watching

July 6, 2014 6:43 PM

On weekends, we walk out to where the past used to be and where its stories remain.
posted by oinopaponton (12 comments total)

Well, that just made my Hugo nomination list for next year. Thank you.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 6:55 PM on July 6, 2014

On of Winston Rountree's absolute best, if a little wearying to scroll all the way down (but that's one of his signature traits). It's the best explanation I've ever seen for "why don't we ever meet time travelers?" and a fascinating look at how a "post-illness" society would view us today.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:44 PM on July 6, 2014

My favorite part:

And sometimes something instantly grasps your attention
As though you are somehow remembering it from the future...

We have fear in my time
Does it determine what we watch?
posted by freejinn at 7:52 PM on July 6, 2014

So much crying.
posted by Andrhia at 8:24 PM on July 6, 2014

Can we nominate this for Webbys yet?
posted by TerryGotham at 9:49 PM on July 6, 2014

That was amazing, very understated where it could have really easily veered into overdone pathos.

And once again, the scroll worked so well with the story. There are so many wonderful things you can do with layout and arrangement and Rountree really understands that on some profound level and uses it to wonderful effect.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 10:03 PM on July 6, 2014

that's terrific, thanks for posting.
posted by Kwine at 10:24 PM on July 6, 2014

I just want to add that as a historian who works on health-related stuff in the distant past, I found the whole thing a really touching metaphor for the study of history, especially this part.
posted by oinopaponton at 7:33 AM on July 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Great stuff. I'm hoping that Winston (not his real name) is doing better than eking out a living in the Toronto lawncare business by day, as he was a couple of years back.
posted by scruss at 8:11 AM on July 7, 2014

That was wonderful—a sort of blend of Dostoevsky and Beckett and La Jetée, making superb use of its format. It should certainly win some awards. Thanks for posting it!
posted by languagehat at 8:26 AM on July 7, 2014

scruss: “Great stuff. I'm hoping that Winston (not his real name) is doing better than eking out a living in the Toronto lawncare business by day, as he was a couple of years back.”

He's been doing some great stuff for Cracked, including the hilarious After Hours, so one hopes he's currently a not-quite-as-starving artist.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:29 AM on July 7, 2014

I've been from almost to completely bedridden because of myalgic encephalomyelitis since 2007, and I have had so many of these thoughts. Now I have to finish this ugly cry so I can eat dinner.
posted by jocelmeow at 3:33 PM on July 7, 2014