Ultimate Weapon
The movie 2001 begins with early humans discovering that bones can be used as tools. Of course, humans, being humans, turn their discovery into weapons. Why do we do this?
Humans get angry and need to express negative emotions or defend themselves physically. This violence can escalate so far that it involves every nation (a world war).
What is peak violence? On July 16, 1945, the Manhattan Project Trinity test released a 22-kiloton nuclear explosion. What is the lowest? How about saying, “You’re mean.” With these two single acts, we have a defined range of aggression. It occurs to me, as a writer and a human, that this knowledge is a relief. Why? I know there is no greater fear.
What about biological or chemical weapons? Those destructive technologies do not inspire the same fear. For example, there is no such thing as a chemical weapons shelter. How about a meteorite impact? Humans did not invent meteorites and have no control over them. Additionally, it is such a destructive force that, once it occurs, the worldwide existence would change, meaning that rationalizing its destructive level is too difficult.
How about the Star Wars scene when the Death Star blew up a planet? This event is fictional, but let’s pretend it is possible. I place this fear in the same category as a meteorite impact, meaning that we cannot comprehend a fear that is larger than a nuclear weapon.
Why am I writing about this topic? Typically, my articles are about writing and life lessons. Well, it turns out this is a writing article. My first book in my Immortality series began with a normal (or perhaps below-average) guy whose only goal was to live a quiet life. Since then, I have thrown him into every bad situation my bonkers mind dreamed up.
I am working on the outline for the next book in the series and have invented another bad situation for him to face; he is going to spar with mixed martial arts fighters. This is going to be frightening, and he exclaims, “This is the scariest thing ever!” But is it?
Rewinding the clock, I have made this character face so many horrific situations. He was captured twice, forced to take three lives, and fought to save his life four times. Plus, I put him through an unimaginably painful/unnecessary medical procedure that radically altered his life and mind.
So, volunteering to spar with a tough person is not that scary. Yet it certainly is from his perspective. By this point in the story, the character has had some amateur karate classes. Due to recent events, he needs to improve his defensive skills, which requires professional help from MMA sparring partners.
The fear comes from the fact that if the sparring partner wanted to inflict a tremendous injury, it would require little effort. Thus, it is a frightening prospect, but my character must tolerate the fear to improve his skills.
The problem is that as a writer, I cannot keep saying, “This is the scariest thing ever!” Yet, at that moment, the character is experiencing a nearly unimaginable amount of fear, which gets back to the previous topic.
It is my belief that humans have a limit to their fear and emotions. For example, a person can only be so happy. A birthday party with their long-lost family. Nice. How about if their favorite actor was Tom Cruise, and he showed up? Would it be that much better? Would an ice cream cake prepared by Wolfgang Puck improve the situation? There is a peak happiness, just like a nuclear detonation is a peak fear.
As I was trying to think of what my character would say (what to write), the thought of the maximum level of fear occurred to me. So, instead of “This is the scariest thing ever!” he is going to say, “Well, if I survived X, I can make it through this sparring match.”
The same principle applies to life. Limits provide comfort because there is only so much emotion we can tolerate. Is now a good time to buy meteorite insurance?
You’re the best -Bill
March 04, 2021 Updated August 29, 2025
Humans get angry and need to express negative emotions or defend themselves physically. This violence can escalate so far that it involves every nation (a world war).
What is peak violence? On July 16, 1945, the Manhattan Project Trinity test released a 22-kiloton nuclear explosion. What is the lowest? How about saying, “You’re mean.” With these two single acts, we have a defined range of aggression. It occurs to me, as a writer and a human, that this knowledge is a relief. Why? I know there is no greater fear.
What about biological or chemical weapons? Those destructive technologies do not inspire the same fear. For example, there is no such thing as a chemical weapons shelter. How about a meteorite impact? Humans did not invent meteorites and have no control over them. Additionally, it is such a destructive force that, once it occurs, the worldwide existence would change, meaning that rationalizing its destructive level is too difficult.
How about the Star Wars scene when the Death Star blew up a planet? This event is fictional, but let’s pretend it is possible. I place this fear in the same category as a meteorite impact, meaning that we cannot comprehend a fear that is larger than a nuclear weapon.
Why am I writing about this topic? Typically, my articles are about writing and life lessons. Well, it turns out this is a writing article. My first book in my Immortality series began with a normal (or perhaps below-average) guy whose only goal was to live a quiet life. Since then, I have thrown him into every bad situation my bonkers mind dreamed up.
I am working on the outline for the next book in the series and have invented another bad situation for him to face; he is going to spar with mixed martial arts fighters. This is going to be frightening, and he exclaims, “This is the scariest thing ever!” But is it?
Rewinding the clock, I have made this character face so many horrific situations. He was captured twice, forced to take three lives, and fought to save his life four times. Plus, I put him through an unimaginably painful/unnecessary medical procedure that radically altered his life and mind.
So, volunteering to spar with a tough person is not that scary. Yet it certainly is from his perspective. By this point in the story, the character has had some amateur karate classes. Due to recent events, he needs to improve his defensive skills, which requires professional help from MMA sparring partners.
The fear comes from the fact that if the sparring partner wanted to inflict a tremendous injury, it would require little effort. Thus, it is a frightening prospect, but my character must tolerate the fear to improve his skills.
The problem is that as a writer, I cannot keep saying, “This is the scariest thing ever!” Yet, at that moment, the character is experiencing a nearly unimaginable amount of fear, which gets back to the previous topic.
It is my belief that humans have a limit to their fear and emotions. For example, a person can only be so happy. A birthday party with their long-lost family. Nice. How about if their favorite actor was Tom Cruise, and he showed up? Would it be that much better? Would an ice cream cake prepared by Wolfgang Puck improve the situation? There is a peak happiness, just like a nuclear detonation is a peak fear.
As I was trying to think of what my character would say (what to write), the thought of the maximum level of fear occurred to me. So, instead of “This is the scariest thing ever!” he is going to say, “Well, if I survived X, I can make it through this sparring match.”
The same principle applies to life. Limits provide comfort because there is only so much emotion we can tolerate. Is now a good time to buy meteorite insurance?
You’re the best -Bill
March 04, 2021 Updated August 29, 2025
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