard later. Once I do that, I’ll add more words to give it more depth. I consider this to be an exercise of being in the other person’s shoes. The problem really becomes the issue of trying to debate facts. I mean, how does one do that?
Here’s a scene with two guys talking. I can always add the details later but for the sake of argument it’s probably better to ask yourself where you imagine them. A bar? A strip club? In a car, driving? Later in my writing process, I tend to add other details like… he said or he continues. Also, I’ll add things they’re doing while the dialogue is happening to make the exchange seem authentic because we’re never still when we talk to people.
Anyway here we go:
FADE IN
A: I believe the Earth is round.
B: Oh fuck no, I don’t believe that shit at all.
A: How can you say that? That’s a fact.
B: Really? How is that a fact?
A: Uh, Science.
B. Oh, so you go to school to learn a bunch of shit these Liberals tell you? Have you seen the Earth for yourself? I know you ain’t never been up there personally and don’t tell me you saw pictures because any photo can be doctored.
A. Liberals didn’t create science though. They do teach science in schools so you have to give it some merit. But, back up, you actually think the Earth is flat? What about space and the moon? We did send astronauts up there.
B. See, that’s some bullshit. The moon landing was all faked. I read it somewhere. They never landed and they totally had a camera with some funny lighting effects that gave people watching it on TV the impression that they was there… and you want to know why I know the Earth is flat?
A. This should be amazing.
B. Because if the Earth was really round, airplane pilots would be trained to not fly off into “space”.
A: (puzzled) What? Are you serious? Are you air quoting space?
B. Yup, I don’t believe in “space” either.
A: What the fuck? How do you not believe in space? What do you think is up there? Heaven?
B: That’s right, I do. All I’m saying that if there were billions of fucking stars up there then it wouldn’t be so dark at night. I read all about it and it make sense. I believe what I can see.
A. Wow. I guess gravity means nothing either.
B. I never said nothing about gravity. Let’s stick to “space” and your belief in “science”.
A: Yes, why don’t we stick to science? I happily believe in a little something we call facts.
B. That’s all bullshit though. All this science shit is a conspiracy to get us to believe that God doesn’t exist and I’ll tell you this: I hope you got your shit together because Jesus is coming real soon.
A: …and that’s a fact.
B. Hell yeah it is.
A:Â …and you know this, how?
B. I read it in the Bible.
FADE OUT
Honestly, I can do this all day. This gave me some pause because I realized that I could come up with an argument on facts. Yes, religion came into it and you kinda had to expect it to go in that direction.
The point is that no matter how dumb I think the other person is, they believe what they believe. We are in a matrix moment where people believe so passionately about their own personal truth they they would die on a very steep hill for it.
So, yes, this is life right now where facts and opinions hold the same weight.
Faith is, of course different, but you can also be religious and scientific too.
Also. There really are people who believe the Earth is flat.
Remember this is all fluff anyway.
Anthony Otero 