The abyss that is Black Mirror

Imagine a world where you rate people you meet on the street with five stars or less depending on your encounter. A world where a simple hashtag can judge evil people to death. A world where you can literally block people and won’t be bothered anymore as you no longer can hear nor see them.

Sounds like Science fiction but Black Mirror, a British-American TV series tackling the dark side of technology, paints a picture of a grim world that is similar to real life. It is fascinating and scary at the same time.

There’s a story about implants that can record everything a person sees, an individual recreated from his social media profile, a woman being hunted down with people just watching and taking a video on their mobile phones.

The narrative, the acting, and the production, I would rate as impressive. And I like how it’s also some kind of a social commentary on how the black mirror, the very thing you’re reading this from, pervasive as it is in our lives can lead to dystopia. Guess what, it’s not a distant future we’re talking about. It is here. Watch a few episodes and you’ll agree with me.

It made me wonder about people putting so much effort on their well-curated but fake social media profile. About online bashing; those easily condemning, putting judgement, and even cursing to death people they barely know. About our obsession over talents shows. About manipulating reality. About poetic justice. About the loss of privacy.

We’re doomed! Black Mirror made sure of that. It’s entertaining, nonetheless. And it may help us re-evaluate how we use technology and maybe, somehow, change our destined future.

Bizarre

It’s that time of the year when scary stuff abound – from stories to movies to TV documentaries. People dress up as vampires, ghosts, goblins, and monsters. Some decorate their homes with skulls and cobwebs and Jack O’ lanterns.

Needless to say I’m thrilled with all these considering my fascination of the paranormal. Blame it on Stephen King. But allow me to share these personal experiences which are weird, scary, and sometimes funny. You decide.

The ‘Mananabas’

You know how it is with urban legends. It’s not true but for some reason it tries to cross over reality. Back in college, I heard the story of ‘Mananabas’ who apparently is an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) driven to madness because of his wife’s infidelity. He then murdered his whole family and is now in Baguio, my hometown, posing as a taxi driver, searching for other victims.

Did I get all the information from the news? From a very creative friend? Or is it a story concocted by my imaginative mind? I don’t remember. What I do remember is riding a taxi one midnight, the taxi driver announcing to his radio, “I have one soul,” while staring malevolently at me through the rear-view mirror.

I instinctively jumped out like a stuntman, and ran as fast as I could. My friends couldn’t hide their disbelief as I relayed my story. They were even teasing but they said I looked so scared and was white as a sheet.

A friendly ghost

I was a staff of the school paper and decided, one day, to do some work in the office. I unlocked the door and let myself in. At the same instant, something/someone (?) saved me the effort of turning on the computer as it roared to life on its own.

School exorcism

“This school used to be a cemetery.” It’s common in the Philippines to hear that especially from kids. Probably just to scare each other. Coincidentally, though, there are numerous reports of spirit possessions happening in schools.

So it was a bit scary when we went to a school and found out that they conducted an actual exorcism the previous day. What’s worse, we had to stay there for the night. True enough, we experienced unexplainable movements and sounds but I’m glad to say we were able to survive that.

Premonition

I was brushing my teeth one evening when I suddenly felt a cold draft of air. All the doors and windows were closed.

The following morning, I learned that my grandmother passed away the same time I felt her apparent goodbye.

Only when you sleep

You’re fast asleep. Then you open your eyes. But you can’t move. Your heart is beating fast. You feel a scary presence. It’s seating by the side of the bed. Staring at you though you can’t see its eyes. You just see the long black hair and a face of nothingness.

Cold

I can’t feel my fingers

All I see is white

It’s been a year since the sky exploded with ice

They warned

We didn’t listen

Then everything went downhill

 

I can’t feel my fingers

All I see is white

The world was gripped with terror

Chaos

Nobody knew what to do

Then everything went downhill

 

I can’t feel my fingers

All I see is white

People died

Animals died

Plants died

The earth died

Then everything went downhill

 

I can’t feel my fingers

All I see is white

I’m alone

I don’t know if others survived

God, I’m hungry!

Everything’s going downhill

 

I can’t feel my fingers

All I see is white

Excruciatingly starving

Looking at my hands

Drooling

Everything’s gone downhill

*Inspired by the movie, Snowpiercer and Stephen King’s short story, Survivor Type.

Fingers

Poetry Writing 201 Assignment 7: Fingers, Prose Poetry, Assonance

The severed hand assumed a life of its own. Cleverly sliding through the floor. Using its fingers as legs. These fingers used to build, help, and serve. Now it’s on a search. For blood.