Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest... (need greenlights)

Summary:

Or, "why trees hate humans"

Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DoubleDenial 24 Jan 2020 20:49

I know this idea is kind of ridiculous, but my first idea was incredibly boring and "thing what does a thing"-y so I'm trying something a little more zany this time (hopefully in a good way).

The idea is a group of a few dozen trees that can all emit and hear auditory (English) Morse code signals. Most of their time is spent having ordinary conversation, but they speak about humans with hatred and resentment for political (to trees, anyway) reasons such as deforestation.

When a new tree gets planted by the rest of them, it can talk as well. Eventually, looking for answers, the Foundation allows a planned conversation/interview with the trees. The trees say that trees used to be the dominant species until humans took over. At the end, they reveal that all trees can talk, and a nearby (believed to be non-anomalous) tree finishes the interview with the famous quote, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

The idea came to me really suddenly. I don't know if it's too stupid, too predictable, or both. Does it already exist? Whatever you think, let me know. Thanks.

Edit 1: Thanks for the feedback so far. I fixed a few things I neglected to mention.
Edit 2: Some more stuff.
Edit 3: And something else.

Last edited on 26 Jan 2020 21:14 by DoubleDenial Show more

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

Cyvstvi13 24 Jan 2020 20:52

Heyo!

A tree interview would be one of the sickest things I've ever read. So I fully expect great things here, yes it's a little ridiculous but also absolutely amazing!

So, a few pointers for developing your idea, which is already pretty developed imo:

• Read a few Series IV and V articles to get a grasp on style, essay hub is also full of a collection of pretty advanced guides, totally recommend both resources.
• The ending is pretty expected, but not if you hide it by using subtle hints to the reader to build it up, the reveal would be amazing if you're subtle.
• Finally, would you be translating the morse code into English so readers don't have to understand morse?

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DoubleDenial 24 Jan 2020 21:10

Thanks for the enthusiastic response!

• I have read a lot of articles and most of the guides already (signups were down when I was first going to join), but I could definitely read some more.
• I'm going to try to keep it subtle. Is the whole "dominant species" thing too obvious?
• Yes. In fact, I don't think I'm going to write them out in Morse code at all, because it's not like you can really "lose something" in translation to/from Morse code (with the exception of Morse code abbreviations, but I'm just going to assume that's a human thing).

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

Cyvstvi13 24 Jan 2020 21:33

• Good! Keep reading. Read, read, and read til your head is full!
• Dominant species might be obvious, but I'm sure it could work pretty damn well!
• Right, good job, the only problem is morse code is a man-made invention, and if they hate humankind so much I'd come up with your own cipher that the Foundation decoded: Gaia Code or something similar!

Good luck!

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DoubleDenial 25 Jan 2020 00:17

I was originally thinking of explaining it with "the trees came up with it first," but that wouldn't really make sense. And I can't really give them their own language, either, because then they wouldn't be able to pick up on what humans are saying. I'll have to think about that for a while.

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

Yahmeskhan 24 Jan 2020 21:07

Sentient trees is a pretty thoroughly covered subject but the means of communication is original.

At the end, it's revealed that all trees can talk, they can just tell when humans are listening,

If this is the case would this even be considered anomalous? Why is it just these select few trees?

The idea is a group of a few dozen trees that can all produce and receive Morse code signals

What kind of signals? Do they communicate telepathically? Electronically? Auditorilally? Physically? And is this in a human language or did the foundation have to learn to speak tree?

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

This brings in allot of questions, it implicates that not only do trees understand people but they also have a wealth of information about us, which also suggest a large network of communication amongst trees since they cant move. If this was the case I'd imagine things like deforestation to be a stronger motive for their hatred. So allot to explore there.

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DoubleDenial 24 Jan 2020 21:23

What kind of signals? Do they communicate telepathically? Electronically? Auditorilally? Physically? And is this in a human language or did the foundation have to learn to speak tree?

*Facebranch* I can't believe I didn't specify how they communicate. It's through audio. Allow me to edit my original post.
Edit: Also, it's in English. I originally felt like that wasn't an important enough detail to include in this summary, but you do have a point.

If this is the case would this even be considered anomalous? Why is it just these select few trees?

Because every tree can generate beeps through an unknown method? That seems pretty anomalous to me.
Edit: Additionally, the Foundation can't verify the claim unless they can coax a tree into talking.
Edit 2: I actually forgot to mention this, but the trees were the ones who said it. So the Foundation can't say for sure that all trees can talk.

This brings in allot of questions, it implicates that not only do trees understand people but they also have a wealth of information about us, which also suggest a large network of communication amongst trees since they cant move. If this was the case I'd imagine things like deforestation to be a stronger motive for their hatred. So allot to explore there.

Yes, deforestation is pretty much the main reason. That will be mentioned in the actual article. I'll edit this into my post as well.

Thanks for the feedback!

Last edited on 26 Jan 2020 00:05 by DoubleDenial Show more

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DrAntonioRyasis 26 Jan 2020 20:03

So, I like this idea since I think an interview with some trees would be interesting. However I'm not sure if I like the ex-dominant species twist but that may just be because i think it's similar to SCP-1000 but this time it's trees. You might have already said this in the post and I missed over it but do the trees communicate in more code telepathically?

Re: Article Idea: If a tree falls in a forest...

DoubleDenial 26 Jan 2020 20:16

[Disclaimer: This is my friend, I told them to write critique for this thread]

However I'm not sure if I like the ex-dominant species twist but that may just be because i think it's similar to SCP-1000 but this time it's trees.

I'm not really sure if calling trees the dominant species before humans is exactly a "twist." I mean, they're everywhere, so a tree would certainly feel like they used to be a "dominant species."

You might have already said this in the post and I missed over it but do the trees communicate in more code telepathically?

I did mention this (in an edit to the post after Yahmeskhan pointed out that I forgot to mention how they communicate):

produce and receive auditory (English) Morse code signals

Edit: I may have not made it clear enough, but the trees actually GENERATE sound. Let me fix that in the original post.
Thanks for the reply!

Last edited on 26 Jan 2020 21:13 by DoubleDenial Show more