5. Definitions needed.

[washerlocket]

[Because this is Merope, this and all her replies are text unless it says otherwise.]

I have been reading, and there are things that confuse me.

What is a computer? Is it a counting device? It works on electricity and not magic, yes?

Is an ipod like a computer but like a record too?

Does the internet just catch information? Am I doing it now?

Why do muggles need so many things to open a tin with?

How can a pencil be mechanic?

What is a condom and why do muggles care if people give them out in schools?

Why do muggles think that the Lucifer is a snake? Is it because of magic?

What is your favorite book?

Comments

[timesbureaucrat]

It doesn't just count; a computer can carry out a wide variety of tasks using sequences of arithmetic or logical operations. They can be designed to run on any power source. Early human computers use electricity, however.

An ipod is one of many types of computers that is specifically designed to store audio data. So, yes, it's a computer that plays music. An internet is simply any large system of computer networks. The Gallifreyan Matrix is a particularly sophisticated example. In as much as the communicators are computers, you are indeed participating in a Barge internet, or intranet more accurately, since, aside from a few occasional glitches, we can't access anything outside this small community.

I know little about human interactions with tins and pencils, but I suppose a pencil is mechanic whenever there's a mechanism involved in the instrument rather that just a stick of graphite and wood.

[He's aware of what a condom is, but he's just going to skip that question.]

The Lucifer and snake connection is, I believe, in one of the human religious texts. A book called "Genesis." I believe you can find a copy in the library.

And my favourite book is the Gallifreyan Constitution. [Not really, but that's what he likes to tell people.]

[washerlocket]

Logical operations.?

What is a Gallifreyan Matrix?

In the bible?

Your favorite book is a law book? Isn't Constitution law?

[timesbureaucrat]

In early human computers, binary.

The Matrix is a vast computer system on Gallifrey, part of the APC Net.

Yes, it's part of a collection of books in one of the bibles or another. [Narvin doesn't pay much attention to alien religions. He's much more interested in their computers.]

The Constitution is the foundation of all our laws and customs. For better or for worse. [He hasn't forgotten the flood where the Other edited up his copy.]

[truth_is_cold]

[Rhade will handle that condom question for you, Narvin.]

A condom is a device used to cover the penis before intercourse to prevent the spread of sexual disease and prevent pregnancy. Humans debate their distribution, discussion of them, and any reference to birth control and various other prophylactics because of the misconception that discussing sex will encourage students to have more sex which is often discouraged for various cultural reasons, when it instead allows them to cultivate risky misinformation when they encounter their first experiences, which are frequently unplanned.

...

[And as an afterthought.]

My favorite book is a translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Second is "The Selfish Gene".

[washerlocket]

Oh. [That is all Merope needs to know, thanks.]

What is it about?

[creatingalegacy]

My favorite book is We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

[washerlocket]

What is it about?

[youwillgotohell]

[She is even farther behind the times than Merope.]

What is a muggle?

[washerlocket]

A person who doesn't have magic.

[trenchcoatedly]

The Morning Star became a snake in his quest to tempt Eve to eat the apple of knowledge in the Lord's garden.

What is a muggle?

[washerlocket]

The Morning Star because he was bright, yes? The brightest one?

A muggle is a person who doesn't have magic.

[notafuckingnut]

"Doing the internet". Yeah, okay, there's a scary thought.

Um. A condom's a piece of rubber or latex or whatever a guy puts on his dick so he doesn't knock the chick up. ...I thought that was kind of general knowledge, they've been around forever. Where've you been? ...And why d'you wanna know?

And what's a muggle?

[washerlocket]

I'm not... I mean I was reading and it came up.

A muggle is someone who doesn't have magic.

[ex_hitokiri283]

Normal pencils require sharpening at a pencil sharpener. Mechanical pencils don't, and can be used much more often without so much hassle.

[washerlocket]

Oh. Like an ever-sharp quill?

Private

[sirius_sit_down]

Do you want to borrow my Muggle Studies textbook? It'll be horribly outdated, but it'll be a start.

Private

[washerlocket]

Everything is horribly outdated compared to me, Sirius.

gonna be slow | voice because her text is like facebook level readable

[surrenders]

Catching up's pretty hard. Still haven't learned everything.

What's your favorite book been?

[washerlocket]

The Princess Bride. It is very funny.

[strangehistorian]

Ah.

...Hello, Merope. I hope I didn't unnerve you the other day, the flood had muddled my head a little.

[washerlocket]

It's alright. I'm sorry I didn't know you were acting oddly.

[buildindreemz]

My favorite book is Le Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

[washerlocket]

I like that one.

[wedonot]

I've always been fond of T.H. White's The Once and Future King.

[washerlocket]

I know that one. It's what Muggles think of Merlin.