The Very-Many-Questions-Not-Worth-Their-Own-Thread Thread 36

[hobbsyoyo]

Yeah just base it off one of the zombie fungus's that attack ants and snails, the cordyceps . I don't think this would be easy - I mean governments spent billions weaponizing virulent disease strains for use in war - but it would at least be plausible. And I think you could come up with some straightforward, plausible method for experimenting on strains rather cheap if you don't care about safety of the general public.

 

[Kyriakos]

Thanks
They are just used by the narrator on himself. As to why...that is what the story is about!

 

[Kaitzilla]

New question: how come you missed my awesome references to The IT Crowd?

!!
"Thank God you didn't open the green door."

That one had me laughing like crazy.

 

[The_J]

I want to ask for a possible short story idea:
Is there any easy to manufacture (or get hold of in a lab or elsewhere) fungus of the skin which could realistically cause fever (preferably) or paralysis? (And not lead to worse effects or at least not death).

Manufacture: I'd say no. These traits (like the one from the cordyceps, as mentioned by hobbs) are normally pretty complicated, since the whole lifestyle is dependent on that.
These things exist, like the cordyceps or the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucochloridium_paradoxum . Is in general a transfer to humans possible? Who knows. Maybe not for these, but e.g. rabies is also mind-altering (not in humans... I think) and can be transferred to humans.
While googling I also stumbled upon https://news.nationalgeographic.com...s-rat-lungworm-brain-parasite-health-science/ .

tl;dr: Not possible to my knowledge, but I'd consider the possibility of the existence of such an organism absolutely possible.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

Well this is the third result I get on google.

Vegetable Fermentation crock/Saurerkraut pot 3 Lt

I think it's an indication I've been on here too long that I read that as "Vegetable Feminism". A hitherto unfamiliar sub-branch.

 

[Kyriakos]

Manufacture: I'd say no. These traits (like the one from the cordyceps, as mentioned by hobbs) are normally pretty complicated, since the whole lifestyle is dependent on that.
These things exist, like the cordyceps or the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucochloridium_paradoxum . Is in general a transfer to humans possible? Who knows. Maybe not for these, but e.g. rabies is also mind-altering (not in humans... I think) and can be transferred to humans.
While googling I also stumbled upon https://news.nationalgeographic.com...s-rat-lungworm-brain-parasite-health-science/ .

tl;dr: Not possible to my knowledge, but I'd consider the possibility of the existence of such an organism absolutely possible.

I am looking for something skin-related, that can cause fever. Eg certain lumps can have this effect, but for the story it has to manifest on the person 's hands and be self-caused/deliberate. It doesnt have to be a fungus.
Would any chemical poisoning cause fever and/or paralysis and be non-fatal? (Again has to be on the hands/fingers)

 

[Lexicus]

I am looking for something skin-related, that can cause fever. Eg certain lumps can have this effect, but for the story it has to manifest on the person 's hands and be self-caused/deliberate. It doesnt have to be a fungus.
Would any chemical poisoning cause fever and/or paralysis and be non-fatal? (Again has to be on the hands/fingers)

I'd just make something up that's like a toned-down version of nerve gas. Nerve gas can be absorbed through the skin but obviously it will paralyze and then kill you when it shuts down your lungs and heart.

 

[Kyriakos]

I recall an australian poster mentioning his experiments with various dangerous chemicals. I am ashamed to say i dont remember who he was, though i recall liking him.

@Lexicus that isnt high-brow enough.

 

[rah]

most high-browed won't be able to tell real from made up. Always better to go with made up. If you try to make it semi or real you run the chance of being not right enough and being ridiculed. If you make it up and someone tries to tell you it's not real, you just say, of course not, I just made it up and ridicule them for not realizing it. It just has to sound cool.

 

[Kyriakos]

Won't work that way cause the poisoning/other is symbolic (but literal in the context of the story). It isnt scifi at all; the main character did this to himself because important reasons.

 

[rah]

Like most of your readers will be able to tell the difference.

 

[Kyriakos]

Like most of your readers will be able to tell the difference.

I am thinking of the full-time future scholars dedicated to my work.
You'd only think of a distant future where all is good too if you wrote in greek...

 

[rah]

Thank god I'm just a typical American so I don't have to carry that weight.

 

[Kyriakos]

I am looking for something skin-related, that can cause fever. Eg certain lumps can have this effect, but for the story it has to manifest on the person 's hands and be self-caused/deliberate. It doesnt have to be a fungus.
Would any chemical poisoning cause fever and/or paralysis and be non-fatal? (Again has to be on the hands/fingers)

Found him! @Bootstoots please help!

 

[rah]

Or a poison that makes you repeat things.

 

[Lexicus]

I just have to interject to claim @Bootstoots as American - my nationality, don't try to steal him again

 

[The_J]

I don't think there's anything specific to only the mouth, except maybe hand-foot-mouth disease. Or dependent on scratching....
Maybe have a look at Dengue fever. Causes cold like symptoms (incl. fever), and a skin rash.

 

[Broken_Erika]

I just have to interject to claim @Bootstoots as American - my nationality, don't try to steal him again

*slowly creeps up behind @Bootstoots with a net.

 

[Synobun]

Fools. Boots has transcended our petty sapiens nationstates. He is but the next tier of evolution, incomprehensible, yet eternal and wise.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I want to ask for a possible short story idea:
Is there any easy to manufacture (or get hold of in a lab or elsewhere) fungus of the skin which could realistically cause fever (preferably) or paralysis? (And not lead to worse effects or at least not death).

If you stick with intellectual fever, hot spells, paralysis, anxiety, toxic environments etc., you could go with posting on the internet. It comes at you through you fingers and eyes.