Editing Story-Logic Bias

[[Story-Logic Bias]] is the human behaviour where people attribute as much importance to fiction as they do to real-life experiences. Fiction is written to be interesting rather than mundane so story-logic bias frequently results in predictions that tend towards the tail outcomes. 

Since writers specifically [[Inversion Story|try not to be predictable]], dismal societies show future visions of paradise and prosperous societies show cataclysms. Consequently, assuming that real life progresses like stories biases in those directions.

== The Torment Nexus ==

A famous humorous meme that uses this concept is the [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/torment-nexus Torment Nexus]. It describes a sci-fi thing that is intentionally horrible and used as a cautionary tale which modern people then go and build nonetheless. The Torment Nexus is a common meme used in reaction to modern technology.

{{Tweet
| name = Alex Blechman
| username = AlexBlechman
| text = Sci-Fi Author: In my book I invented the Torment Nexus as a cautionary tale

Tech Company: At long last, we have created the Torment Nexus from classic sci-fi novel Don't Create The Torment Nexus
| date = Nov 8, 2021
| ID = 1457842724128833538
| ref-name = Tweet_1457842724128833538
| block = true
}}

== Examples ==

=== Embryo Genetic Selection ===

[[File:Screenshot of Instagram Showing Gattaca reference to Embryo Screening.png|thumb|Instagram users are the same as the Hacker News users]]

Embryo genetic selection is a way to avoid [[Gene Mutations|genetic conditions and diseases]] by using [[IVF]] to create a large number of embryos and then selecting which ones to implant based on whether they carry the disease or not. It has been practised for decades, with older approaches aiming just to detect aneuploidy, then for monogenic conditions, and modern technology allowing for whole-genome sequencing to detect all of the previous plus generating polygenic scores.

[https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/07/16/orchid-polygenic-screening-embryos-fertility/ A Washington Post article that talks about this] has many comments referencing the movie Gattaca, and [https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1m7dr95/inside_the_silicon_valley_push_to_breed/ the Reddit posts for the article universally use movies like Gattaca or Elysium to describe likely outcomes] or [https://www.reddit.com/r/Natalism/comments/1m2iyzd/inside_the_silicon_valley_push_to_breed/ video games and TV shows like Resident Evil and Star Trek 2]. Other link aggregators and social media sites show a similar effect with typical comments looking like:

{{Quote
 | text   = I only know seven sci-fi films and shows that have warned about how this will go badly.
 | author = more_corn
 | source = Hacker News<ref name=hn-more_corn/>
}}

{{Quote
 | text   = Pretty sure this was the prologue to ''Gattaca''.
 | author = bitbasher
 | source = Hacker News<ref name=hn-bitbasher/>
}}

=== AI Generated Images/Video ===

Modern models can generate high-fidelity images and video. Videos can be based on photographs to animate them. People are using this technology to animate old photos of their parents and relatives.

{{Tweet
| name =  Jessica Kirsh
| username = jessica_kirsh
| text = This @grok imagine creation brought my dad to life. 

He passed away less than a year after this photo was captured. 

I’m the baby sitting on his lap. 

I’m sitting here in tears (happy tears).
| date = Aug 7, 2025
| ID = 1953489905545289879
| ref-name = Tweet_1953489905545289879
| block = true
}}

Presumably those with a high sanctity moral foundation cannot bear this kind of thing, but interestingly, many of them lean on "what happens in fiction" as an example for why something is bad.

{{Tweet
| name = Ambersulfr
| username = Ambersulfr
| text = This is not at all fine.

It’s the Mirror of Erised in Harry Potter. Dumbledore explains the consequences of its use in the movie.
| date = Aug 8, 2025
| ID = 1953807951145161002
| ref-name = Tweet_1953807951145161002
}}

== Notes ==

<references>
<ref name=hn-more_corn>[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44582344 Hacker News : The Silicon Valley push to breed super-babies comment by more_corn]</ref>
<ref name=hn-bitbasher>[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44582687 Hacker News: The Silicon Valley push to breed super-babies comment by bitbasher]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Concepts]]