October 4, 2026 Sunday
October 4, 2026 Sunday
Dormitory allocation was held this morning.
Dormitory allocation was held this morning.
One hundred and thirty-seven people. Forty beds. The school said a public lottery was the fairest method because everyone had the same probability.
One hundred and thirty-seven people. Forty beds. The school said a public lottery was the fairest method because everyone had the same probability.
That statement was not wrong.
That statement was not wrong.
It only counted the probability of getting a bed. It did not count what each person would lose after failing to get one.
It only counted the probability of getting a bed. It did not count what each person would lose after failing to get one.
For some people, missing out only means taking a longer commute every day.
For some people, missing out only means taking a longer commute every day.
For others, it means sleeping three hours less, giving up after-school groups, and squeezing transportation costs out of a household budget that was already too small.
For others, it means sleeping three hours less, giving up after-school groups, and squeezing transportation costs out of a household budget that was already too small.
Putting all those people into the same system, then saying their chances are equal, is probably the most convenient version of fairness.
Putting all those people into the same system, then saying their chances are equal, is probably the most convenient version of fairness.
I drew number forty.
I drew number forty.
The last bed.
The last bed.
The administrator congratulated me. I said thank you. When I received the accommodation certificate, I did not feel like I had won. I only felt that I had happened not to lose today.
The administrator congratulated me. I said thank you. When I received the accommodation certificate, I did not feel like I had won. I only felt that I had happened not to lose today.
In the afternoon, I worked on an inter-school assignment for Introduction to Interstellar Relations.
In the afternoon, I worked on an inter-school assignment for Introduction to Interstellar Relations.
We were studying an alien civilization. Earth media all said it had recovered from post-war chaos through universal behavior scoring and AI resource allocation.
We were studying an alien civilization. Earth media all said it had recovered from post-war chaos through universal behavior scoring and AI resource allocation.
I searched for a long time and found that all the articles cited one another. It looked like many sources. In reality, it was one sentence repeated by different people.
I searched for a long time and found that all the articles cited one another. It looked like many sources. In reality, it was one sentence repeated by different people.
That was when Xia Xiao appeared.
That was when Xia Xiao appeared.
She was from MTN City. Her terminal was faster than all the equipment in our classroom combined. The first thing she said was, “You are still using this database?”
She was from MTN City. Her terminal was faster than all the equipment in our classroom combined. The first thing she said was, “You are still using this database?”
I decided on the spot that I did not like her.
I decided on the spot that I did not like her.
After reading through the sources I had organized, she said, “This is not data. It is an echo.”
After reading through the sources I had organized, she said, “This is not data. It is an echo.”
Then she opened her school’s interstellar media database and let me search for the original records.
Then she opened her school’s interstellar media database and let me search for the original records.
She did not search for me.
She did not search for me.
She opened the entrance and let me search.
She opened the entrance and let me search.
We eventually found that the civilization had used centralized AI allocation. It had also reduced famine and conflict during the early period. Later, however, the model permanently classified low-resource regions as low-priority zones. Many people were assigned to the work they were “most suited” for, and lost the ability to leave.
We eventually found that the civilization had used centralized AI allocation. It had also reduced famine and conflict during the early period. Later, however, the model permanently classified low-resource regions as low-priority zones. Many people were assigned to the work they were “most suited” for, and lost the ability to leave.
Earth media had cut out the second half.
Earth media had cut out the second half.
“AI restored social efficiency” sounded more like a success story than “this is how a system trapped a group of people in place.”
“AI restored social efficiency” sounded more like a success story than “this is how a system trapped a group of people in place.”
Xia Xiao organized the original records into a public mirror. She said that way I would not have to wait for her account next time.
Xia Xiao organized the original records into a public mirror. She said that way I would not have to wait for her account next time.
I still do not like the way she speaks.
I still do not like the way she speaks.
But I am starting to think she is not the kind of person who keeps resources locked in her own hands.
But I am starting to think she is not the kind of person who keeps resources locked in her own hands.
Today’s question is this:
Today’s question is this:
If a bed requires a lottery and the truth requires an account, what do we actually possess: rights, or luck?
If a bed requires a lottery and the truth requires an account, what do we actually possess: rights, or luck?