I

Yindi had sent him a link.

Screenshot of a text message from Yindi reading: You have gotta see how this guy speedruns Mario Kart, I think you will like it, with a YouTube link preview below it.

Miro taps the link.

Animated NetMe account gate — NetMe is a shortening of NetMeTube+ from CGP Grey's "Spaceship You". A name that encompasses all streaming media from YouTube to Netflix. In this story I use it in place of short form media: TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels.

Miro creates the account. The video is good.

He runs to boot his CRT, its electron beam lighting the quiet room with a high pitched scream. He runs through Mushroom Gorge a few times before trying to replicate the technique. "Aim in between the two coins, shroom before the grass then, release your med turbo and left hop at the same time"

On his first attempt he gets close to making the shortcut, but hits the barrier and falls. On his second attempt Miro turbos too quickly and hits a wall. On his eighth attempt he gets it. Frustration gives way to sudden pride, and he messages Yindi.

The same conversation later that night. Miro has replied: Just made the jump. Thank you!

Miro decides to check out what NetMe is all about.

At work, he thanks Yindi again, and they talk for a long time about nothing in particular.

By spring, Miro uses NetMe every day, and while he feels so little, he feels so much. Each video micro-doses him with rage, or awe, or awwww, or lust. Miro doesn't experience any emotion too intensely.

Four hours a day.

This is how much time Miro spends on NetMe.

But if you asked Miro what he likes, he'd say something like:

Practicing speedruns
Playing video games with friends
Working at his job
And Yindi (But Miro won't tell anyone that. Especially not Yindi)

NetMe wouldn't enter his mind at all, and if it did he would certainly feel embarrassed to list it as an interest.

Miro is on NetMe now. He's watching a video that looks... weird? It's a girl. She is smiling, dressed like Zelda when she wears that one outfit that always made Miro feel suspicious as a kid. Dancing? No. Writhing. Sometimes her hands pass in front of her clothing, and meld into it. Other times her face morphs from one girl to another. Pretty to ugly, Caucasian to Asian.

He considers sending the video to Yindi, just because it's so weird. He flushes imagining Yindi questioning why the algorithms would show Miro that video. Miro scrolls past.

A new video, A dog.
A new video, A girl.
A new video, An accident.
A new video, A speedrun.
A new video, An animation.
A new video, 10 Facts About the Atari.
A new video, How to Cook salt n pepper Chickpeas.
A new video, A Girl Co...

keltan's Shortform

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keltan's Shortform

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