//You walk up to the front of the 500+ party.//
"Not so fast, buddy." //The bouncer motions to the fingerprint scanner in front of you.//
//You place your thumb on the scanner, waiting anxiously for the stats to pop up.//
<img src="http://javasea.ru/uploads/posts/2009-08/1251722468_44.gif">
(set: $w to (random: 125, 600))
(set: $x to (random: 125, 600))
//The screen changes and reads://
twitter followers: $w
instagram followers: $x
(if: $w < 500 and $x < 500)[//The bouncer sighs.// "Sorry, looks like you don't have enough to enter."
[[turn around]]]
(else:)[//The bouncer steps aside.// "Well it looks like you have enough on at least one of your accounts to enter."
[[enter]]]
Okay, let's see who I know here. Most of my friends usually can't get into these parties, so maybe I'll have to make some new friends.
<img src="https://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcj34qBTHw1r0t20mo1_500.gif">
Oh, Linda's here! I kinda know her so I'll go [[talk to her]] before I start looking like a complete loser just standing here.Society these days. There's a new kind of discrimination. A popularity that defines you in terms of being able to fine-tune your pictures in a way that makes you //seem// cooler. I hate having to decide at these moments.
Do I stoop down and [[find a way to get more followers]] or do I [[go to a lesser party]] where I'll 'fit' in... or at least my social media profile will.
Screw it. I need in on that party and I'll do whatever it takes to get more followers or likes or hits or whatever it is //they// want. The big question is what social media site should I use...
[[instagram]], [[twitter]], or [[yik yak]]?
I bet all those people in that 500+ party are conceited anyway. It's so not worth spending my time with people who I know will be checking feeds and updating statuses the whole time. I'll [[go to a 100+ party]] where I can easily get in. I mean, I am way over 100+Hmm... this might not be the best option. Yik yak is anonymous so the bouncers won't know that it was me who posted. I'll try another one.
[[twitter]] or [[instagram]]Hmm... I don't think I'm insta famous enough to spread a pic around on instagram.
I'll settle for [[twitter]] or [[yik yak]].This is my best option. I heard insta celeb Susie Quinn is at the party and is super wasted. I bet she's doing something super embarrassing... if only I could tweet a picture of it. It's a perfect plan - it's relevant, immediate, everyone will see it, and the bouncers will know I posted it.
Let's go [[get this pic]].Oww that would be a bush. Ugh, all I need is a good vantage point...
Oh, look a [[tree]]!
<img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/IVInW5NmL58cM/200_s.gif">Yes, perfect spot. Okay, there she is. That Susie Quinn is trying to dance while standing on that chair, and there is no way she stays up. Wait for it... Wait for it... Perfect!
//Susie Quinn falls off the chair just in time for you to get a falling action shot.//
Time to [[tweet it]]:
You decide not to post the picture. Double-click this passage to edit it.Perfect, I got in with no problem.
This party's not that bad, but I'm sure it could be better. Oh, I see some of my friends on the [[dance floor]]! But, I also hope they haven't run out of [[drinks]] yet."Hey guys, what's up?"
"Oh hey, why are you here so late, man?"
"I tried to get in to that 500+ party, but they didn't let me in. I didn't have the energy to try to get more tonight."
"Oh that's funny, we did the same thing. It's so stupid though, you know? The system is messed up. I want to have a life I think is cool without the pressure of other people judging my life based on my social media. Don't you agree?"
//You take a second and think about it...//
[[Yeah]],...
[[No]],...All the people getting drinks are either super wasted already or desperate for some liquid courage. Why am I over here again?
That girl's cute, I'm gonna go try to talk to her.
"Hey"
"Omg, hey! You're like kinda insta famous right? We should totally hang out!"
"Uhh, yeah nice to meet you... I gotta go though, sorry."
Ugh.. everyone here just wants more followers or find people who can get them more. I'm going [[home->Leave]] this is dumb.Yeah, you're right, I've had enough of this. It needs to stop, and we're going to be the ones to stop it.
//You all rally and get a group together. We shouldn't be defined by our social media.//
Let's [[crash]] the 500+ party.Yeah, I mean, I don't agree with it, but it's just the way things are. Just let it be, man. We can't do anything about it. I'll see you guys around.
[[Leave]].//You leave, upset about the night's events, but there's nothing you can do about it. You spend the night at home and accept that there's no way to change the system.//
[[Try again->Fingerprint Scanner]]//You show the bouncer your tweet.//
"Wow, 11 retweets and 23 favorites already? Looks like you gained a bunch of followers, too. Yeah, I guess I'll let you [[in->enter]]."<img src="file:///C:/Users/madisonk/Pictures/Screenshots/Screenshot%20%28166%29.png" height="500" width="510">
1 favorite...
2 favorites...
3 favorites...
Hell yeah, racking em up, here we [[go]]!"Hey, Linda."
"Hey Luke, what's up? These are some of my friends, Bridget, Mateo, and Zayne."
Oh God, these people look like such tools, but I should probably say hi if I even want a chance to hang out with Linda tonight.
"Sup guys, this is a great party. Are you having a good time?"
"Yeah, I mean it's alright." -Bridget
"Bridget, are you serious? It was fun until all these BFH's got in. Seriously, they do anything to get them to 500+ for a night just to come and pretend they're as cool as us." -Zayne
//You ask what a BFH is.//
"It's a Below-Five-Hundred, duh."
"Zayne, you're so right. You know, I heard that some BFH tweeted about Susie Quinn getting drunk and falling off a table. How pathetic is that?" -Mateo
//Uh oh...//
"Haha, yeah that's too funny, you're right. I'll see you guys later I'm gonna get a drink. Be right back." -Linda
Oh no... They all have probably seen my tweet... I'm busted. What do I do now?
[[Leave->Leave2]] while I still can, make [[small talk]] and play it off like nothing happened, or [[follow Linda]] to get a drink?These people are boring, but they seem so cool. They're all trying to outdo one another with their stories: island hopping in Greece, running with the bulls in Spain, rooftop chilling in every city...
//You hear your name.//
Focus. Act cool. You got this.
"So Luke, what have you been up to recently?"
Uhhhh. Think, Luke, think.
"Um... I mean, I just got back from bungee jumping in New Zealand. I was studying abroad there for a bit, and it was so fun."
Ha. As if... If this was actually true, I would have the greatest instagram pics, and I would've gotten into this party no problem.
"That's so awesome. Omg, what's your instagram name? I so wanna see your pics from your trip!" -Bridget
//She holds out her phone to you, and you enter full-blown panic mode.//
I should've known I can't fit in with these people. We live completely separate lives.
//You make a lame excuse about your instagram, and ditch the party.//
Next time, I'm just going to accept my BFH status and hang out with my own crowd.
[[Leave]].//Linda's getting a drink, and before I can reach her she turns around and walks towards me.//
"Luke, I'm sorry about my friends. To be honest, I don't really like them that much. I'm new to the AFH crowd and can't say I really fit in quite yet. They're just so... so superficial, you know? Like, all they do is brag to see who's cooler and complain when people aren't as popular as them. I don't know if I like this status or not."
Linda is so right. The people here aren't real or down-to-earth at all.
"Then don't hang out here, Linda. Or better yet, show them that this isn't fair. This elitist system they created isn't right."
"How? It's not that easy..." -Linda
//Suddenly, you hear a commotion by the front door.//
[[Check it out]].Oh well. At least I made it in tonight. Next time I'll play it cool.
"Bye guys, I gotta go."
//You [[dart->Leave]] out as fast as possible.//
Standing by the door is a huge group of BFH's waving their phones around, outnumbering the bouncers.
Wait a second, I recognize them. They're my friends!
"We won't have this!"
"You guys are all snobs!"
"You're all self-centered pigs!"
"We deserve to be let in!"
This is turning into a huge scene.
"Hey Luke, Luke! Tell them. This isn't right!"
//Everyone at the party turns their attention to you and waits for your response.//
You have to make a decision: [[ignore]] them or [[do something]] about it.//You brush it off, and act like you don't know the crowd of BFH's.//
//You feign surprise and walk away.//
I'll let the bouncers take care of this.
//You go back into the party for the rest of the night, igoring your friends. Looks like status was more important to you than you thought.//
[[Try again->Fingerprint Scanner]]They're right, this is so wrong.
//I look at Linda, and she nods her head.//
"You guys are right. This is a messed up system. You're such a cool group of people, and you deserve to be in here regardless of how many followers you have on social media."
//The AFH's look at you with disgust..//
//Linda backs you up.//
"Yeah, let them in! Just because they don't have the same social media status as you doesn't mean you shouldn't hang out with them." -Linda
//The party goes [[quiet]].//
//Just as you start to doubt your decision, a couple AFH's step forward.
Then a couple more.
And a couple more.
Now half the party is standing beside you.//
"We won't stand for this either. Half the AFH's are too conceited for their own good and don't recognize the harm they're doing. We don't believe the system but we were too afraid of losing our status to do anything. We won't have this anymore. Social media status doesn't define us.
//With Linda and you in the front, you push through the crowd, pass the bouncers, and leave the party. The huge crowd of BFH's follows you. As you're walking away you turn back and look at the empty house party. The remaining AFH's look shocked and slightly embarrassed. It's over. The system has broken down, and people will no longer be their social media. You won.//
[[Play again->Fingerprint Scanner]]//You get to the 500+ party with the crowd.//
"We won't have this!"
"You guys are all snobs!"
"You're all self-centered pigs!"
"We deserve to be let in!"
//You see your friend Linda, who's at the party.//
“Linda, Linda! Tell them. This isn’t right!”
//She looks hesitantly at me. How is she going to [[react]]?////Linda backs you up.//
“You’re right. We won’t stand for this. Half of the AFH’s are too conceited for their own good and don’t recognize the harm their doing. The other half, like me, doesn’t believe in this system but we were too afraid of losing our status to do anything. We won’t have this anymore. Status isn't worth it.”
//The party goes [[quiet->quiet2]].////A few of her friends step up beside her.
And then a few more.
Suddenly half the AFH crowd is backing her.//
//Linda and her friends push through the crowd, pass the bouncers, and join us.//
//You all leave the party. As you're walking away, you turn back and look at the empty house party. The remaining AFH's look shocked and slightly embarrassed. It's over. The system has broken down, and people will no longer be their social media. You won.//
[[Play again->Fingerprint Scanner]]