The Bad Boy Computer Programmer At Wattpad

WASAGA WASABI

"Careful consideration?"

Georgette laid the menu on the table and crossed her arms at her wrists, leaning her weight onto her elbows. "If you're filling your head with an abundance of toxicity--the positive benefits of reading are largely erased. I think you have to be mindful of what you're consuming--what you're choosing to focus your attention on--even if your only intention is to use reading as a form of escapism."

The legs of Ian's chair screeched as he scooted closer to the table. "So you're saying fiction can cause as much harm as good?"

"Exactly." Georgette took another sip of her water as though buying herself a moment to prepare her next thought. "If the words we read are glorifying abuse and violence or marginalizing people and cultures--for example--nothing good is going to come from that. Our lives aren't being improved by collecting thoughts of--desiring to be victimized or--desiring to suppress those different than us."

With elbow on the table, Ian rested his chin in the valley between his thumb and forefinger. "Could reading fiction--on a site like Wattpad--have positive effects on people--as seen from a health perspective?"

Georgette shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe--with a lot of chaperoning and babysitting." She chuckled, then added, "I don't envy your position."

Ian's eyebrows dipped slightly in confusion.

"Wattpad's a site for kids, right?" Georgette asked. "Many of whom are looking for the fast track to success and happiness? Date a billionaire. Find self-worth because you were the only one tough enough to fix a bad boy. Turn a blind eye to the obstacles of reality by creating ridiculous situations of coincidence and luck. An adult understands life's fast tracks rarely take you anyplace interesting." She paused for a beat, then laughed. "Well--you might end up somewhere interesting--but nothing stable beyond that fifteen seconds of lust and fame."

Ian rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Thankfully, engineers aren't responsible for the moderating aspects of things." Leaning back in his chair with arm draped across his chest, he added, "And technically, Wattpad is inclusive of all ages and backgrounds."

"But does it represent all ages and backgrounds proportionately?"

"Statistically?" Ian asked. "No."

Georgette shrugged, running her finger along the surface of a chop stick. "Makes sense. Most people want to evolve. It would be difficult for a lot of adults to find any sort of evolution between the pages of a fast-track-to-happiness story. And from what I've read, Wattpad offers predominately stories with teenage and early 20-something protagonists?"

"Statistically? Yes."

Georgette picked up the chop stick between her fingers and tapped it gently against the table. "Teens and early twenties? Been there, done that. Next."

"Do you read fiction?" Ian asked.

Georgette placed the chop stick back on the table and rubbed the dew off the side of her water glass with her thumb. "Rarely. Only when I'm on vacation or indulging in a long, hot bath or something. Otherwise, I tend to read non-fiction--stuff that improves my life in regards to career, personal empowerment or interest areas." Her eyes widened and a smile spread across the width of her face. "Which reminds me--did I tell you?"

Ian hesitated, then shook his head. "Tell me what?"

Georgette tapped her palms soundlessly against the table as though applauding what was about to come. "We just secured the funds to open up another wing at the animal shelter."

Listening for key words as Georgette went on to speak about her new animal shelter project, Ian nodded and uttered sounds of approval at all the phrases that sounded important. New wing. Less pets being euthanized. Importing dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters across the country. Charity events. Financial goals to keep more animals safe. Unfortunately, the bulk of Ian's attention was still on their previous conversation. His mind continued to ponder the negative impact some fictional stories might have on the world.

Morally questionable stories, Ian thought. Do they offer unique perspectives of the world's realities or are they providing some sort of subconscious permission to live without a sense of responsibility?

"A penny for your thoughts?" Georgette asked, snapping Ian out of his distracted thinking. With head tilted to the side and a warm smile on her lips, Georgette's genuine and active presence in the moment disarmed Ian. She seemed genuinely interested in his thoughts and ideas which dismantled his courteous tendencies and opened a direct path to honesty.

"How much chaos do you think fictional stories have created in the world over the years?" The moment the words left his lips, Ian knew his lunch date with Georgette was about to take a turn southward.

Georgette blinked several times, then stared at Ian. "Oh. You're still on the story thing?"

"Sorry." Ian rubbed his face with his palms as though hoping for a clean slate. "I was listening to you. I swear. But when you mentioned earlier that some stories might make a counterproductive impact on the world--I hadn't even--I didn't even think about that until you--."

"May I take your order?" the waitress asked.

Georgette gently scratched the sides of her menu with her fingernails, eyes fixed on the words inside. "I don't think we're quite ready." She looked up at Ian over the top of her menu.

Ian stared at his hands as he fiddled with his fingers. She's your 97 percent, he berated himself from within. You should've been listening to her. She's smart. Gorgeous. Caring. Perfect. She's saving animals. She's a 97 percent! What the hell is wrong with you? You're being an asshole.

Glancing up, Ian's eyes got caught in Georgette's stare. "I'm sorry," he said. "We need a bit more time to figure out what we want." Turning his attention to the waitress he added, "Thank you."

Want to know what was on the other end of the link Mouth sent Ian? You'll find it on Amanda's Wattpad profile: YoDaBestR2D2