Arthur Graham
asked
Peter Derk:
What mystery in your own life could be used to help drive sales of mystery novels on Amazon?
Peter Derk
I'll tell you the most interesting mystery in my life even though it's really not that interesting.
There was this time I was flying out of DIA with my mom. We had an early flight. We were late to the airport, missed the flight, and had to get a later flight.
That's the basic version. The mystery is about who made us late.
I maintain it was my mom. She set the pickup time, she picked me up (a tiny bit late), and we really had no hope of making it. I'm also pretty sure she bought the plane tickets, and I may or may not have known the exact departure time.
My mom maintains it was my fault. I am not a morning person, I set the pickup time, and it was too late. I'm not sure what else she would say to defend this position.
Now, the quick answer here is that it was obviously both of us. We both missed the plane, and both of us being adults, either one could have looked at our departure time and set a different time.
But every holiday, the argument resumes. And neither of us will back down.
Here's why it's a mystery: the only answer is in our memories. There is no physical evidence, despite the presence of modern technology, that proves whose fault it was. There's nothing that exists or did exist that we could use to definitively prove whodunnit.
Here's why it's an interesting mystery: it's completely unsolvable, and it will never be resolved. I can't foresee a way where one of us suddenly remembers something and changes opinions.
If that Serial podcast is still going, I'd like them to take on this mystery.
There was this time I was flying out of DIA with my mom. We had an early flight. We were late to the airport, missed the flight, and had to get a later flight.
That's the basic version. The mystery is about who made us late.
I maintain it was my mom. She set the pickup time, she picked me up (a tiny bit late), and we really had no hope of making it. I'm also pretty sure she bought the plane tickets, and I may or may not have known the exact departure time.
My mom maintains it was my fault. I am not a morning person, I set the pickup time, and it was too late. I'm not sure what else she would say to defend this position.
Now, the quick answer here is that it was obviously both of us. We both missed the plane, and both of us being adults, either one could have looked at our departure time and set a different time.
But every holiday, the argument resumes. And neither of us will back down.
Here's why it's a mystery: the only answer is in our memories. There is no physical evidence, despite the presence of modern technology, that proves whose fault it was. There's nothing that exists or did exist that we could use to definitively prove whodunnit.
Here's why it's an interesting mystery: it's completely unsolvable, and it will never be resolved. I can't foresee a way where one of us suddenly remembers something and changes opinions.
If that Serial podcast is still going, I'd like them to take on this mystery.
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