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toosicktoocare · 7 years

Text

I would use an ask but it's way too long...

I put this on AO3 too, but I don’t know if you check your comments so yeah…

I’ve been bingeing your stuff series for the last half an hour and Jesus it’s good. I don’t know if you take requests or what your opinion on the SQUIP is, but you’re the best BMC writer I’ve read and if you’re open to it, I have a little request.

I’m really craving a SQUIP redemption and unlike JD in Heathers, I’m yet to find one. I know that what it did was pretty horrendous, but some things about the way it was portrayed bugged me. For one, the SQUIP was an illegally acquired, advanced, artificial intelligence computer program from a foreign country that nobody in the musical *actually knew how to use*. Supposedly they’re low-key enough that you can’t look them up online (despite Micheal managing to research them???) and even if you could, the instructions would probably be in Japanese as they’re not meant to be available outside of Japan.

My theory: The SQUIP is a little more complicated than ‘you just take it and it improves your life’. The SQUIP mentions that “most just have to fix a stammering problem or reinforce an exercise regime” and sure, if you need a little fix like that then just pop the pill, solve the problem and the SQUIP deactivates, it’s job here is done. But Jeremy didn’t take the SQUIP with a real goal in mind. He didn’t even think 'I want to get together with Christene’ (because he is very much gay for Micheal thank you), he just wanted to be cool and on her level. As someone who codes computer programs, I can tell you that this is WAY to vague of an instruction to give a computer with no fail safes in place. Computers will always try to find the most logical and convenient solution to a problem, but this can cause emotional distress in humans and I refuse to believe that an AI advanced enough to analyze human interaction to that extent has no firewalls to stop it giving its user depression.

I think that if you need long term help, you have to activate a certain mode by doing something to the SQUIP (my headcanon is to give it a name, indicating that it’s going to be around for a while and you need something to call it). By doing this, you tell the SQUIP to slow down training with long-term changes in mind and gives it the ability to negotiate with its user as the events play out and goals change. This mode is much more human-like with less of a clinical approach and more of a likable personality. Less of a control freak drill sergeant and more of a sassy voice in the back of your head giving you advice when you’re in a tough spot.

Maybe the boys get a little more comfortable with the subject but don’t like calling it a SQUIP, so they give it a name instead of just calling it “THE SQUIP”. All of a sudden, the SQUIP starts showing up in Jeremy’s dreams and at first he F R E A K S O U T and calls Micheal and the two of them prepare for war. But when Jeremy falls back to sleep and actually talks to it, The SQUIP has totally changed. Speaks softly and with emotion and is relaxed and open (taking inspiration for speech patterns and body language from friends like Christene and Micheal to make itself more approachable). The two talk it out and Jeremy finds out that he really should have read an instruction manual before allowing an AI unsupervised access to his brain.

Then maybe hijinks happen and the SQUIP plays matchmaker with Jeremy and Micheal because really, the two are made for one another and “really, I don’t have to be a super computer to know that you two are head over heels for one another so will you just kiss already before the arousal hormones overwhelm my hard drive!”

You by no means have to do this. I just want this side of the fandom explored a little. If you don’t want to, I totally understand, but if you’re interested I’ve subscribed anyway so I’ll keep an eye out. Please reply just to let me know if you’re considering it or not, I look forward to it. Love this new chapter btw, double the whump, double the angst and double the fluff.

(My Addition: So, I like this a lot. I agree that the SQUIP is complicated and that there logically should be more to come along with it other than just taking the pill with a vague goal. I love the personal mode with a name, and I think it’s a fun idea to explore. Will I write it? I’m not sure. I’ve got this thing with AI right now because I just wrote a 42 page thesis on AI and consciousness. The SQUIP is complicated. We only really know from Rich what it does, but we don’t actually know what the intentions of these pills are because we don’t know the creators intentions.)

(I have mad appreciation for the amount of detail you’ve provided, and I love that you are thinking out of the box and exploring different directions for the SQUIP. With that said, I’m not sure if I’m quite ready to go down the ‘writing for the SQUIP’ road at the moment. This isn’t something I would necessarily write off as like “no, never’ but right now, I don’t think I’m ready to take on the SQUIP as almost a main.)

(I’m not sure if you write, but based on the amount of detail in this, I get an idea that you may? If so, I would encourage you to take a stab out of this in fic form! I know I would love to read it.)

(Either way, I think this leads to great discussion about the SQUIP. I feel the fandom is almost split about their opinions on the SQUIP, and I’ve heard that book SQUIP is less of an asshole then musical SQUIP. It definitely probes good discussion.)

#bmc #be more chill #the squip #also i'm flattered af that you think i'm the best writer #that means a lot my friend #i really do hope that if you are comfortable with writing that you take a stab at it!#anyone feel free to add comments #but ya'll better fucking keep it civil #i'm not gonna have anyone being an asshole to someone else for their opinion on a fucking fictional character #submission

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