http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

I also didn’t understand it. If a demon or voice from the shadows pestered him into poisoning people, I might have enjoyed it more. But, some slacker shit hating his life enough to poison others and himself just didn’t make me get all tingly with horrific fear, it just irritated me.

Horror qua horror very naturally incorporates biology, chemistry and physics; It is interesting that when it comes to Math it is always intensely psychological and solipsistic. Could “Flatland” be made into a horror story? Perhaps. I am intrigued but not sure how it could be done.

It’s all over the place; escape pod, podiobooks, on review sites and webzines and now here! When I read it it had better be good or else…

Same as working in a cubicle.

Several years ago, I read a review of a Jennifer Aniston movie by some snooty film critic who argued that the film’s premise–that customer service and retail was inherently soul-sucking–was laughable. I wanted to find that man and smack him.

My first job was at Subway, and I can tell you it is indeed a soul-sucking experience. Working retail and fast food, and later a bank drive-thru window, created the toughest years of my life. I do remember the customers that treated me like a transactional robot, and I remember feeling like a cog in some unfeeling machine. This story struck very close to home.

Something tells me that if the average person had to work one of these jobs for a few years, we might find ourselves living in a much more polite world.

when you see the person behind the counter, what is going through their mind? what kind of life do they have? do they feel trapped and need a way out? has all the hopes and asperations been whittled down to sandwich making? do they life a marginal existance and see a need to break out? do they see me and you as a source of irratation and need to strike out? do they want some excitment beyond anticipating what the next sandwich will be? and carry this out of the sandwich shop, what about your druggist? or grocery? or butcher? or… think of the implications here and this kind of story can get the paraniod truly out of control. then you can go into the illogical. gee, do i sound paraniod?? uhoh, need to see a pharmasist about some pills… laters, maybe

well with all that said, i have truly enjoyed these stories, i would have to say Bliss has had the profoundest effect on me. my skin still crawls when i think of it. keep ‘em coming and damn the tordpedos, full speed ahead!!

treed, the hyper-active commenter @ sigler’s world

I think we like to debate whether or not something is science fiction or not or horror or not is because the genres are so vital and powerful that they have a tendency of taking over perspective of the whole world. Sometimes the debate might be enlightening and constructive. In this case I wonder if the absence of some sort of supernatural entity disqualifies it as pure horror? Is it merely psychological crime fiction? This seems true, yet one just has the feeling that this story belongs with all the other “ghost” stories.

Thanks and I look forward to enjoying many more Pseudopod casts in the future.

Or, in this case: Don’t aggravate the existentialist angst and latent psycopathy of those who handle your food, with your bland conformity… etc, etc.

Let it be know that the only poisoning I ever did was to unwittingly sell an expired crab salad from time to time.

how does one down load Number 81?

thx in advance for the help, F