ChatGPT Chat
I should probably figure out how to title these ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You said:
I'm ready to start worldbuilding on Façade again. Right now I'm torn between having no history at all and having history just accessible by elites.
ChatGPT said:
That’s a huge choice, and it would dramatically shape the world of Façade. Let’s break it down.
Option 1: No History at All
Pros:
Creates a society where people have no frame of reference for anything beyond what the government tells them.
Memory itself becomes fragile—people only know what their implants provide, and once something is erased, it's gone forever.
Even the concept of the past might feel foreign. Citizens might not even realize that history could exist.
The rebellion’s mission (stealing storage devices) becomes even more vital—since history isn’t just restricted, it’s literally absent.
Cons:
Could be harder to justify—how does a society function without any past knowledge? Would people instinctively question their own existence?
If no one has history, even the elites, then the government itself might struggle with long-term planning and stability.
Option 2: History Accessible Only to Elites
Pros:
Gives the ruling class immense power—controlling history means controlling identity, progress, and knowledge.
Could create a sense of artificial tradition, where the government fabricates history to serve its narrative.
Offers more opportunities for intrigue—characters within the elite might leak information, or some may rebel after learning the truth.
The rebels wouldn’t just be discovering history, but also stealing a power source used to maintain control.
Cons:
Citizens might have some awareness that history exists, which could lead to quiet skepticism rather than total ignorance.
You’d need to define how much history elites know—do they have full access, or is even their knowledge curated?
Hybrid Option: A False History for Citizens, True History for Elites
A middle ground could be that citizens think they have history, but it’s all government-controlled propaganda. The past they believe in could be entirely fabricated, while the elite have access to real archives.
This could reinforce themes of information control—if your implant tells you something happened, why would you doubt it? It also makes the rebels’ mission even more dangerous, because they aren’t just uncovering a forgotten past, they’re proving that the "truth" everyone lives by is a lie.
Which option feels most in line with the themes you want to explore? Or do you want to brainstorm ways these could blend together?
You said:
Even the concept of the past might feel foreign. Citizens might not even realize that history could exist. Oooh this is interesting. I want to explore this more. I guess when I say "history" I mean recorded history. The reason the original title was post historical era was because I feel like this future we're heading for parallels the prehistorical era.
ChatGPT said:
That’s a fascinating angle—civilization looping back to a prehistorical state but with hyper-advanced technology controlling memory instead of oral tradition or written records. If no recorded history exists, then:
Time Becomes Meaningless – Without records, there’s no shared past. People wouldn’t think in terms of “before” and “after” but only in the eternal now dictated by their implants.
