#At some point when you're outside that framework there's no reconciling to do. Just accept or reject. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

galaxseacreature · 8 months ago

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I wonder if part of the fairy/walrus thing is people having different views on the relationship of surprise and confusion. Like, personally, I don't actually feel I can meaningfully quantify degrees of surprise after a certain shock threshold. It's either a completely unexpected situation or it's not. But after that initial shock? The fairy is some guy. The walrus remains confusing.

#I acknowledge I would be extremely surprised in both cases #Although tbh there's actually a good chance I would initially assume the fairy is a costume or a prank which would soften the blow #I can't imagine how I could mistake a walrus #But yeah even if I immediately knew what they both are. Extreme shock. That's an intense but short emotion #I ask the fairy what they're doing here and we have a talk. Situation is unexpected but next steps are manageable.#With the walrus I-uh.... What do I do. Who do I call. I feel I should know who to call but I don't #And then what? How long will this take? How long will I be trapped in my apartment?#And also how did this happen? What do I tell people? Is there going to be an investigation? Should I look for evidence?#how much danger am I in?#The whole scenario is overwhelming to even imagine #But idk if having more questions inherently makes me more surprised you know?#Ymmv but to me a certain amount of reality is necessary to create that level of confusion #Confusion has practicality to it #At some point when you're outside that framework there's no reconciling to do. Just accept or reject.#A blip in reality causes suprise. The process of wrestling with reality is felt as confusion #Idk I was just thinking an alien is more akin to how I would feel about a walrus #And it helped me think about how confusion and surprise are related but not actually the same

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