Tragedy of the Commons

The worst things happen on cold days. In the wake of Maretime Bay's deep freeze, Misty walks home alone.

Written for Bean's Writing Group using the prompt "I'm cold" and the bonus "include at least one very vivid description." Set just before Winter Wishday.

Content warning for verbal and emotional abuse.

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Comments ( 7 )

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gapty

gapty #1 · Nov 15th, 2023 · 2 · ·

Makes me wonder whether the cold Opaline feels is indeed from a window or a representation of her emotional coldness.

Well done with this fic!

BronzeAden

BronzeAden #2 · Nov 15th, 2023 · 2 · ·

Really well done.

blargg

blargg #3 · Nov 15th, 2023 · 4 · ·

Nice story and quite humorous, but what's with the title? That's an actual real world phenomenon about economics and resource management (communal ownership = disaster, they tried it in Plymouth with the pilgrims and they almost starved)

sirenc0re

sirenc0re #4 · Nov 16th, 2023 · 2 · ·

the pain hurts 💔

TasermonsPartner

TasermonsPartner #5 · Nov 16th, 2023 · · ·

11749929
They almost starved because they no idea how to work and live off the land, grow native crops or forage for native foodstuffs, or trade fairly with actual native people in exchange for their help and knowledge on how to use the land. Said native peoples, on the other hand, did practice communal ownership for thousands of years and they didn't starve because they had learned how to use the land effectively.

blargg

blargg #6 · Nov 16th, 2023 · · ·

11750274
Spoiler tag because it's off general topic so anyone scrolling through can just ignore it.
Preface that this is not to be rude, just I like to share interesting things when given the opportunity.

Ever see a public high school just two years after it's opened? It ain't pretty. The less said about all of those chromebooks the school provides now, the better. People put more care in handling things when they perceive having a personal investment in it. You need only look to the savage but innocent behavior of children to confirm this (all the way down to preschool - at least they don't destroy bathrooms for the fun of it): gifts from loved ones or items purchased for oneself are treated far better than equivalent items that are provided by default.

As for that bit of history, not entirely true. They actually did have crops, but no one cared because it was *someone else's* job, so the majority would be left to rot in the field.
One of the diaries that still exists bemoans the once workaholic people falling into laziness. John Stossel had an interesting piece on it as well, and before you point him being on one side or another, the dude hates both parties (well, hate is a strong word, but strongly dislikes and does not trust either - me, I actually do hate both parties)

Basically it's another form of another social phenomenon called the "Diffusion of Responsibility" - the more people present, the less likely anyone is to act on a problem that isn't directly related to oneself. People who would have lived have died because of this. I think the most famous incident is a woman who got stabbed in front of an apartment building, cries for help for at least half an hour and no one even called 911, because they all assumed someone else would.

As for the natives, yes and no. Not looking to open a debate on that, so I'll leave it there. (I have a hard time resisting interesting conversations, I'm trying to get better) Thomas Sowell has some excerpts from his books available for free on youtube that might cover it if you're interested. (He's basically my personal hero, but I will warn you that you need to listen carefully. He's quite the academic)

Anyway, my point is that the title is... confusing because that is an actual named social phenomenon.

PseudoBob Delightus