#false memory

[yoan-le-grall]

[longreads]

The Memory Maker

Recently, OpenAI sunsetted their immersive video ap, Sora, but the false memories it helped create will remain. Today, for Longreads, neuroscientist Tim Requarth explores how Sora helped users to believe they had done things they quite clearly had not. 

Of course, there’s one big difference between Loftus’s memory of the house fire and Deutsch’s fanciful scaling of Lincoln’s nose. One was real, the other wasn’t. Not only unreal, but unlikely. “I would make a distinction between something that’s plausible and implausible,” she said. “If suddenly there’s a picture of you in a Russian prison in Siberia and you’ve never been, you’re obviously going to be able to reject it. Maybe you’ll have a weird feeling seeing yourself, but you’re just going to know you’ve never been.”

Fair enough. I started to think that maybe it’s a stretch to say that Deutsch’s “twitch of confusion” is anything to be concerned about. But then I talked to another Sora user and things got weirder.

Check out The Memory Maker. 

[gucci-g0th]

it’s that time of year again ✨

[kukuandkookie]

The end of 2024 has proven that 2025 seems to be a huge year for donghua and I’m gripping everyone to give all these donghua besides just the most popular ones a chance!!!:

Link Click, Yingdu arc: releasing December 27, 2024

Nezha 2, sequel to Nezha 2019 aka Nezha zhi motong jiangshi, confirmed for January 2025

To Be Hero X, likely April 2025 release (I hope people will also support the version with Chinese VAs! 🙏)

Lord of the Mysteries, 2025 summer release—accompanied by more good news: the novel has officially entered the British Library and it will also be translated into English by Yen Press

False Memory, series version, confirmed 2025 release

I am making this post because False Memory just released its new trailer and I am very much so looking forward to it! The series started as an indie short before growing into a bigger thing, much like Fog Hill of Five Elements and The Legend of Luo Xiaohei and Alita’s Trial. We’ve thus been waiting a couple years for news so this is really exciting, especially after it recently got a Twitter account!!

Bonuses:

Ya She, released a couple months ago but late enough into 2024 I’d still love for more people to check it out!

Scissor Seven, another one that’s had its newest season out for a while now, but I assume that for those who have Netflix, it hasn’t been officially English subbed or dubbed yet. We’re also still getting trailers for its game!:

I Am What I Am 2, released Dec 14, 2024 in China!

Reminder that Mo Dao Zu Shi is now on Crunchyroll! They may have removed it from Tencent’s donghua YouTube channel for this, so definitely go support it if you do have Crunchyroll!

Some children’s donghua have also recently released, including news of the new Balala the Fairies season and the other magical girls show, Rainbow Crew! The latter is confirmed for an official release in English.

The Yi Ren Zhi Xia game is also coming soon to global, and Fox Spirit Matchmaker even updated their OP recently after quite a long time of silence.

And speaking of silence, even the long-awaited SVSSS donghua saw some movement recently!?

Now if I could get a confirmed 2025 release for White Cat Legend season 3 (and maybe God Troubles Me and Lie Huo Jiao Chou and Fei Ren Zai and All Saints Street and The Legend of Luo Xiaohei and Wo Jia Dashixiong Naozi You Keng etc…)), I could die a happy man (gender-neutral)—after watching all of these newly released donghua shows and films and seasons, of course ahaha. 🙏

For more news and info on donghua, you can check here:

Donghua Recommendations

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Quick Intro to the owner of this list, Kuku (kuku88 aka kukuandkookie) Current Releases: shows I like or have heard good

There’s a bunch of new donghua information in the above document that came from 2024, even though they don’t have official release dates yet! Including but not limited to:

The announcement and PV of Call-Up Girls, based on a baihe manhua

The announcement of a Nirvana in Fire donghua, based on the danmei novel with a famous cdrama adaptation (with the manhua having recently gotten an official English license via Aloha Comics)

Trailer and announcement for 《向火而生》, based on Shui Qian Cheng’s danmei novel Blazing Armour

More announcements for Jing Wei Qing Shang, based on the popular baihe novel

Trailer for The Story of Rong Song, a spin-off of the famous Big Fish and Begonia movie

and many, many more…!

Hope everyone can join me in watching more donghua for 2025!! :D

[abybweisse]

Ch224, False memories?

In ch224, I suspect that the consultant/demon's name and face are scratched out not just in the panels but also in Modri's mind. Altered cinematic records, rather poorly edited.

It strongly reminds me of a scene in Harry Potter in which he's using the Pensieve, but the memory has been edited to remove what would have been incriminating evidence. It was Horace Slughorn trying to keep anyone from knowing he was the one who explained something about horcruxes to Tom Riddle. (Corrected on 3/18/26.)

Modri's going by others' insistence Sebastian is the demon from his past. He can't recall what the demon looked like in human form back then or its assumed name. Not that those things would necessarily matter, since Sebastian took on a particular appearance for his current master. Which begs the question: why would anyone think it necessary to scratch out his face or name? Does it just make it easier for Modri to accept what those others tell him?

[ca-tsuka]

"False Memory" indie animated project is still in the works. By Chinese studios Tumble & Flint Sugar for Bilibili.

[creature-wizard]

The reason we know false memories are real isn't because some people working for a controversial group said so. The reason we know they're real is because hundreds of people have "remembered" completely pseudohistorical past lives.

[loopstagirl]

Sticks and Stones

@febuwhump day 9: False Memory

He shouldn’t have felt the faint tremble through his boots, but he did. Scott glanced down, frowning, but before he worked out if he’d truly felt it or not, his comms blinked. 

“Go ahead, Thunderbird Five.” 

“Aftershocks.” John didn’t waste words when he had warnings to give. “Hitting hard and fast.” 

“F.A.B.” 

Mindful of the officials surrounding him – rescue teams, the police, and a mayor who didn’t believe he could be in the way – Scott kept his tone strictly professional as he opened a wide channel to his team. 

“Thunderbirds, sound off.” 

“Thunderbird Two, sky high.” 

Good: Virgil was in the air and away from any immediate danger. 

“Thunderbird Three, at the rendezvous point.” 

“Hold your position, Thunderbird Three.” 

“F.A.B.” 

Alan sounded reluctant but he wouldn’t disobey a direct order. 

“Thunderbird Four?” 

“Thunderbird Four, um...” 

Mobile Control was secured and Scott on the move before Gordon finished that sentence. No doubt John had sent the same warning to all of them. Gordon clearly knew he was in a dangerous position. 

Scott switched to a private channel even as he broke into a run, heading towards Gordon’s last position. 

“Talk to me, Gords.” 

“I’m still at the caves.” 

“Civilians?” 

“Clear. Alan took them.” 

That explained why Alan was where he was. A group of people had decided taking shelter in some caves would be safer than sheltering in their homes when the earthquake hit. Virgil had used the Excavator to clear the entrance, but it had been Gordon who’d roped up and gone in after them. 

At least there wouldn’t be anyone else to worry about apart from Gordon. 

“I can’t get these ropes off. Scott, I can’t get clear!” 

“F.A.B. I’m on my way.” 

“No! Stay clear.” 

“Aftershocks hitting in less than a minute.” 

Scott almost stumbled at John’s voice. So much for a private line! 

He pulled out his laser cutter as he ran, not bothering to answer the Space Monitor. John wasn’t the only one who didn’t waste words. The rocks came into view, making him skid to a stop, looking around – there! 

A flash of blue drew his attention and Scott pelted towards Gordon. His brother had done his job well: the knots were secure and the ropes firmly anchored. He’d got half of them off but Scott saw his fingers slip on the knots in his haste. 

“Hands up,” Scott ordered. He waited until Gordon was clear before aiming the laser cutter on its lowest setting. The ropes frayed and broke apart, burning red ends smoking slightly. 

“Hitting now!” John’s words were a yell of warning. Years of listening to his instincts and just reacting meant Scott didn’t stop to think. All he knew was that Gordon was standing under a cliff that had the potential to dump who knows what on top of them. 

The first rocks were already bouncing towards them when Scott flung himself forward. He caught Gordon around the waist, sending them both hurtling into the cave even as a boulder the size of his head slammed into the ground where Gordon had been standing. 

They rolled once, twice, three times before Scott’s momentum caught up with them and they fell still. To Scott’s relief, he was cushioning his brother. He quickly snapped on his head torch. 

“Are you okay?” His hands gripped Gordon’s shoulders, holding him still as his gaze ran over his brother, trying to find any injuries. 

“I’m fine.” Gordon shoved his hands away, sat up, then stood. Just as he did so, daylight disappeared as another barrage of scree covered up the exit for the second time that day. Gordon glanced at Scott. 

“What exactly was your plan?” he asked drily. 

Scott shrugged as he sat up. “Save you?” 

Gordon snorted, then his eyes went wide in the dim light of Scott’s torch. 

“You okay, big brother?” 

“Fine.” 

Then pain lanced up his arm in a fiery burst that made Scott grit his teeth. He looked down to find his uniform torn and blood gushing from a deep laceration. 

“Oh.” 

He hadn’t even felt it happen. Fumbling with one hand, he reached to his utility belt, searching for a med-pack, but Gordon got there first. He pulled out his own and dropped back to his knees. 

Scott didn’t watch as Gordon cleaned and bandaged the cut. 

“That was foolish, Scoots,” Gordon said softly. “You could’ve got yourself killed.” 

Scott shrugged. “Would’ve been worth it if it saved you.” 

Gordon paused in his administrations long enough to punch Scott on his good shoulder. 

“Ouch,” Scott said drily. 

“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.” 

“Ouch?” 

Gordon punched him again. “You know what I mean. You can’t just throw yourself away on the off chance that it protects one of us.” 

“Sure I can,” Scott said lightly. “I’ve been doing it forever.” 

Gordon didn’t answer, focusing on tying off the bandage. Scott let him work and lifted his other arm, grateful that his watch was on his right not his left wrist. 

“Thunderbird Two, do you copy?” 

“I’ve got you,” Virgil sounded calm but Scott could hear the underlying tension. He was certain he was the only one who would pick up on it. “I need to wait for the ground to stabilise before I can land and get the Excavator back out. You two okay?” 

Whether he’d seen what had happened or John filled him in, Scott didn’t know. But he was grateful he didn’t have to explain that he’d saved Gordon only to get them both trapped in a cave and now needed rescuing. 

“We’re fine.” 

“Scott’s hurt.” 

They both spoke at the same time and Scott glared at Gordon. 

“We’re fine,” he said again, his voice firm. “Check in with Alan, make sure no more civilians are in danger. Then come back for us.” 

There was a pause, in which Scott thought Virgil might refuse. Then a reluctant F.A.B. came over the line before Scott shut it down.  

“You didn’t need to tell him that.” 

Gordon returned his glare. “I’m not in a habit of lying to him. As for you-,” 

This time, he poked Scott in the chest. 

“Will you quit it?” Scott grumbled. He was going to have more bruises from Gordon at this rate! 

“You shouldn’t have run towards danger.” 

Scott rolled his eyes. “Like I was going to do anything else.” 

“Now you’re hurt, because of me. How am I supposed to deal with that?” 

“Never used to bother you,” Scott muttered. 

“What?” 

Damn. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Maybe his arm was getting to him more than he thought. 

“Nothing.” 

“Scott.” 

Gordon’s voice was serious, which was always a worrying sign. Scott checked the bandage and sat up. Gordon had done a good job, and Scott told him so. 

“Stop trying to change the subject,” Gordon grumbled. “What did you mean?” 

“Nothing. I don’t know why I said that.” 

“When did it not bother me if something hurt you?” 

“Gordon-,” 

“No. Tell me.” 

The conversation was apparently happening, whether Scott wanted it or not. He wondered if he could tell Virgil to turn around and come and get them first. 

Then he looked at Gordon. There was a hint of panic in those honey eyes, a fear that had nothing to do with being trapped in a cave. It was the worry that he’d done something to hurt his brother in the past. That he was responsible for something that had caused Scott pain. 

“I honestly didn’t mean it,” Scott said slowly. “I know you’d always worry if something hurt me. It’s just, well, you did go through years of hating me, and that hurt.” 

“What?” Gordon stared at him. 

“Hmm?” 

“I’ve never hated you!” 

“Oh come on,” Scott gave a short laugh. “What about all those years when you just screamed at me? Told me regularly that you hated me, that you wanted Dad, John, Virgil, anyone but me? Needed me to go away, leave you alone, stop ruining your life?” 

Gordon’s intake of breath was a small gasp that sounded loud in the cave. He was staring at Scott, horrified. 

“You thought I hated you?” 

“You were making it pretty clear,” Scott murmured. “I didn’t mind. Better that you were taking it out on me so that John and Virgil got the good side of you. I know you were hurting, we all were. I could handle it. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.” 

“I never hated you.” 

“Not how I remember it.” 

“No, Scott, listen to me.” Gordon knelt in front of him, a pleading expression on his face that Scott didn’t think he’d ever seen before. “I never hated you. You were my safety net, my constant. You were the one person I could rely on to never go anywhere, no matter what I threw at you. I screamed at you because I knew you could take it, you let me yell, and you never went anywhere.” 

Scott frowned. He’d never thought of it like that. But Gordon wasn’t finished. 

“I was terrified that Dad was going to disappear again. That John would shut his bedroom door and not come out. Virgil’s not that much older than me, he couldn’t give me what I needed. I had all these emotions, all these thoughts and feelings, and no idea how I was supposed to express them. So I screamed them at you, because you were this unmoveable wall who just took it all and still stood there, ready for more.” 

Gordon dragged a hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture. When he looked back, there was pain in his eyes. 

“I never meant to hurt you. And I never, ever, hated you. It was the opposite. I was a brat because I could rely completely on you to hold me up.” 

Scott could only stare. He ran his good hand across his face, and it came away wet with tears he didn’t realise he’d let fall. 

“You - you never hated me?” 

He’d got over it: Gordon had been a young teen, deciding a career at a tender age while reeling from the loss of his mother and the almost-loss of their dad too as Jeff shut himself away. He’d accepted it, dealt with it, and tried to protect everyone, including Gordon, from all the big emotions a little boy was feeling. But it had still hurt. 

Now to find out he’d remembered it wrong. Gordon hadn’t ever hated him. He’d loved him, trusted him, and -, 

“Will you stop hitting me?” Scott demanded as Gordon punched him on the shoulder. 

“I can’t believe you thought for all of these years that I hated you! You’re... you.” 

“Wow. Now we know why John is the linguistic one.” 

“Shut up. You’re an idiot. You were my shield against the world, big brother. I trusted you more than anyone! Now I’m wondering why if you thought I hated you.” 

Scott didn’t have words to respond to that. He pulled Gordon into a one-armed hug. 

“Love you too, little brother.” 

Gordon returned the grip. Scott knew he would. He was just settling in to having a limpet attached to him for however long when they heard the tell-tale sound of machinery outside the cave. The aftershocks must’ve stopped and Virgil was preparing to come and get them out. 

Gordon pulled back and clumsily wiped away Scott’s tears. 

“Otherwise Virgil will think you’re crying with pain, then he’ll get really worried that his big macho hero-,” 

“Shut up.” Scott was grinning though. 

He’d never let the memory of their childhood define the relationship he had with his brothers. But it still felt like a weight, a shadow, that he hadn’t been aware of had disappeared when he looked at Gordon. 

Sensing his gaze, Gordon returned it, smiling shyly.  

His brother had never hated him. He’d trusted him. 

“This is why I do what I do,” Scott said softly. “Throw us into caves to stop a mountain collapsing on your head. I’m always going to be your shield, Gordy.” 

It was probably a good job that Virgil managed to break through at that moment, Scott thought in hindsight. Who knew where the conversation was going to go otherwise.