I came across a good short game “Little Jimmy's Gift” on YouTube last night.
What struck me the most about this game was its simple yet impactful message about curiosity in the conclusion scene, which reads, “Don't let curiosity lead you astray.” This suddenly made me realize the negative side of curiosity.
Despite having watched countless horror gameplays, I've only now come to realize that it's often misplaced curiosity that leads people into unimaginable horrors.
Yes, I personally find it more enjoyable to watch others play video games rather than playing them myself.
Not only do I have the flexibility to pause at any time and continue later without losing progress, but I also appreciate that I don't have to frustrate myself with finding solutions or solving puzzles.
This allows me to fully immerse myself in the game's captivating stories, which are what I enjoy the most.
Little Jimmy’s Gift
Little Jimmy's Gift is a five-minute indie horror game developed by Keneth Agar, a young solo game developer from the Philippines, that draws inspiration from the short film "The Kid and The Camera" by GrumbledEntertainment.
The game revolves around the story of a 10-year-old kid named Jimmy, who has just received a camera as a birthday present from his parents.
Filled with excitement, Jimmy finds it hard to sleep that night, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to use his new camera.
Suddenly, a mysterious voice claiming to be his guardian angel named maria captures his attention, which then guides him out of the house.
Innocently thinking it would be a fun way to pass the time, he sneaks into his parents' room to grab a flashlight and ventures into the nearby woods.
As Jimmy walks through the darkness, the voice of maria suddenly disappears, leaving him alone and unheard. Fear begins to take hold of him, but he continues to call out for maria, hoping for a response.
Eventually, he stumbles upon the entrance to an underground basement hidden in the woods. Without a second thought, Jimmy enters the dark abyss, determined to find maria.
Armed only with his flashlight and using the camera's flash to see, he explores the eerie depths. However, his sense of security is shattered when he feels a presence behind him.
Turning back, he is startled to see a figure standing ominously in front of him.....
Weeks later, authorities make a chilling discovery - Jimmy's lifeless body is found under disturbing circumstances.
How curiosity killed the cat
Like many horror games, Little Jimmy's Gift follows the common trope of starting with the protagonist making a stupid decision.
I mean, who in their right mind would believe an unknown voice claiming to be an angel and follow it into the dark woods?
One might assume that it's because Jimmy is just a kid and his innocence plays a role, but that's only half true.
If we attribute it solely to Jimmy's innocence, it would imply that such situations could never happen to adults who can think rationally. But in reality, that's not the case.
In Jimmy's case, his youthful innocence and insatiable curiosity to discover what the “angel” wanted to show him apparently got the better of him. This ultimately led to his tragic demise, an outcome that could have been prevented if he had thought more rationally, whether by ignoring the voice or waking up his parents for help.
However, in actuality, many adults can exhibit even worse behavior than Jimmy, and their actions may not necessarily be tied to their capacity for rational thinking.
Some may be ignorant, while others deliberately choose to turn a blind eye to the consequences.
Regardless of the situation, following their inner “maria” would undoubtedly lead them into harmful situations they would inevitably regret. And by the time they realize it, it's already too late.
The inner “maria”
The inner “maria” in adults often originates from their unhealthy emotions, such as obsession, impulsiveness, or a sense of desperation, which they struggle to release.
These emotions then give rise to irrational curiosity or a desire for thrills, which manifests as their inner “maria”, whose voice can only be heard by them alone.
In Jimmy's story, the mysterious voice of “maria” enticed him out of the safety of his house and into the eerie depths of the dark woods, all under the deceptive promise of something “good”.
Similarly, in real life, individuals who heed the call of their inner “maria” and venture beyond their safety zones often find their judgment compromised.
This can lead them to make impulsive decisions without fully assessing the associated risks.
The allure of the unknown, combined with the “irresistible promise” by their inner “maria”, clouds their rational thinking and blinds them to the potential dangers ahead.
It becomes a struggle for them to resist the temptation and navigate the fine line between curiosity and self-preservation.
Possible bad endings
The inner “maria” manifesting as irrational curiosity in most adults often stems from illogical obsession, possessiveness, jealousy, or a distorted sense of entitlement towards someone.
These unhealthy emotions can drive individuals to engage in physical or cyber stalking, or even both, as they become consumed by intrusive and obsessive interest in the targeted person's activities and personal life.
Their behavior is fueled by a desire for control, power, or an intense infatuation that compels them to go to great lengths to gain the attention of their victim.
Stalking clearly surpasses normal curiosity and demonstrates a complete disregard for boundaries and the well-being of the individual being stalked.
However, the harm caused by stalking is not limited to the person being stalked. The reality is that stalkers themselves also unknowingly put their own lives at risk.
Everyone has limits - their sanity, patience, and everything in between. What will happen when the victim reaches their breaking point?
At that moment, the victim will seize the opportunity to exploit the stalker's ignorance of their awareness. This can lead to the victim plotting something unimaginable in order to put an end to the torment they have endured.
In such cases, two potential “bad endings” await the stalkers.
Bad ending 1:
The victim has reached their limit of patience.
Unbeknownst to the relentless stalker, the victim has been meticulously gathering evidence and seeking support from law enforcement.
When the opportune moment arrives, the victim exposes the stalker's actions, leading to their arrest and subsequent legal consequences.
Bad ending 2:
As the stalker's infatuation with their target intensifies, they go to extreme lengths, including exploiting the target's private life and exposing their personal matters in a way that only their target can realize. This desperate act is aimed at regaining the attention of the victim.
Eventually, the victim, having reached their breaking point, loses both their patience and sanity.
They take matters into their own hands, seeking justice against the stalker. And due to the victim's deteriorating mental state, the law is unable to punish them.
Furthermore, in cases where the stalker is a narcissist and frequently posts their personal life and family members on social media, the victim may also target the stalker's family, as they are already familiar with their appearance and information.
This serves as the worst possible outcome, illustrating how the inner “maria” can ultimately lead to the stalker's own demise. And in the most extreme scenarios, it can also have a devastating impact on those close to them.
To get the “good ending”
All of these unfortunate outcomes could have been prevented if the stalker were able to control their impulse to follow their inner “maria”, or in other words, their irrational curiosity.
If they find it challenging to rely solely on rational thinking to refrain from intruding into others’ privacy, they should, at the very least, strive to cultivate compassion, especially if they still consider themselves human being with a conscience.
They should make a conscious effort to develop empathy and imagine themselves in the victim’s shoes, understanding how it would feel if the same intrusive actions were directed at them.
By actively developing empathy like this, they will find it easier to clear their mind and exercise better judgment in identifying potential dangers ahead of them, enabling them to stop themselves from doing what they want to do before it's too late.
Moreover, through empathy, they will come to understand that people choose to reveal only what they want others to know and don't mind others knowing. Anything beyond that represents a boundary they should never dare to trespass.
Recognizing this, they can conserve their energy and avoid pursuing irrelevant information that may jeopardize their own safety. Instead, they can redirect their curiosity towards more meaningful and constructive aspects of their lives, allowing them to fully embrace their own journey while respecting the privacy and peace of others.
They will also learn to recognize that some things are better left untouched and respected from a distance, as inappropriate interference may lead to unintended consequences that can have far-reaching negative impacts.