Feast Your Eyes On Me

The idea is simple: what happens in a society where everyone is forced to be healthy?

Background

A virus consumed the planet. Almost all of humanity was wiped out, all progress and life completely stopped for 5 years, until, with great effort, it was finally under control.

To prevent this from happening ever again, the government completely changed its laws and systems.

The only way to prevent such an outbreak in the future, is by making sure everyone has an amazing health and immune system.

And so everyone was forced to live a healthy life.

Any food with questionable content, was banned
Any stimulants, such as alcohol and drugs, were banned.
The education system has 1-2 hours of exercise in the schedule, and classes are almost always without seats and active.
Fitness schools (and the like) are publicly funded and free to attend for everyone, as long as you use proven methods.
Every week, you need to visit your doctor and get checked. If anything is wrong, you’ll get a warning. Stay unhealthy too long and you are punished severely (HOW?)
Etc.

What are the issues (with such a society)?

Issue #1: People are wary of how these laws were put into effect. All of them are rigorous, huge changes, often complemented with many unfair and strict laws.

Was it an actual vote? Was it rigged? Was it panic?

Issue #2: Secondly, some people don’t like the effort it takes to stay healthy. It takes way too much time, the food tastes bland. Some people might not even have the time required.

Issue #3: People want the forbidden fruits, people want unhealthy food that tastes great, people want an escape from having to work hard on their fitness every week.

Issue #4: The punishments are too severe and are disrupting society?

(Issue #5: As usual, there are groups of people that are simply opposed to having their freedom and their choice taken away. These usually intersect with young people that have never experienced the effects of being unfit, or the effects of a deadly virus roaming around.)

What is the overall conflict and goal?

One character is trying to uncover the secrets behind this law and the previous virus outbreak. (An external journey, about the whole society and mysterious history.)

After a while, a new virus outbreak happens in the book!

One character has great trouble finding the motivation and habits to get healthy. (An inner journey, more personal and small.)

And one character is simply against the law, but also sees the clear benefits it brings to society (and perhaps his loved ones? Maybe these healthy systems allowed his wife to stay alive and overcome her illness?)

What is the inciting incident?

1^st^ main character (girl, young adult) has to go to her weekly check. She is found too thin, too tired, lacking some vital things in her bloodstream. She is given a warning, as she is still growing up … but it’s her last warning => Or maybe she is already anxious going into the appointment, as the last time was her last warning.

2^nd^ main character (boy, young adult) runs an illegal business. He gets forbidden goods and sells them to anyone who wants it. He is in tip-top shape, which means everyone loves him, he never had any trouble, and he is even considered for the job of becoming a Major Doctor.

But then, what’s the inciting incident here?

3^rd^ main character => a boy who is actually overweight?
4^th^ main character => a girl with major issues remembering things, paying attention, sitting still, sleeping, etc.?

IDEA: Someone who bought truckloads of alcohol before the law went into effect. (I don’t know, a whiskey drinking father or something.) => The day/night before a new law, there was always this huge panicked run on certain goods or systems.

IDEA: Someone who is teaching people how to “trick” the checks.

IDEA: Someone who is preaching “alternative medicine”, getting people all caught up in practices and pills and stuff that do not work.

IDEA: Use the “Prohibition” video (from Oversimplified) as inspiration, as it does many of the same things.

What is the punishment for breaking the rules?

Phase 1: you get a warning and advice on how to solve your issues. You can collect multiple warnings, depending on your history and the severity of your issue.

Phase 2: you are sent to a “fitness center”. Within a month, with the help from experts, you will be trained back into shape. (However, this is a very rigorous programme, which also costs you loads of money.)

Phase 3: you are sent to jail. Because everything is determined for you, this still helps getting people back into shape.

Phase 4: you are isolated and banished. (To another country? An island somewhere? How does this work?) If you ever return to society, you will receive the death sentence on sight.

Phase 5: death sentence. If nothing else works, or you pose (or have posed) a too-great danger to the health of society, this is the nuclear option.

Separate Ideas That Might Fit Here

IDEA/PROBLEM/REMARK: They can’t send you to jail. It just means that an outbreak is likelier to happen there and will be even more deadly.

Or … is this an interesting development? At some point, it does start in jail, and it leads to all sorts of trouble?

IDEA: Make it a “prove yourself”-society? Being born is not enough to gain human rights. You have to regularly prove yourself worthy to be seen as a person in the eyes of the law and the others. Could be very interesting if executed well—like an actual option.

IDEA: Really make viruses / biological weapons the main theme of the story.

For example, this Kurtzgesagt video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FppammO1zk
About how others might construct even more powerful viruses, accidentally or not.
A more “visual/story” way to do it, would be to kidnap people and give them your experimental viruses. Then you select the ones that show highest infectiousness/lethality, as a “natural” selection type of thing.
About advances in technology and control over biology, and the downsides to it.
“Infohazard”: information that’s dangerous just by existing.
On the flipside, maybe one storyline is about people trying to discover the next virus before it hits. That plots itself: you find one clue, you find another, suddenly the appearance of some bacteria/microbes skyrockets, and so on
And all of this escalates into a major new virus outbreak (that threatens the end of the world).

IDEA: One of the protagonists grows up in a criminal family. At first, she obviously thinks nothing is wrong. She is trained to be a master thief, master manipulator, etcetera.

Until they ask her to go too far. She realizes what is happening and flees. For the rest of the novel, the rest of her whole life, she is hunted and must always be wary.

(She manages to create a simple, fulfilling life for her own. Until her family suddenly stands at her front door, kills her husband, and in a rage she decides to rain terror on her family => destroying both her and the whole family in the process?)

IDEA: One of the protagonists starts each chapter with “Today I feel X” (To highlight the focus on health, both physical and mental.)

Today I feel ugly.
Today I feel beautiful.
Today I feel slow.

IDEA: Cool name (real building) => “House of the Blackheads” (Might be a bastardization of “Blackhats”, merchants who only wore black hats.)

IDEA: One character who grows up, all their life, in a contained and separated area. (Like the Manhattan Project for the atomic bomb.) Slowly, they realize things are weird. Maybe a visitor comes who talks of strange things or lets slip a secret.

This is both a mystery (what’s wrong, what is this place, why is everyone a researcher and what are they researching)
And an emotional beat (separated from “actual society” all your life, never learning the rest of the world, it would take a toll).

@IDEA: Because of something humans did after that deadly virus outbreak, the world now has no illness anymore. Instead, when you get ill, you either instantly heal (if you’re strong/healthy enough), or you instantly die. (Which can be shown in a poignant scene where some fat person just instantly drops dead, no warning whatsoever, and everyone is like “yeah, predictable” and moves on because they’d already expected this for years now.)

@IDEA: A country with “dienstplicht” (conscription). But to actually make the army flexible and stuff, everyone is required (their entire life) to stay fit and be ready/educated. In practice, this means people have to report and be re-tested every quarter (3 months) or so. => Might go to Cella Monstrosa otherwise

@IDEA: A world with a different type of healthcare system? One where profits rely on how satisfied people are with the service? Or how many people you actually cure? (Which has lots of issues too, of course, but that’s the reason we explore a story full of conflict.)

@IDEA (STORY): “the American government deliberately didn’t treat African Americans infected with syphilis so they can study the disease” => MY IDEA HERE is to have a story about a major virus outbreak, but everyone thinks there’s just no cure or there’s not enough supplies for treatment … until it turns out they didn’t treat many on PURPOSE to study the disease and experiment more.

**The idea is simple: what happens in a society where everyone is *forced* to be healthy?** ## Background A virus consumed the planet. Almost all of humanity was wiped out, all progress and life completely stopped for 5 years, until, with great effort, it was finally under control. To prevent this from happening ever again, the government completely changed its laws and systems. The only way to prevent such an outbreak in the future, is by making sure *everyone* has an amazing health and immune system. And so everyone was forced to live a healthy life. - Any food with questionable content, was banned - Any stimulants, such as alcohol and drugs, were banned. - The education system has 1-2 hours of exercise in the schedule, and classes are almost always *without seats* and *active*. - Fitness schools (and the like) are publicly funded and free to attend for everyone, as long as you use proven methods. - Every week, you need to visit your doctor and get checked. If anything is wrong, you'll get a warning. Stay unhealthy too long and you are punished severely (**HOW?**) - Etc. ## What are the issues (with such a society)? **Issue #1:** People are wary of how these laws were put into effect. All of them are rigorous, huge changes, often complemented with many unfair and strict laws. Was it an actual vote? Was it rigged? Was it panic? **Issue #2:** Secondly, some people don't like the effort it takes to stay healthy. It takes way too much time, the food tastes bland. Some people might not even *have* the time required. **Issue #3:** People want the forbidden fruits, people want unhealthy food that tastes great, people want an *escape* from having to work hard on their fitness *every week*. **Issue #4:** The punishments are too severe and are disrupting society? **(Issue #5:** As usual, there are groups of people that are simply opposed to having their *freedom* and their *choice* taken away. These usually intersect with *young people* that have never experienced the effects of being unfit, or the effects of a deadly virus roaming around.) ## What is the overall conflict and goal? One character is trying to uncover the secrets behind this law and the previous virus outbreak. (An **external journey**, about the **whole society and mysterious history**.) > After a while, a *new virus outbreak* happens in the book! One character has great trouble finding the motivation and habits to get healthy. (An **inner journey**, more **personal and small**.) And one character is simply against the law, but also sees the clear *benefits* it brings to society (and perhaps his loved ones? Maybe these healthy systems allowed his wife to stay alive and overcome her illness?) ## What is the inciting incident? 1^st^ main character (girl, young adult) has to go to her weekly check. She is found too thin, too tired, lacking some vital things in her bloodstream. She is given a warning, as she is still growing up ... but it's her last warning => Or maybe she is already anxious going into the appointment, as the last time *was her last warning*. 2^nd^ main character (boy, young adult) runs an illegal business. He gets forbidden goods and sells them to anyone who wants it. He is in tip-top shape, which means everyone loves him, he never had any trouble, and he is even considered for the job of becoming a Major Doctor. **But then, what's the inciting incident here?** * 3^rd^ main character => a boy who is actually overweight? * 4^th^ main character => a girl with major issues remembering things, paying attention, sitting still, sleeping, etc.? **IDEA:** Someone who bought truckloads of alcohol before the law went into effect. (I don't know, a whiskey drinking father or something.) => The day/night before a new law, there was always this huge panicked run on certain goods or systems. **IDEA:** Someone who is teaching people how to "trick" the checks. **IDEA:** Someone who is preaching "alternative medicine", getting people all caught up in practices and pills and stuff that *do not work*. **IDEA:** Use the "Prohibition" video (from Oversimplified) as inspiration, as it does many of the same things. ## What is the punishment for breaking the rules? **Phase 1:** you get a warning and advice on how to solve your issues. You can collect multiple warnings, depending on your history and the severity of your issue. **Phase 2:** you are sent to a "fitness center". Within a month, with the help from experts, you will be trained back into shape. (However, this is a *very* rigorous programme, which also costs you *loads of money*.) **Phase 3:** you are sent to jail. Because *everything* is determined for you, this still helps getting people back into shape. **Phase 4:** you are isolated and banished. (To another country? An island somewhere? How does this work?) If you ever return to society, you will receive the death sentence on sight. **Phase 5:** death sentence. If nothing else works, or you pose (or have posed) a too-great danger to the health of society, this is the nuclear option. ## Separate Ideas That Might Fit Here **IDEA/PROBLEM/REMARK:** They can't send you to jail. It just means that an outbreak is likelier to happen there and will be even more deadly. > Or ... is this an interesting development? At some point, it *does* start in jail, and it leads to all sorts of trouble? **IDEA: Make it a "prove yourself"-society?** Being born is *not* enough to gain human rights. You have to regularly prove yourself worthy to be seen as a person in the eyes of the law and the others. Could be *very* interesting if executed well---like an actual *option*. **IDEA: Really make viruses / biological weapons the main theme of the story.** - For example, this Kurtzgesagt video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FppammO1zk> - About how others might construct even more powerful viruses, accidentally or not. - A more "visual/story" way to do it, would be to kidnap people and give them your experimental viruses. Then you select the ones that show highest infectiousness/lethality, as a "natural" selection type of thing. - About advances in technology and *control* over biology, and the downsides to it. - "Infohazard": information that's dangerous just by existing. - On the flipside, maybe one storyline is about people trying to *discover* the next virus before it hits. That plots itself: you find one clue, you find another, suddenly the appearance of some bacteria/microbes skyrockets, and so on - And all of this **escalates** into a major new **virus outbreak** (that threatens the end of the world). **IDEA:** One of the protagonists grows up in a criminal family. At first, she obviously thinks nothing is wrong. She is trained to be a master thief, master manipulator, etcetera. Until they ask her to go too far. She realizes what is happening and *flees*. For the rest of the novel, the rest of her whole life, she is hunted and must always be wary. (She manages to create a simple, fulfilling life for her own. Until her family suddenly stands at her front door, kills her husband, and in a rage she decides to rain terror on her family => destroying both her and the whole family in the process?) **IDEA:** One of the protagonists starts each chapter with "Today I feel X" (To highlight the focus on health, both physical and mental.) - Today I feel ugly. - Today I feel beautiful. - Today I feel slow. **IDEA:** Cool name (real building) => "House of the Blackheads" (Might be a bastardization of "Blackhats", merchants who only wore black hats.) **IDEA:** One character who grows up, all their life, in a contained and separated area. (Like the Manhattan Project for the atomic bomb.) Slowly, they realize things are weird. Maybe a visitor comes who talks of strange things or lets slip a secret. > This is both a mystery (what's wrong, what is this place, why is everyone a researcher and what are they researching) > > And an emotional beat (separated from "actual society" all your life, never learning the rest of the world, it would take a toll). **@IDEA:** Because of something humans did after that deadly virus outbreak, the world now has **no illness anymore**. Instead, when you get ill, you either **instantly heal** (if you're strong/healthy enough), or you **instantly die**. (Which can be shown in a poignant scene where some fat person just instantly drops dead, no warning whatsoever, and everyone is like "yeah, predictable" and moves on because they'd already expected this for years now.) **@IDEA**: A country with "dienstplicht" (_conscription_). But to actually make the army flexible and stuff, everyone is required (their entire life) to stay fit and be ready/educated. In practice, this means people have to report and be re-tested every quarter (3 months) or so. => Might go to Cella Monstrosa otherwise **@IDEA**: A world with a different type of healthcare system? One where profits rely on how satisfied people are with the service? Or how many people you actually cure? (Which has lots of issues too, of course, but that's the reason we explore a story full of conflict.) **@IDEA (STORY):** "the American government deliberately didn't treat African Americans infected with syphilis so they can study the disease" => MY IDEA HERE is to have a story about a major virus outbreak, but everyone thinks there's just no cure or there's not enough supplies for treatment ... until it turns out they didn't treat many on PURPOSE to study the disease and experiment more.