Audio log: Authenticity

One of the characters has an idea for how to put something extra on the island, for the intrepid to find.

## Location

As you explore the cavern, you'll find a room with puzzles on the floor, each centered with poles. Once past that room, you'll find some stairs leading to the upper portion of the cavern. As you start climbing the stairs, look at your right to find the tape.

## Transcript

... just reading these well, picking the right takes, placing them. I don't think it pays to be too neat. I want to leave some traces of us. For the intrepid to find.

What do you mean? Any visitor to that island is going to hear quite a lot of us, if they poke around.

Sure but I mean showing what's happening behind the scenes a little bit. To ensure we keep some authenticity. Because if we get too concerned with saying a bunch of wise things in the least personally-revealing way, then we're basically putting up a front, in danger of becoming a false front. It's a slippery slope, and you know how easily we could slide into pomposity. Nobody wants that, but would we notice if it happened? Or are we too close to the project?
If we include some of our interactions, show that we aren't transcendent perfect beings, that we get stuck sometimes, that we get into arguments, or get depressed, then at least it's not a false front. At least we're not hiding.

Authenticity is good. Yes. But you can find human drama anywhere. We're drowning in it from day to day. We're supposed to be building a quiet environment, \_away\_ from drama, not ... celebrating it. Look. These are objects of contemplation. These are about focus and clarity. We agreed at the outset.

I know, and I don't want to change any of that. Just a little added twist, tucked away deep. It doesn't have to be drama. Just reality.

Reality? So, what? We should record a meeting and stick it in?

Maybe! But we already have some good stuff, for example, a little encounter the other week where you offered to buy a girl a sandwich.
Her mic was running, so it's in the archive. But look, it's fine. In context it's perfect. Because we're not lecturing from on high. These recordings are part of an endeavor built by human beings, and they aspire to Truth-with-a-capital-T but we must also remember that they cannot actually get there.
We should be clear to the intrepid that we know this. It'll make it all better!

Okay, sure. We'll at least see how it feels. On that island we are going to be in \_very\_ susceptible states. Be careful with it.

It seems I get to be the pioneer of being mildly embarrassed.

Also, I should probably let you know, I am recording this conversation right now.

Oh, come on.

I'm serious.

It will make it better. Trust me.

## Story implications

This dialogue shows that the characters are working in a team where they are recording the quotes to let people go to the island we are currently on in order to find Truth with a capital T.
We see that they have a vision for doing this, but that there are also obstacles and just daily life happening to them.

The part about the susciptible states does already say something about the idea that people will be here in some sort of mental capacity.

The interaction also tells us that one of these characters is pretty rigid, while the other one has a much more spontaneous side to him.

## Relation to the six themes of the Witness

This quote fits best with Theme 6: Acceptance.

The underlying idea of this quote is that to find the truth, you can't just rely on the obvious sources. This reminds us to look outside of the obvious placecs and step back to actually look for answers in the real world rather than just in our study material.