High-tech hacks and scams, from phishing, to ransomware, to worms and viruses, are happening all the time—even to Retrospect with bogus emails. But cons have always been with us, in person and door to door. Have you or loved ones been conned, hacked, or scammed? Maybe you foiled a scam, and if so, how? Think back … to yesterday’s cons or recent cybercrimes. Share your hacks and scams stories forward.
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This Week's Prompt
Hacks and Scams (11 Stories)
High-tech hacks and scams, from phishing, to ransomware, to worms and viruses, are happening all the time—even to Retrospect with bogus emails. But cons have always been with us, in person and door to door. Have you or loved ones been conned, hacked, or scammed? Maybe you foiled a scam, and if so, how? Think back … to yesterday’s cons or recent cybercrimes. Share your hacks and scams stories forward.
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Upcoming Prompts
Libraries (1 Story)
October is National Book Month, and October 20-26 is Friends of Libraries Week. Do you generally get your books from the library, or do you buy them? Think back . . . Did you go to the library as a child? Did you take your children? Do you think of libraries as welcoming places, or places where they tell you to shush? Share your library stories forward.
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Bullying
Bullying is as old as school yard insults and as new as social media. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a fitting time to think about the bullies that seem to dominate our lives, both personally and politically. Think back… were you ever the victim of bullying or were you the bully? What motivates bullying and how can it be prevented? Are “mean girls” as mean as ever? Share your bullying stories forward.
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The Crush
Almost everyone has experienced a crush at one time or another, usually on a person who was, or seemed, out of reach. Think back . . . was there someone you absolutely, positively, adored but did not pursue? Or were you one of the brave ones who did? Did you watch your children suffer through crushes, knowing there was nothing you could do for them? Share your crush stories forward.
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Ageism
Ageism is a fact of life in our society. And we are at the age when we are vulnerable to it. What stereotypes are associated with being "a certain age"? Have you faced ageism? When and where? Are members of the younger generations more open-minded about the meaning of age? Think back … to experiences in the workplace or elsewhere. Share your stories of ageism forward.
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Past Prompts
Potpourri (Writer’s Choice) (14 Stories)
Several people have written to us suggesting prompts that they want to write about. Some are ideas that we have already used, and we don’t want to repeat them just yet for all of our writers. So, this is Writer’s Choice week. Think back . . . to any topic that strikes your fancy. Look at our list of past prompts if you need inspiration. Share your Writer’s Choice stories forward.P.S. At the end of the week, you can move your story to the appropriate prompt, or you can leave it in the Potpourri. Start Writing Read Stories
Nannies and Babysitters (11 Stories)
Everyone with young children leaves them with a sitter sooner or later. Some families have full-time nannies or foreign au pairs, and some only the occasional teenage babysitter. Think back . . . to your childhood or that of your kids, or to your own experiences as a babysitter. Do you have any memorable tales of good or bad childcare situations? Share your nannies and babysitters stories forward.
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Games People Play (11 Stories)
In 1964, psychiatrist Eric Berne’s book, Games People Play, was a best-seller. He was talking about psychological games, such as “See What You Made Me Do” or “Let’s You and Him Fight.” Did you ever read this book and/or play these mind games? What about real games such as poker, scrabble, chess, or ping pong? Think back … what games stand out in your memory? What games do you play now? Share your game stories forward.
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Road Rage (10 Stories)
September is National Courtesy Month, but not so much on our highways. It seems like everyone is in too much of a hurry to let a car change lanes or to pull over on a narrow street. Do road work and detours lead to stress rather than courtesy where you live? Are horns blasting and tempers flaring? Think back… was driving as challenging when you were younger? How have things changed? Share your road rage stories forward.
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An Unforgettable Person (10 Stories)
There probably was someone in our lives whom we just can’t forget. Whether lover, teacher, friend, celebrity, or even a stranger whom we encountered, that someone made a lasting impression, for better or for worse. Think back … Who was your unforgettable person? What made them unforgettable? How might they have influenced your life? Share your story of an unforgettable person forward.
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