Since we had a Badfic Report thread last month and no Goodfic thread in sight in the top three pages, I figured it was time that we had one these again.
To start off, I have a standalone rec for The Time Traveler's Wife:
Affections Across Time - Rated T
"A series of short stories featuring different people with Chrono Displacement Disorder, and the people who care about them."
As the summary describes, this fic switches between different arcs after each chapter, with each featuring one or more Chronologically Displaced Individual. My favorite arcs are the Phillip and Abigail one, where we get to see two children with CDD interacting with one another, and Connie and William arc, which presents a nice role reversal in relation to Henry and Clare, where its the younger one of the pair who is traveling back in time.
Then, I have a couple more for Clannad:
Whenever You're Ready - Rated T
(Warning: Contains spoiler for Clannad: After Story)
"On their first night living in their new home, Nagisa tells Tomoya what she wants most of all. Oneshot. No citrus, just sweetness and emotion."
Serendipity - Rated T
"Sometimes, the small decisions we make can drastically change the course of our lives. Whether it is deciding to take a shortcut through an unfamiliar neighborhood or deciding that keeping a promise to a friend is more important than personal discomfort, actions have costs. Tomoya doesn't realize it yet, but he has made such a decision, and his life will never be the same."
Contains spoiler for Kotomi's arc. This a really nice AU where things change for the better when Tomoya remains Kotomi's best friend when the sad events of her childhood
happen. Very sweet and heartwarming.
And finally, courtesy of my newest fandom, Sword Art Online, I have several more.
(Since most of these either take place during episodes 11 and 12 of the anime/ Chapter 3 of Volume 2 of the Light Novel or long after them, extending to after the thereotical end of the series, SPOILERS, specially when it comes to Yui's true nature)
Yui's Heart - Rated T
"It was not time well-spent, confined to merely watching the players by Cardinal - but when two players begin to show emotions she's been longing to see, what will be her reaction?"
A very well-written perspective flip. Since this is essentially Episode 11 onwards viewed throught Yui's eyes, spoiler abound here, specially since the very first scene is this story's version of a very significant scene at the end of the Epidose 12. This a very emotional read,
specially when comes to viewing Episodes 11, 12 and 16 throught Yui's Point Of View.
Family, Family Part II,Forever, A New World, and A New World: Snowy - All Rated T
A five-parter series involving Kirito, Asuna and Yui finally getting to be a family in the real world.
Golden Wishing Clover - Rated K+
"Kirito and Asuna, still living their happy lives in SAO, ready to search for the special item that comes with the holiday. St. Patrick's Day. With the item that could grant any wish, that the rules allowed, anything could be possible. The highest rankings, weapons you'd never hear of. Food! However obtaining this item would be no easy task, but Asuna will do whatever it takes."
Deus Ex Machina - Rated T
"One last level, one final dungeon, one ultimate boss. As enjoyable as the adventure has been, all good things must come to an end. Or do they?"
A rather epic depiction of what the actual Final Boss battle at Floor 100 of Aincrad might have been like.
The Kirita Chronicles - Rated T
"What would have happened if certain characters' genders were altered while others remained the same? How differently would certain events play out & affect the development of certain relationships? Who will live & who will die? See how the alterations of certain characters' genders & histories will cause ripples throughout the story"
A semi-gender flip that is just the same events as in Canon but with characters' gender swapped. The first five chapters alone are an expansion on the events before the first episode of SAO, involving Kirita's childhood as well actually showing what the Beta Testing of SAO was like.
The Prince of Swords - Rated T
"Kazuto was always exceptionally talented, but limited by his own idea of kindness. Having been corrected at an early age, he excels through life without much of a purpose. Now trapped in a rather gruesome death game of his own choice, he will attempt to break though it as Kirito, the famed Prince of Swords."
An AU where Kirito doesn't become a solo player and instead becomes a leader for the Front Lines and forms a guild with Asuna, Silica, Lisbeth and Argo.
Soul Ablaze - Sword Art Online/Pokemon - Rated T
An AU in which the game where the Death Game takes place in Pokemon Universe, a Virtual Reality MMO where players have a mental link with their Pokemon(who have extremely advanced AIs this time around).
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Goodfic recommendation thread! by
on 2015-09-11 16:21:00 UTC
Link to this
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*plugs the Rec Center* by
on 2015-09-12 23:29:00 UTC
Link to this
The Rec Center on the wiki would be an awesome place to curate your goodfic lists, if you want to have a regular place to point people towards stuff you really like, by the way. ;)
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Oh. good to know. Thanks July. by
on 2015-09-13 04:10:00 UTC
Link to this
I wiil definitely use that in the future. Though I still will ocasionally post some recs on goodfic threads here on the board, because goodfics deserve to get as much good exposure as possible.
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Oh, definitely! by
on 2015-09-13 04:13:00 UTC
Link to this
It's more that considering how many you had stocked up you clearly have plenty to share!
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I certainly do! by
on 2015-09-13 06:35:00 UTC
Link to this
Trust me, I haven't got anywhere near to exhausting my stock of goodfic recs (or badfic reports for that matter). My fic related post DO tend to be on the longer side. See this post of mine fron back when I first joined. Or this one, for even more extreme example.
... In hindsight, I probably would be better off just using the Rec Center, wouldn't I? -
One good Pokemon/SAO crossover deserves another! by
on 2015-09-12 22:22:00 UTC
Link to this
Pokémon: Online [an emerald nuzlocke] by totaldile
After two years of development, Nintendo's most anticipated project has finally been released:
Pokémon: Online.
Pokémon: Online is a virtual reality massive multiplayer online role-playing game, taking the console versions of each Pokémon game, and remodelling them into a fully immersive virtual reality environment. In addition, multiple areas of the game were modified and refined.
1. Pokémon now speak. They are your companions, and your friends.
2. Battling has become far less linear, and more like a real fight. Turn-based play is still present, but if no attack is called within 30 seconds, a new turn begins.
3. Trading and battles can occur anywhere, provided both Players give permission.
Having loved the game since they were little, Total and her best friend Brendan eagerly buy the game on it's day of launch, alongside the 500,000 other Players lucky enough to acquire a copy. As they boot up the game, the two find it to be everything they imagined.
However, this all shatters when out of the blue, they're summoned back to the Player Hub without a warning. Shocked, they are greeted with a mysterious hooded figure, who explains to them that the rules have changed.
The figure explains that the log out button is missing - and, that this isn't a mistake. There is no way to escape the game - removing the headset will cause it to malfunction and destroy your brain, as will manually shutting it off. The figure draws attention to the fact that not only Pokémon, but not the Players themselves have an HP bar. The figure tells us that now, when our Pokémon's HP falls to zero, they will die and be deleted from the game.
However, the worst thing is...
...that when your own HP drops to zero...
...you will die, both in and out of the game....
....permanently.
Welcome to Pokémon: Online.
It's on the Nuzlocke Forums, so there's no rating, but I'd give it a high T, with some chapters skirting the line with M.
It's very well-written, and still in progress IIRC. Well worth the read. -
That sounds promising. I will definitely read it. by
on 2015-09-13 03:30:00 UTC
Link to this
But, wow, 500,000 PLAYERS!? The death toll for this Death Game is going to be WAY than even the one in SAO. Wow, just wow.
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Might as well join in by
on 2015-09-12 19:09:00 UTC
Link to this
The Bridge (Godzilla/MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/121836/the-bridge-a-godzilla-mlp-crossover
This fic... is *awesome*. I really don't know what else to say about it. In it, Godzilla and several other kaiju have been transported to Equestria and transformed into ponies, and I honestly can't give away any more without revealing spoilers. It's dramatic, funny, reference-packed, and wonderfully written. Plus, the author is extremely supportive of fans, even showing off fan art that others draw and making a fic that another person wrote about what's going on back on Earth official for his 'verse.
The Manliest Story Ever Conceived (MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/153317/the-manliest-story-ever-conceived
Summary: Iron Will does an assortment of things, all of which are manly.
I honestly can't describe the awesomeness of this story any more than with that summary. Just... read it. Even if you aren't a fan of MLP. It's worth it.
Wholesome Christian Fanfiction (MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/176827/1/wholesome-christian-fanfiction/safe-for-television
Summary: Jesus goes to Equestria. He is not happy.
This is a parody. It involves every pony in Ponyville turning into leeches and fighting Jesus. It is awesome.
Mormons vs. Twilight (MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/205126/1/the-mormons-vs-twilight/grilled-mormons
A parody of Mormonism. If you're offended by that sort of thing, please do not click the link. It's going to be unpleasant.
The God Squad (MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/56849/the-god-squad
A hilarious story that manages to both pay homage to and satirize Equestria, involving a creature called Triton, an OC (Oceanic Creature).
The Many Secret Origins of Scootaloo (MLP) - Rated T
Link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/47589/the-many-secret-origins-of-scootaloo
A fic that pokes fun of just about every Scootaloo origin story there is and then some, with Twilight slowly going insane by asking various ponies where Scootaloo came from. -
Still not dead- and some recs! by
on 2015-09-12 08:17:00 UTC
Link to this
Doctor Who stuff, first!
Ooh, I have my absolute favorite fic ever to share with you lot. It's about the Seventh Doctor and Ace, and it's just so- I don't know. Perfect? Shippy? Confusing?
It's called Embrace and it's fairly short, so just go read it.
Um... let's see. I really love Potter Who and the Wossname's Thingummy because it has time travel, references, Harry and the Doctor coexisting in one head (talking to each other in a way that makes sense) and best of all, the Slytherin Beanie Propeller Hat of Shame. It's amazing, and it will make you think about aspects of Harry Potter. Hard.
And here's an 11, Amy, and Rory fic that's just stunning! It's Fearful Symmetry and has the best characterizations this side of canon. I can't recommend it enough, not least because it has theunexpectedsudden appearance of one of my favorite characters ever.
Some non-Who stuff!
Here's a goodie. It's Artemis Fowl... and it's called The Foul Team. Yeah, yeah, lame pun, but this thing is so wow I can't even manage the words to describe it. It's possibly better than the books themselves.
I'm not in the Sonic fandom, but my friend recommended this one to me. I'm so glad I read it. It's complete, utter crack, but it had me at 'the ongoing French invasion' in Sonic's backyard. It's called A Christmas Carol.
Skulduggery Pleasant fic, because it's amazing! Here's an unfinished one, but worth a read since it's practically the only good one in the archive. Legend of the Werefish has everything- banter, mermaids, and magic. It's written perfectly in character and is only shippy if you squint. A great missing adventure-type thing.
That's all for now. :D
~Kitty -
Yay, fic recs! by
on 2015-09-12 01:38:00 UTC
Link to this
The Equestrian Wind Mage
Vaati, bored with the whole kidnap-the-princess-and-fight-the-hero thing, tries to teleport himself away from the final battle of Four Swords, but the spell gets interrupted and he ends up in Equestria. Cue a lot of confused ponies and some GLORIOUS snark from the Wind Mage. Some chapters are adaptations of canon episodes, some aren't, but they're all great fun to read. (Even the darker ones later on.)
The Blue Blur of Termina
Sonic/Majora's Mask crossover. Actually a good read, even if it's a dead fic.
White Box
A mindbending, somewhat scary My Little Pony fic about a pony who learns what color is, and who he is.
Sansukh
Lily Winterwood recommended this already, but I'm bringing it back because holy VALAR it's awesome. Nominate for Legendary Goodfic Y/Y? -
White Box, by Chromosome by
on 2015-09-12 08:28:00 UTC
Link to this
First, before I begin my review proper, it is an absolute joy to have the opportunity to read a well written piece of derivative fiction. Clear craft and care has been taken by the author to compose this short story, and in my view, it was well worth every moment. Second, I will be doing a thorough review. If you have not taken the time to read the story in question, I insist you read it before continuing, as I will be discussing critical plot points, including the ending. Assuming you have read the piece, I shall move along.
Something tells me that this is a form of personal story. While clearly the author cannot lay brush to canvas and have butterflies flutter through the air, the emotional journey Canvas goes through feels inspired by events the author has gone though themselves. I shudder to imagine what may have been the inspiration, as an asylum seems the most logical conclusion. Some of my colleagues who required mental care have spoken to me at length of the various treatments undergone inside mental care hospitals, for better or for worse. The depiction of severe retrograde amnesia is particularly vivid, and one of the great draws to this story. I am currently unaware of any procedure utilized in Equestira or World One which would produce such an effect, yet it does seem at the very least plausible.
The characterization of Canvas and Twilight Sparkle shines though. Save for one instance of Twilight using the word "scum" to describe the prisoners that felt far too harsh for her, she seemed truly alive and in character. You can see her transition from cold intellectual, to caring teacher, to pitying empathizer flow in a smooth, natural way. Her character journey is the set for Canvas to play on, and his performance is stellar. This poor pony has lost his very identity and though this purple visitor, he begins to find himself again, and the reality he lost. And yet, we see it come crashing down again, as even his very name is forcibly removed from his memory. It is truly crushing, and provides the main strength of the piece. For many, this will be the highlight of the story, and the reason they will recommend it so. At least, were it not for one other aspect.
Due to the nature of Canvas's story, and his rediscovery of color itself, the author has chosen to incorporate a visual nature to the text, by coloring particular words and passages. The majority of the text is white on a black background, highlighting the dual nature of Canvas's perception of the world. When he learns of a new color or feels an emotion that he associates with each color, the text changes appropriately. This use of color, providing stark contrast to the rest of the text, lets the reader feel what Canvas sees, let them experience the discovery of color. This is beautifully done, and a creative use of the digital medium.
On the whole, this is a powerful emotional journey, that pulls at the heartstrings, and makes one truly think on the nature of color. There are, however, some detractors to this story that makes me hesitate before giving grand praise. Namely, in the implications of the outside world, and the nature of the institution Canvas finds himself in.
There is a pattern within certain My Little Pony fan works that suggests (or, indeed, outright states) that Princess Celestia is far more tyrannical then one would be led to believe. While discussion on Celestia's politics is important, especially in the ways one disagrees, never has there been any evidence nor rumor of the Princess incarcerating innocents who may pose a threat to her power, nor banishment upon the slightest infraction. Why, then, do we see an institution meant to hold and "correct" those blessed with abilities far beyond those of the average pony? The poor foal was imprisoned at the age of eight*! He had not lived long enough to insight rebellion or pose any threat to the State. While understandable behavior in the Marvel or Detective Comics universes, it is simply horrific for any Equestrian to even imagine such a thing would occur. Speaking purely for myself, I am rather tired of this trope. Celestia is no tyrant, in the political or contemporary sense of the word. The return of Discord alone should show how merciful she is. Indeed, it is to a fault her willingness to forgive. She would be horrified by the idea of innocent ponies being tortured for the mere crime of holding grand power. The continued slander towards her name is has reached a point where I wonder what she has possibly done to earn such resentment by such a large number of the community.
However, every complaint of mine could be resolved with one simple change. Take the setting out of Equestria. Place it in World One, have Canvas be a mutant of some form. Humans fear that which they do not understand. Many World One governments would seek to remove any perceived threat to themselves or their power quickly. Corruption and mistreatment of those who are labeled as different is well documented there. Which highlights the largest problem with the derivative story; there is no need for the use of Equestria. The only reason I can see is to use the colors of Twilight Sparkle's friends to solidify the emotional connection Canvas holds with each individual color. And yet, Canvas describes these connections so vividly, it hardly requires additional support, and where it does, the colored text provides plenty.
As a short story, I highly recommend White Box. It is a chilling tale of a man who has lost quite literally everything, including the very concept of color he adores so dearly. However, as a piece of derivative fiction, I cannot fully recommend it. I cannot help but feel the work would be vastly improved by making the story a piece of original fiction, and removing all ties to Equestria. Indeed, perhaps Chromosome could consider publishing the story, and earn some monetary compensation for their work.
~Printworthy
*I understand that equines in World One have far shorter lifespans then us ponies. Equestrian ponies have the same approximate lifespan as the average human. -
Those seem really interesting. by
on 2015-09-12 03:56:00 UTC
Link to this
As noted below, White Box really IS beautiful.
The first two sound interesting, but I don't know much about the Legend of Zelda canon (not that has stopped my before, see my post below) and they rather long so I probably will have to get back to them later. -
I barely know about MLP, and yet "White BoxÂ…" by
on 2015-09-12 02:10:00 UTC
Link to this
…it just surges with power. A beautiful piece of writing.
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It really is beautiful. by
on 2015-09-12 03:51:00 UTC
Link to this
You don't really need to know much about the canon to understand it, though from what I got the colors seems to reference the show's main characters.
Don't ask why I did it this way, but when I first read Past Sins I hadn't watched a single episode of Friendship is Magic. That fic was my very first contact with fandom and it got me very much hooked, so now MLP is one of my biggest fandoms. -
Belated Past Sins recommendation as well! (nm) by
on 2015-09-12 13:31:00 UTC
Link to this
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Well, I did already recommend it last time around... by
on 2015-09-13 03:54:00 UTC
Link to this
But you know what, it is such an amazing story that it deserves every single bit of exposure it can get, so allow me to do it again :
Past Sins
My Little Pony: Friendship is magic
A great characterization of Twilight Sparkle as well as an excellent use of an OC in the figure of Nyx. A both heartwarming and tragic tale of motherhood and redeemption throught love. -
How about a Tenth Walker fic that gets it RIGHT! by
on 2015-09-12 00:19:00 UTC
Link to this
AND VERY WELL TOO! What I like best about this one is that she doesn't start out with the Fellowship. She knows how dangerous a foreknowledge of the canon can be! And even better - she has to learn to speak the Common Speech! It's not English to her! YAHOO!
Sadly, it's not yet complete.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9195768/1/How-To-Survive-In-Middle-Earth-When-You-re-A-Teenaged-Girl -
I know this one! by
on 2015-09-12 04:58:00 UTC
Link to this
I came across it when I was browsing last year, but I lost the link and was very sad.
(thankyouthankyouthankyou!)
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New interlude! by
on 2015-09-12 04:21:00 UTC
Link to this
In which Gaspard tries to cope with a rather unpleasant situation and an even worse "friend".
I'd like to thank DawnFire, Iximaz, and the Irish Samurai for beta reading this piece. You guys are the best!
Concrit is welcome, as always. -
*Wants to hug Gaspard. Badly.* by
on 2015-09-12 23:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Very well-written, though! ^^
Thank you for the writings. :> -
Thank you for reading! (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 01:56:00 UTC
Link to this
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Oh dear, poor Gaspard. by
on 2015-09-12 22:51:00 UTC
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He's not that bad!
Probably.
(I am greatly amused at the very temporary use of a human disguise to get into the fridge.) -
Nah, he isn't. by
on 2015-09-13 01:55:00 UTC
Link to this
He's actually a pretty decent guy. Too bad he's been marked as the PPC's Charlie Brown...
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Awww by
on 2015-09-12 05:00:00 UTC
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Poor Gaspard.
Loved the interlude though! Great writing. :) -
Thank you! (nm) by
on 2015-09-12 15:33:00 UTC
Link to this
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New interlude! by
on 2015-09-12 17:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Who for death, and who for life? And what sort of sacrifice will that entail?
PS: Before anybody complains about me going grimdark because of the Aviator's arc — I've been toying with this idea, in various forms, since 2012. -
Good story. by
on 2015-09-14 08:54:00 UTC
Link to this
Hope Des doesn't permanently lose the ability to enjoy tea. That would be grimdark.
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I liked it by
on 2015-09-14 03:39:00 UTC
Link to this
I hope Des comes out of this OK.
The Librarian poking fun at the "torturers" was pretty funny.
I'm surprised that anyone else has read the Culture series around here. -
Oh, you read it too? by
on 2015-09-14 15:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Awesome! What's your favourite book?
Aside from you and me, there's also Scapegrace; in fact, she and I are working (ish) on a crossover mission that (also) features the Culture. Brr, that badfic is really bad. -
You ask the hardest questions by
on 2015-09-15 01:10:00 UTC
Link to this
I think it's a toss-up between The Player of Games and Excession (because Minds).
Good luck with the mission. I should hope it's not a Culture badfic, because I've not seen any of those in the usual places. -
Oh, it is. by
on 2015-09-15 15:25:00 UTC
Link to this
We only found it because Scape remembered it from somewhere — it's filed under Harry Potter. Here's a link, if you want to tear your hair out; it takes Excession (which is, coincidentally, my favourite Culture book) and butchers it before dancing on what's left of the body.
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And if you want to read something better by
on 2015-09-15 18:16:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's a pretty good Animorphs/Culture one-shot. Which you might have seen already, but I figured I should point you at in case you hadn't.
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Ooh. by
on 2015-09-15 18:47:00 UTC
Link to this
I have not known this piece. I've read it now, though, and I find it to my liking. It's very nice indeed.
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Looking forward to the mission (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 18:11:00 UTC
Link to this
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Ooh, I like. by
on 2015-09-13 14:33:00 UTC
Link to this
Of course, with medical being the hypercompetent place that it is, Des will be fine... but in what form?
I don't think you quite went anywhere near actual grimdark. Being cyberized seems to be quite normal for that universe, and sooner or later, it's going to happen to an agent. I think what you wrote is more like the non-action parts of an action movie--a good one, where they don't count on the special effects to carry the story. And the Librarian's predicament... well, it seems like he was quite buoyed by the sheer stupidity of his captors! Count on him to take that kind of thing as a morale boost. -
Oh dear by
on 2015-09-13 03:27:00 UTC
Link to this
So, Des may be in a little trouble, it seems. I'm hoping they can undo whatever cybernetics were done to him, but something tells me it won't be completely reverted (because that would be no fun).
However! Great interlude, great read! -
You really don't like sharing your facial hair, do you? by
on 2015-09-12 22:55:00 UTC
Link to this
On a somewhat more different note, goodness how you've improved.
Indeed a bit dark, but still had humorous moments.
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Welcome back to Whose Line is It Anyway? by
on 2015-09-12 22:56:00 UTC
Link to this
Yes indeed, the game where the rules are made up, and the points don't matter. Yes, like World-Jumper's writing schedule, they just don't matter. I'm your host, The Host! How convenient for me. Since the last thread, we tried to get Drew Cary on board, but he said, and I quote, "Oh god no, please, anything but that, don't make me go back there." So, you lot are stuck with me again.
We are playing the PPC Board version of Whose Line? once again, where you, yes, you, the boarders, get to have some fun with some improv and mini-roleplay. Will we play any games other then Scenes from a Hat? Probably not! But, who knows with this game. Anything can happen.
To start off, we will need some suggestions for our first game Scenes from a Hat. Here is how it will work:
The first reply to this post will be by The Hat, saying, "Place Suggestions Here!" You are to reply with your scenario for us to react to under the name "Suggestion". Quotation marks are optional. For the title box, put "Official Unofficial Suggestion". Then, to make sure nobody reads the scenario before I choose it for the game, you are to post the following, exactly, into the text box before your suggestion:
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
Then, post your scenario suggestion. These can be PPC related, Real Life, fandom, whatever you want. I would highly suggest that everybody read This Guide from /r/ScenesFromAHat before writing your prompts.
The prompts will be picked at random by me for getting posted for you all to react to, in any way you wish. Whomever has the cleverest response will receive the points for the round. If your suggestion or quip is not selected, don't take it to heart. All it means is that I probably don't like you very much.
Those are the rules, tried and true. Should we need to update the rules, I'll post an update, and curse the fact that the Board has no edit button.
Let's play! -
Strange happenings at the Marquis de Sod's wedding. by
on 2015-09-15 02:58:00 UTC
Link to this
Now, just because the next prompt is drawn, does not mean you cannot reply to any of the previous prompts. Indeed, you are highly encouraged to!
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The bride, a Dandelion, literally came out of left field. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 03:29:00 UTC
Link to this
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Our next prompt! by
on 2015-09-14 20:25:00 UTC
Link to this
The sappiest and angstiest Sue's terrible past the PPC has ever encountered.
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"Well, you see..." by
on 2015-09-15 05:45:00 UTC
Link to this
"I never fit in with the other kids at school, I was such a nerd. But then one day, I fell through a hole in reality and found a secret organization, where I went on to become one of the most well-known agents within the span of a year and a half. It was during this time that I got turned into a Time Lord, and went crazy, finally snapping after the tragic death of my partner. I stole a TARDIS and ran away, only to find myself caught up in a time loop involving one of my best friends, on a planet people aren't supposed to be able to get to, and went on to illegally enlist in the military despite being much too young by my current species' standards. I had to watch as all my crew members were tragically killed—WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MY GLITTER LEVEL'S AT 20%?!"
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Y'see, she never knew her parents... by
on 2015-09-14 21:22:00 UTC
Link to this
and all the other girls in the orphanage hated her for some reason. Probably the glowy white hair. Or the soulful orange eyes. Or the dog that followed her around.
Then when she was seventeen, the matron finally kicked her and her dog out, and she tried to get work as a singer but wasn't old enough to work in a club...and she found the girl who'd hated her the least again but she was on the other side of the planet...and then her dog got hit by a semi... -
That really IS sappy and angsty by
on 2015-09-15 16:39:00 UTC
Link to this
Why do the worst ones almost always have 'orphanage of hell' in their backstory? Seriously, why!?
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I blame Annie. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 19:09:00 UTC
Link to this
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Little Orphan Annie? by
on 2015-09-15 23:01:00 UTC
Link to this
I can see why if that was what you meant. 'It's a hard-knock life' and all that.
Most writers still have to figure it out that you don't have to make your orphanage absolute angsty and horrid to generate drama in a story involving an orphan.
Selkie is a webcomic about interspecies adoption and largely involves an orphanage. It may not accurate be on some aspects (that whole adoption line-up thing, for example), but it is a mostly happy and safe environment and the drama mostly comes from other sources.
Or if they absolutely need to go for the 'Bully at the orphanage' angle, there are better ways to go about it than shamelessly trying to rip our heartstrings.
Let's analyze the case of Hanako from Katawa Shoujo for a good example.
(Spoilers for Hanako's Route)
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Hanako's house caught fire when she was eight. Both of her parents died, and her mother did so while shielding her from the flames with her own body. Despite that, 50%
of her body suffered severe burns.
After she was released from the hospital, she ended up in a orphanage. The place itself wasn't bad and the staff was really nice, but as result of her scars and the trauma she suffered, the other kids there isolated her.
When she went back to school, her former friends also largely ostracized her.
In the present, she is a girl with crippling social anxiety that up until now has only ever had one friend at Yamaku.
Now that backstory is pretty terrifying and could easily make for some very cheap drama, so why is she a good example?
Precisely because the whole point of her story is that you shouldn't pity her and treat her like some broken and weak girl that always needs to be protected. If you do, if you keep acting like a White Knight despite subtle warning against, it will blow up in your face and she WILL despise you for it.
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"OMG." by
on 2015-09-14 20:39:00 UTC
Link to this
"I think I just broke a nail!"
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Things the Hogwarts PTA has to fight over. (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 15:29:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Next on the agenda..." by
on 2015-09-14 20:01:00 UTC
Link to this
"Should we add four, or five new traps to the castle?"
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"Who wins in a rap battle: Martin Miggs or Beedle the Bard?" (nm by
on 2015-09-14 18:22:00 UTC
Link to this
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Having a student's seeing-eye dog count as a pet. (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 18:02:00 UTC
Link to this
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Weird things for a talking doll to say. (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 02:04:00 UTC
Link to this
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Do you really need that much honey? by
on 2015-09-14 16:01:00 UTC
Link to this
Shout out to JoCo's Creepy Doll!
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"I like my coffee how I like my women. Inflatable." (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 15:18:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Are you kidding me right now?!" (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 02:32:00 UTC
Link to this
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Things that impress the Flowers, but not your girlfriend. (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 21:19:00 UTC
Link to this
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((Or boyfriend? Or boyfriend.)) by
on 2015-09-14 01:37:00 UTC
Link to this
"Check it out! I made a sweater for the Daisy!" (The actual Daisy, not the Marquis. You could not pay me enough to make so much as a bowtie for the Marquis.)
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((Indeed, or boyfriend.)) by
on 2015-09-14 02:07:00 UTC
Link to this
((It's just how that prompt is phrased in Whose Line. See!))
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"Hey, I haven't gone crazy yet!" (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 00:34:00 UTC
Link to this
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"I gave you worms." (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 23:43:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Ah, so the outcrop of mould... not your cousin, then?" (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 23:37:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Who wants some fertilizer?" (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 22:54:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Look what I got for you!" by
on 2015-09-13 22:40:00 UTC
Link to this
"A bag of mulch! You looked like you were hungry!"
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Next up: Worst mistakes that a PPC Agent could make. by
on 2015-09-13 17:06:00 UTC
Link to this
((Keep those suggestions coming! The more, the merrier!))
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This. by
on 2015-09-15 03:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Yes, I know the joke's been done. No, I don't care or regret this decision. -
"What could possibly go wrong?" (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:23:00 UTC
Link to this
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*runs screaming through corridors with a flamethrower* (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:20:00 UTC
Link to this
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／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人ᦆ by
on 2015-09-13 18:39:00 UTC
Link to this
Make contract? ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
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"I wish that Incubators didn't need to exist." (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 00:32:00 UTC
Link to this
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Wish granted! by
on 2015-09-14 03:34:00 UTC
Link to this
Now they don't NEED to exist, but they do anyway! :D
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*brign out machinegun* KILL THE RAT! (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 20:55:00 UTC
Link to this
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You didn't think that was going to stop me, did you? by
on 2015-09-13 21:18:00 UTC
Link to this
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Not quite... But it's good stress relief. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 17:18:00 UTC
Link to this
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...I don't get it. (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:47:00 UTC
Link to this
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Oh. This is about that Madoka...thing you all love. by
on 2015-09-14 04:32:00 UTC
Link to this
I admit, I don't really know anime. I remember this one as being, "the Magical Girl anime that trolled Japan by not being a Magical Girl anime." But short of that... Eh... Sorry.
So, tell me, and feel free to spoil everything, why do you all love this show so much? -
"I'm going to meet the boss today!" by
on 2015-09-13 18:32:00 UTC
Link to this
*chewing* Hope they're nice.
*holds out a bag* Want some sunflower seeds? -
"Uh-oh." by
on 2015-09-13 17:19:00 UTC
Link to this
"I don't think that was a replacement we killed..."
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"Don't worry, we have a backup RA." by
on 2015-09-13 17:18:00 UTC
Link to this
"It's at the bottom of my pockets, but we've got it!"
sorry not sorry -
And now, our first prompt! by
on 2015-09-13 12:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Reasons why PPC Radio no longer airs.
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"It's time for today's handy hint... by
on 2015-09-13 14:22:00 UTC
Link to this
"Here's how to modify your neuralyzer so it works on Flowers."
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*BZZZT* Alright, we get it! Take your 1000 points already! by
on 2015-09-13 17:03:00 UTC
Link to this
((Don't worry Pippa, you're fine. Make more quips if you want. Speaking of which.))
((In their haste to get the game started, The Host forgot to explain that one can, and should, continue making suggestions and quips at any point in the game. If we want this game to last, we need as many suggestions as possible. And don't worry, the points don't matter! So The Host can award them to anyone at any time, even for threads they already gifted points to.)) -
"This show is sponsored by Flamethrowers-R-Us." (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 13:48:00 UTC
Link to this
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"In an hour, it's Technology Time... by
on 2015-09-13 13:40:00 UTC
Link to this
"...when Makes-Things will be explaining how he made all our broadcasting equipment out of old CADs. But first, my guests are three badfic characters: rapist!Legolas, woobie!Snape and psychopathic!Celes—"
BOOM!!!
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"And now our new talk show, presented by Agent Tacitus." (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 13:34:00 UTC
Link to this
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WIN. ALL OF THE WIN. (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 15:18:00 UTC
Link to this
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"Welcome to Desert Island Fics... by
on 2015-09-13 13:33:00 UTC
Link to this
"And my guest this week, talking about the five fanfics she'd like to be stranded on a desert island with, is Agent Luxury."
-
Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-13 04:50:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
The Marquis de Sod's wedding. -
So close! by
on 2015-09-13 05:17:00 UTC
Link to this
You actually did make yourself anonymous, as I wished so there is no view of bias, and you used my copy-pasta. However, you did not reply to The Hat with the suggestion! So, for actually cloaking yourself, 500 points. For not putting the scene in the Hat, however, I deduce 500 points.
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Place Suggestions Here! (nm) by
on 2015-09-12 22:57:00 UTC
Link to this
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Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-14 17:54:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
The sappiest and angstiest Sue's terrible past the PPC has ever encountered. -
Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-14 00:30:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
"Sues reaching new heights of improbability." -
Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-13 11:12:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
Inappropriate moments for "That's what she said" joke. -
Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-13 03:09:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
Worst mistakes that a PPC Agent could make during a Mission. -
Yay, this game came back! by
on 2015-09-13 00:56:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK...
*deep breath* Right, then:
-Why the Kudzu and the Marquis de Sod don't get along
-Reasons to quit Bad Slash
-Unlikely weapon choices for a Mary Sue
-Overheard in FicPsych
-What would happen if Rina/The Aviator regained her sanity
-Bad times to quote atrashyromance novel
-If the Flowers that Be hired secretaries
-Why PPC Radio/Radio Nutmeg no longer airs -
Official Unofficial Suggestion. by
on 2015-09-12 23:53:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
"Weird things for a talking doll to say." -
Official Unofficial Suggestion by
on 2015-09-12 23:48:00 UTC
Link to this
A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK A POX ON THOSE WHO PEEK
A gadget that is not the CAD fails to work at a crucial moment.
-
Story plug. by
on 2015-09-12 23:19:00 UTC
Link to this
Though it looks like I'm part of a conga line of releases today, goodness.
Here.
Thanks to Iximaz and PoorCynic for betaing. -
That was fun. Loved it. (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 08:51:00 UTC
Link to this
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I'm glad you enjoyed it! (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 15:01:00 UTC
Link to this
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That was just beautiful. by
on 2015-09-13 20:54:00 UTC
Link to this
I liked how you managed to mesh a typical American house with... working in the PPC. It was a very refreshing take.
... and now one of my Ten Years Hence-styled ideas is going to pass for stealing, as I kinda imagined that my Agents' daughter would end up working in the PPC despite the fact that they left well before she was conceived.
... Ten again, the idea is so far in the making I didn't even settle on her name... -
Thanks! by
on 2015-09-13 21:35:00 UTC
Link to this
There may or may not be more to Sue than is immediately evident, but I'm glad you liked the combination there!
And not necessarily! Ideas all come from somewhere, and there is a limited range from which one can take them. I had some inspiration for this from the fact that hS favors the idea of having plenty of second (and later) generation agents set in future versions of the PPC; I just put a twist on it with thinking on if there had been shenanigans going on and both sides not knowing.
And yes, names are tricky.
I've actually had the concepts for Sax and Day for a long time! I was originally, way way way back in 2008, going to do an origin comic for Cray and how she got her alligators, which was going to include the original prototypes for Sax and Day getting drafted into helping out with all of that (and it not going all that well at all).
Thankfully for their beta versions, that never worked out, so I rehashed them for the current versions. -
[aggressive thumbs up] by
on 2015-09-13 16:37:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm definitely a fan. I love the family dynamic between them, love the bit about how all earths are a little different and who's to say which is the "real" one, and love the A+ parenting style by Jon and Sue. :""D
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I dubbed that the 'Berenstain bear' problem during the beta, by
on 2015-09-13 19:08:00 UTC
Link to this
Because outside of a very few things, how could you possibly tell you're from World One, and not say, some World One and a Fraction? There are many canons that are nearly exactly like the Real World, except aren't because of small details that the average person wouldn't realize.
I'm glad you liked their parenting style! Writing them both was a lot of fun. -
Okay, that was fun. by
on 2015-09-13 14:04:00 UTC
Link to this
While you've already noted that I've got parents and children both in the PPC, the idea that they could not know is... yeah, fun. And I liked the way you wrote it, too.
hS is not up for proper reviews, sorry -
I'm definitely glad you thought so. by
on 2015-09-13 19:02:00 UTC
Link to this
And that I didn't step on any toes by giving Rosedale such a relatively early start in the PPC. I figured the infrastructure turnover would've been later on the other overall timeline compared to action's.
But yeah, considering that it's so easy for parents and kids to not actually know what the other is up to until someone literally stumbles into it by chance (or gets told by a third party), I couldn't resist giving writing the idea a go. -
I love it! by
on 2015-09-13 13:59:00 UTC
Link to this
And in the world of Amazing Coincidences, a dog named Darcy just showed up on the TV... XD
Wasn't a sheltie, though. For shame.
Thank you for the writings! -
\o/ by
on 2015-09-13 18:51:00 UTC
Link to this
What sort was it?
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Gosh, I can't remember. |D by
on 2015-09-13 18:58:00 UTC
Link to this
She had tan fur, and might have been a - she was similar to a boxer, almost? Only less wrinkles.
And a she instead of a he, of course. XD -
PPC-family! by
on 2015-09-13 03:41:00 UTC
Link to this
I never actually thought about having family members within in the PPC. Aside from the famous Aviator and her little brother, of course, it never really came up. I may have to rethink one of my agent-in-progess's history...just came up with a cool idea.
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There are quite a few, actually. by
on 2015-09-13 06:43:00 UTC
Link to this
The Aviator and Alex are by no means the first nor the last.
Huinesoron alone has quite the collection! -
I need to read stuff not written by Iximaz by
on 2015-09-13 07:05:00 UTC
Link to this
Or Desdenelle, for that matter. Not to say they don't write fabulous missions and interludes, but a broader range of reading material would not go amiss.
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I do hope you've read TOS at least? (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:11:00 UTC
Link to this
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Of course (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:12:00 UTC
Link to this
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*points at JulyFlame* by
on 2015-09-13 19:18:00 UTC
Link to this
Try reading her stuff, too. :D *scurries off to add JF's stuff to her rec list*
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Woah... by
on 2015-09-13 18:11:00 UTC
Link to this
That's a lot of reading material. Thank you all!
-
Some more recs! by
on 2015-09-13 16:05:00 UTC
Link to this
Because there really is a fantastic broader range of reading material out there, and I can tell you from experience that it's very fun to read.
Des has already recommended Nesh's spin-off, so I'll repeat here that it is fantastic but won't include a link. Phobos' work I...haven't read much of, but what little I've read was pretty great. In fact, I just reread this one (NSFW, it's a Bad Slash mission), and it's hilarious. So yes--seconding those.
As for some new recs: Araeph's Mara and Isaiah are fantastic, in the Department of Technical Errors, and are probably among the first spin-offs I ever read. Looking at the wiki page, they seem to have done only (or mainly, if my eyes just skipped over something) LotR and Pirates of the Caribbean missions, but...honestly, even if those aren't your fandoms, I'd still recommend them. They're amazing.
Another two, which have crossed over with each other a lot, are the spin-offs of Miah and Caddy-shack. This links to Agent Miah's page, and this to Maria Nightingale's. I wish I could link to Cadmar's page, since he ended up being my favorite of the lot, but it's currently blank for some weird reason that I can't figure out. The pages of Agents Cali (partnered with Miah) and Maria should link to most of the stories with him, though. Miah's agents seem to be DMS, while Caddy-shack's are Floaters; and between the two of them, they've covered a lot of canons, about half of which I'm not familiar with. The characters really ended up shining; I definitely recommend these two, and, er, hope that I didn't do it too confusingly. (Also, what's up with Cadmar's page?)
Who else...hS' Driftwood series is pretty great, and can be found in the 'Partnered with Kaitlyn' section of Agent Selene's page.
Lily Winterwood's Christianne and Eledhwen are fantastic as well.
And, certainly not least, EileenAlphabet's duo of Mittens and the RMC (Radioactive Moss Creature) is hilarious.
And one more--Fish Custard's Evie and the Fisherman are hands-down amazing. Especially Mission #6.
Beyond that--because, really, I could easily continue for several pages at this rate--I suggest checking out the Complete List of PPC Fiction. It's not always up-to-date (looking at myself here, actually), but it's pretty extensive and goes by department. It's a fantastic place to start looking.
And beyond that, try using the Random Page function on the wiki (or else ask other people for recs). You'll quite likely find something new and interesting just by doing that.
Happy reading!
~DF
PS: No, seriously, what's up with Cadmar's page? Why is it blank except for the title? Does anyone know? -
This reminded me of something. by
on 2015-09-13 16:59:00 UTC
Link to this
I desperately needed to get my act together and put together a list of my favorite PPC spin-offs.
So I have done just that!
Yes, there's overlap with Dawn's list, but that's because, well, they're all really good! -
...and Cadmar's page is working again. by
on 2015-09-13 16:16:00 UTC
Link to this
That was really weird.
But now--Ha! I can link! So behold a page that actually has a lot on it: Cadmar. As I said earlier, he became my favorite of this group, so I'm quite happy to be able to link to his page. I'm definitely invested in the rest of the group as well, don't get me wrong, but Cadmar's my favorite.
~DF -
May I recommend... by
on 2015-09-13 11:15:00 UTC
Link to this
Neshomeh's spinoff, which is, hands down, one of the best spinoffs around?
Also, if you have some understanding of (World of) Warcraft, I recommend Phobos' stuff. -
Seconding both of these. by
on 2015-09-13 15:20:00 UTC
Link to this
Nesh was the first I read, and she's still my favorite. And you just gotta love dem trolls, mon. :D
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Re: Story plug. by
on 2015-09-13 02:30:00 UTC
Link to this
This is really interesting! Also, I'm sorry that I didn't have any of my agents interact with the body-swapped ones, life just got very complicated around that time.
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I'm happy you thought so! by
on 2015-09-13 06:43:00 UTC
Link to this
As for the rp, there is still the second part going on.
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I've already said as much elsewhere... by
on 2015-09-12 23:48:00 UTC
Link to this
But I really like this piece. It touches on things not a lot of PPC stories touch on — the fact that it's dangerous work; related to that, how'd the agents' parents react to them being agents, considering most of them are teens? And so on. Aside from that, I like the slice of life bit — it's nice to see how agents' life outisde the PPC looks like.
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I'm glad you enjoyed it! by
on 2015-09-13 04:33:00 UTC
Link to this
I was trying for a different angle with some seriousness without it losing the lightheartedness I like in the PPC.
I'm not sure how well I managed that, but I tried.
-
Paging SeaTurtle, firemagic, and Huinesoron by
on 2015-09-13 06:20:00 UTC
Link to this
May I contact any of you via e-mail, and are you able to respond at this time? There's something I want to talk to you about in private, so if any of you are willing to help me out, I'll e-mail you as soon as I'm able if you can please give me your addresses. Thanks!
-
E-mail sent! (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 19:03:00 UTC
Link to this
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I'm not seeing anything here. Re-send for me? (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 20:34:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Sure? by
on 2015-09-14 01:18:00 UTC
Link to this
I think you have my email already.
-
What's up? by
on 2015-09-13 14:14:00 UTC
Link to this
You can find me at expertmechanic[at]yahoo[dot]ca.
Just keep in mind that the university fall semester has kicked into high gear over here so my time is somewhat limited by that. -
I guess? by
on 2015-09-13 09:31:00 UTC
Link to this
See above.
hS
-
Iran: Criminals sentenced to buy books by
on 2015-09-13 17:02:00 UTC
Link to this
With all the nasty things you hear about Sharia Law, it's nice to see that one Middle Eastern country has other ideas of punishment.
Iran: Criminals sentenced to buy books
A judge in Iran has started sentencing criminals to buy and read books instead of handing down prison terms, it's been reported. -
The first ever commandment to Muslim is to read. by
on 2015-09-15 13:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Glad to see this rule being implemented.
-
That's not the Iran I know by
on 2015-09-15 04:21:00 UTC
Link to this
The Iran I have come o know and despise still has four American citizens locked up for no other reason than that they are not Muslims/are Americans. They stone people to death for "sexual impurity." They fund Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Assad regime, for crying out loud!
It tickles me to see this, though. Obviously, it's only one judge who's doing this, and I doubt that anything significant is going to come of this, but it's refreshing.
Thank you for showing me this. It brightened what's left of my day, a little. -
Iran, strangely enough, is more complex than just.. by
on 2015-09-15 19:39:00 UTC
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"Funds terrorists".
Shocking. Truly.
It's still a country with a mostly functioning government and infrastructure.
It's not a government we- here I am speaking about the United States as a government and our current policies- like, but it is a complex country, with its own people whom have their own views and ideas.
The point of this post had nothing to do with imprisoned Americans.
-July, who is wondering why she's the one defending the Iranians? What even indeed. -
That is insane. Also, I love insane. Hope to see more! (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 05:03:00 UTC
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That's awesome (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 18:10:00 UTC
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It's just crazy enough to work! (nm) (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 17:14:00 UTC
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Killed Badfic at Wiki? by
on 2015-09-13 18:30:00 UTC
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I know the Wiki isn't as important as interacting but I just thought I should point out that it's been at least a week since there's been any discussion on splitting the Crossover section from the Killed Badfic article. Can the splitting be done soon please?
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Uh, right. by
on 2015-09-13 18:52:00 UTC
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Assuming there's nothing else to the matter I'll do it in a short while.
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And, done. (nm) by
on 2015-09-13 19:02:00 UTC
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Hooray! Thanks. (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 02:17:00 UTC
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Bleep-Coffee? by
on 2015-09-14 00:32:00 UTC
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Is there such a thing yet? Bleepfee? Bloffee?
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Bloffee by
on 2015-09-14 09:48:00 UTC
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...appears in a couple of Nesh's early fics:
"Gestalt Therapy" and "The Dark Side". -
Yes. by
on 2015-09-14 00:35:00 UTC
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It and many other Bleeprin derivatives can be found on the wiki.
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Calligraphy and D&D. by
on 2015-09-14 00:48:00 UTC
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Two questions- does anyone on here know how to calligraphy, and how many good citizens are willing to share their D&D expertise? I'm about to start learning the former, and I'm already studying how to be a DM.
Thanking of youse in advance!
-Alleb -
Answers on both. by
on 2015-09-16 16:11:00 UTC
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I used to do calligraphy quite a bit - I got given a set as a present when I was back in primary school. I tried my hand at the Gothic script, just because it looked cool, and I used the smallest nib and a slight italic style for my normal handwriting.
Throughout secondary school I didn't actually have to put my name on anything: all of my teachers said they could instantly recognise my handwriting.
As for D&D, there's a very useful series of articles that I found when I was first starting to GM. Not all of them will be relevant, but they should be interesting.
The rulebooks give pretty solid advice for starting/running a game, although they did tend towards fairly basic 'dungeon crawl' style games (I only have experience with 4th Ed, don't know about the rest). I'd recommend starting out with a couple of simple quests along these lines (clear these caves out of monsters, escort this shiny thing through the goblin infested woods, etc.) and then try and introduce more long term plot elements once you've got a bit of a feel for the game, and your players have a got a feel for their characters.
If the gaming group as a whole is inexperienced, then starting off with some slightly easier fights (or 'training fights' where they're going up against people that aren't actually trying to kill them) is probably a good idea, until people get a feel for their powers and abilities.
Once you've run a few fights, try and evaluate how well the challenge rating (or whatever they call it - the thing that tells you how many enemies you're supposed to throw against the players) is working for your group. In the last game that I ran, the players had got themselves a bunch of characters that had really good synergy, so I was doubling the recommended XP allowance of each fight just to keep things challenging for them.
Also, when it comes to the fights, I really recommend putting in environmental hazards, traps, and other interactive objects around the place, as well as the actual creatures that they'll be fighting. These can make the combats a lot more interesting.
I believe that things are different with 5th Ed, but 4th Ed's strict adherence to the grid system had a failing, in my opinion, in that the big climatic fights often felt very static. Normal fights, in which the party was typically outnumbered by two or three to one by weaker opponents would be fairly mobile - enemy spellcasters would start at range and have a wall of meatshields in front of them so that they could stay at range, and the players would defeat one enemy then run on to the next. It felt dynamic, and you might have to deal with cover / line of sight / difficult terrain issues as you moved on. 'Boss fights', typically against one large and powerful adversary with maybe a few (much) weaker minions, tended to be much more static. You'd spend the first turn or two getting into attack position, and then you'd just start chipping its health away. Until someone got very low on health, there wasn't really anything else to do.
This was somewhat exaggerated in our case, as the setting the DM had created meant that we were short on magic users, but long on melee types, so once we got into position around a big target we basically had it surrounded so it couldn't go anywhere (and we didn't want to go anywhere, or we'd be out of range). Still, D&D remains the only game where I've been bored while fighting a dragon.
Having things like pendulum traps swinging through the fight area can help make things a little less static.
If you've got any specifying questions about DMing I'll be happy to share my thoughts.
- Irish -
I do! by
on 2015-09-17 12:43:00 UTC
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And thanks for answering!
I'm trying to drum up plot and world ideas (world-building is very fun for me), but I don't know how to craft a good D&D BBEG; do you have any tips for that?
Also, I have the DM Guide and the Monster Guide (but not the Player's Handbook) to 4th Ed, and I also have Pathfinder. Do you happen to know the key differences, and which one would be better for a group with zeroexperience XP?
-Alleb -
More answers. by
on 2015-09-17 16:06:00 UTC
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I'll answer your last question first, because it's quicker: I've never played Pathfinder before, so of those two I can only really recommend D&D 4th Ed. Having said that, if you'd just asked me what game I recommended from my personal experience, 4th Ed is probably the one that I'd pick. It's a nice simple system, and the rulebooks fully cover most of the situations you can expect to find yourself in. It's also very clear in terms of what actions you're allowed to take, and what the consequences are. This applies both to the players and the DM - it's a very good intro system (basically agreeing with what Iximaz said).
However, because of the way the system works, you will need access to the Player's Handbook in order to do character creation (and levelling up).
I'm unfamiliar with the acronym BBEG, but a quick Googling leads me to think it stands for Big Bad Evil Guy. If, however, you meant it to mean something else, then my following advice will be near-useless :)
Well, this Check for Traps article touches on how to run villains, and this article from the Giant in the Playground gaming forums covers actually creating antagonists (I personally found this one very useful).
I can't really offer much in the way of specific advice, because the nature of a truly great (or should that be evil) villain should be tied to the story - a story about a group of adventurers slaughtering their way through the Unnamed Evil Lord's horde of 10,000 orcs before finally stealing his Ominous Helmet of Doom and kicking his teeth in, is going to have a very different Big Bad to a story about the political intrigue in the kingdom, where it eventually turns out that the Grand Vizier was the one behind all the assassination attempts, and probably shouldn't marry the princess after all.
In general, you want your villain to be memorable, which usually means giving them a distinctive appearance and maybe some unique abilities, and you probably want them to be physically powerful. While the 'Puppet Master' types can make for very good villains, they also tend not to be as satisfying to beat. So even if your plot does have them as a mastermind, try and make sure they're good in a brawl too (or at the very least employ competent bodyguards).
Related to the character themselves being distinctive, it can also be useful to give them (and by extension, their minions) some kind of symbol. It can be a coat-of-arms, a pin badge or a tattoo - anything really - but a nice visual identifier that an average looking guy is actually aligned with the Big Bad can be useful. It can be used to add plot hooks, or raise the tension of a scene - imagine the characters get dragged out of their beds and arrested on trumped up charges; they're all confused as to what is happening, but then one of them spots the captain of the guard is leering at them unpleasantly, and has a familiar looking tattoo...
Coming up with names is one of the aspects of character creation that I find hardest, and I know a lot of other people feel the same. Coming up with a name for a villain is especially tricky, because the players will probably be hearing it quite a lot. My advice is to keep it short (or at least have it be easily shortenable): Mitth'raw'nuruodo may be perfectly in keeping with the naming conventions of your villain's species, but if your players can't remember it, then name-dropping the villain isn't going to have much impact.
Particularly with D&D, with its very rigid class and levelling system, you're also going to want to think about what sort of level your characters will be when they face this guy. The sort of adversary that will prove a challenging final fight for a group of lvl 20s will be capable of utterly devastating a part of lvl 10s, and will drop in seconds to a party of lvl 30s.
You may also need to give some thought to what your party is like in terms of abilities - you want your villain to be challenging, but not impossible to defeat. If your party consists entirely of mundane weapon users, you probably shouldn't make your villain immune to everything but magical damage.
If you want it, I'd be perfectly happy to try and give you more specific advice on your particular bad guy, but I'll need to get some more info on your intended setting/storyline.
- Irish -
Awesome! by
on 2015-09-17 20:32:00 UTC
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Those articles are perfect. Thank you!
I haven't found a name yet, so I'll just call him "the King." It actually won't be too hard for me to find names; I'm taking a page out of C.S. Lewis's book and borrowing from Turkish ("aslan" is the Turkish word for lion). The name of my currently-vague world is "Arev," which is just the word for "flame," and consists of six regions numbered one through six, again, in Turkish. The adventurers start out in the first region, Tek, which is devoted to agriculture. And they have the misfortune of being in the most agriculturally agriculturest town in Tek-- Barlan.
The King makes more sense if I explain how his kingdom works as well, so I hope you don't mind a bit of exposition...
Basically, the six regions are arranged in a circle around the central kingdom, which I don't have a name for yet. The regions are strictly regimented by class and status; Tek is the lowest, consisting mostly of farmers, and is the butt of all jokes in the kingdom. Barlan is the butt of all jokes in Tek, so the PCs are off to a brilliant start. Everything in Arev is tied to your standing-- a combination of wealth, prestige, bravery, and all other aspects of notability. If you want to move into the next region, you have to get a certain level of standing (XP) and get a writ of permission from that region's noble. You can only move up clockwise in this fashion, and only members of the sixth region, Altı (which I'll probably change to something more phonetic; it's pronounced "Alt-uh," with an emphasis on the "a" and a slightly long "l" sound) can go to the central city.
Now, the King. He's an illegitimate son of the last king, and his mother was from Barlan. It's been constantly hung over his head his whole life that he's from lowly Tek, and, worse yet, from Barlan. He utterly loathes the region, and wants to sweep it off of the map, so his main emotions are Shame and Resentment. The Fire King character has largely influenced his plan; he wants to turn all of the other regions against Tek, and eventually provoke outright war. He's already started sowing seeds of strife, mainly amongst the higher nobles in the central city.
I'd like some advice on how to present him. I want him to evoke some measure of pity, but also fear, since he's completely willing to kill thousands of people just to get rid of this shame. I'm not exactly a six foot something muscular dude with a deep voice; how should I roleplay this guy to make him seem threatening, without it coming off as silly?
Thank you so much for the advice! It's already helping me flesh out my world.
-Alleb -
You've just asked one of the hardest questions. by
on 2015-09-20 22:50:00 UTC
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How do I play someone that's so different from me? That applies to both players and DMs, although DMs tend to get it worse due to the fact that they may have to play several recurring characters.
Unfortunately most of the advice I can offer boils down to 'try it out and see how you do'.
For recurring characters like this I'll tend to make up some cue cards that I can refer to that give a quick summary of what the character is like, including things like speech patterns (so for a royal it might include something like 'always uses the Royal "we" when speaking about himself', as well as any other features that would make him distinctive. Then I can at least play them consistently.
And that's one of the key things, I think, about playing a character. You don't necessarily have to have them speak exactly as you imagine them to, as long as they are speaking in a distinctive manner. If you can't get your voice as deep as you think the guy should be, don't worry - but if you can use a deeper-than-normal voice whenever you speak as him, then your players will probably pick up on it.
Also, you can use narration to make him come across however you want, even if you can't do the actual voice yourself. If my players had just screwed up doing a task for the king, I might say to them 'The King strides into the room, flanked by muscular guards. "What is the meaning of this?" he demands. His deep, booming voice echoes around the throne room.'. It works even if you don't put on a voice, although it works better if you can put one on.
Also, there is one final link that I think may be of use to you. Probably the biggest problem about DMing is that it's very hard to actually learn from someone - as a player you're generally focusing what your character is / will be doing, and won't be able to pay much attention to how the DM is actually running the game, instead you'll be listening to them as they tell you what's going on. And as a new DM you'll probably find you're concentrating on telling the players what they need to know to, and aren't able to spend the time to analyse what you're doing and how well it's going.
So here is the link to Temple of the Lava Bears, a video series on youtube of a D&D campaign. I found it very entertaining to watch, and it's also the only time I've actually been able to watch how a DM is actually DMing, rather than paying attention to what they were saying about those goblins trying to sneak up on our flank. These guys do a bunch of comedy videos, so I already sort of knew who they all were before I started watching this, which I think made it more interesting for me (I've tried watching videos posted by other gaming groups, but just couldn't get into them). So yeah, you might find that it's too boring to watch through. On he other hand, if you do find it interesting, you might be able to pick up some more tips and tricks.
- Irish -
Very helpful! by
on 2015-09-21 22:34:00 UTC
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I'm really interested in these videos. I've been listening to a D&D campaign podcast, and that's been fun, but it'll be even better to actually see the people as they play.
I think the distinctiveness of a character will help me a lot; like you said, even if it's not exactly as I imagine it, my players will get the right idea.
Oh, I had another question-- how do I handle maps? I was under the impression that the entire group used a large map detailing the entire area and moved their tokens across it; is that correct? My DM Guide seems to be saying that I'm the only one with a complete map, while my players have a blank grid used only for keeping track of where their characters are when necessary.
Thank you so much for helping me out; you've been invaluable!
-Alleb -
Maps and other such things. by
on 2015-09-22 14:23:00 UTC
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(Warning, incoming wall o'text detected)
OK, so I've said a lot of stuff, and it's all just my opinion based on my own experiences. If you find another way that works for you, that's the one you should use.
Well, the typical situation would be that your group all gathers round at someone's (usually the DM's, but not always) house, and you all sit round a big table.
There's a map in the middle that everyone can see, and the DM has a little corner/end of the table sectioned off by the DM Screen which conceals all of the detailed notes that you can't allow the players to see. This would usually include a map of your own, which will be smaller in scale, but far more detailed.
I realise this won't be quite the set-up that you'll have, as you've said you're getting the group together virtually, but you should be able to work on a variation of it.
Your secret map should contain all of the information that you need to run the encounter: a full layout of the building/cave network/forest clearing/whatever that the players are exploring, with starting positions for all the monsters/creatures/NPCs, and the positions of any traps/treasure/items of interest. Next to that you're going to want some notes about the area. If it's a particularly important/impressive area you might want to start with a brief paragraph giving a description of the place. Your notes should also contain quick references for any rolls that might need to occur, for example a list of the DC ratings for Perception Checks to spot any traps. I also tend to have a separate sheet for all adversary combat stats (starting Hit Points, AC, Attack Rolls + Damage, etc.) - you can just refer to the page(s) of the Monster Manual, but if you've got a bunch of different creatures then you're going to be forever flicking back and forth.
You'll also want a space somewhere (again, I tend to use a separate sheet) for recording the Initiative Order, and the current health of monsters.
In comparison, the map available to your players should really only contain the information that would be available to their characters (but is a lot more than just a blank grid). For example, your map may show that they are in a room, with a corridor leading off it, and two ogres waiting just the other side of the door, ready to bash the head in of the first person to open the door. The players' map will show that they are in a room, with a closed door at the far end. Your notes may then have the DC check required for the players to hear the ogres before they open the door.
Theoretically, the players' map should only cover information that their characters know, so in the case of a room with closed doors there shouldn't be any lines beyond them until the players open the door, and then you can reveal the room/corridor/whatever. In practise, this will slow the encounter down a lot, and mean that you are constantly re-drawing things. The more practical solution is to map the full layout of the area, but only as far as things like walls and doors go. Internal detail, such as monsters, weird symbols on the floor, sacrificial alters, the bones of a previous adventuring group, etc. will only be added once someone can draw line of sight to them.
Also, if you've got a big area that you want them to explore, don't be afraid to split it up into several sections, and separate maps for each section.
Also also, most of the powers/abilities that the characters will have will be given a range measured in grid squares. If you're running a combat/puzzle encounter (really any encounter other than a conversation/social interaction), then it will be necessary to keep track of where everyone is. This isn't true for every game system, but I think it's very true for D&D 4th Ed.
So, how to adapt all that to your situation?
Well, if your group is going to be a mix of those physically present in front of you and those virtually present, then you'll want the big player's map.
But for those that will be present virtually, however many that is, you need to find a way to get the map information to them. Players only really have two ways of receiving information about the situation their characters are in: what you tell them, and what the map shows them.
You're still going to want to have two maps: one for them and one for you, but if they are all going to be virtual presences keeping your one secret won't be much of a challenge.
The difficulty is going to be in getting the players' map to them. There is 'virtual tabletop' software available that will allow you to do this. I believe some of them are even available for free. However, I have never used any of them, so I can't tell you exactly how they work or how good they are.
My group has used a couple of techniques before, which worked (although not as well as just getting everyone together).
The first is that the DM sets up a physical table, with a webcam pointed at it. The players can ask for the viewpoint to be moved during their turn, and tell the DM where they want to move to (move my paladin 3 paces forward and 1 to the right). The DM is basically in charge of the board, and moves things at the request of the players. This has the advantage of being unambiguous - if you see the DM moving your piece different to how you intended, you can correct them (or correct yourself if you said the wrong thing), and everyone is looking at exactly the same thing. The downside of this is bandwidth/connection quality - it may or may not be practical for you all.
The other option is that the DM prepares the players' map(s) in advance, either drawing them out by hand or sketching on computer, and e-mails them out to the players. If you've got several maps you'll have to give them titles so that your players will know which ones to refer to (and make sure you don't give anything away with the title - no point in naming it 'Goblin Ambush', even if that is a nice summary of the intended encounter). You'll also need to give actual grid-references, so that you all have a common point of reference for the map. Each individual is then responsible for updating the position of all characters/monsters/etc. on their own map. The advantage of this is that it can be co-ordinated via audio only, there's no need to set up an additional webcam and work out how to get it aimed at the game board properly. The disadvantage is that your games inevitably turn into some weird hybrid of D&D and Battleships, which can make co-ordinated tactics like distractions and flanking manoeuvres more tricky than they need to be. As the DM, it will also be your responsibility to resolve any issues that occur as a result of people being in the wrong place.
One thing you will have to watch out for is making sure that everyone gets to have a say in discussions. This was a bigger problem in my group, because we've generally only had one person gaming remotely - and it was very easy for the group around the table to forget about, or talk over, our not-so-absent friend (on one memorable occasion our DM that was the one virtual person, and two of the players got into an argument with each other about something that the DM was trying to clarify, but they were ignoring him because he couldn't turn his speakers up, whereas they could just talk louder to drown out the 'distraction').
Making sure that they get their fair share of time in combat is easy enough - the initiate mechanic basically forces it, but if you get a few people together chances are one of them will be a little quieter than the others. My advice is to work out who this is, and then try and listen out for them: if the group is having a big discussion and they don't seem to be part of it, specifically ask them for their opinion on the matter.
Seeing as this topic is about drop off the front page, my e-mail address is samurai_ireland@hotmail.com - if you have any more questions you can contact me there.
- Irish -
What I might consider is... by
on 2015-09-18 07:32:00 UTC
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The philosophy of less is more. If you want someone to be terrifying, keep him in the back. Never actually making appearances. Use the stories of the people suffering under him to build his ethos. Show the fear and desperation of Tek's people. But do not show your villain. Let your players imagination fill in the blanks.
That might be the best way to get fear and sympathy. Have NPC's explain the background. Have them tell his story, but you show the effects.
Just my two cents, but seeing as I have never played anything like D&D take it for what you will. -
I like it. by
on 2015-09-18 21:49:00 UTC
Link to this
And Barlan is isolated from the rest of Tek by a chasm and bandits, so when the PCs get through the barrier it'll be a wham in the face to see how the rest of Tek is being persecuted. Thanks!
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I'd recommend 4E for newbies. by
on 2015-09-17 13:43:00 UTC
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Yes, the grid-based combat is a bit static, but the visual aid is pretty useful for newcomers, and the At-Will, Encounter, and Daily power divide is a lot easier for newcomers to understand compared to spell slots. ^^;
Also, you might want to consider picking up the PHB, because there are a lot of rules of combat in there, like line of sight and grappling and the like, that aren't in the DM's guide or aren't explained as extensively. Might seem weird, but the publishers assume you'll buy them all together. :P -
Sounds good; thank you! by
on 2015-09-17 20:36:00 UTC
Link to this
Plus, visual aids will be extra-nice because I'm going to be DMing via Skype. My group lives too far away to make weekly trips.
I'll order that Handbook! I want my group, especially, to begin looking over the rules. I wonder if I can find some online resources to familiarize them with the basics...
-Alleb -
D&D! by
on 2015-09-15 09:18:00 UTC
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It's been a good while since I played D&D (back when 3.5 Edition was still relatively newish, which tells you how long it's been), and I was mainly one of the adventurers. I've been contemplating becoming a DM as well, actually, since I prefer being the storyteller than the reactive player.
I'd say find the rule version you're most comfortable with and go from there. Study published modules and the core rulebooks. You can find quite a lot of them online in PDF form for free or relatively cheap, so you shouldn't have to shell out much if any money for them. -
Thanks! by
on 2015-09-15 12:22:00 UTC
Link to this
I don't know what version I'm studying now, but I think it's relatively new. There's quite a lot to learn.
If I may ask, what makes a campaign really fun for you?
-Alleb -
Calligraphy! by
on 2015-09-14 08:49:00 UTC
Link to this
I picked it up as a hobby a couple of years back; it's an intermittent thing, but it's kind of fun.
My favouritefontscript has to be Gothic, but it's not terribly useful; for general writing I stick to Italic, or Unical if I've got the space (often for titles and the like).
Oh, and I won't touch Copperplate with a bargepole, because dear sweet Esboni no.
The neat thing about calligraphy - apart from it being generally cool - is that it's not an expensive hobby. I got a kit with a pen, five nibs, and three different inks for... £15, maybe? That's about $25 these days. Throw in a pad of paper, and get a library book out for a few weeks to learn (and copy, or even photocopy) the scripts... yep, it's a good one.
hS -
Gothic is awesome! by
on 2015-09-15 12:22:00 UTC
Link to this
I've already started learning it; after I'm a bit better with it, I'll start on those others. Thank you!
It is a really cool hobby, isn't it? I already have a Speedball pen and several nibs, ink, and pen cleaner, and it didn't cost that much at all. Do you use any particular type of paper? I'm just using a notebook right now.
-Alleb -
It's pretty much just paper. by
on 2015-09-17 14:05:00 UTC
Link to this
Well, it's slightly thicker paper - you might have noticed your ink bleeding through your notebook, which you obviously don't want! My paper is parchment-coloured, because that's pretty, but ultimately, any paper will do.
Hilariously, I got interested in it while working at a charity shop: we had a 1930s encyclopaedia with a section on German (the language), which included a full-page image of the Gothic lettering then still in use across Germany. I still have, somewhere, the page I copied it out onto using a thick permanent marker.
I also have the entire encyclopaedia, because my boss liked me. ^_^
hS -
Cool! by
on 2015-09-17 20:05:00 UTC
Link to this
I want to get some parchment-like paper to write; especially with red and black ink. That'll look nice.
Yeah, I have to use a stain catcher page beneath the one I'm writing on. My pen sometimes catches on the notebook paper as well, which is less than fun. Especially when it's an otherwise good letter...
Oh, if you want to see a really cool calligrapher (ooh, that's actually a word, nice) then look up Jake Weidman. I think that's correct. He's a master penman, the youngest in the world by three decades, and there are only eleven others. His stuff is awesome.
-Alleb
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Dear British right-wing: you were wrong. by
on 2015-09-14 10:52:00 UTC
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Okay, you're probably expecting me to say that about everything you do by now, but this is more specific:
You were wrong to say that Labour didn't really want to elect Jeremy Corbyn as its leader. You were wrong - and yes, I'm including the Labour right-wing here - to say that they should vote for 'Anyone But Corbyn'. You were wrong, and a landslide victory for Corbyn proves it.
I can understand why you were wrong, why you felt that right-wing thinking is the default for Britain's electorate. We've had a rough few decades on the Left - twenty years of a Conservative Thatcher/Major government, followed by Blair gaining power for Labour by moving dramatically to the right; then in 2010 the 'other Left party', the Lib Dems, went into coalition with the Right, and in 2015, the traditionally left-wing Scotland voted Nationalist instead, and a massive proportion of English voters went for Racist Far-Right.
But you were wrong. 60% of the Labour party just told you you're wrong: they elected the leftmost candidate they could to head up Her Majesty's Opposition. When you look across the floor of the House of Commons - or when you look down from the Labour back benches - it's a proper left-wing Opposition leader you'll be looking at.
I have no idea whether Jeremy Corbyn can win the election for Labour in 2020; it's a long five years we've got ahead of us, with UKIP still looming over us, and the SNP unlikely to let go of Scotland. But I do know this: for the first time since I started paying attention to politics, over a decade ago, one of the two major parties has a leader I want to see as PM.
hS
PS: Also, it's absolutely hilarious that one of Labour's biggest mavericks and leadership-defiers is now in charge. I can't wait to see what happens next. ^_^ -
Since we're talking Left/Right politics. by
on 2015-09-15 01:19:00 UTC
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Can anybody adequately explain why on earth Anarchism is Absolute Left? Isn't the Right supposed to be "A man is entitled to the sweat of his brow, not to anyone but himself and his own," and liberalism being, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need," and all that jazz? So, shouldn't "No government, no law, man can care for themselves," be Absolute Right? I mean, I don't know about you, but it just seems backwards to me. Totalitarian Communist regime? Close, but not quite the farthest Left. Break it all down and have noting left behind? Now you're there! What the heck?
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The Political Compass site can help with that. by
on 2015-09-15 01:47:00 UTC
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From the site:
If we recognise that [the traditional designations of Left and Right] is essentially [on] an economic line it's fine, as far as it goes. We can show, for example, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot, with their commitment to a totally controlled economy, on the hard left. Socialists like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme leftist position. Margaret Thatcher would be well over to the right, but further right still would be someone like that ultimate free marketeer, General Pinochet.
That deals with economics, but the social dimension is also important in politics. That's the one that the mere left-right scale doesn't adequately address. So we've added one, ranging in positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.
Both an economic dimension and a social dimension are important factors for a proper political analysis. By adding the social dimension you can show that Stalin was an authoritarian leftist (i.e. the state is more important than the individual) and that Gandhi, believing in the supreme value of each individual, is a liberal leftist. While the former involves state-imposed arbitrary collectivism in the extreme top left, on the extreme bottom left is voluntary collectivism at regional level, with no state involved.
...
[D]espite popular perceptions, the opposite of fascism is not communism but anarchism, and that the opposite of communism (i.e. an entirely state-planned economy) is neo-liberalism (i.e. extreme deregulated economy)
And thus the disconnect is resolved. -
Irrelevent comments by
on 2015-09-14 21:58:00 UTC
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I find it very interesting how you people from the UK absolutely despise Margaret Thatcher. Now, my great-aunt (at least, I think that's how we're related) is from Scotland, so I have had these disagreements with her on these topics already. I'm not interested in hearing anything about British politics (no offense, but I'm from America, so why should I care?), but I just find it so interesting how much you people seem to just hate Thatcher, and Blair, and Cameron. I'm speaking from ignorance here, but it's my opinion that maybe, possibly, a little bit, they all deserve a bit more credit than they get.
Just from an academic standpoint, of course. That's all I'm saying.
Also, this entire topic is green lit by the PPC Constitution, right? Just making sure. Don't want any undue controversy here, am I right? -
Yes, political discussions are perfectly fine! by
on 2015-09-14 22:16:00 UTC
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So long as everyone behaves and doesn't aim any particular insults at each other, I'll not be having to be doing any biting. *wide grin*
The thing with Thatcher is she is very, very much a point of division because she was a very, very terrifyingly amazingly active lady when it came to making things happen. She was called the Iron Lady for a reason. She was also rather Conservative, and the leader of said UK party back in the 80s.
In a lot of ways (and not necessarily the best of) she was basically the UK's Reagan, with all the implications thereof.
As for Blair and Cameron, it's just part of the fact they're both relatively recent politicians, and we can still see a lot of the effects from how modernization and technology has changed politics and how we perceive things with the beginning of Blair's time in office. (Sorry, Brown, there's not much room for interest in you, here).
You can see the same thing that Blair and Cameron get with Clinton, Bush, and Obama on our side of the ocean. -
I think this is a good analogy. by
on 2015-09-14 22:52:00 UTC
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Which means I assume for the most part Conservative/Right leaning Brits will probably love her, but the left leaning ones, which to me it seems the majority of our British Boarders, and I would say all boarders, will have a differing opinion.
I will be interested to see the chart of leanings that I think hS is putting together. I suspect the vast majority of boarders will fall on the Left side. -
Well... by
on 2015-09-14 16:06:00 UTC
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I think the British left-wing made a mistake. I don't know what Corbyn's opinions on internal British matters are — and, for that matter, I don't have an opinion on internal British matters anyway — but his foreign policy ideas are disastrous. That's the guy who called HAMAS and Hizballah his friends, and, frankly? Hamas and Hizballah are terrorist organisations, they shoot civilians on purpose, Hizballah helps the murderous Assad regime, and the list goes on and on.
As to his talk of addressing them as friends because a peace process needs to involve them: a) you make peace with enemies, not friends; b) no peace process needs to involve Hizballah because they're not Palestinians and they're not the government of Lebanon; and c) HAMAS needs to change a couple things — like, y'know, recognising Israel's right to exist — before it can be part of any peace process. Toning down the 'kill all Israelis' propaganda would be nice but is less important. -
Welcome to foreign policy. by
on 2015-09-15 14:38:00 UTC
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Seriously, the good ol' US of A supported the Khmer Rouge. If you don't know who they are (most people around my area didn't) you should look them up. Just avoid Google image searches, unless you want to see what they did to people. Foreign policy around the globe has always been a game of agenda pushing and behind-the-scenes politicking. Not going to say 'get used to it' but politics are a really ugly business. I'm not even really trying to explain that to you, just complaining.
I agree with you on the matter of supporting groups who shoot civilians. Groups who do that for no good reason are little more than organized crime, in my opinion, not even terrorists. One man's terrorist can be another man's freedom fighter (Not often, but sometimes), but the instant a group decides to add innocents to their list of targets, they have lost all honour and respect in my eyes.
This guy could be good for Britain, but I don't know much about his foreign policies. Hopefully, he drops his support for these groups. I'd hate for an otherwise good (by politician standards) system to need to involve supporting groups like this. No good can come of it. Funny, I hate politicians, yet I might end up as one. -
He what? by
on 2015-09-14 22:01:00 UTC
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That's not cool.
Frankly, I feel exactly the same way with my country and what we did recently with Iran. -
Yep. by
on 2015-09-15 16:33:00 UTC
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It's even on video. This guy is insane.
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In the interest of information: by
on 2015-09-16 10:57:00 UTC
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Corbyn's response on the issue, cited from here (the Express is a supporter of the nationalist/racist party UKIP), and repeated here in a different order (the Telegraph is a supporter of the Conservative Party).
"I spoke at a meeting about the Middle East crisis in parliament and there were people there from Hezbollah and I said I welcomed our friends from Hezbollah to have a discussion and a debate, and I said I wanted Hamas to be part of that debate. I have met Hamas in Lebanon and I've met Hezbollah in this country and Lebanon.
"I'm saying that people I talk to, I use it in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk.
"Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. What it means is that I think to bring about a peace process, you have to talk to people with whom you may profoundly disagree.
"There is not going to be a peace process unless there is talks involving Israel, Hezbollah and Hamas and I think everyone knows that."
And my responses, for the sake of... y'know, responses:
-We had people from Hezbollah in the Houses of Parliament? That's kind of scary. I hope that they were from the political wing, rather than the proscribed-as-a-terrorist-group militant side. (I believe we made the same distinction between militant and political sides in the case of Northern Ireland, though I may be mistaken.)
-I disagree vehemently that Hezbollah and especially Hamas are in any way friendly. I have heard the word used in the way Corbyn seems to be saying he meant it - 'we have friends in the Soviet government (say), and they're willing to talk [and take what we say back to their unfriendly superiors]' - but I'm not convinced he was using it that way.
-The three ways to get peace seem to be: extermination or removal of one side; complete suppression of one side, including total disarmament and removal of all political authority; negotiated peace between the two sides. I think I'm right in saying most people would like the last? But...
-I don't see Hamas, in particular, as being willing to negotiate any peace that doesn't involve one of the first two options. If Corbyn thinks they will, he's fooling himself.
I maintain that Corbyn was the best choice for leader of the Labour Party, and best choice on the menu for Prime Minister. But on the issue of Israel and its environs, he is naive at best, foolish at middlest, and downright deluded at worst.
hS -
W-ell... by
on 2015-09-17 19:48:00 UTC
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(Responding now that I'm a) calm and b) not dead tired.)
-From this quote I gather that he thinks a peace process must happen. While I don't disagree in principle, now is simply not the time.
I also object to the inclusion of Hizballah, which has no place in any sort of peace talks, whether with the Palestinians (it's a Lebanese organisation) or the Lebanese (it's not the government; also, terrorist organisation).
Also, as I've already said — HAMAS needs to change before it can be a part of any sort of peace process.
-I can't find any trace of Hizballah representatives visiting the British parliament, so it might be that his 'invitation' was shot down.
-That said, making a distinction between Hizballah's "political wing" and "military wing" is nonsensical. The "political wing" must know and approve (at least by silence, though I doubt that's the case) about the "military wing's" ideology and methods; ergo, they're cut from the same stock and are just as bad. Dealing with them is no different than dealing with Mustafa Badr Aldin.
-If Corbyn's the best option for PM Britain has, the United Kingdom is in a sorry state indeed; I'd even hazard a leap of faith and say it's in a worse state than Israel (and we had three consecutive Bibi governments). -
I'm curious: by
on 2015-09-18 09:12:00 UTC
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You say 'now is simply not the time' for a peace process; from the perspective of someone who's actually there, what do you feel should be happening now, and what should it be leading to?
Miscellaneous responses:
-The IRA was a terrorist organisation. Your alternatives are still 'talk to them', 'disarm them', 'ship them out', or 'kill them all', whether they're terrorists or not. We talked to the IRA, and managed to get something approximating peace in Northern Ireland. That said, I'm not aware of any other times that's worked, so you probably have a point. ^^
-The alternatives to Corbyn are:
--The current Conservative PM, who is in the middle of gleefully selling off chunks of the National Health Service (because businesses with their eye on the profit margins are clearly the best people to be caring for the sick), shutting down libraries (because all the people worth thinking about can afford to buy books), making universities much more expensive (so that all those poor people don't get ideas above their station), and so on and so forth.
--Our third party is currently the SNP, a national party whose platform is entirely focussed on Scotland, whose leader is not in the House of Commons, and who, by virtue of only standing in Scotland, are literally incapable of getting a majority.
--Our fourth party are the ones who completely betrayed their voter base and formed a coalition with the Conservatives last time round, revealing that they have exactly no principles.
-Then we have a couple of Irish and Welsh parties.
-Then we have the got-the-third-most-votes-but-only-one-seat nationalist/racist UKIP, whose platform is 'get out of Europe and get rid of brown people'.
-Then we have the Green party, who are perfectly lovely, but only have one seat.
So yeah. Up until the 12th, we didn't have a functioning Left Wing in Britain. We had a 'slightly less right wing'. I've no idea if that's worse than what's going on in Israel, but it's been pretty awful.
hS
(PS: Again purely for information, the division of Hezbollah into 'one terrorist group, one political wing' was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah#Designationasaterroristorganizationorresistancemovement">put in place in 2008 by the Labour government, and maintained under the Conservatives of the last five years. It's also in accordance with the official opinion of the EU. I have no idea how Mr. Corbyn views the matter.) -
Well... by
on 2015-09-18 18:15:00 UTC
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Basically, going through a peace process now can be likened for a teacher telling two kindergärtners to be friends of each other, despite having had a fight not a moment ago. What we need now are trust-building steps — a halt on one-sided actions, the PA stopping its support of stone and Molotov cocktail terrorism, Israel's police actually starting to police the settlers, etc.
Misc. responses to the misc. responses:
-The IRA is similar to the homegrown terrorists we had back before Independence. It is/was not a religiously-motivated organisation. What's more, in Hizballah's case, there's a legitimate government in Lebanon. There's no reason to talk to Hizballah.
-That sounds like what we have here:
--Likud, Bibi's party, which is... either right-wing or 'stay in power', IDK (coalition).
--Kulanu, supposedly a 'social' party; their track record, especially considering the use of the gas fields offshore, is eh. Right-wing politically (their head, Kahlon, used to be a Likud MK). (coalition)
--The Jewish Home, nasty right-wing religious nutjobs (coalition).
--Shas, Mizrakhi religious fanatics (coalition).
--United Torah Judaism, Ashkenazi religious fanatics (coalition).
--Zionist Union, which consists of the local Labour party and Tzipi Livni's party. Supposedly centre-left, they have some good MKs (Mickey Rosenthal, for example) and a horde of spinless cowards and idiots (Merav Michaeli, I'm looking at you here). (opposition)
--The Joint List, which is basically all the Arab parties and Khadash (communists and Arabs) combined into one (opposition).
--Yesh Atid, which is Yair Lapid's party. Centrist-ish. Their cred isn't too good.
--Yisrael Beitenu, crazy Russian right wing. Really corrupt, too (opposition).
--Meretz, loony left. The defeatist "we're eviiiiiiiil we must punish ourself" claptrap guys.
So all of our parties suck, basically.
(That division, as I've said, is claptrap.) -
Wow. Just, wow... (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 20:53:00 UTC
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I'll agree on that. by
on 2015-09-14 16:15:00 UTC
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I don't know what he actually said - all I've ever seen is brief glimpses of 'and he likes terrorists you guyz' - but I agree that
those chaps simply aren't civilised what whater... what the strikethrough said. ;)
That said: yes, peace processes involve enemies, not friends, but the times they've worked - I'm thinking Northern Ireland, which sort of worked, in that the IRA isn't bombing London these days - it's been by developing respect between the parties. Which would, yes, include Hamas recognising the right of Israel to exist; the same arguments they use against it (I'm thinking the 'we were here first' argument) apply just as well in the opposite direction, now: the people in Israel today are not the people who created the country, and regardless of how those founders are regarded, the current inhabitants shouldn't have it rubbed off on them.
(Though, er, aren't you still shooting at Hizballah occasionally? So don't you need some sort of peace-making with them too, even if it's the 'make a desert' variety?)
Short version: no, terrorists are not friends. And it would be nice for them to stop shooting at people.
hS -
With respect... by
on 2015-09-15 00:56:00 UTC
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I'm sorry to say this, but I have to disagree with you on Israel. There is significant archeological evidence to suggest that the Jews lived in Israel in ancient times. In fact, the historian Josephus, who lived at the time of the Roman Empire, actually outlines the events that led to the Jews getting kicked out of Israel, I believe it was the Bar Kochba revolt. It was at this point that the Jews, for the most part were kicked out of Israel, which later became Palestine, I believe as a result of the Sykes-Picot Agreement.
What I'm saying is that it's way more complicated than that. Just wanted to bring it to your attention. It's really a fascinating story, the story of the Jews. Here's a link to just a small bit of what I'm talking about. Granted, it looks at things from a Biblical perspective, sort of, but it's much more scientific in its approach and it's documenting the history of Judaism and the Jewish people.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/archeology-hebrew-bible.html
Also, to go off on a rabbit trail, I have found during my College research recently that Hezbollah (or Hizbollah, however it's spelled) as well as Hamas are both receiving guns and money from Iran. So, I think that there are a lot of factors behind the problems with Hamas and Hezbollah, but things are not as simple as a plain old peace talk. It's infuriating, really.
Oh well. What can ya do, but keep doing the same old thing. The world is an insane place. -
Well, yes. by
on 2015-09-15 07:42:00 UTC
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I've actually read Josephus, as it happens. Quite interesting. (I picked it up along with the Mabinogion, Iliad & Odyssey, and Machiavelli, at a bookstore that was closing down.)
But by the same logic, I should be entitled to land in Germany (where the Angles came from) and Scandinavia (for my Viking side); the Welsh should be permitted to take over the whole of England; white people should be displaced from the Americas; the whole of Europe should be given up in favour of those people with the most mixed-in Neanderthal DNA...
Oh, and Israel should make a concerted effort to seek out those of Canaanite blood, and deed over all their lands to them. It's only fair. ^~
My point is that it's all wildly irrelevant. The Israelis are there; so are the Arabs; none of the people currently living there are the ones involved in the decisions of '48. Attempting to demand that all Israelis leave/give up their rights/culture/whatever is exactly as wrong as declaring that all of Spain should be handed to the Basque.
Which would be hilarious, come to think of it.
hS
(PS: Thank you for disagreeing with me by agreeing with me. ^^) -
Ah! by
on 2015-09-15 13:23:00 UTC
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Oh, you've read Homer and Machiavelli? Awesome! They're good reads.
That's only assuming that the Jews took over Israel with military force. That didn't happen. The international community gave them Israel. And nobody made the Arabs leave Israel. There are still lots of Arabs there, and in order to try and get along, the Jews gave them some pretty sweet minority rights. It's a good deal for them, and yet they aren't satisfied. They just want the Jews gone. They don't want their land back. Well, some of them do, but the Palestinians are frequently turning to Jihad, and that's not cool.
Also, that's only if you believe that man evolved from whatever it is people say we evolved from. Not everyone believes that. Not saying whether or not I believe it, just saying that not everyone buys into the idea. I think it's seen as an insult, to be honest.
Why? The Canaanites were jerks. Are there even Canaanites still around? I probably should have looked that up beforehand, come to think of it, but I can be real here, right?
I agree. I completely agree. And as I have said just now, the Arabs get a pretty sweet deal with their minority rights. The Israelis just want to get along. Nothing wrong with that.
As for your post script, I'm a little lost. But if we agree, and we can get along and move on, then I'm cool with it. I'll drop this point, because it doesn't matter. -
Really, "minority rights" are supposed to be a sweet deal? by
on 2015-09-15 21:34:00 UTC
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That's only assuming that the Jews took over Israel with military force. That didn't happen. The international community gave them Israel.
And it was, of course, within the rights ofBritainer, sorry, "the international community" to do so, and not a half-hearted way of appeasing both the anti-Semites who still wanted Jews out of Europe while quietly trying to get rid of colonies whose native population had become problematic.
And nobody made the Arabs leave Israel.
It's nice that nobody just booted them off the land they'd inhabited for centuries. Wait, that's literally exactly what happened. They were told to leave the land they'd inherited for centuries to make room for people whose ancestors had left thousands of years prior. Do you really think they just "made room" for the influx of people? Getting shunted to the West Bank was part of it. Now they're being kicked out of there. I'm sympathetic to Israelis as well as Palestinians, but to claim no one was made to leave is plain wrong.
There are still lots of Arabs there, and in order to try and get along, the Jews gave them some pretty sweet minority rights.
O_o "some pretty sweet minority rights" doesn't set your teeth on edge at all, huh? They were granted, so generously, minority rights by people coming into land without their consent.
Again, I don't want to see anyone kicked out of land they're living in. I know people who live in Jerusalem, and I know people who live in Lebanon and have family on the West Bank, and really, I pretty much would just like to see all sides of this conflict put down their gorram guns and talk. -
Well... by
on 2015-09-15 22:20:00 UTC
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I pretty much would just like to see all sides of this conflict put down their gorram guns and talk.
It's probably not going to happen because there's too much religion involved. Not to mention that you need trust for that, and nobody's been trying to build trust here for ages (Obama doesn't count — he's like an elephant in a china store with his lack of attention and understanding of the dramatis personae involved). -
Hey, that's something we can agree on! by
on 2015-09-15 22:35:00 UTC
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American politicians are... coprolite at trying to solve other people's conflicts, with a handful of exceptions. We rarely have the cultural context to understand the tensions involved.
I'd like to think the religious part is eventually possible to reason with. At my university we both have a Jewish group and an Islamic group, and neither have tried to kill each other that anyone's noticed. As far as I can tell, most people just want to live their lives, and religious people want to practice their religion in peace. But when there's decades of pain and anger, and a lot of people angling for more power and money . . . that tends to be hard for anyone, on any side of the border, to achieve. Which is terrifying and sad, since again, I have people I care about on both sides of the gunfire. -
Well... by
on 2015-09-15 23:01:00 UTC
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It's the "let's kill people" people who run the show here; most of the decent people just want to get on with their lives. There's a line of Agnon that says (pardon me; my translation is not doing his wonderful writing justice), "The wise wash their hands of leading the world because they know there are wiser and want the world to be lead by the perfectly wise. While this is happening the stupid and the evil come and lead the world according to their stupidity and their evil."
That's what we have here; the decent people want decent-er people to lead and in the meantime the nutjobs jump in. -
Yyyyyep. That's pretty much the way of it. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 23:24:00 UTC
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That's one of the things I love about my college. by
on 2015-09-15 22:44:00 UTC
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The town I come from has a lot of anti-Islam hate, so it was pretty cool to come to college and see quite a large population of women wearing hijabs and niqabs and the like. Nobody gives them a second glance, either. I've also seen quite a few guys wearing kipas, or kippahs, however you spell it.
Just yesterday, while waiting at the bus stop, I was sitting close enough to a Jewish boy strike up a conversation with a Muslim girl, and they ended up chatting about Doctor Who, of all things. I was so tempted to join in, but then my bus came. :(
But yeah, it's quite the refreshing change. I wish the rest of the world was like this.
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*close enough to hear by
on 2015-09-15 22:45:00 UTC
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I'm so good at this typing thing, you guys. -
As is usual in the Middle East... by
on 2015-09-14 17:03:00 UTC
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It's complicated.
1) It should be noted that a peace process isn't an end in and of itself, unlike what some people think. It's a means to and end (peace, obviously), and not the sole means.
2) There have been some border incidents involving Hizballah recently. However, peace with Hizballah is downright pointless since they're basically the Ayatollah regime's stooges. Peace with the Lebanese government is desirable once they actually start functioning.
3) The difference between the IRA and our garden variety terrorists (Hamas, Hizballah, PIJ, etc etc) is best summed up by this anecdote: the commissioner of the Met was interviewed after 7/7; he expressed surprise the terrorists did not phone ahead of time to warn of the bombs. That's a very telling difference between organisations like the IRA (and our own homegrown variety back from before 1948 for that matter) and Islamic Jihadists. Therefore, the things that apply to the IRA don't necessarily apply to our situation here.
4) Just noting that the 'we were here first' argument is blarney; Tacitus mentions Jews in Palestine long before Arabs were even a thing, and he's not exactly philosemitic. -
First this, then Abbott (FINALLY) gone in AustraliaÂ… by
on 2015-09-14 15:44:00 UTC
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Maybe there's hope yet! In the US, I'm psyched for you guys, and really, really hopeful for the implications for a Sanders win here.
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Vote for Bernie Sanders! He actually makes sense! by
on 2015-09-15 19:14:00 UTC
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And he's not a comments section in a suit and toupee or anti-vaccine or any other flavor of moron!
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Oh, please, no! by
on 2015-09-15 01:02:00 UTC
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America wasn't designed for someone like Sanders to lead us. It literally was not designed that way. Despite what people want to believe, we were built around a Capitalist system, and the Constitution provides us with property rights, and other things, which Socialism, by design, doesn't have room for.
All that to say that I hope Bernie Sanders doesn't win. My money is on Ben Carson, or one of the Republican candidates, if for no other reason than that they have sheer numbers on their side. That can be a liability, but a lot of the candidates will be presenting themselves as the next generation, because they are much younger, or something.
Once again, no Bernie Sanders. You can have him, if you want. (Please take him away.) -
Hmmm. Disagree! by
on 2015-09-15 16:56:00 UTC
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First off, of course socialism includes property rights. I'm calling for something like Sweden's system, not gulag-era USSR! No one* wants to abolish all private property, that's absurd.
Strictly speaking, we already have, and have had for some time, parts of a socialist system. They worked pretty well until Reagan and then Bush started dismantling them. For example: public, i.e. tax-funded, education**. Social security - a tax-funded safety net for retirees and seniors. EBT/food stamps - a safety net for families who can't afford to buy food. (Spare me the lists of alleged abuses, please, if anyone's thinking it. I have known far too many people whose parents relied on food stamps in highschool and still couldn't get their kids enough to eat in the summers.)
So here's my query. A hypothetical man has a wife and two children. He also has four houses, two of which are sprawling estates and the other two of which are country homes. He inherited enough money to put him through business and law school, and then spent 6-12 years as an executive of a major bank. When the bailouts happened, his company didn't have enough money to pay his high-end six-figure salary and that of all their workers, because too many loan customers, who didn't have the money to go to business or law school, and therefore work as cashiers or bus drivers or window-washers, could no longer pay their mortgage.
How much money - like say, how many millions, or billions, of dollars does this man have to have in his bank account before the law says, okay, that's more money than any one person could ever spend, not counting the trust funds for his two kids – now we're going to tax you at a higher rate so the several hundred families who live in the shadow of your mansion can afford to send their kids to a state school?
Because that's where capitalism leads. If this man - who, as I'm sure you know, is both hypothetical and very very real, finds out that he has cancer, he can go to the finest doctors and the best hospitals and, if his health is okay, he has a good chance of recovery. If one of his bank's poorer tenants finds out they have cancer, they will almost certainly not be able to afford treatment, and will almost certainly sicken and die, because good health insurance is expensive and treatment is impossible to afford without it. I fail to understand how the idea of “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” can lead to a literal price on the human life. And don't even get me started on the "justice" system***.
Capitalism may well be "what America was set up for." That's arguable. Certainly (most of) the founders were interested in maintaining a landedaristocracyupper class, and a hierarchy of landless non-citizens with fewer rights. But I don't particularly care. The founders were neither saints nor prophets, and the Constitution is neither a sacred document not a magic scroll. Among other things, it contains the 3/5 Compromise.
So, fine. America's not set up for socialism, but capitalism. Okay. Then let's fix that, because I'm rather tired of the idea that a government owes more to its wealthy citizens than it does to its poor.
*Some people absolutely want to dismantle the concept of private property, but they are 1) a tiny minority, 2) demonstrably hypocrites, and 3) not socialists, nor even Marxists generally speaking, but anarchists.
**My problem with this is it generally is divided into district-wide income tax, which created vast gaps of education quality based on whether one's parents can afford to live in a "good" or a "bad" district. In Connecticut, you have many places where on one side of the river are good schools, with ~20 kids to a class, both gifted and special ed classes, and modern equipment - and on the other side, 40 kids to a class, equipment and textbooks that haven't been updated in years or decades, and no advanced classes to speak of.
***Because, see, if he gets arrested for having an ounce of cocaine in his pocket, he will pay a fine, worth maybe 1/10 of what his cheapest car is worth, and walk free. If one of his bank's tenants has an ounce of marijuana in his pocket, he'll spend monts or years in prison. Because the "free market" led to one person having so much they need never fear a single consequence, and another, inherently of the same human value, to have nothing. -
Trust me, as much as I would love Bernie to win... by
on 2015-09-14 17:06:00 UTC
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Let's be honest with ourselves. We are very likely to enter a Republican era. Hillary has a slight chance, but if you thought that the people who scream "Commie Scumbag Obummer" will allow a legit Left candidate, you are very mistaken. And even many of the people who vote Democrat are likely a little more on the right scale then Bernie is. The literals have a target on their backs, and the Republican party knows it.
The best chance Sanders has is if Hillary falls flat on her face harder, and if Trump wins the nomination. Trump is a nutball, and we all know it. However, if just enough people are split over the, what are we at now, sixteen Republican candidates, Trump might have a chance at the nomination. If he gets it, the Dems walk right into the white house. If not... Well, we likely have a Republican government. Yippee. -
I personally hope we do get a Republican by
on 2015-09-15 01:16:00 UTC
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Not trying to be controversial here, so I'll try and tread lightly.
Let me start off by saying I am a Republican. Specifically, I am a Conservative Republican, because apparently, we are splitting ourselves into petty factions now. (Why can't it be simple, like it used to be?) Now, with that in mind, try and see things from my perspective.
That being said, it does objectively look like a Republican will win this one. Most of them have articulated their positions very well, as compared to the Democrats, who are trying to differentiate themselves from Obama for one reason or another. The biggest exception is Bernie Sanders, and that's why people are drawn to him at all. At least he's honest about what he believes, people are saying. Clinton just comes off as sort of, well, fake. And to top it all off, there's this email thing going on. A lot of people seem to think that she's hiding something. That's significant, obviously.
I take issue with the way you characterized people like me, though. Yes, there are people who think Obama is a Communist, myself NOT being one of them. There is some evidence for this theory. For example, his father was an avowed member of the Communist Party of Kenya. Some of his associates growing up were Marxists. Is he a Communist? Who really knows? He's definitely pretty far Left, though. That has never been in question. As for the scumbag thing, we can fling insults at each other all day. It doesn't solve anything. The only ones who throw them around are Internet trolls and angry people in rural America.
I don't want an apology for that. Just trying to set the record straight.
Now, as for Trump... Hooo, boy! He's a character. He's not presidential material, but he's entertaining. The only reason he does as well as he does is because people are upset by the status quo. And even then, Ben Carson is now tied with Trump in some of the polls. He's losing his steam. He'll drop out eventually. The only question is when, and how much entertainment can we get out of him before he goes?
But who knows? A Republican government might be what we need. I'll admit, the Kennedy administration and the Truman administration were good examples of Democrat administrations that even we Republicans secretly admire. We'll just have to wait and see what we get, I guess. (And vote, of course.) -
I did not get the sense... by
on 2015-09-15 01:29:00 UTC
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That he was attacking Conservative Republicans per-se, more so just restating what has been a part of political rhetoric for a long time. Any time there is a clearly left leaning candidate there are calls of either "Socialist" or "Communist" just like any time there is a far right candidate you get calls of "Racist" and "Religious Nut jobs".
That's just part of politics. -
Precicely. by
on 2015-09-15 02:07:00 UTC
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I'm not talking your run-of-the-mill Republican. I'm talking those who fall to rhetoric and choose not to study and think for themselves, but take only what Fox and Friends say as absolute truth. Unfortunately, that rhetoric has dominated the political landscape for a long time now, on both sides, and sadly shapes how most people view opposition. I will even admit to falling into it a little myself, though I try my hardest to keep it to a minimum.
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Well, when you put it that way... by
on 2015-09-15 01:43:00 UTC
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I guess I can see where that's coming from. But I don't see why being a "Religious nut job" is a bad thing.
And people get called "racist for the stupidest things nowadays. Apparently, the Pledge of Allegiance is racist, because it makes Muslims "feel threatened" somehow. I noticed that the people saying so were not Muslims.
It's crazy. -
That's just dumb. by
on 2015-09-15 02:23:00 UTC
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The only problem I have with the pledge is how we say we are "one nation, under God." I am a huge champion of First Amendment rights, both to the true legal extent, and the idealized version of it. We honor and protect religious freedoms in this country, by granting the right to pray to any being we please, including the full right to choose not to abide by any faith. Forcing those who follow a religion outside of Judaeo-Christian faiths to send praise to a god not of their own is wrong, and goes against the spirit of the Constitution. Is that racist, though? Not in the least.
As for "religious nut-jobs," I reserve this term for those who try to enforce their specific religion's values onto the whole of America's citizens. Many of those peoples use "religious freedom" as an excuse to stomp down an any other religion that does not recognize Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and the tenants spoken of within the Bible. Do you want religious freedom? Then you have to grant freedom to those who follow Buddha, Allah, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and any other faith of this green Earth.
You can tell this is a touchy subject for me. However, I will call out militant Atheists as well. Just because you hold no faith, does no mean others are not aloud to follow and even preach what they please. If faith in a Higher Power gives them comfort and a purpose in life, what does that have to do with you? Science and faith are not incompatible. It does not have to be, at any rate.
I realized I got off point a tad. I'll keep it in, though. it is something that needed to be said, and something I will continue to say whenever the topic comes up. -
Honestly, the pledge is inherently creepy altogether. by
on 2015-09-15 18:41:00 UTC
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Most kids are not of legal consenting age when they learn to say it, and I view it as a form of borderline brainwashing - it's the exact kind of thing we heard horror stories about in the Soviet Union as children: little kids being taught and/or forced to pledge their allegiance to a nation state without any clear understanding of why.
It's nationalism, basically, Cold War era nationalism, and I would really like to see us grow out of it already. -
"Pah, what nonsense!" by
on 2015-09-15 18:53:00 UTC
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"In what universe could a lot of children standing rigidly to attention before a flag and chanting in a dull monotone possibly be creepy?"
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Though to be fair... by
on 2015-09-15 18:50:00 UTC
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The pledge does predate the Cold War by about 100 years. It was actually part of the Reconstruction Era. Lincoln wanted the Rebels to say the pledge and they he would welcome them back. But it is still a form of nationalism. But nationalism is not inherently a bad thing either. But like all things it is open to abuse.
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Ah, right you are! It's "Under God" that's Cold War era. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 18:59:00 UTC
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Yes by
on 2015-09-15 19:17:00 UTC
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And if I recall the reason was to largely differentiate ourselves from "those godless reds" or some such or other.
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Literally that. by
on 2015-09-15 19:25:00 UTC
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Any historian of post-1865 America* can point to the Cold War as the point where America swung very hard to the right, and has stayed there for the past 70ish years. The push for "We are a Christian Nation with Godly Values and wholesome gender norms" was a direct response to the anti-religion, pro-gender equality ideals of the Soviet regime (at least at first, before Lenin's illness and also before Lenin kind of got cold feet about the whole "gender equality" thing).
*except Mike Allen, who still teaches that in his classes IIRC but published a book saying otherwise for the money -
This exactly. by
on 2015-09-15 18:47:00 UTC
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Apparently, my high school didn't recognize the fact that it's not, in fact, legal to force students to peacefully protest the Pledge by not standing during the announcements. My homeroom teacher got in huge trouble when the principal peeked into our room one morning during the Pledge to see me and a small handful of other students not participating. Those of us who refused to stand were also given detention.
Come to America, where freedom and tolerance are our guiding values! -
That's rather strange by
on 2015-09-15 04:16:00 UTC
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I find it very strange that anyone would find it offensive that "one nation, under God" is in the pledge. I don't get that. In this case, the phrase is being used in a more figurative sense. It's the same thing as people saying, "If this happens, by God I'll be so angry-" or something like that. People who don't believe in the God of the Bible use phrases like that all the time. It's not promoting a single religion over the others, it's just a part of a more archaic version of English.
And religious freedom is more than just the right to pray, actually. It's the right to practice your religion as well. That's why we don't (or at least, didn't used to) force people to do things they didn't want to do for religious reasons. Fundamentalist Christians don't have to fight in the military, they can be conscientious objectors. Jews don't have to eat pork for any reason. Muslims don't have to consume alcohol. I would go into the issue of Christians not needing to be forced to accommodate gay marriage, but that's a whole different issue. I'll just leave that alone with this. If there are two bakers who can bake your wedding cake, one Christian who respectfully declines to bake your cake for religious reasons, and instead points you toward the second bakery, who is all too happy to bake the cake, then why force the Christian baker to bake the cake? It makes no sense.
Who tries to enforce their views on Americans? Can you provide me with examples?
It is indeed a touchy subject for everyone. Why can't we all just get along, am I right? I'll just come out and say it right now, I am an unashamed Christian, and I imagine there are some Atheists here. We aren't here to argue about these things, we're here to have fun with the PPC. But we're all friends here.
As long as we all get to say what we all feel without getting too aggressive with each other, we should all be fine. -
Well, atheists have to say it, too. Don't they get freedom? (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 18:43:00 UTC
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Possible false equivalency? by
on 2015-09-15 05:08:00 UTC
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Jews keeping kosher, Muslims not drinking alcohols, and fundamentalist Christians not serving in the military are all examples that aren't founded in bigotry or causing harm to other people. Denying people the right to get married, and thus the rights that come with being legally married, is an example absolutely founded in bigotry and can cause harm, in my opinion. In the cake example, well. Certainly they are entitled to their opinion, but all people in the United States should be free from discrimination in their everyday life, including in buying cakes.
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Oh, no it isn't by
on 2015-09-15 13:11:00 UTC
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It absolutely is NOT founded in bigotry, and I take offense to that. We have our perfectly legitimate reasons to oppose gay marriage, but we are taught to still be kind to them. We are supposed to be kind to everyone, because that's what God did for us. That's the way it is. We don't oppose gay marriage because we hate people! We oppose it because, a) gay marriage will have unintended consequences on traditional marriages, and b) people are trying to FORCE us to do this. That's not right, and that's discrimination against US.
Think about that point of view. If gay marriage is all about love, then why are people so angry? Why are they trying to force their own beliefs on everyone else? I thought that sort of thing made you angry. Why is this any different?
I ain't even mad, bro. Just trying to put another viewpoint, mine, on the table. -
Hm. by
on 2015-09-15 15:59:00 UTC
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So if someone's religious beliefs tell them that, say, being black is a sin, denying a black person service suddenly becomes a-okay and no longer bigotry?
As for the "traditional marriages" part, honestly, every time I see someone espousing "traditional family values" they end up having two accounts on Ashley Madison or have been remarried 4 times. I'm not saying that either of those situations are necessarily bad (. . .though cheating on your spouse is pretty definitely not cool), it's just that there's a lot of hypocrisy that permeates that argument! (Side note: am not accusing you of those things, it's just a trend I've noticed with that argument.) The idea of "traditional marriages" tends to be very Christian-centric and often kinda shitty towards women, among other things. So my question is, why is having some people break that mold so bad?
In other words, how does two strangers getting married in any way affect you or your life? -
RE: by
on 2015-09-15 20:43:00 UTC
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Okay, what religions do you know of that says that? Name one major religion that is still around today that says that. That is a false analogy, to use terminology that is far more harsh than I intended it to be.
What kind of people have you been hanging around with? I'd say that the people who do those things have serious issues that they need to deal with.
And those are bad situations. Putting your personal information into an unsecure website so that you can cheat on your spouse is a bad situation. As for being married four times, that's either a bad situation, or the person who was married four times is very unlucky, and their spouses all died. That's not likely, so it's a bad situation.
Okay, so you're basically saying that just because the people who have traditional marriages are screwed up people, that makes the entire institution of traditional marriage screwed up? That literally makes no sense. There's hypocrisy on the side of gay marriage as well, I'd like to point out. If it's all about love, then why are the homosexuals so angry with the Christians? Okay, so say that we are being unreasonable and bigoted. Let's just assume that for a second. If gay marriage is all about love, and we're being the mean ones, then why can't they all go somewhere that will accommodate them? Why is it they don't want to just be left alone? If it's all about love, then why all the hatred for us?
Thank you for not accusing me of those things, because I am literally in College, have been single my whole life, and am smart enough not to do any of those stupid things on the Internet.
So what if it's Christian-centric? Secular people (or atheists, or whatever you prefer I call you) use our ideas all the time. Without Christianity, Western civilization would have turned out completely different.
I thought that that sort of language was supposed to stay off the Board!
In what ways are traditional marriages bad for women? The man works the fields, the woman works on monopolizing the workings of the home itself. It's division of labor. That's fair.
It's bad because the mold gets broken. Think about it. In the majority of cases, divorces create some level of drama, because it wasn't naturally supposed to be that way. Same thing with certain things outside of marriage, if you know what I mean.
First of all, why would two total strangers marry each other? That doesn't make any sense. Second of all, it doesn't affect my life, but that's a false argument. The point I'm getting across is that it's wrong, no matter how it affects me. Something else that's wrong is trying to force other people to do what you want them to do, like get two homosexuals married, despite the fact that it violates that person's faith. That's wrong! That's what I'm trying to say. It doesn't matter how people getting married affects my life, because it doesn't. I personally think that if two gay people want to get married, under the laws of the United States, they can get married. I have a religious objection to that, but still. The problem arises when you try and force people to do things your way, and even worse when you try and force them to like it that they're forcing you to do it.
Does that make sense? Does that answer your question? -
Except its not really a false analogy by
on 2015-09-15 20:52:00 UTC
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Religious arguments were being used during the Civil Rights Movement to try to avoid having to integrate and to continue discriminating. Those arguments failed then, and will do so again, we saw that recently with Kim Davis being sentenced to prison for Contempt of Court.
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Except it really is a false analogy by
on 2015-09-15 21:15:00 UTC
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Likewise, people on the Civil Rights Movement also quoted Scripture. Like Martin Luther King Jr. Has everyone forgotten that he was a pastor?
They will continue to fail, I agree. But true Christians, the ones who actually understand the Bible, don't do that. I think you need to actually find some real Christians, not those fake ones you're always hearing about.
Kim Davis has been released from prison. The only thing she was jailed for was not abandoning her religious beliefs. The judge overreacted, and I think he's kind of a hateful person. He also clearly has no respect for the First Amendment. -
No by
on 2015-09-15 21:33:00 UTC
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She was jailed for being in Contempt of Court. A court has various powers, it can compel through injunction, etc. In this case the Court used its own Constitutional Powers to compel Ms. Davis, who lets be clear was an employee of the Court system to do her job. She refused. When a party ignores a Court's command, they can sentence the individual to prison for being in Contempt of Court.
It had nothing to do with her Religious Belief, and everything to do with violating the law. -
It had everything to do with her beliefs by
on 2015-09-15 22:03:00 UTC
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She was a conscientious objector for religious reasons, and she made that clear. Her Constitutional rights say that her religious liberties are protected by law, which clearly isn't the case after all.
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Except by
on 2015-09-15 22:39:00 UTC
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Not every religious belief is protected. Lemon v. Kurtzman and US v. Reynolds, as well as Employment Division v. Smith, and Epperson v. Arkansas (as well as a whole host of others) show that.
Religious Freedom works both ways, freedom for religion and freedom from religion. If you really want me to start the legal debate I will. -
Traditional marriages? by
on 2015-09-15 15:52:00 UTC
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Hmm... -
Kind of a weak analogy by
on 2015-09-15 20:24:00 UTC
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The Bible says that traditional marriage is between one man and one woman. The Bible says almost nothing about race being a factor.
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Does it. by
on 2015-09-15 20:56:00 UTC
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Because what I remember of the Old Testament is a whole lot of polygamy - Abraham? Jacob? David? Solomon? - and a heck of a lot of people being attacked and killed due to interracial/interreligious (being basically synonyms at that point) marriage.
As for the New Testament? I remember one story about seven brothers serially marrying the same woman (is that idea still part of Traditional Marriage, the notion that a widow should immediately remarry her dead husband's brother?), and a whole lot of Paul telling people to avoid marriage at all costs.
All marriages in the Bible - and in fact in America up to, oh, probably the mid-19th-century, I don't have the exact data - were also arranged by the couple's parents, with none of this silly 'love match' stuff going on. That's a very traditional component of marriage.
hS -
I'm starting to wonder... by
on 2015-09-15 21:43:00 UTC
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.. just how much you actually know about the Bible. Because any true Christian can tell you that the Old Testament was like a dictionary of things that you should not do. Setting people on fire, sacrificing babies, polygamy, all of those things are presented negatively.
Abraham had one wife, Sarah. He fooled around with his slave, which he was not supposed to do and made him unhappy. Jacob was conned by his father-in-law and was caught between his love for someone else and his cultural duty not to divorce his other wife. Besides which, Jacob's life was pretty much screwed up in many other ways. David's infidelity cost him the lives of his children. He wasn't supposed to do what he did, and he suffered for it. And Solomon screwed up big time, he even said as much.
The interracial stuff is much more complicated than that. The Old Testament authors thought that we would be smart enough to understand that. I don't have the time or knowledge to explain it all to you, but I would suggest finding a real, honest Christian who understands the Bible fully to explain it to you, not one of your wishy-washy Christians who hurl insults at people at Chili's.
Oh boy. One single story. Well, doesn't that just sink my entire argument (not). That has cultural context that you need to look into. And no, nobody does that anymore, not even the Jews, who were the ones who did that.
Paul said that because he was single and very happy about it. He didn't say avoid marriage at all costs, buddy. He actually said in the exact same letter that any man and woman who want to get married should do so.
Wrong. Not all marriages were arranged, many of them were approved. Big difference.
So, what I'm getting here is that you don't think that love should be a part of marriage. -
I'm starting to wonder... by
on 2015-09-15 22:19:00 UTC
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How much YOU know. First things first: stop with the "true Christian" stuff, it's quite insulting to those of us who AREN'T going after people for their choice of love. Quite frankly, it implies that you, as a "true Christian", are better than someone else simply because of how much you claim to know. Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Galatians 3:28 states that "we are all one in Christ Jesus." Basically? We are all equal. You can't claim moral superiority, and seeing as those are basic verses taught in 1st and 2nd grade Sunday schools, you really ought to know better if you're at a Christian college. In addition? Back up what you claim. Your professors would be ashamed to hear you claim things without the Scripture to back it up, dude.
Second, you can't throw around the Old Testament and then claim people are ignoring cultural context. The Old Testament is almost entirely contextual to the Israelites, so don't try to apply it to situations today without, again, backing it up.
You're treading on a lot of toes right now. Watch your tone. -
Dude. You can't just No True Scotsman your way through this. by
on 2015-09-15 22:05:00 UTC
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You're essentially answering all points with "Well, MY interpretation of the Bible disagrees with that, so no Real, True Christian would believe it." You're an army of one right now. I guarantee you hS has read the Bible quite thoroughly. He's schooled me many times in my angry fundamentalist days, on New and Old Testament alike.
Aside from which, Nathan's speech to David makes it clear that he's not being punished for polyamory OR infidelity - he's being punished because he took another man's wife and then had her husband killed. -
Re: Kind of a weak analogy by
on 2015-09-15 20:38:00 UTC
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Tell that to the guy yelling Bible verses at his daughter in the Chili's I used to work at. He was none too fond of her new black boyfriend and he pulled his Bible out at the restaurant to show her why it was an abomination before God.
Tell that to the pastors preaching against interracial marriage during the Civil Rights Movement.
In fact, tell that to the pastors preaching against interracial marriage today.
They all seem to think The Bible supports their views.
-Phobos, son of a pastor -
Rebuttal by
on 2015-09-15 21:11:00 UTC
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Sounds like that guy at Chili's was on drugs.
Yeah, and the people during the Civil Rights Movement also believed in free love and moral relativism. The arguments those people used, and the dinosaurs who still use the Bible today, don't present very good arguments to support their outdated and clearly bigoted views. I'm at a Christian College, and there are dozens of interracial couples here. Those people who say it's an abomination need to take a chill pill. -
How is that any different from... by
on 2015-09-15 21:35:00 UTC
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From same-sex couples? Why is one acceptable and the other not?
One can use the Bible to support whatever viewpoint you want. -
The Bible says nothing about it being traditional. by
on 2015-09-15 20:30:00 UTC
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Religious marriage is an entirely different entity from the modern civil legal marriage.
A religious Christian marriage- as indicated by the bible- is for the purpose of procreation and having of children.
While love is a nice thing to include in there, it is by no means the beginning of said marriage. Husband and wife are to respect each other and be loyal, with much made of the wife's character and submission to her husband. -
The Bible says a lot about it, actually by
on 2015-09-15 21:07:00 UTC
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The Bible doesn't call it traditional, because we called it traditional. It's the same principle we used to label classical music classical music. The adjective "traditional" was added to identify it in relation to where we are in history.
Okay, now it's "religious marriage?" I thought this was about traditional marriage. I'm sorry. Totally different topic. Married people can practice whatever religion they want, as far as I'm concerned. But they probably ought to have the same religion, or there will be some conflict. Ya know?
But seriously, it is definitely different because for some reason, the government decided to get itself involved with marriage. I'm not sure when that started, and I don't know why, but I can ask my professors. My guess is that they'll probably tell me that the government wanted to protect the institution of marriage as it was traditionally. Say what you want about it. Say that it promotes one religion over the others, or whatever you want, but that's just an educated guess what my professors are going to say.
So wait, love is NOT an essential ingredient for marriage? That's the first time I've heard that one. Oh, you must be referring to the archaic practice of marrying into powerful families for wealth or political power. Or perhaps you're referring to the barbaric practice of selling your daughter to a man who can afford her dowry? Oh yeah, those are much better examples of marriage than one man and one woman in today's society.
Well, without mutual respect and loyalty, it's going to be a lousy marriage. But they're not exactly THE primary ingredients for marriage.
Well, submission had a different definition back then. I'll have to look up exactly what it meant, but it didn't mean what it does now. -
Your attitude is getting you nowhere. by
on 2015-09-15 21:20:00 UTC
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Your words are not clever, not smart, nor are they correct in any sense outside of what definitions you are choosing to give them.
It is not my place, nor anyone else on this board's, for that matter, to have to bother to waste the time or energy to educate you, when you clearly have no interest in the matter, and are setting forth examples that prove you have a closed world view, and are vehemently interested in keeping it that way. You are going out of your way to offend people, including myself. I cannot possibly imagine what you think you are getting out of this, because it's certainly not winning anyone over.
This will be my last response to you. -
Okay then, but... by
on 2015-09-15 22:00:00 UTC
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It was my understanding that I was actually just answering a bunch of questions. It's everyone else's fault for bringing me here.
Who said I was trying to be clever?
Oh, so just because I have a different interpretation of the facts doesn't make me educated? I see how it is. That's fine, go ahead and be mad at me. They are definitely correct, though. You just don't agree with me, and you're tired of arguing with me. Which is fine, because I never wanted to argue with anyone in the first place.
If that were true, then why have you people been trying so hard for all this time? For real. And I actually am open to changing my mind. It's just that you people haven't given me any good reasons to. Your reactions to them have actually proven that you're all just as close-minded as I am.
I am not going out of my way to offend people. I have been as careful as I can be. I have bent over backwards to try not to offend people! It's your fault you got offended. What do you want from me?
Hey, I'm the one on defensive here. I have been this whole time! I haven't cared about winning anyone over, all I have done is answer your questions.
Okay, then. -
They're trying to force you to get gay married? (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 13:16:00 UTC
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No, they're trying to force us to marry people by
on 2015-09-15 13:34:00 UTC
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I know that I may be alone in this issue, but let me draw an analogy. Should a Christian doctor be forced to euthanize someone? Or should a Christian salesman be forced to trick customers into a bad deal?
No, because it goes against their rights to conscience. It goes against the basic tenets of Christianity. And nobody forces people to do those things, because they're wrong.
Now, I want to clarify something before anybody even goes here. We do believe that homosexuality is a sin. But we also believe that there are literally dozens, if not hundreds of different sins, and that everyone everywhere is guilty of at least one of them. Do we hate the people who commit these sins? No, because that would be hypocritical, because we are just as guilty, if not more so, and it would go against what God tells us. We are to show compassion for, and offer forgiveness, and share common humanity with everyone, regardless of who they are or what they've done. You know why? Well, believe me or disbelieve me, but the reason is that the Lord has forgiven us Christians for our sins, and we're not better than God, so we can't judge people.
We oppose gay marriage for the same reasons we oppose brothels and pornography (sorry to raise some taboo subjects, but I had to). But again, we don't judge the people in there as being lesser than we are, or inferior in some way. The only difference between those people and us is that we know God and they don't, or they don't care to. And in American fashion, that's fine if they don't care to. All we Christians can do is present Christianity to them, like salespeople, and they can take it or leave it.
Interestingly enough, Islam also opposes gay marriage. We never hear anyone threatening them with lawsuits. -
Hold on a second. by
on 2015-09-15 18:55:00 UTC
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Your branch of Christianity is not the only or the right way to practice it. There are other Christians, myself included, that do not believe homosexuality is a sin.
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Okay... by
on 2015-09-15 16:15:00 UTC
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I have discussed this. Angrily. At length.
I am a straight, Caucasian male with conflicting beliefs. However, I feel like people should be able to love who they love. My mom's best friend is bi or lesbian, mine is pansexual. My dad's little brother is bi. And I wouldn't have them be any other way.
Let me share a story. My mom's friend was originally married to a(n ostensibly) Christian man. She had three kids with him. But he terrifies her. He likely beat her, scared her into staying with him. She divorced him, took the kids, and is currently living with her girlfriend, whom she adores.
Are you telling me that my mother's best friend, who was almost an adopted aunt for me, should leave her girlfriend who loves her and return to a husband that scares her? Because if you are, then I'm afraid we're not going to get along very well. -
Look... by
on 2015-09-15 20:53:00 UTC
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I'm getting tired of these emotionally-fueled, blinded by preconception, false arguments. They make me think you're getting mad at me.
I personally trust the recent scientific finds that say homosexuality is an abnormality in the brain. But does that mean we should treat them like they're subhuman? No! I have a little brother who has autism, and his brain doesn't function correctly either. He's just as human, and maybe a little bit smarter than I am (or was, at his age).
All that to say, it's not even about love, it's about sexual attraction. They're two very different things.
What is pansexual?
Well, good for you for saying that. They're family, you're stuck with them either way. And I would still love any of my brothers if they were gay, too. But I wouldn't let them sin that way. I view it as a responsibility of mine to help them understand why it's wrong. I don't treat them any differently, and I get them to understand that God loves them, even if they're gay.
Oh boy, a story.
Doesn't sound like he was a very Christian man to me. Sounds like he was a dirt bag. But you're giving me a false choice here. You're making it seem like the ONLY options are homosexuality, or an abusive marriage. That's not the choice I would suggest at all, and you know it. I'd have to be a dirt bag for even saying that it is. She has many other options, besides that dog. (The husband, not the other lady)
You sound like you're accusing me of being a horrible person. I don't appreciate that. -
On the gay marriage front, I've got nothing new to add. by
on 2015-09-16 11:32:00 UTC
Link to this
However, autistic people's brains work perfectly well, thank you. We are not broken neurotypicals. It's nice you think we're human, but that's pretty much the bare minimum to be a decent person, and I'd like you to stop passing judgement on the validity of my brain, please. -_-
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I do beg your pardon. by
on 2015-09-16 04:32:00 UTC
Link to this
Are you implying that a large chunk of Boarders, myself included, have something wrong with them?
Because I find that pretty offensive. -
You do realize... by
on 2015-09-15 21:21:00 UTC
Link to this
... that you're being a bigot toward like half the Board, right?
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Actually, no... by
on 2015-09-15 22:01:00 UTC
Link to this
You're all being bigoted towards me! You're all attacking me and my viewpoints as if I'm a horrible person. I'm starting to think that this Board is anti-Christian.
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We're not attacking you personally by
on 2015-09-15 23:00:00 UTC
Link to this
You have stated a position, and we have argued against it. And look as a Christian myself, I do not think the board is remotely anti-Christian.
I think you take things too personally. Just because someone states a position that does not agree with your own does not mean we are attacking you personally. There are multiple ways to see different issues, we are just portraying an alternative position. -
And by adding autism to the mix... by
on 2015-09-15 21:38:00 UTC
Link to this
... you're being a bigot toward, what, 75% of us?
Including me. I have Asperger's.
I think differently, but that doesn't mean I don't think correctly. -
...It may be a good idea for you to stop talking. by
on 2015-09-15 21:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Really. For your own good.
"I personally trust the recent scientific finds that say homosexuality is an abnormality in the brain."
This is offensive.
"No! I have a little brother who has autism, and his brain doesn't function correctly either."
While you are talking about your brother specifically, this is also offensive.
"All that to say, it's not even about love, it's about sexual attraction. They're two very different things."
Strange, because that's how heterosexuality works!
Good lord. -
Partial retraction by
on 2015-09-15 21:52:00 UTC
Link to this
I will stop talking about it, but I still haven't been proven how I'm wrong about this. And it may offend people, but according to the source below, it's true.
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/10443/20141118/homosexuality-genetic-strongest-evidence.htm
Okay, I'll give you that. It's not nice to say things about people with autism. My bad for that.
Homosexuality and heterosexuality are independent of love. That was my point. Love is separate. No retraction for that. -
I know I said I wouldn't rebut, but did you read your source by
on 2015-09-16 00:36:00 UTC
Link to this
Because that source says literally nothing about brain abnormalities, all it says is that there is a possible genetic cause for homosexuality. Genetic cause does not necessarily mean "abnormal"; in fact, that article reinforces that, gasp, homosexuality isn't a choice and isn't unnatural?
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Wait. Please clarify that? by
on 2015-09-15 22:10:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm not trying to be antagonistic. I'm actually curious. Do you mean that it's okay for two people of the same gender or sex to be in love, as long as they don't have sex?
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Oh, what. by
on 2015-09-15 20:59:00 UTC
Link to this
"I personally trust the recent scientific finds that say homosexuality is an abnormality in the brain."
Show me your sources. Obscure, never-heard-of-them research institutes are not allowed. - Here you go by on 2015-09-15 21:48:00 UTC Link to this
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All I'm seeing is... by
on 2015-09-15 23:12:00 UTC
Link to this
"A study of 409 individuals shows that gay men share a specific gene pattern located on two chromosomes. This is believed to be linked their sexual orientation."
You could say the same thing about the genes that code for ethnicity: people within the same ethnic group share traits in their genes that code for their physical appearance.
Nowhere does the study say that being gay is an abnormality. You're letting your beliefs tinge your conclusions.
"Abnormality" alludes to something that's actually debilitating, such as Crohn's disease or something. -
UmÂ… "partly genetic in origin" does not mean "abnormality." (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 21:55:00 UTC
Link to this
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In a similar vein... by
on 2015-09-15 21:08:00 UTC
Link to this
DB16:
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A remark... by
on 2015-09-15 13:50:00 UTC
Link to this
"But again, we don't judge the people in there as being lesser than we are, or inferior in some way."
...but denying a specific demographic services such as marriage is totally okay. Treating them as second-class citizens based on an aspect of their person that they can't possibly control is okay.
Hrm. Where have we heard this before? -
An addendum to this remark: by
on 2015-09-15 14:59:00 UTC
Link to this
I identify as genderfluid. I am pansexual. Christians, for all the talk of hating the sin and not the sinner, still demand I become a straight male under threat of eternal hellfire and damnation. So do other religions, but the key point is that the present ruler of the United States publicly identifies as a Christian, as did the forty-three previous incumbents. It is not discrimination against Christian Americans to demand they treat people with the respect and privileges that they themselves have been accorded. Indeed, that is an article of faith - do unto others and all that. Denying someone the right to marry the person they love purely on the basis of said person's biology? That is discrimination. It is also an affront to any society that considers itself civilized.
That's my piece said. Talk amongst yourselves. -
My religion has... by
on 2015-09-15 15:06:00 UTC
Link to this
Nothing to do with who you are, what you wear, or decide you are.
What matters is I treat you right, as a person deserves to be treated.
Any other treatment is wrong and not rooted in that. -
That analogy: by
on 2015-09-15 13:48:00 UTC
Link to this
Should a Christian doctor be forced to euthanize someone?
If that Christian doctor has knowingly become a doctor in a place where the duties of a doctor include administering euthanasia, then yes. They should. That's their job. And if that's not a job they want to do, they should find a different job.
If you're a vegetarian working in McDonald's, you don't get to refuse to sell hamburgers. If you're a paramedic who hates gang violence, you don't get to refuse to treat people involved in it. If you're running a polling station and despise the Republican candidate, you don't get to chuck out the Republican votes.
And yes, if you apply for a job which is literally described as 'trick customers into a bad deal', then you don't get to complain that you're asked to do precisely that. You do your job, or you quit and find another. I recommend the latter, because that's a terrible job description.
Marriage between same-sex couples is a legal right in the United States now. Given that you've said you don't intend to force people to accept your beliefs, that means you also accept it as a moral right - the right to do something even though Christians say it's wrong. So if you're a Christian whose job is to make marriages, or bake wedding cakes, or whatever - then you have a choice between doing your job, or finding another one.
hS -
Someone show this post to Kim Davis. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 19:29:00 UTC
Link to this
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I'm good with a lack of her presence. by
on 2015-09-15 19:48:00 UTC
Link to this
Dunno about you.
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You know you have problems... by
on 2015-09-15 20:33:00 UTC
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When Donald Trump calls you out on foolish behavior.
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He did?? Am I in the right universe?? (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 21:13:00 UTC
Link to this
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Yeah by
on 2015-09-15 21:43:00 UTC
Link to this
I forget the exact quote, but it was along the lines of:
We're a nation of laws, she broke the law, and if she did not like the decision or did not want to issue the licenses there were better ways to do it, like doing her job and then protesting, or letting a subordinate do it. -
Also reposting this here by
on 2015-09-15 18:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Not all Christians believe that homosexuality and same-sex marriage is wrong. Just because one group says something does not mean it represents the whole.
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I'm not sure whether I get you right by
on 2015-09-15 18:32:00 UTC
Link to this
Supposed there is a person whose job it is to make marriages. When they chose this job, marriage to them (and everybody else they talked to) meant one man and one woman, and they had no reason to expect that this would change in the foreseeable future. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to regard a wider definition of marriage. Should we tell them that they, if they don't like the change in their job description that results from our*) expanded definition of marriage, should stop doing what they enjoyed to do for many years, and find a new job, because they are never allowed to make any marriage ever? This doesn't feel right to me.
All Dark Brother asks for is apparently that persons should be allowed to opt out of an unexpected new duty that had not been in the job description, if they genuinely don't feel prepared to do it; and although I'm not religious I can understand somebody asking for this.
On the other hand, not everybody has the privilege of being able to travel far, and the least gays can ask for is that we*) don't allow the existence of regions where it is impossible to find somebody who didn't opt out. I don't see an easy way to have this cake and eat it too.
*) I'm obviously no part of the U. S. Supreme Court or the U. S. legislature, but I'm totally fraternizing there.
HG -
Twice no. by
on 2015-09-15 20:19:00 UTC
Link to this
1/ We're talking about the clerks who hand out marriage licenses, apparently, and their job description hasn't changed: it's 'give licenses to couples permitted to get married'. What has changed is the law, and you don't get to opt out of bits of the law that you don't like. ^_~
2/ Even if that weren't the case... no. If you're a vegetarian who works in a sandwich shop, and that shop suddenly introduces a steak sandwich, you don't get to refuse to serve people who ask for it. Your customers come in expecting a certain service; if you can't give that to them, should you really still be doing the job?
My job has just expanded. I work for a chemical company (yes, yes, the horror, shaddup, we sell soap); due to new regulations, we're now required to be able to trace anything that harms microbes back to an approved supplier. We don't get to opt out of that - I don't get to opt out of that, since the task of getting our Sales team to actually gather the information has fallen on my shoulders. It's a horrible job, and definitely not in my job description even now - but it's my job, and if I refuse to do it, why are they paying me?
hS -
I would disagree somewhat by
on 2015-09-15 19:15:00 UTC
Link to this
Clerks who provide the marriage licenses willing joined the Government. So circumstances have somewhat changed, but they really haven't, every year more States were legalizing same-sex marriage on their own.
Saying that they should be exempt from issuing the licenses because of the changed circumstances seems absurd to me. Taking that logic to it extreme you could say a person who joins the military in peace and there is no indication of any war starting for the individuals term, and then a war occurs, that would mean that he should be allowed to leave without consequence.
The fact of the matter is the clerks signed up for the job, and if they do not like the decision they have plenty of options, like resigning. -
I'm afraid this doesn't hit the point by
on 2015-09-15 21:39:00 UTC
Link to this
A better analogy would be a soldier who is perfectly willing to do most of their job, and certainly doesn't want to leave; they just don't want to kill this specific soldier over there in the other trench because this "enemy" happens to be their best friend from the PPC Board. Of course the officer in command won't have such nonsense, and this must end in tragedy.
But since in having a wedding immediate action shouldn't be as urgent as in a war, no such big drama should ensue. If Clerk A doesn't want to provide the marriage license to a specific couple for whatever reason, let Clerk B do it, and let Clerk A do their duty for any number of other couples. It's mostly a matter of thoughtful scheduling. Problems should only arise if Clerk B doesn't exist or is out of reach.
Clerk A is supposed to be part of an oppressed minority to whom this is a matter of live or death (or rather heaven or hell), and largely outnumbered by Clerk Bs, who don't see much of a problem there. In such circumstances, can't we find better solutions than going up to eleven on the authoritarian/libertarian-axis? I'm naive, I believe we can.
HG -
Not the way I see it by
on 2015-09-15 21:53:00 UTC
Link to this
This was basically an individual breaking the law and getting punished for it. Just because one does not agree with a law does not mean they can choose not to follow it.
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The Kim Davis issue is... by
on 2015-09-15 21:51:00 UTC
Link to this
Made more complex and difficult than it has to be because she's the person in that county in charge of handling it.
Her name is the one that goes on the record.
She refuses to do her job whatsoever when it comes to the gay marriages going on in her county. Where it becomes problematic is that not only does she not want to do it, she also does not want anyone else to be allowed to do it in her place.
There is no Clerk B in this scenario, only Clerk A, who refuses to step aside. -
In this case I agree by
on 2015-09-16 10:17:00 UTC
Link to this
She has to step aside. Religious beliefs are no excuse for hurting people.
(I was thinking about a scenario where Clerk A is the only person who might be hurt and feel like a martyr. Not sharing somebody’s religious beliefs is no excuse for hurting them either.)
HG -
On the military bit... by
on 2015-09-15 19:53:00 UTC
Link to this
The military during wartime is far different than the military in peacetime.
Many joined after 9/11 in a burst of patriotism, yes, but there were plenty who finished up their enlistment or commission and checked out once they were finished.
That said, by and large they all did finish their job, because it is what they swore to do, whether or not they were very happy about the details involved. -
That's the point I was making by
on 2015-09-15 20:34:00 UTC
Link to this
It may well be different, but just because you go to war does not mean a soldier should be able to quit before the term is up because of a change of circumstances.
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Yes. This was elaboration not disagreement. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 20:37:00 UTC
Link to this
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I know I was just further explaining. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 20:53:00 UTC
Link to this
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Yes. This. Thank you for your words. by
on 2015-09-15 15:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Articulation is hard! You are good at it. Now I don't have to blather around trying to make my point because you did it so concisely :p
You also hear a lot of "god's law is of higher authority than the American legal system" (for the record. Darkbrother16, not accusing you of this necessarily, it's just an argument I see a lot of!) which just rubs me the wrong way every time. Not everyone is Christian, fsssss. -
May have typos btw, sorry, it is late & am I on mobile (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 05:09:00 UTC
Link to this
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What Phobos said, and also. by
on 2015-09-14 23:20:00 UTC
Link to this
I am convinced that Trump, if he loses the primary, will pull a Theodore Roosevelt, and for the same reason – his ego can't take the party without him.
On Sanders . . .
The Democratic Party, a slim but definite majority, is made up of 40% Sanders supporters and 60% would-be Sanders supporters going "if he were only more popular, he'd have a chance, but I just can't risk such a far-out candidate." This is beginning to frustrate me. -
Agreed on Sanders (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 15:04:00 UTC
Link to this
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I disagree... by
on 2015-09-14 18:02:00 UTC
Link to this
...about a Trump nomination being good for Dems. I think the best chance the Dems have is for Trump to lose the nomination and run as a 3rd party candidate. He will pull the extreme Right vote, leaving the Republicans with the center-Right and opening the door for the Dems no matter who has their nomination.
-Phobos -
The problem you have... by
on 2015-09-14 18:19:00 UTC
Link to this
Is that anyone and everyone slightly to the left of Enoch Powell was comprehensively redbaited out of mainstream American politics over the course of several decades, and it's still going on now. To put things into context, the Democrats are only now beginning to edge tentatively leftwards, though are still far, far short of being actual socialists (universal healthcare'd be a good start, which - let me be clear - Obamacare only sort of is); during the '90s, they were doing much the same stuff as the Tory party, particularly Clinton repealing the Glass-Spiegel Act as a sop to the Republicans.
To an outside observer, the Democrats and the Republicans are respectively the party of the right and the party of the considerably further right. And then you have Donald Trump and his hairstyle like a small electrocuted Muppet, who managed to be about as right-wing as it's possible to be without sounding like an Onion article. There are no mainstream alternatives. This needs to change. Sanders having a good run, well, it'll work.
So the centre-right by European standards is the Democrats' core vote, the far-right is the Republicans', and Trump... well, I was working on the assumption that his pointy ghost outfit was in the wash. What I'm worried about is that the Republicans will be dragged further and further towards The Donald, and that American politics will become even more disgustingly, uselessly partisan than it is already. Americans deserve better than that, in my view.
But then, it's not like I'm not biased. -
Wait....what? by
on 2015-09-14 18:32:00 UTC
Link to this
The Donald doesn't already sound like an Onion article? I am shocked. He should work on that.
Anyway, I basically agree with you. I am actually of the opinion that the ridiculousness of Donald Trump is a harbinger of a fracturing Republican party. They will split and it will end in an over all leftward (in this case meaning "more centered on the center") shift of the American political spectrum.
So, yeah, I am with you on your analysis, actually. The Republicans are being dragged right in an effort to keep up with Trump, politics is getting uselessly partisan, and we deserve better.
Some of these points are part of why I have seriously considered a career in politics.
-Phobos, futureSupreme Ruler!politician? -
Trump's Not Necessarily a guaranteed loss by
on 2015-09-14 17:53:00 UTC
Link to this
The sheer level of anger most people seem to have, has everyone flocking to Trump. Even early polls are showing Trump with leads over everyone, including both Sanders and Clinton.
And a couple other points, but this will be all I am saying on it (at least until the parties are decided). As to Sander's being a Left Candidate, that's not necessarily a good thing. First just because something works in Europe does not mean it will work in the US with the US context. Take for example the Civil Law. It works well in Europe, and in-fact most of the rest of the world, but in the US the only true Civil Law Jurisdiction is an absolute mess. Second, does a left government actually work?
Let me set up an example. I know two people, on the far side of middle-aged. Born and raised in the US, both were at points very left aligned Democrats, though they since shifted right of center over a 20 year period. Due to reasons they relocated to France. A country that is well considered to be a left government. And they have problems all over the place, because the government policies clash with elements of American Culture. Let us start with the work week, in France, it is legally mandated 40 work week, one of the people in this couple fits very much into the "Puritan Work Ethic" foreigners often remark about of the US. He would willingly work 50+ hours a week sometimes. The 40 hour mandatory limit is problematic.
There is also the crippling bureaucracy. This couple has been living in France for over a year now, and they still do not have the State Healthcare, because of the bureaucratic quagmire. There are ways around that, called "grease" payments, better known as bribes. This is something that in certain departments is if not tolerated, then expected. These types of payments are incredibly common throughout the world, but I find anathema to the US. We were the leaders in the world on anti-bribery and anti-corruption, that many parties thought we were too restrictive, because these "grease" payments were expected if not encouraged. (I cannot actually speak to the situation of corruption this is secondhand reports from a French National)
My bottom line on this line of questioning is that the US's overall culture may not be an acceptable climate from a Left government, particularly one that is both Left in Social and Economics (like Sanders).
Now the last point, a Republican Government is not necessarily a bad thing. A Tea-Party government on the other hand, that could be problematic. But not all Republicans are Tea Party members. The only true Tea Party candidate in my opinion is Cruz, and he will go nowhere. The Religious Right will also go nowhere. -
I'd just like to point out... by
on 2015-09-14 19:57:00 UTC
Link to this
That crippling bureaucracy is by no means endemic to left-leaning governments; take Israel's for example. It's right-wing (Bibi + Bennett + Haredi parties can't lean any other way) and the bureaucracy is as bad as you can imagine.
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I'd go so far as to say... by
on 2015-09-14 21:06:00 UTC
Link to this
Right-wing bureaucracies are worse. Because far-right governments are constantly trying to "cut waste" by shredding civil service budgets, the people forced to run these institutions have to do the exact same job of work on a whole lot less money. This means they do a worse job, which gives the right-wing government in charge an excuse to pare back even further because the problem is clearly in the people working there. It couldn't be their fault. That would be silly.
In the interests of full disclosure, I should mention that I did a Work Trial Placement at Dover JobCentre+. It was a shambles. I basically had to rebuild their filing system from the ground up. And when I went to Atos later in the year, one of the private contractors who get paid through the nose by the taxpayer to sort this out because private finance brings efficiency or some similar guff, it was worse. A lot worse. It was like the civil service but with all the compassion and joy taken out, which (as hS and others will doubtless know) is saying quite something. -
Not saying it was by
on 2015-09-14 22:46:00 UTC
Link to this
More so saying that what works for one context does not work for others.
Crippling Bureaucracy is basically a problem of Western Civilization, it exists here in the US, though not as bad. In retrospect that was not the best example, but I was again more getting at, Left does not necessarily mean good, Right does not necessarily mean bad, and more importantly just because Left Governments tend to work in Europe, does not by any stretch mean that they will work in the US. Different cultural contexts and all that. -
It's a shame I'll be gone during the primaries. by
on 2015-09-14 16:01:00 UTC
Link to this
I really want to see how well he does in the end there and also hope that Trump doesn't happen. Good lord.
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They don't let you send votes in? (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 14:52:00 UTC
Link to this
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Talking about the media coverage. by
on 2015-09-15 14:53:00 UTC
Link to this
I'll be missing it all.
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Oh. by
on 2015-09-15 14:54:00 UTC
Link to this
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Yes, but can his successor stop the boats? =] (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 15:55:00 UTC
Link to this
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And now, some play-along political fun. by
on 2015-09-14 13:37:00 UTC
Link to this
I remain wildly unconvinced that the Political Compass correctly places individual responders relative to political parties. But what it does do is place them well relative to each other.
Take the test. Let's see where we all stand.
I'm at -6.75 Economic, -6.31 Social, which puts me way down in the lower-left quadrant. When we did this this time last year, I was at -6.50/-6.56, so I haven't really moved.
Let's build a chart! ^_^
hS, blah politics blah -
A bit late for this thing, but ... by
on 2015-09-20 17:53:00 UTC
Link to this
It's still on the first page, so let's try it :
Economic Left/Right: -5.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.59
Generic Boarder. They really need to add "neutral" answers, though. -
One last graph, for old time's sake. by
on 2015-09-21 10:24:00 UTC
Link to this
The 2015 reanalysis of the elements of the political table has led to some shifts. Per the proposed division of the table shown above, the team have crafted the following chart:
Elements which have been reexamined are shown in orange; those which could not be redetected are highlighted in blue. We would not wish to cast doubt upon the work of our esteemed colleagues, but further testing may be required to determine the validity of these substances.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the re-testing has been the shifting of Phobos (Ph) and Iximaz (Ix) into the same region as Hieronymus (Hm). If these three elements are in fact one and the same, the academic world will be shaken to the core. The reassignment of Desdendelle (Dd) and Darkotas (Dk) to refer to the same element, while also significant, is far less prominent.
Other shifts have been equally pronounced. The movement of PoorCynic (Pc) up two periods, and its replacement by the newly-identified element World-Jumper (Wj) has been noted, as has the identification of an entire new block, shown in brown and containing the most reactive elements yet discovered. (The failure to obtain a sample of doctorlit (Dl) is surprising, given the unreactiveness of this element).
This is an exciting time in the field of politicoprotectorate chemistry. The potential identicality of Ph and Ix opens whole new fields of possible compounds, based on the Ix-Dd and Ns-Ph bonds. We look forward to seeing the future work that is doubtless forthcoming.
~
(I'm a chemist. Did you notice? ^_^)
(Hardric, you popped in just south of Iximaz/Hieronymus on the previous charts. Since this one didn't have labels and all.)
hS -
Yet another regraph. by
on 2015-09-17 14:54:00 UTC
Link to this
The great continent of Plortitics is a land divided. Of course. Because they all are.
The main hub of civilisation is the great Central City, where the towns of PoorCynic, Elcalion, Phobos, Iximaz, Hieronymus, James Shields, and World-Jumper have joined together in a metropolis to astound the world. Under the protective aegis of Central City, the villages of Huinesoron, ratbrainbasher, and SeaTurtle prosper. So too do the twin port-towns of DawnFire and eatpraylove, but they do not go uncontested.
The nomads of the Great Desert have begun to band together. Trading ports have sprung up at Seafarer in the south and Sergio Turbo in the north, and there are rumours of a city to rival Central growing out in the wastes, at Desdendelle-Darkotas. Yet relations between the civilised peoples and the nomads are friendly - they are allies against other powers.
The northerly Grand Forest is home to woodsmen of unparalleled skill; all the technology of Central City cannot rout them from their tree-bound fastness. Their hidden refuge of Pippa's Ghost is guarded by the fastnesses of JulyFlame, Irish Samurai, and sonofheaven176.
And far to the east, explorers in the Towering Mountains have reported two vast fortresses, teeming with warriors. None know their alliegence, but whispered rumours have assigned them names: Dark Brother and Uber Overlord.
And that is all... save, perhaps, for the peoples who live west of the Fabled River. The villages at Artell, Scapegrace, and VixenMage are small and humble... but legends tell of a vast, deserted metropolis buried at Kaitlyn, an ancient power long-since forgotten... at least, forgotten by those east of the river...
hS -
I always wanted to be a desert port by
on 2015-09-17 23:36:00 UTC
Link to this
And apparently I'm almost the centre of the Board.
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I can live with this description now. by
on 2015-09-17 18:35:00 UTC
Link to this
Perhaps in time I will write about the fortress of the Vowel Overlord.
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Yay, I am also on the graph now! by
on 2015-09-17 17:31:00 UTC
Link to this
So we are all towns this time around instead of people? Interesting.
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Plortitics Recursive Fanfiction: Beyond the Western Bank by
on 2015-09-17 16:14:00 UTC
Link to this
In the little village of Scapegrace, life continued as it had for many years. The free peoples tilled their lands in the iron-rich soils beyond the River's reach when it flooded, as rivers are wont to do. They grew tomatoes, turnips, peas, beans, sugar beet; sensible things, things that lasted long enough for the surplus to reach Central City by caravan or one of the Popular Dirigible Company's freighter blimps. The seasons came and went, but the years seemed to turn slower somehow, and the rich red earth fed all.
The call came from Central City, and the Centrists from Iximaz in particular were anxious to treat with the villagers. So they got what they could of the summer's blood-orange harvests in and began to assemble in the village square. They joined hands, as one, and waited for the Power to summon forth a representative.
Any individual from Scapegrace could touch upon the Power, but alone they could cast but a few sparks, enrich the earth, fix a blown gasket on a tractor. In concert? All the villagers together had cast one treaty to the Red Power, and did so every twenty years, after the fifth mayoral election. It kept the sun hanging in the sky, kept pests at bay, let their crops grow tall and their children grow strong. Scapegrace was a place of mild winters and lazy summers, with the wind blowing eastward to cool the harvest teams' collective brows. The Power did this, as long as people thought it would, and worked to make it work.
It was this power that so intrigued the young woman from Central City, her graduation wand from the Iximaz School of Witchcraft and Wizardry still shiny from lack of use - and no matter how much the little scrits back at the School had said so, it wasn't the thought of muscular young farmhands of all genders working up a sweat beneath a burnt-blue August sky. She alighted delicately from the helicopter as it landed (crashing would not be quite the right term) in the beet field that was at present lying fallow and giving sterling service as a helipad. She'd been expecting wood, this far south, but Scapegrace was apparently ably served by the brick-kilns at Artell. As she reached the square, she slowed and stopped.
There was the Red Power, flickering above the swaying, singing villagers like a demon holding court, powerful as a hurricane, strong as a mountain's roots. Strong here, anyway, where there were still those who believed. It was said in the village that the Power took on a different shape for everyone, and yet the general image remained the same; a human figure, holding a worker's tool in an experienced hand. To the young Centrist, the Red Power resembled her old Ancient Runes instructor, but with a burlier cast than the mantis-like academic had ever had.
As she stood, powerless to move, the Red Power descended from above the village, the rune-patterned cracks in its skin glowing like starlight as it moved. The marks intensified as it moved towards her, until the woman was all but blinded by it.
It reached out its hand, that was and was not a hand.
She took it.
And the Red Power was gone, its task done.
The villagers of Scapegrace came out of their trance like children roused from sleep on a long train ride. They looked around, and a small child ran towards the new arrival.
"Da, da! Look! 'S'an angel!"
A slim farmhand, with close-cut blond hair and the kind of smoothly toned body that the woman liked best, strode over and picked the little boy up. "Never mind him, young friend," he said over his shoulder, "he don't mean owt by... it..."
And he stared at the woman's hands, and with good reason, for they glowed like stars.
"Please, come with me... we asked the Power ter choose, an' it chose you, friend. Yer must be took to Mayor Cassandra an' welcomed proper. What do we call'n, other than friend of the People?"
"Gabrielle," the woman said, and shortly thereafter she heard it cheered.
---
Ain't no magic like socialist magic. =] -
I guess I lean far more to the left than I expected... by
on 2015-09-16 22:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -5.13
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.03
That may or not have something to do with the fact that my supposedly leftist government is not working so well for us right now. Honestly, most parties here are actually pretty much the same thing, despite claimed ideologies.
Some of the current social programs do work pretty well, but the levels of corruption that are being uncovered are astounding. The scandals are so big that I know for a fact that they have reached international headlines. I mean, does the name Petrobras ring any bells for anyone here? I'm willing to bet that it probably does. -
Ummm... somewhere between Ghandi and Stalin? by
on 2015-09-16 14:39:00 UTC
Link to this
My results were -4 Economic, 0.1 Social, which means... something. Probably.
There was a whole bunch of text along with the results, but I sort of got bored at that point.
- the Irish Samurai cannot politics -
It means you're my buddy. (nm) by
on 2015-09-16 17:41:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Excellent. Political analysis at a level I can understand :) (nm by
on 2015-09-17 23:16:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Updated graph! by
on 2015-09-16 09:55:00 UTC
Link to this
It has been brought to my attention that I unfairly singled out the Right as being evil on the last graph.
I mean, I didn't do that, but it was still brought to my attention.
I have found a way to ensure I'm never accused of that again.
The realm of Diabolico is in chaos. The demise of Queen Average Boarder, while not treated with suspicion (death of arsenic poisoning while drowning in a shark-infested river with cuts all over your body and bullet wounds in your arms seems perfectly normal to me), has led to dissent between her potential successors.
Her potential successors, in this case, being 'everyone'. Four main factions have formed, united by their plans for domination:
Team Muahahaha, led by Field Marshall of the Fleet JulyFlame, are viewed by most commentators as ridiculously evil. Their plan is the simplest: eatpraylove, EAIUO, Sergio Turbo, and Dark Brother 16 will surround the palace, and while everyone is distracted, JulyFlame will parachute in from her zeppelin and claim the throne.
Team The Good Guys are generally seen as comically evil. Under Kaitlyn's leadership, they have all grown evil moustaches to twirl (though Kaitlyn's is in fact her braid, wrapped around to the front). Their evil scheme is to threaten to blow the palace up with a five ultraton bomb, and then, while everyone is trying to figure out what that is in joules, to walk in and steal the throne.
Team I'll Show You Who's Mad are renowned for being hilariously evil. Their plot is to use PoorCynic's earthquake machine to set off all their opponents' volcano fortresses simultaneously, engulfing the realm in a flood of lava which they will escape from in their zeppelin.
Finally, Team Surrounded By Incompetent Fools are noted as being ludicrously evil. They intend to summon an army of demons, using the power of their twin leaders Iximaz and Hieronymus to unleash the Hadean hordes upon the unsuspecting Diabolico.
Who will claim the victory? It's impossible to tell. The fate of Diabolico - nay, the world - hangs in the balance between these... there is no other way to say it... these evil hordes.
~
Because let's face it, we're all Chaotic Evil really.
DID I SAY EVIL ENOUGH YET?
hS -
I wanna be on the graphs :P by
on 2015-09-17 04:45:00 UTC
Link to this
So I took the test. Unfortunately, there's no Neutral option, so a few of the answers may be slightly off /shrugs/ Either way--I did the thing! No clue how accurate it is for anything, but I did the thing!
Economic Left/Right: -5.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.38
Wheeeee.
(Actually, being some weird sort of Leftist (??) doesn't really surprise me. I think I tend to think I'm one; problem is, the definitions have apparently shifted, or something, so supposedly Left parties are apparently not actually in line with what I believe and so on...? Whatever. Doesn't matter--I'm not exactly going to go 'Ha! A left-of-center party! I don't care what their policies are like or who's involved, I'm gonna vote for them! Yay!'
I did do the thing, though. Wonder where I fall on the graphs...looks rather like I could be in any of the evils on this one, I'm not sure exactly where I fall in that intersecting bit and can't be bothered to figure it out right now. Guess I'll just wait for the next update.)
~DF -
(I hate surveys without a "Not sure/neutral" option.) by
on 2015-09-15 19:37:00 UTC
Link to this
Also, according to the test, I'm at -5.75 economic and -3.13 social. Hello, fellow lower-left-wingers! *waves cheerfully*
-
Agreed (nm) by
on 2015-09-16 22:38:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Surprising approximately no oneÂ… by
on 2015-09-15 15:30:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -7.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.9
I'm a socialist - honestly I usually go as far as neo-Marxist - who wants large corporations either tied down or disbanded and complete separation of church and state. Mostly because the countries where citizens, rather than corporations, ARE actually supported by tax money, it seems to work quite well. -
Let's see... by
on 2015-09-15 17:14:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -4.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.74
... I'm roughly Gandhi according to the example chart. -
My results... by
on 2015-09-15 14:48:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic left/right: -7.0
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.95
I was expecting smaller numbers (as in, larger negatives. I hate numbers.) -
Libertarian left by
on 2015-09-15 14:10:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic -6.13
Social -5.18 -
Apparently IÂ’m Iximaz by
on 2015-09-15 12:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Moving right and down from last year’s -5.88 / -3.95, I got -5.63 and -5.18 this year.
HG -
Protectors of the Political Compass (graph) by
on 2015-09-15 10:06:00 UTC
Link to this
All this debate over where the centreline should be made me realise something: who cares? We're not comparing ourselves to the outside world, here - we're comparing with each other.
So I created an Average Responder, and used them as the zero-point.
That Average Responder is apparently Des. [Shrugs] And we have two people who are 'far right' relative to the average - but note that ScapeDeathToAllCapitalistsGrace is only fairly moderate left, indicating a massive skew in the baseline.
It is interesting that EAIUO and Dark Brother both fall off the fairly consistent diagonal line - you're not nearly as authoritarian as one would expect from the trend. Make of that what you will.
But you know what this graph needs, to make it 100% more awesome?
A bit more D&D.
(Dark colours are Evil, light are Good; the Good/Evil axis mirrors around the centreline. It seemed the fairest way.)
The land of Polyticz is a pleasant realm, prospering under the rule of King Desdendelle. He rules with a light hand, though those who transgress his laws watch in fear for the coming of General July and Chief Constable sonofheaven176.
The king's chief advisors are Darkotas the Kind, World-Jumper the Erratic, and Pippa's Ghost the Lawyer, who seeks to uphold the law regardless of right or wrong. The apolitical Phobos, Iximaz, PoorCynic, and SeaTurtle can often be seen around his castle, and the wandering knight Huinesoron visits at times - though at others, it is said he attacks the king's distant holdings.
Yet all is not well in Polyticz. True, the Uber Overlord who stands in opposition to the king is known to rule as laxly as Desdendelle, but his great Admiral Dark Brother 16 wages relentless war on the marches of Polyticz. And there are home-grown troubles, too - the notorious revolutionaries known as the Free Radicals seek to bring down all of Desdendelle's domains. Should Kaitlyn, Artell, and Scapegrace get their way, Polyticz will have neither laws nor love, but only endless war.
(Because what we really needed was a second Medieval AU, and one which massively misrepresents people... ^_^)
hS -
So in one AU, I'm a drunken bum... by
on 2015-09-17 00:13:00 UTC
Link to this
...who swears he's going to head out soon guys, really. Just need to sharpen the old sword, and off I go.
And in the other, I'm barely toeing the line between being a fairly good person, on the whole, and supporting an anarcistic revolution. I mean, I won't start it or anything, but you know, should one show up...
And in the third, I am throwing dragons at eleven year olds, praying I can brute-force around the fact I have no idea what I'm doing, and handing shiny badges and disks to those who realize I'm super incompetent and only stumbled my way into running a gym. (Though, to be fair, the dragons are very loyal. Magic of Friendship and all that.)
...I don't know what this says about me, really. -
Huh. by
on 2015-09-16 22:36:00 UTC
Link to this
I always thought I was Lawful, but apparently I'm TN. (-4.88 economic, -3.33 social).
-
That got mixed up on my end by
on 2015-09-15 19:35:00 UTC
Link to this
I came down as -2.72 on the Libertarian/Authoritarian. But if you were using one of the Average responders which were in the lower-left quadrant, then it makes sense. I knew I was more Right leaning than the majority of the community.
Not sure I like the analogy that Right is evil though.
As for falling of the diagonal, for me it is not surprising at all, I am a social liberal, but an economic conservative. And the fact that I get considered "far-right" is also telling of the average of the community, because I am a centrist if anything. -
Left is also evil. by
on 2015-09-15 20:06:00 UTC
Link to this
Anywhere the colors get darker is evil. Only in Neutrality is there Good. Join us in Holy Neutralness.
-Phobos, "If I don't make it... tell my wife, 'hello'." -
Though to be fair... by
on 2015-09-15 20:37:00 UTC
Link to this
PPC Neutrality is not actual neutral, which was part of the point of the exercise, which is why I trend so far right in comparison, when I am actually only just right of center.
-
My first decree as King... by
on 2015-09-15 17:06:00 UTC
Link to this
I hereby make Iximaz the Queen of Love and Beauty!
My second decree is that the losers of the Friendship Cup are to be sent underground. Mimes get send underground anyway. -
I am disappointed by
on 2015-09-15 16:51:00 UTC
Link to this
I like to think of myself as Lawful Evil. :P
Also, why does Des get to be king? I didn't vote for him.
-Phobos, the Truly Neutral -
Of course you didn't. by
on 2015-09-15 17:02:00 UTC
Link to this
Voting is a Lawful action; he was elected by July, sonofheaven, and Pippa. Dark Brother voted against him.
His response, being of course Neutral himself, was 'meh'.
hS
(PS: In case it was a genuine question: because he's in the middle. ^_~) -
...Who's submitting ballots in my name again. by
on 2015-09-15 21:07:00 UTC
Link to this
Is it you, hS?
I'm pretty sure it's you.
You chaotic elf-fiend. -
It's because some watery tart threw a sword at him. by
on 2015-09-15 16:57:00 UTC
Link to this
But that doesn't mean I get to go around saying I'm an emperor because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me!
-Iximaz, who likes to think she's a bit more Chaotic than that -
...General?! by
on 2015-09-15 14:25:00 UTC
Link to this
-Sailor July
-
Yep. ^_^ by
on 2015-09-15 14:30:00 UTC
Link to this
Or, in full:
General JulyFlame of the Fleet Air Force (Special Space Forces Division).
hS -
Because that makes so much sense in a medieval setting. (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 14:40:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Sure it does! by
on 2015-09-15 14:45:00 UTC
Link to this
There's lots of Air in the wide open Spaces of Polyticz. :D
To be honest, given that the other medieval setting has 'baron' as the highest military rank, maybe it's best to assume I just pick words out of a hat in that regard?
hS -
I don't believe that. by
on 2015-09-15 14:47:00 UTC
Link to this
You, use something as orthodox as a hat?
;D -
Am I the only Right-winger here?! (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 01:40:00 UTC
Link to this
-
You seem to be the only one whose scores are on the Right by
on 2015-09-15 01:50:00 UTC
Link to this
but you're not the only conservative on the Board, from what it seems here. Looks like, as always, it depends on the topic.
-
I technically scored right of Center by
on 2015-09-15 03:50:00 UTC
Link to this
But only just.
-
Oops. I must have forgot about that. by
on 2015-09-15 04:19:00 UTC
Link to this
But in my partial defense, you scored right of center economically, slightly left socially.
-
True (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 05:34:00 UTC
Link to this
-
That's very interesting... by
on 2015-09-15 01:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Does that make me special? Oh, my mommy always said I was a special little boy. *exaggeratedly giddy giggle*
-
My Compass- Results and Opinions by
on 2015-09-15 01:39:00 UTC
Link to this
My results are 4.5 to the Right and 2.0 Authoritarian.
Oogh. Now I kind of feel bad for myself. Even we Americans don't like Authoritarians. Maybe I am crazy.
I do have a few problems with this test, though.
1. The very first question on page 1/6 doesn't seem fair. I don't support a globalized economy at all, because countries are all different, and frankly, a globalized anything is a sign of the apocalypse (don't judge me).
2. Question number four on page 1/6 doesn't make much sense to me. Is this some sort of racist test?
3. I'm going to be honest, question number four on page 2/6 sounds kind of Communist to me. Just saying.
4. Question number seven of page 2/6 is confusing to me. Is it referring to rich people, or is it referring to the leeches of society in general?
5. Question two on page 4/6 is one sided. I'm an American, so I take it personally that it says a one party system is better than a multi party system.
6. Question six on page 4/6 is an unfair question, because whether or not abstract art represents anything is often debatable.
Just some pet peeves of mine. Don't take this as me being a deliberate pain. -
Ah, but in many ways... by
on 2015-09-15 01:58:00 UTC
Link to this
Is the Stock Market not a form of globalized economy? A means of transferring and accruing wealth for any assortment of businesses in the world? Just something to ponder.
Also, the quiz never says anything about how you are supposed to vote. That's why there is a disagree button, mate. If it offends you, say that you "Strongly Disagree." Unless the very presence of such an idea is dumbfounding to you, in which case, I feel we need to have a few political talks.
To respond to specific points:
2. Yes, question four is supposed to be racist. It increases your Totalitarian points. Nazis and KKK and all that jazz.
3. That's because it is one of the greatest championed quotes of Marx. Otherwise known as, the author of the Communist Manifesto. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
4. Stock brokers, and those who make money shifting money around. Bankers, investors, brokers. Those sorts. At least, that's how I took it.
6. Yeah, to be honest, I have no idea why that is there either. I think it's supposed to play off some idea that liberal hippies say that anything can be art man, where conservative grumps say art must have some form to it. Consider it a dud question, it won't affect the numbers much. -
I see... by
on 2015-09-15 13:05:00 UTC
Link to this
The stock market is something that just completely bewilders me. It's a form of Capitalism, from what I can tell, because people buy and sell stocks in a company, but that's all I know about it. I think that's more of a globalized market, not a globalized economy. Again, don't know anything about it almost, but that's what I think.
2. Oh, gotcha. It seems like a trick question, but I guess there are some people who might hit it out there.
3. So, what I'm getting here is that we should steal from the rich to feed drugs to the poor with the money we take from them. This is one of my hot button topics, so I think I'll back off before I start to get going on it, ya know?
4. But that's their jobs. It's not as if it's a secret society of shadow governments manipulating the money to make themselves rich at the expense of some poor population in Kenya, or whatever. Anybody could become those things. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.
6. Maybe it's meant to size up our personalities. -
I'll toss mine in here though I don't like these tests by
on 2015-09-14 23:13:00 UTC
Link to this
They never quite line up with me. I do no think that four bubbles is enough to accurately describe my political belief system.
Economic: 2.75
Social: -2.72
To me it seems just a bit right of center. Another similar test I did come in at a notch right of center. But unsurprisingly, I probably come down as the farthest right leaning boarder. I largely expected that outcome. -
Some new numbers. by
on 2015-09-14 21:51:00 UTC
Link to this
This year, I got -6.13 Economic and -4.56 Social, as compared to last year's -5.25 Economic and -5.49 Social. And, just like last year, I'm a little iffy on the methodologies and definitions used in determining these numbers. But it's still interesting to see and compare.
-
Yeah. by
on 2015-09-14 21:54:00 UTC
Link to this
It really folds everything down when it's really not as simple as what can be pinned on an axis, and it really could use some refining, overall.
Because while I'm arguably conservative, and haven't really changed so, it's harder to actually go into the how with something like this. -
My compass by
on 2015-09-14 20:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -3.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.36
That was a quite surprising result. I would not have expected to be categorized as on the political or economic Left. Then again, I'm near zero on the libertarian/authoritarian axis, so it could be that I'm a bit more free-thinking than one would expect when one speaks of topics other than the ones lumped as "social issues" here in the States. -
Interesting. by
on 2015-09-14 19:13:00 UTC
Link to this
My compass:
Economic Left/Right: -3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.85
Apparently I'm closest to Ghandi. Huh. -
My compass by
on 2015-09-14 17:31:00 UTC
Link to this
Looks like I fall at -5.63 Economics and -4.92 Social. Compare that to -7.00/-5.28 last year. I've shifted a fair bit on the Economic scale, not much on the Social.
-Phobos -
Not all too suprised. by
on 2015-09-14 16:53:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -5.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54
I do wish I had a "no real opinion one way or the other" option. There were a few questions that that would have been helpful. -
OK, so by
on 2015-09-14 15:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Last year, I was -4.00 economic, -3.75 social. Now I am -4.25 economic, -3.08 social. I tend to think that's within the standard deviation of the test (owing to choosing slightly different answers each time).
It also says something about that test — to wit, it's not very good in telling Israeli political opinions; it looks like it has a massive bias toward the left, because I count as very moderate centre-left, not 'left'. -
Yeah, it's weird. by
on 2015-09-14 16:02:00 UTC
Link to this
That's why I've been adjusting us around Pippa's Centrist, which gives this; you're right there on the Social centreline, a little left of centre.
Interesting that our two military types were in almost the same place last year, but have since moved apart. Quirky.
hS -
But you forget! by
on 2015-09-14 16:05:00 UTC
Link to this
For Des it's mandatory. I joined up as a volunteer.
So it makes sense that there are changes thus. -
True. by
on 2015-09-14 16:08:00 UTC
Link to this
And there's also timeframes. It makes intuitive sense that someone who's just joined the military would swing to the Authoritarian end (due to the whole taking orders thing); someone who was already there last time - which I think Des was - won't show that swing, but might potentially start regressing to previous mindsets.
And so forth. I dunno, numbers are fun, graphs are funner.
hS -
Hm... by
on 2015-09-14 17:09:00 UTC
Link to this
I know that my opinions drifted toward the authoritarian end of the scale after joining the army, but it's a) not too pronounced and b) not a result of army indoctrination; it had more to do with accessing a wider variety of news and information sources.
I have not detected any change on economic policy, however, nor have I detected any regression.
*shrugs*
Then again, I'm not representative in any way, shape or form. -
In which I surprise precisely nobody. by
on 2015-09-14 15:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic: -7.38
Social: -7.38
-
I found someone farther overall left-down than you. by
on 2015-09-14 22:18:00 UTC
Link to this
And they aren't fond of Russians.
-
...Oh? And they would be, who? (nm) by
on 2015-09-14 22:28:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Hi, by
on 2015-09-14 22:34:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -7.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.33
I am a social democrat and neutral on Russians. Not so neutral on the current Russian government. -
Well hi there, Comrade! =] by
on 2015-09-16 19:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Democratic socialist on my part, which is the same thing unless you're a sixty-seven-year-old retired teacher. As for the present Russian government, it's a kleptocracy run by an ex-KGB torturer. No reason to be neutral, especially since it wants me dead. =]
-
Re: Well hi there, Comrade! =] by
on 2015-09-16 22:16:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm a sixty-seven year old retired teacher... or I have a master's degree in political science?
-
Better dead then Red! by
on 2015-09-14 20:02:00 UTC
Link to this
It's funny because I agree with various socialistic ideas. Just not as far as you do. -
I'll be here, with my socialized military medicine. by
on 2015-09-14 20:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Admittedly it gives aspirin for everything from headaches to spider bites, but still.
-
And I'll have my free at point of service healthcare system. by
on 2015-09-14 20:56:00 UTC
Link to this
Hammered through the opposition of conservative doctors (who benefited hugely from the previous system) just after the War by Aneurin Bevan. Fun fact: Nye resigned from the Labour Party because the government of the day decided to dip into NHS funds to pay for rearmament. I like to think I'd do the same.
-
Yep, that figures. ^_^ (Feat. current graph!) by
on 2015-09-14 15:28:00 UTC
Link to this
This is us so far, with everyone moved up/right 2.5 in accordance with Pippa's Centrist. Yellow is 2014 dots for those who have them - looks like July's gone up-right, Iximaz has gone down-left, and I've... not moved. ^_^
Here's the editable version.
hS -
Honestly, considering I'm no longer a civilian... by
on 2015-09-14 15:47:00 UTC
Link to this
It really isn't that surprising. For me at least.
-
Whoop. by
on 2015-09-14 14:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Economic Left/Right: -3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.15
Will be interesting to see how this puts me against everyone else. -
Interesting. by
on 2015-09-14 14:20:00 UTC
Link to this
-7.0 Economic
-4.92 Social
Stalin-like levels of collectivism tempered with Gandhi-ish levels of libertarianism. Fun for the whole family! -
All right, let's give it a go. by
on 2015-09-14 14:16:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm Economic: -2.5
Social: 0.97
So, yes, technically Centrist, but still what you'd call Right. -
Aha! Useful data. by
on 2015-09-14 14:38:00 UTC
Link to this
We theorised last year that every user entry gets skewed to the left; the fact that you're calling yourself centrist but coming down left of everyone except the Greens is in direct agreement with that.
For comparison purposes, then, I think I'll be adding 2.5 to everyone's Economic values, putting you exactly in the centre. Should we do the same thing for Social values? I'm honestly not sure, people don't have a ready answer for 'where are you on the authoritarian/libertarian scale?'. Perhaps it's best to leave it.
hS -
I'm not so certain of that by
on 2015-09-14 23:17:00 UTC
Link to this
Because I classify myself as centrist as well, but adding that 2.5 would push me pretty far right, further than I classify myself.
-
Don't take it too literally. by
on 2015-09-14 16:56:00 UTC
Link to this
If the scale goes from -10 to +10 then IMHO anything between -3.33... to +3.33... inclusive can count as Centrist. I'm happy with my result.
-
I'm still Gandhi! by
on 2015-09-14 14:04:00 UTC
Link to this
(At least, according to the demonstrative chart. :P)
Economic Left/Right: -5.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.18 -
Wait a minute... by
on 2015-09-14 14:26:00 UTC
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They changed the examples from last year. I went from being the Dalai Lama to being Gandhi.
I'll take it. :P -
For everyone playing along at home... by
on 2015-09-14 12:39:00 UTC
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Yes, this is a very good thing overall, and not just for the UK.
(Also psst check Google docs.) -
Speaking as one of the British right-wing, by
on 2015-09-14 12:36:00 UTC
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I say wait until after Labour crashes and burns spectacularly in the next General Election before deciding who was wrong.
Still, you are right about one thing, though. It is hilarious how Labour's left-wing are so out of touch they actually think electing Corbyn would help the party! Don't you people have any clue about what attracts floating voters?
Oh, well. At least we won't have to worry about the threat f a Labour government for the foreseeable future. So I'm happy about that. -
Um... no. ^_^ by
on 2015-09-14 12:49:00 UTC
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The idea expressed by the Telegraph that Labour didn't actually want to elect Corbyn, but were just putting him on the ballot to make a point, was emphatically and categorically wrong. The point made by Alastair 'Right-Wing Labour' Campbell that Corbyn can't win an election may or may not be wrong; as I said, I have no idea. But given that his thesis was, literally, 'we should put getting power above actually having a good platform', I don't particularly care what he says. ^^
If Labour can only gain voters by being 'the Conservative Party but wearing red ties', there's no point to them whatsoever.
So: no, they (not necessarily you personally) were objectively wrong to think that Corbyn wasn't the person Labour genuinely wanted to lead them.
hS
PS: Hi! I didn't know we have anyone on the UK-Right on-Board. My library is cutting its hours and it's allllll the fault of the Tory Government. ^~ hS -
Well, newspapers will print any controversial opinion by
on 2015-09-14 13:12:00 UTC
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if they think it will help sales (or website views nowadays). And pundits will give any controversial opinion, because they know it will be printed and get publicity. Don't take any of them seriously.
Anyway, sorry I misunderstood your post. I saw the Subject line, and thought you were personally addressing the UK Right on this board, so I took it rather personally.
(To be honest, I'm more Centrist than truly Right. But I still qualify as Right by your definition.) -
So what you mean is... by
on 2015-09-14 13:16:00 UTC
Link to this
... you were WRONG!!!!! about what I meant? ^^ ^~ dear sweet Nienna the smileys are taking over.
Eh, the political spectrum is massively skewed at the moment anyway. The Political Compass (which I think is run by someone on the Right) places all three major parties--
-- wait, how many major parties do we have now? --
-- all three traditional major parties massively right of centre. That's part of why I'm so pleased about this - regardless of your political alignment, you can't expect decent politics out of a system where every party is saying the same things. You just... can't.
hS -
Okay, there, cool it. by
on 2015-09-14 12:42:00 UTC
Link to this
That's going dangerously into territory that we don't condone on the board.
You may not share political opinions with hS but it doesn't mean you have to be derogatory about the party hS supports, or his opinions. -
For the record: by
on 2015-09-14 13:02:00 UTC
Link to this
I do not consider Pippa's post(s?) to be personal attacks. Even if I were actually a member of the Labour Party, I wouldn't.
I consider them to be a valid difference in opinion of how politics should work. Pippa's Ghost thinks that the goal of a party should be 'what attracts floating voters'. I'd rather see Labour - heck, or any party! - do and support what they think is best for the country - or, really, the world. If the only way to get votes is to abandon any position you think is worth holding... then what are you getting votes for, except to get a comfy seat in the Commons?
That's rhetorical, I already know the answer: because those positions you are able to hold onto are going to be better than the other side would do if they get the comfy seats. As I say, that's a valid position - but it's not one I hold.
hS -
That's true. by
on 2015-09-14 13:53:00 UTC
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I grew up in a very left-wing family in the eighties, and saw close-up and first hand how self-destructive the Left's self-absorbed idealism was. Meanwhile, out there on the news, Maggie was actually making a difference, getting things done, making things happen in the real world.
There was no contest. And even after all this time, I'd still rather be with the side that's going to get things done, rather than the one that makes an empty pointless display and achieves nothing. -
'Achieves nothing'? by
on 2015-09-14 14:13:00 UTC
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The left-wing parties were behind both halves of the 'actually helping the people who need it' movement - first with the Liberal party bringing in old age pensions and the original unemployment support, then (decades later) the Labour party single-handedly creating the National Health System.
Thatcher... uh, well the things I know about her are keeping hold of some grotty little islands in the South Atlantic, and crushing the Trade Unions so that working-class people couldn't force the government to give them actual rights any more.
So I'm still going for idealism over getting things done that I don't want/care about, ta.
hS -
How old do you think I am? by
on 2015-09-14 17:18:00 UTC
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I was talking about the eighties, long after the creation of the NHS. If the Labour Party had remained as organised and practical as that, I might have stayed on the Left.
I'm talking about people like "Red Ted", the (at the time) infamous Labour leader of Lambeth Council who refused to set a council budget as a gesture of defiance against the Tories. The council services ended up in a mess, as the council headed to bankruptcy. He and his colleagues ended up being taken to court and fined as a result. And they still refused to take any responsibility for their actions, declaring themselves martyrs, converting one of the rooms in the Town Hall into a shrine to themselves, and blaming the Government for everything.
He and his colleagues were family friends, and held up by my mother as good role-models. Did they achieve anything? Nothing they intended to anyway. -
The following, courtesy of the Daily Mash, is relevant: by
on 2015-09-14 17:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Find it here.
I shan't say anything more, because you're doubtless as intransigent on this stuff as I am and frankly it's not worth the effort. -
Don't see how it's relevant. by
on 2015-09-14 18:57:00 UTC
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I have no problem with strikes - provided they're properly and accountably organised and with a specific, legitimate goal. Very different from the meaningless, self-indulgent, unaccountable action I was talking about.
-
And hS's initial post was acceptable? by
on 2015-09-14 12:50:00 UTC
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He made an unprovoked attack saying everyone who disagreed with him was "wrong".
I know I have anger issues, but I don't see how he should be allowed to get away with that. -
News for you. I'm conservative. by
on 2015-09-14 12:58:00 UTC
Link to this
His post was directly in response to a given item on which yes, they were wrong.
At no ppint did he actually attack anyone, which you did. Rule 3 of the Constitution is there for a reason.
Anger issues is no excuse for anything.
Once upon a time way back in 2008 we were discussing the American presidential election.
I mentioned I voted for McCain. I was attacked, and quite viciously so.
hS expressing this political opinion of his does not warrant that same reaction, even though I do not agree with everything the British Labour party stands for.
Instead, I'm very glad he feels like he can share his opinion here on the board, and I intend to protect his ability to do so, and yours as well if you choose to exercise it respectfully. -
Uh, no I didn't. by
on 2015-09-14 12:54:00 UTC
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I said that saying that Labour didn't want to elect Corbyn was wrong - which it was - and that saying no-one should vote for him was wrong - which 60% of Labour's voters think it was.
As I said, 'you're probably expecting me to say that about everything you do by now'... but I didn't say that.
Factually, the Right was as collectively wrong about Corbyn's chances of getting elected [leader] as the Left was about Labour's chances in the General Election. That's not an opinion - it's an evidence-based judgement.
But I'm sorry for coming across as attacking. That was not my intent.
hS -
I understand. by
on 2015-09-14 13:18:00 UTC
Link to this
Like I said, I thought your post was addressed to people on this board, so I took it more personally than I should've done.
Sorry for my stupid misunderstanding, and any upset it's caused anyone.
-
Brain Storm: A Secret Crisis? by
on 2015-09-15 04:33:00 UTC
Link to this
So, I have been toying around with some of my Agents, and a funny little idea popped into my head. Well, not funny, exactly, but it's a strange idea. I want to see what everyone thinks of it.
As you may all remember, or for all of the newbies here, who don't know this, the PPC has had several community-wide events called Crises that involve more craziness than usual. Such Crises include "the Crashing Down Crisis," "the Mary Sue Invasion of 2008," "the Macrovirus Crisis," and "the Black Cats Invasion." These don't tend to happen anymore, because these had been growing in intensity and frequency. Because of this, the Board decided to try and void doing these Crises anymore.
Bearing that in mind, I was wondering how difficult it would be for a small group of Agents to keep something that could potentially become a Crisis, or that is already a Crisis, but that doesn't yet directly involve the PPC, from becoming public knowledge, as well as shield the PPC from this Crisis?
I have no details on this concept whatsoever yet. It's just a vague idea. But I was wondering how far I could potentially bring this. If I play my cards right, and it's given a green light, I could take this idea pretty far and keep myself busy with it, compounded with actual missions, for a long time. And the best part is that the Crisis wouldn't be community wide, so no need to get any messy details. such as everyone meeting at the same time for a massive role-play, or whatever.
And of course, I reserve all rights to the idea (so to speak). Especially if it could actually go anywhere. If not, it's still my idea, but I would have to tinker with it a little.
Any thoughts? -
In addition to Catastrophe Theory... by
on 2015-09-16 14:14:00 UTC
Link to this
Both SeaTurtle and myself have written pieces about agents trying to avoid the Sundering (definitely an Emergency-level event) happening in the future. And Sergio's Blank Sprite also involves agents trying to keep an Emergency-level event hidden.
So, yeah, you can definitely do this kind of thing. But you can't really reserve the rights to it - the idea is already out there :)
- Irish -
Welcome to Catastrophe Theory by
on 2015-09-15 15:02:00 UTC
Link to this
This is basically the plot of the next story in the Catastrophe Theory series. "A small group of Agents race to prevent a PPC-wide Emergency. If they do it right, no one will ever know it happened."
I'm not saying you can't write a similar plot. I just want to make you aware of what is already out there.
-Phobos -
This is relevant to some stuff I've thought on, might email? (nm by
on 2015-09-16 00:55:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Email away by
on 2015-09-16 02:18:00 UTC
Link to this
Baridthetroll(at)gmail(dot)com
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I have it, thanks. Will do in the next few days. (nm) by
on 2015-09-16 02:25:00 UTC
Link to this
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Well, thanks for that. I'll check this out (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 20:23:00 UTC
Link to this
-
They weren't 'Crises'. They were Emergencies. by
on 2015-09-15 04:56:00 UTC
Link to this
And they were dubbed such because of several different criteria:
An Emergency is a large-scale, usually highly dangerous event with one or more of the following characteristics:
1. Involves large-scale action at HQ rather than taking place in the Word Worlds
2. Involves many (or all) agents, rather than just a few
3. Forces other Boarders into your story
4. Changes the structure or operation of the PPC
5. Involves large-scale battles
6. Involves a lethal threat to one or more continua
The sort of thing you're talking about ("doesn't yet directly involve the PPC") wouldn't qualify for any of the above. As far as I know, there has never been a 'Secret Emergency' because they've always been loud, violent, and drag everyone in HQ into the story.
Not included in this general dislike of Emergencies are missions that involve calling in backup, events with multiple writers (such as the Australian Indoor-Rules Quiddich games), co-written missions, teaming up to deal with a Legendary Badfic such as That Series, etc.
So I think you'd be pretty golden on this thing, as long as you don't break PPC canon and don't step on anyone else's toes. Look at things like JulyFlame's body-swap RP, or the Blackout. They were/are fun events that hit none of the Emergency 'checklist' points, and still left a decent impact on HQ.
I do have one question, though:
"I have no details on this concept whatsoever yet. It's just a vague idea. ... And of course, I reserve all rights to the idea (so to speak). Especially if it could actually go anywhere."
So... you reserve all rights to an idea you don't really have yet? -
RE: by
on 2015-09-15 13:13:00 UTC
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Alrighty, then!
Yep, pretty much. Well, I have the idea in its raw form, but it needs some major fleshing out first. But yeah, pretty much. -
When I say "void," I mean "avoid" (nm) by
on 2015-09-15 04:35:00 UTC
Link to this
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[shofar noises in the distance] by
on 2015-09-15 04:58:00 UTC
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L'shana tovah to all my fellow Jews hereabouts! Any favorite parts about the new year? (I'm partial to the apples and honey, myself :""D)
-
This goyim find "L'shana tovah" is supposed to be a greeting by
on 2015-09-15 13:09:00 UTC
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So today's Jewish New Year? Care to tell more about the calendar and celebration?
Malaysia is having a Malaysia Day tomorrow, 16th September, and the greeting is Selamat Hari Malaysia. -
I'll probably add more details about the holiday... by
on 2015-09-17 16:04:00 UTC
Link to this
...to the mix later, but as I don't seem to be getting to that yet, I'll just put in one thing--goyim is a Hebrew word and is actually plural. Goy is singular. You otherwise used it correctly, though :)
And another language note--people don't always have the l' attached, so one hears shana tova equally frequently (or more frequently, in my experience). What's the difference? Shana tova literally means 'good year', and is used as, essentially, 'happy new year'. L'shana tova is more in line with 'to a good year'--the wording is about how you'd phrase it if you were making a toast: l'shana tova! L'chaim! See? I assume it's used about the same way as 'shana tova', though--Rats, do please correct me if that's not how you've heard it? Like I said, I'm more used to hearing it as shana tova without the l'.
/this has been Language Learning with DawnFire.
Also,Selamat Hari Malaysia one day late! Did you have fun? I know you described in general what people do--did you do anything differently?
(Also, I get the feeling this is the first time we've spoken in a while, which, considering we had some good conversations back in 2013, is a shame. How've you been?)
~DF -
We are figuring out how to enjoy it. by
on 2015-09-19 12:25:00 UTC
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My heart is gladdened on this day. The peace of Sabah, Sarawak and most of Malaysian Peninsular lays untouched. There are pockets of unrest, but I'll explain if everyone's okay with this place not becoming a flamethrowing river of political banter.
Sabah is my state in Malaysia, and we mostly spend the day as extra day off, relaxing, enjoying the views, and resting at home, since this year some companies stationed in Indonesia decided it's a great plan to burn forest fires. The fires causes haze, that aren't very severe here yet, and affects Indonesia worse. Sorry, Indonesia, I'm not blaming you, in fact, there are someone closer to home that should be responsible.
As for Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, they are warming up to the idea of Malaysia Day. But the celebration is still a little slow.
Pardon my mistakes in Hebrew, I have yet the opportunity to master such ancient and wise language.
But in English, do we borrow the plurals as well as the singular? I mean, when I borrow 'goyim' into Malay, I will still say 'goyim', despite knowing it's plural. And in Malay, to plural, we repeat the words. So 'goyim' borrowed to Malay becomes 'goy-goy'. But we don't actually do that. We just to find the words that can fit the meaning. So goyim becomes 'bukan orang Yahudi'(not the Jewsih people). -
Sounds about right to me! by
on 2015-09-19 03:15:00 UTC
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I. . . Honestly have no clue with regards to "l'shana tova" vs "shana tova", I've always just said the former :"D I know approximately zero Hebrew so it's definitely possible I'm using it wrong or something?? Haha. . .!
(I have no clue if that parenthetical is addressed to me or not?? Ahhh *__*;; ) -
I think... by
on 2015-09-19 05:30:00 UTC
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"L'shana tova" vs "shana tova" is cultural — we only ever use the latter here in Israel.
-
Yep! by
on 2015-09-15 16:17:00 UTC
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Oh man, you got me started and now I will never stop talking.
Yep, Rosh Hashanah! It's a two day holiday, started Sunday night this year and will end tonight. The Jewish calendar itself is lunar based, so every once in a while there's a leap month (literally just called Adar2, lol) to keep the holidays on track with the seasons they're supposed to be in! For example, Passover needs to be in spring, while Rosh Hashanah is in the fall. The date was chosen because of the agricultural cycle.
The holiday itself, while a new year celebration, is also considered part of an atonement time! According to tradition, it's during the course of Rosh Hashanah that the books of judgement are opened in heaven. Names are recorded into books of "wicked" and "good" or something to that regard, and you have the next ten days (until Yom Kippur next Wednesday!) to reflect on your year and try to remedy or feel sorry for any wrongs you committed. You're supposed to fast on the day of Yom Kippur, and there's also this bit I like where you're supposed to make a paper boat and float it down the river to represent your wrongdoings being washed away. I think? I can't find any record of that online but I definitely remember learning about it in Hebrew school. :T
Anyways, with regard to Rosh Hashanah, some traditions include eating round challah bread to represent the circular nature of the year and apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year. Some places have a fish head on the table to symbolize a prayer consisting of "let us be the head (leaders) not the tail (followers)". You're also supposed to go to temple and hear a rabbi blow a shofar, which is a hollowed out horn, because it supposedly resembles a baby's cry and reminds us of our sorrow. Nice stuff haha. . .
So yeah!! Jewish new year. Good times.
Malaysia Day! Is that like an independence day, or something else? -
Malaysia is formed on the day. by
on 2015-09-15 17:43:00 UTC
Link to this
It's a day to celebrate the formation of Malaysia from the states of Federation of Malay States, Sabah(North Borneo), Sarawak, and once upon a time, Singapore. Singapore was removed from the union. It's not very festive, but people flutter their flags around and generally be a bit more cheerful that day.
-
Since you told us about your country's formation... by
on 2015-09-18 16:18:00 UTC
Link to this
Allow me to tell about my country's independence. Independence Day here in Brazil is celebrated on September 7th, marking the anniversary of the Cry of Ipiranga, called as such because it happened in the shores of the Ipiranga Brook. This event occured in September 7th of 1822. Basically what happened was that Pedro I, then Prince Royal of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, declared independence from Portugal. The official (and somewhat mythical) version of this event can be best illustrated by the painting titled Independence or Death(which supposedly is what Pedro I shouted when he made the declaration):
It is important to note that although Independence Day is celebrated on the date of this event, actual official recognition from Portugal only came about in 1825. -
The river thingy... by
on 2015-09-15 16:24:00 UTC
Link to this
Is called Tashlikh. You go to a place with flowing water or the sea, turn your pockets inside out and say a special prayer. It symbolises throwing your sins away.
However, this tradition first appeared in 15th century Germany and probably isn't an original Jewish thing. -
!! Thank you!! by
on 2015-09-15 16:53:00 UTC
Link to this
I went online to fact check before and couldn't find it. That would explain why! Thanks man :)
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I think there's also a tradition to toss in some bread...? by
on 2015-09-17 16:18:00 UTC
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Pieces, that is? That's what I remember from a while ago, anyway, and some conversations I've had with my friends about ducks would seem to confirm it. I get the feeling it's just a tradition, though--if nothing else, the Artscroll machzor doesn't mention it that I saw.
Something cool that I learned this year, though, is that you're not limited to doing Tashlikh on Rosh Hashana itself--you can do it not only until Yom Kippur, but until Hoshana Rabbah--this year, that's October 4th. There's something like a three-week window. And neither I not my parents knew until this year, which explains why we haven't done it in a while. Wild, huh?
A bit more information: according, again, to the Artscroll machzor (special prayerbook for the High Holidays, for anyone who doesn't know and would like to), there are a whole bunch of prayers that you say--close to ten or fifteen, IIRC, though that's a complete estimate. I'm also pretty sure that outside the Orthodox movement there's a shorter version--I don't remember it being *that* long when I was a kid. The Artscroll says the same as Des for Tashlikh's time of origin, though I think it placed it even earlier (or else just have a more vague description of the time period). And while it's entirely likely that it was a practice adopted from a different culture, there are certainly reasons for it--I'd have to look again to see what they are, but I think there were two connections made with water and biblical occurrences. Basically--whatever it was originally, if it was adopted from somewhere else then it's been made quite meaningful.
~DF -
The singing! ^^ by
on 2015-09-15 12:57:00 UTC
Link to this
Though it could be because I just like getting to sing in general. XD
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I have had it! I need a vacation by
on 2015-09-15 22:19:00 UTC
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Okay, so apparently, I have offended some people here on the Board by voicing my opinions on certain matters that, honestly, are highly controversial anyway.
I'm not going to apologize for having different opinions from apparently everyone else, but I am going to declare an official ceasefire. I'm tired of the arguments, I'm tired of everyone getting mad at me, and I'm tired in general.
I think the best thing for everyone, then, would be for me to take the rest of the week off from the Board and come back when cooler heads have prevailed. And then, I would ask that political discussions not be brought up here on the Board again, because frankly, it's against the spirit of the Board's Constitution in that it's going to incite heated disagreements, and it will cause people to do and say things that they might normally not do or say.
To be clear, I am not apologizing. In fact, I feel that I am the one who ought to be apologized to.
I am a Christian, and that does NOT mean that I despise gay people. It does NOT mean that I support ethnic cleansings, or wars based solely on race. It does NOT mean that I am a bigot. In fact, it's frankly rather bigoted to assume that I am a bigot, based solely on the fact that I am a Christian.
I do support Israel's right to exist, and I love my country based on what it means to be an American, not based on the bad things that we have done in the past. And I certainly will defend the Bible against anyone, even people that I consider friends. It breaks my heart that I would even need to do that, but I am drawing a line in the sand in that respect.
And I will not hide the fact that I am a Christian, and I will not apologize for it.
What I do apologize for is allowing this entire, stupid situation to blow out of proportion. I love this community. I really do. But honestly, I feel threatened by this hostile environment that we have all accidentally created over the past day or so. There's no point in trying to convince me otherwise, because some of the words that have been said to me have been quite hostile to my viewpoint, and I feel, to me personally.
So I'm going to leave for a little while. I feel saddened that this is necessary, but I'm doing this for the sake of everyone else in this community.
I'm sorry, everyone, that it has come to this. If we can agree to disagree, then I'll see everyone in one week's time. If not... well, let's leave it at this. I hope we can all work together to move past this.
Goodbye for now, PPC. -
I did the same thing, in a similar fashion. by
on 2015-09-17 02:09:00 UTC
Link to this
I haven't looked through all of the posts, so I don't know your arguments are the arguments used against you, but I was in the exact same position right after the same-sex marriage ruling. In the form of debate, it was (or, rather, it felt like) me v. everyone else, and that wasn't fun.
Anyway, I left for a week, came back, and I've been reading books relevant to discussed topics since. I've learned a lot. I think the vacation will be good for you. One thing I recommend; once you've calmed down a bit (are your hands cold? My hands got really cold when I was trying to debate) go back through people's replies and find the weak points. You can even try going through them and rebutting them, if you want (on a GDoc, I mean). It's good practice. Anyway, I'm praying for you, and I hope you enjoy your vacation.
-Alleb
(P.S. When you're back on the Board, page me, and we can set up a mibit chatroom if you want. I'd like to hear, in a more relaxed setting, what you think and how you tried to demonstrate it.) -
May I suggest... by
on 2015-09-18 15:37:00 UTC
Link to this
... and maybe this is actually what you meant, I'm not sure...
But, instead of going through people's replies and finding the weak points in their arguments, try going through your own posts and finding the weak points in your own arguments. That's the only way you're going to improve your rhetoric.
Also, implying that you're so very right that only the other side can have weak arguments is pretty insulting. I don't think you actually meant that, but I thought it ought to be pointed out. {= )
~Neshomeh, catching up on things. -
Ah, I see what you mean. by
on 2015-09-18 20:24:00 UTC
Link to this
And I apologize; you're right, the implication is insulting. I assure you that I didn't mean it that way.
Also, you wrote your reply very tactfully. It was a gentle pointing out, not an accusation, and rather than simply telling me what I had said wrong, you gave a viable alternative. Just... very nicely done. :) The world could use more people who know how to phrase things as nicely as you do.
-Alleb -
I think everyone has that one argument by
on 2015-09-17 07:42:00 UTC
Link to this
I remember mine, it was shortly after I joined, and it was a Free Speech Question. I may have started slightly reasonable, but it deteriorated very quickly. It was not my proudest moment. I was basically making stray arguments and it was, well frankly fact-free. I knew I was not going to change my mind, and it became clear that the other sides were not going to budge, but instead of being reasonable I resorted to gut and visceral arguments.
And old bit of advice for attorneys is this. If the law is on your side, pound the law. If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If neither is on your side, pound the table. Basically that means, just get angry and impassioned and hope for the best.
Though this current argument now in question, there were a few ad hominem towards the end. And that does make a big difference. And if I recall your argument earlier this summer never got to the personal attacks. This one was a bit more personal. -
I seem to inadvertently start firestorms. by
on 2015-09-17 16:34:00 UTC
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If it were at all intentional, I would be some master troll.
The largest one that I was involved with was probably the Fallout: Equestria one. Don't feel guilty though, as I was on the stronger side. Bitter? Oh yes. But regret? I managed to keep my cool.
However, the one that made me step back a bit was probably the free speech on jokes one. Punching up vs punching down, people needing to accept other forms of humor, all that fun stuff. I made some piss poor analogies, and overall bad arguments. I still believe in what I said, but I did question my beliefs for quite a bit. -
Your Free Speech one... by
on 2015-09-17 18:31:00 UTC
Link to this
Was much the same for me. Mine was more of censorship of any kind is bad, which if very pro-free speech nations, like the US, is still a minority viewpoint. But as I said, I just got visceral and angry. I was not arguing from a position of strength. Which is why I looked terrible.
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I refer to that as the "Great Debate." by
on 2015-09-17 13:08:00 UTC
Link to this
Honestly, it's one of the better things that's happened to me. I had thought, foolishly and arrogantly, that I was good at debating, but I didn't really have the first clue. Since then, I've learned so much, about so much. It's great!
Oh, also, you were one of the people I had contact with on evolution, right? Well, here is a book I think you might find interesting. It's from a journalist's PoV, and it deals entirely with scientific, logical, and some philosophical (towards the end) arguments for a Creator. It's brilliant, and I absolutely love it.
-Alleb -
I am sorry to contradict you... by
on 2015-09-18 07:51:00 UTC
Link to this
...but the question of a creator is unscientific. By this I mean it is outside the scope of science.
Science advances by disproving things. By the very nature of a creator, it is outside the scope of observation and thus unable to be refuted. For any experiment that could be devised, there are two equally-supported hypotheses: the results are due to laws that came about independently of a creator; or they are due to laws devised by a creator. There cannot be an experiment that separates these two hypotheses. Thus, the existence or non-existence of a creator is not scientific, but philosophical. -
Non-overlapping magisteria, yes. by
on 2015-09-18 20:25:00 UTC
Link to this
The book contains no conclusive proof of a Creator, because you're right. No experiment can prove or disprove God. But it does highlight some of the fingerprints of God, and it gives good reasons to believe in Him. It's just an all-around fun read; I thoroughly recommend it.
-Alleb -
Relevant: by
on 2015-09-20 10:11:00 UTC
Link to this
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But that's not my only basis for believing. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:53:00 UTC
Link to this
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Experiments could prove the existence of (a) god. by
on 2015-09-19 07:33:00 UTC
Link to this
If the cosmic microwave background had turned out to include a clear binary encoding of Genesis 1, that would be pretty conclusive proof (once human intervention had been ruled out) that the universe had been created by something that associated itself with the God of the Bible, and that it either had access to time travel, was intervening in the universe on a continuous basis, or had dictated Genesis 1 to someone at some point.
(It didn't, for the record.)
But the key is disprove. The scientific method isn't about looking randomly at the universe and seeing what you find. It's about forming a testable hypothesis - 'God will have imprinted Bible texts on the CMB' - and devising an experiment to check if it's true - which it wasn't, though this was not a proper experiment, because I had the answer before I wrote the question.
If you postulate (say) 'God will save any Christian from being mauled by lions, a la Daniel, provided that Christian prays continuously and sincerely during the test'... then that's very easy, though unethical, to check. (And then the Christian reporters say, 'Clearly she just wasn't sincere enough... let's get some more subjects...')
I do not recommend doing that.
But until you can point to a specific physical measurable effect and say, 'If you do this, then this will happen, and there is no possible cause other than an intelligent operator', no, no experiment can disprove God.
hS -
That example... by
on 2015-09-19 20:59:00 UTC
Link to this
That's not scientific proof. It's a strong philosophical argument, or would have been if it had happened that way. So I disagree with your subject line, but the rest is in agreement with me.
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I'm really curious. by
on 2015-09-20 17:39:00 UTC
Link to this
Why not?
The appearance of a massively-long coherent and previously-determined-as-meaningful text in the CMB is a horrifyingly unlikely event. That means it needs explaining as something other than randomness - because it's clearly non-random.
The only explanations I can come up with - scientifically speaking - are 1/ intervention at the detection level (which we ruled out, somehow), 2/ injection at the creation of the universe, and 3/ injection at a later point.
Either 2/ or 3/ would require unimaginable levels of power; I'd call that (a) god(s).
You're right that it can't be held as proof of a specific god, though, if that's what you were going for. That part's philosophical/logical deduction.
hS -
You're right. by
on 2015-09-20 19:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Apologies; I clearly wasn't thinking straight when I said that. Of course, as part of science it would still be subject to being superseded if new evidence came to light providing another explanation (such as us discovering time travel and someone travelling back to the beginning of the universe and using their super-technology to imprint it back then).
However, as we stand now, you are clearly correct: the existence of a being of phenomenal power would be the most rational explanation. -
I want to make a distinction... by
on 2015-09-19 07:10:00 UTC
Link to this
Between the Christian God and a Creator. A Creator is something akin to the Deist God — s/he/it created the universe and vanished. Such a God is indeed out of science's purview.
The Christian God, however, has a measurable effect on the world, if He exists (answering prayers, causing miracles, etc). Therefore He is very much within the purview of science, since you can devise experiments to disprove his actions. -
Ah, but... by
on 2015-09-19 20:56:00 UTC
Link to this
...you then run into the issue of omnipotence. Any experiment you could devise to disprove the existence of an omnipotent creator, no matter what the result, could be met with the counter-argument 'but what if God/Allah/the Flying Spaghetti Monster changed the results to make it look like he doesn't exist?' And thus the experiment is not able to disprove the omnipotent being's existence and is therefore unscientific.
Like I said, for any experiment we could conduct, natural causes and a divine being are equally valid explanations (unless said being both interacts with the universe in measurable ways and is not omnipotent - are there any religions like that?)
((I guess this is going to be my "big argument"? Seeing as I haven't had one yet...)) -
Can I just say... by
on 2015-09-17 03:22:00 UTC
Link to this
There's a difference between what you did and what he did: you weren't rude. I even felt like you were overly apologetic.
Plus you were arguing about evolution, which isn't going to offend anyone. This... is a whole other thing.
~Seafarer, who apparently has a thing about reading trainwreck arguments. -
*gasps loudly* by
on 2015-09-17 12:58:00 UTC
Link to this
I was overly apologetic? OHMYGOSHI'MSOSORRYYY.
*coughs* Eheh, actually sorry for that.
Well, I think I annoyed Des (probably a few more), but because he's a cool dude he forgave me.
-Alleb -
Well... by
on 2015-09-17 15:35:00 UTC
Link to this
As I've said back then, I'm not the sort of person to hold grudges (for the most part: if you've earned my hatred — a very hard accomplishment indeed; it happened exactly twice in my life — then you've earned it forever). I also get the idea that I don't have to agree on anything with someone in order for that person to be a friend of mine.
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I think that's a good approach. (nm) by
on 2015-09-17 20:00:00 UTC
Link to this
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I'm sorry, I can't resist: by
on 2015-09-16 21:40:00 UTC
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I am a Christian, and that does NOT mean that I despise gay people.
Hi there, Mr Straw Man!
Dude, nobody made this equivalence. Not a single person said 'you're a Christian; you must be bigoted.' People have been calling you bigoted because you have been expressing bigoted beliefs. (Note: I am not intending to call you a bigot, though I vehemently disagree with your views on gay marriage.)
Also: people don't want you to apologise for having different opinions. They want you to apologise for being rude to them.
Other people have covered the other points, but I'll add that I don't remember hS ever being offended enough to directly ask for an apology on his own behalf.
Oh, and that last bit seems like an appeal to emotion to get us to pity you and go easy on you. I doubt you'll ever read this, but just know that it won't work.
See you in a week. -
My views can be summarized thus: by
on 2015-09-16 10:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Take it away, Mr. Wilder!
Your bigotry doesn't warrant an apology just because you were called out on it. -
That's nice. by
on 2015-09-16 07:42:00 UTC
Link to this
Can you apologise to me for deliberately, directly insulting me with your incredibly condescending post about how reading the Bible cover-to-cover and spending eight years studying it every single weekend doesn't equip me to understand it - doesn't make me smart enough to understand it?
Because I'm not really interested in seeing you around again unless you're capable of actually admitting that was incredibly insulting and wrong. Weird, I know.
hS -
Will refrain from rebutting. by
on 2015-09-16 00:25:00 UTC
Link to this
I was about to type a lengthy reply to the response you made to me on that other post, in a possibly not-very-nice way: systematically picking apart what I see wrong, line by line. I can respect your wish to drop that thread and will not respond there.
However, I will disagree on one point here. If you think that being gay is a sin, I will consider your opinions bigoted. That is just how I'm going to roll, as a queer Jew who has problems with people trying to impose Christian values on legislative policies and American society as a whole. You're right that Christian =/= bigot. You are completely entitled to think whatever you want, regardless of your religion, and I can agree to the fact that you are entitled to your opinion and free speech and whatnot. I am equally entitled to be "hostile" to that viewpoint (though I don't think that was addressing me, specifically, as I did my best to be as non-hostile as possible; if not, please correct me and point out where :"O ) just as your words seem hostile to me.
I have had zero intention of attacking you as a person because I honestly hate the ad hominem logical fallacy so much. What I will contest is your words and the opinions you express.
Have a good vacation, and I hope that even if we don't end up seeing eye-to-eye on this, that we can agree to be cordial towards each other! -
May I ask you a question? by
on 2015-09-17 12:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Are you human?
If the answer is yes, awesome! I will do my very best to show you the perfect love of Christ. Are you gay? I don't care. Lesbian? Don't care. Queer, straight, transgender? I am not caring of this thing. You are human, and you're not getting out of that; therefore, to the best of my ability, I will show you the love that Christ has given me. God is no respecter of persons, and I'm trying to be the same.
If the answer is no, and (as your Boarder name says) you are actually some rats operating a keyboard... congratulations on your grammar, I guess?
-Alleb, who is a Christian, if anyone was wondering about that. They probably weren't. This is a long sign-off. -
? by
on 2015-09-23 21:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Not gonna lie, I'm not sure what exactly this is in response to! :0 I don't have issues with Christians, if that's what you're worried about- see "You're right that Christian =/= bigot" in my first post :p
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I apologize for the confusion. by
on 2015-09-23 21:30:00 UTC
Link to this
It seemed to me like that was what you were saying, so I thought I would try to answer.
-Alleb
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Hey, relax. by
on 2015-09-15 22:29:00 UTC
Link to this
No one wants you to apologize for being Christian. Nor does anyone want you to apologize for being American. Or for being pro-Israel. I think some people would probably like you to apologize for saying their relationship is a sin, but eh, whatever. If you ever change your mind, cool, if not, meh.
I do take exception to the idea that political threads should be gone - I've actually rather enjoyed most of the thread, even the disagreements. Honestly, I don't think it's been that hostile. We've had far more heated debates - for example when same-sex marriage passed the first time around in the US. I haven't seen anyone get heated, except when autism came into the conversation - people have just been calling your beliefs into question in ways you dislike, but I have not seen anyone attack you for them, or tell you to stop caring about the Bible or America. Nor has anyone called you a bigot for being a Christian. Multiple people have pointed out to you that they are also Christians, but disagree with you on the definition of sin. That's been a fact of Christianity for like two thousand years or so.
I'll say it one more time: many of the PPC Board members are also Christian, and no one wants you to hide, apologize for, or stop being Christian. Yes, most of us have tried to change your mind on a few fine points of your theology, but that's not the same as attacking your religion. Hopefully if you read the thread again in a week or so of cooling off, you'll see what I mean.
Good luck with the rest of your week-or-so, I'll see you when the thread falls off the edge. -
Oh - on political debates. by
on 2015-09-16 02:25:00 UTC
Link to this
The Constitution:
4. We encourage respectful, friendly debates here. Someone disagreeing your opinion is generally not an attack on you, and should not be taken personally. Should a debate escalate into personal attacks, flaming, or any form of disrespectful conduct for any reason, everyone involved should step back and calm down before continuing. If this cannot be done, it may be best to abandon the conversation entirely.
There was one point, I think, where someone (Voyd I think?) said, rather than "that thing you just said sounds bigoted," which is okay, to "you are a bigot" or somesuch. I'd like to take this moment to remind everyone to be careful and check their rhetoric before submitting.
…and also to apologize for any places where I've done that.
Now, for the love of all that is good and holy, someone burn this soapbox. -
Agreed. by
on 2015-09-16 02:58:00 UTC
Link to this
Burning soapboxes is always fun. Unless there's actual soap inside. Actually, come to think of it, fire in general is fun...
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Did somebody say FIRE? by
on 2015-09-16 03:10:00 UTC
Link to this
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Worldbuilding... stuff. by
on 2015-09-16 00:17:00 UTC
Link to this
I might not seem very good at worldbuilding, but that was due to time constraints IRL. In other words, couldn't actually post what I really wanted to post. Anyways, onwards to my questions.
First: Do you think a country could function as a totally efficient, non-corrupt totalitarian dictatorship? As in, every citizen has no value to the state beyond their skills and ability to fight for the system, but 'The Man' does provide exactly what all the citizens would need to flourish?
For example: eight hour work day where you go to an office, do some programming, and try to ignore the cameras and listening devices. Then, the state issues you food, water, fuel for your assigned vehicle,and medical care.
I'm trying to pose a moral dilemma: Who gets control of the Milky Way? As such, I want no space-nations (not the in-game name) to be true strawmen. All of them could be fairly considered, including the relatively dystopian one. I was thinking that their trains would be the only ones which run on time, and have a guarantee that they won't be attacked by raiders. Do you think that would be a good enough reason to choose them?
The reason I'm asking about this faction in particular is because, well, I thought it would be hardest to convince players to choose them. If anyone needs more info, I can provide it. -
More info... by
on 2015-09-16 23:34:00 UTC
Link to this
This faction, Anarchy LTD, is run by a totally emotionless semi-human CEO, who's ultimate goal is, essentially, the singularity. They want to elevate people to a whole new level of existence, and in their mindset, anyone who rejects this notion is completely insane, and will be re-educated, reprogrammed, or mindwiped to get the job done. As long as you do your job and don't spread dissent, you get the single most advanced police and security force genuinely keeping you safe. Anarchy LTD has life insurance, as in, if you die, they will attempt to resurrect you. And this isn't one-in-ten chance resurrection, either, this is 'almost guaranteed to work' resurrection.
Order is very important to Anarchy LTD, and they use a "perfect" justice system that involves supercomputer and AI simulations, as well as mind-probing. Morality is no concern of theirs, and the most efficient action will always be the one that is taken, no matter how good or evil. If they could spend ten-thousand soldiers, and get enough profit from that spending to make ten-thousand more, plus profit, they would do it in a heartbeat.
Simply put, nobody else can offer the combination of stability, safety, efficiency, and technology that Anarchy LTD does. The Milky Way is already beset by threats that the other faction may not be able to handle. Plus, a lot of the other factions may not be ready to rule a whole galaxy. Anarchy LTD has two, already, so they have the experience. -
Interesting. by
on 2015-09-22 12:49:00 UTC
Link to this
That seems to cover a couple of the major hurdles for this kind of government: you've got a non-human, and presumably non-corruptible, individual in charge (like I thought would be required), and you've got the 'ruthlessly crushing dissent' that hS thought would be necessary for such a system to work.
My main thought now is that you might want to think about making sure that Anarchy LTD aren't too powerful in comparison to the other factions. You've said that 'a lot of the other factions may not be ready to rule a whole galaxy', but that Anarchy 'have two galaxies under their rule already, as well as the most advanced tech in the setting'. This implies to me that they are significantly bigger than anyone else, and they've got the best weapons and armour (and all sorts of other stuff, but it's the military that will become relevant in a moment). They also display genocidical tendencies ('in their mindset, anyone who rejects this [attempt to trigger the singularity] notion is completely insane, and will be re-educated, reprogrammed, or mindwiped'), so why haven't they wiped out / enslaved / converted everyone else yet? Which faction, if any, could go toe-to-toe with them? Or is it a case of every other faction would have to band together to stand up to them?
- Irish -
My thoughts by
on 2015-09-16 20:08:00 UTC
Link to this
A totally efficient, non-corrupt totalitarian dictatorship. This almost sounds sounds like you are setting up something similar to how the Soviet Union was (in theory) or even the Third Reich (again in theory) was supposed to be. I think then the answer is very similar to what Irish said. We have seen such a fictional representation, the Empire from Star Wars was very much the Third Reich in Space.
But the ultimate answer is anything could work from a theoretical standpoint if written well enough. But unless you establish your citizens as different, what ultimately will happen is people will project. And one such projection is absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now if you want to avoid strawmen, a way to do that would be make all your nations equally corrupt, just have it manifest in ways.
We do need to know a bit more about what you are actually going for to determine if your reasons are sufficient. However, if you want to make a sympathetic dictatorship, I do recommend you look at the Empire from Star Wars. Look at what makes them so popular. For example you could, as I think you state in another post, show that the galaxy is very dangerous and war is a common occurrence. There may be little in the way of personal freedoms, but this dictatorship has the only military truly capable of keeping its people safe.
Another approach you could do is look to earlier examples, such as the Roman Empire. Add and flesh out the culture of this dictatorship. Maybe they were or are a center of intergalactic trade. Maybe the greatest artisans of this era come from this dictatorship (a stretch sure, but it could work). Maybe they have the greatest minds in the galaxy. These are things you could give this dictatorship to make them more sympathetic and not a strawman.
I would like to know more about what you are trying to do. Without straight comparisons it will be hard to help you right now. -
No. But only because you included the words 'non-corrupt' by
on 2015-09-16 13:48:00 UTC
Link to this
I don't believe that a country could function with such a government, because I don't believe it would be possible to form such a government. Even if you could find a morally upstanding and totally incorruptible person (maybe you get an A.I. to do the job) you're still relying on every other person in the system to have those same levels of moral fortitude or corruption is going to sneak in.
'Can an efficient,non-corrupttotalitarian dictatorship be effective leadership?' Yes. Fiction has shown us many examples, such as the Empire from Star Wars (for all I know there are real life examples too).
As to whether I would choose these guys... well, that depends on what type of game you're talking about (can't see any indication of that). If you're talking about a space-based RTS, then the fluff saying that their trains run on time and they have no crime doesn't sound like it's going to be that relevant/important. If, on the other hand, you're talking about an immersive RPG then not being attacked by muggers in the city streets sounds like a good bonus.
Also, the perks that are available for the other choices make a difference here. If these guys have an OK bonus, but the others all get brilliant ones, then these guys aren't going to get chosen much. It's not so much about providing a good enough reason to choose one faction, as it is about providing balanced reasons for choosing any of them.
If you want a more detailed answer, you'll have to provide some info on what type of game you're thinking of, and what my other choices for faction are.
- Irish -
Only if they have lethal punishments. by
on 2015-09-16 11:12:00 UTC
Link to this
To get an effective totalitarian dictatorship without mind-control, you need to be utterly ruthless in crushing dissent. You need to see it the instant it starts, and eliminate the people involved. You need cameras literally everywhere; you make tampering with the cameras a capital offense; you execute anyone who does anything to undermine the system.
Per Doctor Doom:
"In one possible future, mankind becomes united. Cures for all diseases are found. Global conflict ends. Hunger is abolished, education is universal, and no-one goes without.
"In that world, there are laws. To break even the slightest of these is to suffer immediate and terminal punishment. After a while, no-one would dare lay hands upon the innocent, or commit a crime of hate, or steal bread from the table of another.
"Ten thousand futures have I looked at. A hundred thousand. And in only one does mankind finally unite, and flourish... and survive.
"Only one.
"Doomworld."
... but I'm not sure you can swing anyone on that. :D
An alternate model is the Radchaai Empire from the Ancillary Justice/Sword/Mercy books (I don't think the third one is out yet). They use 'reeducation' to remove criminals - it operates by making the thing they did wrong physically and mentally painful for them to do. One character was reeducated for anger issues, and now has to stay calm or double over in pain.
As a way of 'lightening' a dictatorship by removing the death penalty, it could work, though you'll still have to talk fast to make people accept it. The fact that it doesn't involve mind-wiping, but just hard-wired controls, will probably help. (See: Spike from Buffy, I believe)
hS
PS: Also, both of those ideas are absolutely terrifying and I'm not advocating them in any way. For the record. ~hS -
Interesting! by
on 2015-09-16 01:50:00 UTC
Link to this
First of all, I would read a book of your world (or play a game, or watch a movie/TV series, whichever medium you're using). So far it looks awesome.
To your question - I agree with Rats, there will inevitably be some group that the 'The Man' has no use for, and they won't be pleased by this. However, it's much easier to argue FOR them, when they do provide for their citizens. Mostly, anyway.
And if they're the only ones with safe, reliable transportation, then...well, that's definitely a good argument for being in charge, even if it is by conquest or something similar. -
Not just reliable transport... by
on 2015-09-16 02:28:00 UTC
Link to this
Raiders, space pirates and the like have become major issues for the galaxy due to a massive understaffing in the Gem Armada (The guys who USED to keep the peace). In fact, they've been forced to accept fully blooded gang members just to keep up with troop demand. In short, they're well meaning, but the old guard, who were the 'real' good guys are gone. So, it's up to the player if they want to leave the galaxy to these people.
On the other hand, there are no raiders, pirates, or really crime of any kind in Anarchy LTD. That's the totalitarian government, by the way. They also have two galaxies under their rule already, as well as the most advanced tech in the setting, so they know what they're doing when it comes to efficient government.
There will be two additional factions in the final product, as well. One of them is a culture of insane Klingons crossed with football hooligans. The other one is a 'workers paradise' that actually delivers on that promise. If this seems like a ramble, do forgive. I had to wake up early, and caffeine does strange things to me. -
I think you mean the best thing ever? by
on 2015-09-16 00:41:00 UTC
Link to this
Short answer: not really, in my opinion? Hmm.
Long answer: there will always be a group of people in a situation like this who are against the totalitarian dictatorship aspect, no matter how non-corrupt. If "every citizen has no value to the state beyond their skills and ability to fight for the system", there is inevitably going to be a group of people who are deemed invaluable but are also angry enough about it to fight that designation!
That's just what I'm getting from what you wrote; could've definitely misread! I bet it could function for a long while, but generally speaking, people aren't fond of not having freedom. :o -
That's not entirely true by
on 2015-09-16 19:57:00 UTC
Link to this
Different cultures and what not. In some parts of the world the people either prefer or need some kind of totalitarian government to function. Others the very idea is contrary to deeply held cultural norms.
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I can concede that! by
on 2015-09-19 03:19:00 UTC
Link to this
That actually sounds like a really interesting phenomenon; do you have any links to examples? :00
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Nothing direct, but... by
on 2015-09-19 07:46:00 UTC
Link to this
As far as things go anti-authoritarian one need only look to Western Europe/North America. As for the other end, you can see differences between the more Authoritarian Regimes followed by traditional democratic regimes (The Middle East tends to come to mind).
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Beta request by
on 2015-09-16 06:12:00 UTC
Link to this
I've just finished a new mission, this time involving someone fit and someone feeling it! The continuum is Tomb Raider, the 2013 remake specifically, and I need one or two people with canon knowledge to beta read (three betas in total).
If you're interested in helping out a birb, then please feel free to shoot an email to skarmorysilver(at)gmail(dot)com!
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Weirdest Mission? by
on 2015-09-16 20:54:00 UTC
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Time to tell tales, fellow Tellers of Tales! (Couldn't think of any more "T" words, shaddap.)
So, what was yer weirdest, most bizarre mission? -
DoWTF wins. Hands, tentacles, and random appendages down. by
on 2015-09-17 15:22:00 UTC
Link to this
What The gets all the weird ones, of course!
Let's see. There was the one where the Sue seduced... God. *cringe*. (We no longer do Bible missions, but that was a really weird one.)
Or the one that took place in two-dimensional Flatland.
On the other hand, there's the mission to "Hogwarts and the Giant Squid"... yes, it's the slashy kind of "and".
Or the legolas by laura mission, with the sheer crazy of the horrible grammar and inadvertent pedophilia.
I get the feeling that quite a few fics that should be handled by DoWT are handled by Floaters because someone signed up for just the wrong continuum, never believing that someone would write a fic in that 'verse.
Weirdest missionable fic I ever read? Probably "Minesweeper" badfic. Yes. I still don't know how you'd go about missioning that, and I'm not going to try seeing as how I'm a long-time PPCer but don't write missions (yet) and really ought to get practice on normal ones. But that's a definite DoWT candidate if I ever saw one. -
...well, if I'm limited to missions. by
on 2015-09-17 02:32:00 UTC
Link to this
It's probably this one. Summary's inside and all, but it's basically a LotR mission with disguises gone wrong and a mouthy CAD :)
Outside of missions? Probably my Blackout interlude, the next part of which I'm hoping to finish soonyes after two years, hush. That one's definitely full of bizarre happenings. It's very, very fun to write, though. It's linked on Dawn McKenna's agent page, if you care to go looking at the non-mission entry.
~DF -
It's not out yet. And no, I'm not telling you what it is. by
on 2015-09-17 00:29:00 UTC
Link to this
Just know, when you do read it, you will know exactly what I mean when I say that it was the most beautiful dip into madness and lulz I have ever, and likely will ever, get into.
Unless I do PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP (may have dropped a few P's). Then it would get madder. -
??? by
on 2015-09-17 01:08:00 UTC
Link to this
What, pray tell, is "PPPPPPPPPPPPP" (or however many P's that's supposed to be)?
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Ever hear of Thirty Hs? by
on 2015-09-17 01:23:00 UTC
Link to this
PPPPPPPPPPPP is the pony version of it.
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The name sounds familiar by
on 2015-09-17 01:28:00 UTC
Link to this
but I don't know what it refers to. And I'm willing to bet that I don't want to. So I'll just ask: What canon?
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It is the most brilliant work of art ever written. by
on 2015-09-17 02:18:00 UTC
Link to this
You should read it. As long as you don't value your sanity, which, if you do, why are you even here?
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Harry Potter. by
on 2015-09-17 01:52:00 UTC
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It involves Harry flying through space with a guitar named F***slayer, killing planets. And Dumblecop kicks planets in half with a leg made out of pistols.
Among other things. -
Fairly easy. by
on 2015-09-16 23:55:00 UTC
Link to this
Mostly because I haven't done very many.
However, my pick for weirdest is Rose cuts the Doctors penis off and puts it in a sock. It's... exactly what it says on the tin. And very, very strange. -
I forgot to put in the link. by
on 2015-09-16 23:58:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's the mission.
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The second mission I ever published: by
on 2015-09-16 23:32:00 UTC
Link to this
"Why We Can't Have Nice Things".
Yes, the fic really is as bizarre as its excerpts and the agents' reactions imply. Though I eventually concluded after some research that it was a trollfic after all, and rolled with it accordingly. -
Valon and Kala, mission 4. by
on 2015-09-16 23:28:00 UTC
Link to this
Seriously. Valon throws up in it.
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I think my only one counts. by
on 2015-09-16 23:22:00 UTC
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Half-angel, half-demon witch, who is both asexual and heterosexual (whenever she feels like it). She is an mpreg child of an Archangel and a demon of Hell; has souls of a dragon and a unicorn as her 'spirit guides' (they are also, for some reason, queer); has one normal with and one mechanical...
Yeah, this can go on for a moment... maybe just read THIS -
That's an easy one. by
on 2015-09-16 21:23:00 UTC
Link to this
This wasn't titled "A Stint into WhatThe" for nothing.
Featuring Sevlow Lawless Lupin, daughter of Remus and Tonks who would apparently have gotten married to Harry had the fanfic continued. She was a Metamorphmagus who liked to wear clothing made of hair and eyes, and for some unknown reason, James was alive, and Sirius was married to some OC named Destiny, and had a son named Sirius JR. And for some other unknown reason, Harry, James, Sirius, Destiny, Sirius JR and Remus all lived together in the same house.
My favorite part, though?
"I can change into a house cat, any kind of tigers, black panther, loin, cougar, cheetah, as long as it's a cat related I can change into it"
Yes, loin.
*passes over the Bleep* -
Loin?...Huh... by
on 2015-09-16 22:44:00 UTC
Link to this
At least you can't say it wasn't a "Meaty" transformation. Geddit? Meaty?...Sorry.
In all honesty, why the ... would you wear clothes made of hair? Wouldn't that itch? A lot?
-
T-Board changelog by
on 2015-09-17 00:53:00 UTC
Link to this
T-Board, the prototype replacement Board system, has been polished up a bit. It's now in a state where'd I'd be willing to spin up an actual test instance.
- Updated to Rails 4.2 and Bootstrap 3 (aka, technical mumbo-jumbo)
- Added spoiler tags (Nameless Admin, the CSS for those can be found here and is portable. If added, the syntax would be <a href="#s" title="Text to be hidden">Spoiler text</a>)
- Removed the "Author (posted by Real Username)" thing. Instead, if you click on the author's name when looking at a post, you get taken to their user page, which shows their real username and email. This seems like a better approximation to the quasi-anonymity of this Board than the old system
- Old bugs fixed, new ones inevitably introduced. Bug reports and other feedback welcome
P.S. Search doesn't work because of limitations of our hosting provider. -
Question about T-Board by
on 2015-09-24 09:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Not sure if this has come up before, but how many posts is T-Board capable of holding before old ones get deleted?
I'm sure that when I joined the PPC this current Board held posts from several years back, now it only seems to go back about 2 years. We still have the archives, but they're a lot harder to read than the Board.
So if we did start using T-Board, how far back would the board records go? I'm assuming it would be a case of 'total number of posts' rather than time thing (i.e. once a thread is over 2 years old it gets deleted).
- Irish -
Storage limits by
on 2015-09-24 15:21:00 UTC
Link to this
The main limits are
- Disk space (all the posts in the archive are around 50 MB, IIRC)
- The machine integer (since every post needs a unique ID). This is either 231-1 or 263-1, both of which are really huge numbers. (I'd have to look up how big the post IDs are)
- The place I'm hosting now (because it's free) has a 10k database row limit, which is pretty low. If we put the Board somewhere less annoying, this won't apply.
Also, the awkward spreadsheets are just one representation of the archives. Their canonical form is a not very human readable data dump that's meant to be imported into a T-Board installation. (The T-Board code has scripts for creating these dumps, importing them, and making .csv files out of them) -
For reference: by
on 2015-09-24 09:15:00 UTC
Link to this
The Board (and the Other Board) get 25,000 messages each. This was always the case; YWA were just very bad at archiving. (The previous cut-off was October 2008, which was when they changes names(?) from Server.com.)
hS -
Random... bug? Fact? by
on 2015-09-17 23:54:00 UTC
Link to this
So you can't scroll up and down the T-Board using the arrow keys. Is this intentional or not? I can't think of a particular reason why it would be. On the other hand, I'm not sure there's going to be a way to fix it.
It's the sort of thing that's not going to bother the vast majority of the userbase, but will be extremely irritating to the few that it actually affects. I wouldn't make it a priority or anything, but if it's a quick fix, I'd appreciate it. -
Cannot reproduce by
on 2015-09-17 23:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Browser + OS + anything relevant, please?
I can use arrow keys to scroll up and down on Firefox 40 on Ubuntu Linux. -
Hmm... Neither can I. by
on 2015-09-18 00:13:00 UTC
Link to this
So it was probably my computer deciding to be dumb, then, not an issue with the board.
-
It's working fine for me. by
on 2015-09-18 00:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Chrome and OSX, if that's relevant.
-
Already left some comments on the T-Board. by
on 2015-09-17 13:35:00 UTC
Link to this
Lemme copy them here...
Every time I want to view something under the poofed thread, I get a warning notice that I'm about to view a poofed thread pop up. Every. Single. Time.
Oh, you said you needed a ban test?
*holds out arms and paints a target on her chest*
...So using asterisks around text italicizes? That also bothers me. :P -
Re: coments by
on 2015-09-17 14:05:00 UTC
Link to this
- I can see how that thing would get annoying. I think it would be a one or two line change to make it only appear on the actual bad post. I'll get to it sometime later today, I think.
- I'll let hS test out that aspect of the mod flag.
- Yep. Markdown. Same formatting lots of websites use. Makes it so you don't have to screw around with HTML. For actual stars, put a backslash in front (that's this one \ )
- I can see how that thing would get annoying. I think it would be a one or two line change to make it only appear on the actual bad post. I'll get to it sometime later today, I think.
-
Change to poofing is in by
on 2015-09-17 15:07:00 UTC
Link to this
It's probably better this way.
-
Consider yourself banned. by
on 2015-09-17 14:01:00 UTC
Link to this
If you can poke it in the next hour and see what exactly happens, that'd be great.
Then I'm going to ban myself and see whether I'm allowed to lift it. Where's my head-spinning smiley?
hS -
No, if you ban yourself, you can't lift it (nm) by
on 2015-09-17 14:07:00 UTC
Link to this
-
That looks breakable. by
on 2015-09-17 14:14:00 UTC
Link to this
From what I can see, the 'ban' actually just logs you out and throws up a big 'you're banned' message. Is there really no way for a user to force their login to stick?
hS -
The ban is checked every time that by
on 2015-09-17 14:24:00 UTC
Link to this
you try to:
a) Create, edit, preview, etc. a post
b) Look at a user page (and maybe access some of the more obscure corners of the registration system, like a password reset)
c) Watch/unwatch a thread
d) Do anything ban-related (except see the page informing you of your ban)
Apparently, there's a way to hook bans into the fabric of the user account. I'd have to figure out how to do that. -
Aright, when I went to reply to your post... by
on 2015-09-17 14:04:00 UTC
Link to this
I had to log back in, whereupon I promptly got the following message:
403 - You're Banned!
The user Iximaz is banned. The reason for this ban is: "She's a filthy swine". This ban will last until 2015-09-17 13:59:56 UTC, that is, for about 1 hour more.
If you believe you've been banned in error, please contact the Board admin.
BAN EVASION WILL RESULT IN A LONGER BAN.
I'll have you know pigs are actually some of the cleanest animals in the barnyard, thank you very much! :P -
You're unbanned. by
on 2015-09-17 14:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Probably. Go check.
hS -
Done and done. by
on 2015-09-17 14:17:00 UTC
Link to this
I did notice another thing. I clicked the box that said 'Remember me' but I still have to log in every time I close out of the tab. Might be something to look into.
-
Further comments: by
on 2015-09-17 12:49:00 UTC
Link to this
-I see I have editing access to World-Jumper's post. Accidental, global, or special? I'm guessing the latter by the fact that I also seem to have ban access (which will need someone else on hand to test it - any volunteers?).
-Editing interacts badly with the user-page thing: World-Jumper's name now links to my profile, implying I wrote the original post.
-How many digits can your user list run to? I'm user 27; does it break if you hit three digits? Four? Ten (somehow)?
-When I logged in on this computer it was sitting on Subforum view. If that's a default view, it would be best to switch it to Sort By Date.
hS -
Re: your further comments by
on 2015-09-17 14:00:00 UTC
Link to this
- You have global edit (and ban) access because I set your mod flag years ago.
- That was intentional on my part. Can't have the Shadowy Cabal of Mods (tm) editing posts left and right without a trace :). Do note, that if you go look at the previous version and click the username, you see the actual author.
- I think we can have up to 2^31 - 1 user IDs and posts. We've got a long ways to go before that's an issue.
- The mode setting has a long memory. You were probably testing subforum mode years ago.
- You have global edit (and ban) access because I set your mod flag years ago.
-
The Shadowy Cabal. by
on 2015-09-17 14:09:00 UTC
Link to this
I agree that admin editing should be signposted, but I don't think hiding it behind the username is the best option. It's not obvious, and when you notice it, it looks like the whole post was written by a lying administrator.
Would it be possible to change the 'previous versions' thing to specify 'This post was edited on [date] by [mod/user]. The previous version is located here.', and leave the profile link intact?
hS -
It's possible by
on 2015-09-17 14:28:00 UTC
Link to this
I'd need yet another database field to store who actually edited tho post, but I can do that. The date, however, I can add pretty quickly.
-
Some little commentary. by
on 2015-09-17 08:23:00 UTC
Link to this
First of all, I am program and webpage illiterate. Consider me a rubber duck that can tell you exactly how lost it is.
The layout seems nice, on the whole. The spoiler system works, which is nice. I do find myself getting lost in threads, though. Even trying to go down hS's test posts made it hard to tell where in the conversation I was. Then again, that may just be me and my android.
I do like the tags, though their use to make subgroups makes me slightly nervous, but that is just me. However, on the mobile site, the tag checkboxes are cut off. You can barely click them, and can only see one pixel of the checkmark that tells you what you picked. If it helps, I'm using Firefox.
Other then that, it looks good. If when you are ready for a stress test, I can continue the Whose Line thread there.
Oh, yeah, I'm the Host by the way. Somebody else can totally take up the mantle if they so desire. Just, not in the middle of a game. I do want to keep things consistent, after all. -
Re: tag checkboxes by
on 2015-09-17 14:19:00 UTC
Link to this
Yep. That seems to be a thing. I'll try to figure out wtf. I hate mobile issues. So much harder to debug.
Thanks for letting me know. -
Fixed.? (nm) by
on 2015-09-17 15:07:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Yes, it is. Thanks! (nm) by
on 2015-09-17 16:04:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Commentary: by
on 2015-09-17 07:28:00 UTC
Link to this
-The poofed threads thing I've showcased.
--The poofed subthread... isn't poofed on the main view the way it is in a thread view? Is that because you're assuming the Bad Stuff will be message-content, not title?
-I keep trying to click 'watch this thread' instead of 'return to messages'.
-Your version of the header is out of date. (I know, not a bug report.)
-How do people feel about everyone having access to their email? Where 'everyone' presumably includes any moderately-intelligent spambot.
-Do you have any usage statistics available? That would be lovely.
I'm sure there'll be more.
hS -
Regarding e-mail addresses by
on 2015-09-17 10:24:00 UTC
Link to this
Unless I've missed it appearing somewhere else, your email address is only viewable after clicking on the 'Author' field, which takes you to the relevant userpage. However, you only get to view userpages if you're signed in - and I'm assuming that spambots (even moderately intelligent ones) aren't going to actually create accounts to sign in.
- Irish -
Yep. by
on 2015-09-17 13:53:00 UTC
Link to this
You can't see emails without an account. So, like you said, they're probably safe from spambots in a security by obscurity way (someone'd have to figure out the site exists, make an account, and rig a scraper for our user pages)
-
Apparently something went wrong. by
on 2015-09-17 01:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Won't allow me to reply.
-
Should be fixed ... by
on 2015-09-17 02:30:00 UTC
Link to this
in a minute or two.
I thought I'd zapped every call to that method.
-
Looking for a prereader by
on 2015-09-17 02:51:00 UTC
Link to this
I am currently working on a Pokémon/Bakugan crossover fanfic, and I recently finished a chapter, which has been betaed (by none other than our very own eatpraylove, to be exact).
However, I would like to get some feedback on it before publishing it, so I'm now looking for a prereader. The chapter is set in the Bakugan universe, but I don't require that you have so extensive a knowledge as you'd need to do a mission in the canon; as long as you have at least watched the anime (the New Vestroia season, to be exact), that's all I need.
If you're interested, please send me an e-mail; the link is above.
-
Talking of other boards by
on 2015-09-17 19:13:00 UTC
Link to this
I can't get the "Search" function to work on the RP board. It does nothing at all in both Chrome and Firefox. Anyone else have that problem?
(The one on this board works alright.) -
I also have this problem. by
on 2015-09-17 19:35:00 UTC
Link to this
To wit, clicking the 'search' button does diddly, even with text in the textbox — tried on Firefox 40.0.3, Chrome 45.0.2454.93 m (Windows 7 Professional), Firefox 32.0.3 and Chromium 37.0.2062.120 (Ubuntu 14.04); same result everywhere. Looks like it's Board-side and not browser- or OS-dependant.
-
Yup, I'm also getting that problem. by
on 2015-09-17 23:12:00 UTC
Link to this
With both Internet Explorer and Chrome.
I'm pretty sure that the search function has worked in the past.
- Irish -
Yeah, you can never find anyone in Ozerbord. by
on 2015-09-18 09:15:00 UTC
Link to this
Everyone keeps moving around all the time, so searching for them is practically impossible.
Ahem. I'll look into it.
~Lord Protector Huinesoron -
The divine Kanun Syorn and Spelin Tam-Ara... by
on 2015-09-18 09:22:00 UTC
Link to this
... have been beseeched for aid. Surely, by their mighty power the trials of finding people in Ozerbord will be alleviated.
(Or, in other words: nothing seems relevant in the settings, so I've asked the management.)
hS -
It be fixed. Yay! (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:35:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Search by
on 2015-09-17 19:14:00 UTC
Link to this
I can't get the "Search" function to work on this board. It does nothing at all in both Chrome and Firefox. Anyone else have that problem?
(The one on the main board works alright.) -
Doesn't work for me, either. by
on 2015-09-17 20:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Looks like the "Search" button itself isn't functioning.
-
Peaci Region AU (since it got booted off the front page) by
on 2015-09-17 22:44:00 UTC
Link to this
Lazygrace am lazy, but here's Voyd's Ice-type Gym. Enjoy!
---
The Gym:
It's full of monsters! And not of the pocket variety, either! Well, that's a bit of a misnomer; the enormous ice palace, modelled after a traditional shrine high in the mountains, is a place of pilgrimage for Pokemon and their fans alike. The cold mountain air is soothing and refreshing, and the gym itself is very sedate, a place to be with the Pokémon you love. Leader Voyd doesn't take battling very seriously unless he has to, preferring instead to train his team through gentle nurture and unshakeable friendship. Just don't let him near Arbok. They, er, they like him a little too much.
The Team (postgame):
Mega Glalie @ Glalitite
Inner Focus --> Refrigerate
Double-Edge
Freeze-Dry
Earthquake
Explosion
Rotom-Frost @ Magnet
Levitate
Thunderbolt
Blizzard
Confuse Ray
Dark Pulse
Abomasnow @ Icy Rock
Snow Warning
Swords Dance
Seed Bomb
Ice Shard
Rock Slide
Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Skill Link
Shell Smash
Icicle Spear
Rock Blast
Spike Cannon
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Thick Fat
Earthquake
Ice Shard
Knock Off
Icicle Crash
Cryogonal @ Never Melt Ice
Levitate
Rapid Spin
Hidden Power Fire
Freeze-Dry
Recover
The Phat Lewts:
The Gennep badge is a reference, I promise. To what would spoil the surprise. However, your other prize is TM79 Frost Breath, one that only refers to you having had a lovely time in the cold mountain air, and Leader Voyd's hope that you come back again some time. -
By the way... by
on 2015-09-19 18:34:00 UTC
Link to this
How come I don't have a Froslass? There is a yuki-onna in MonMusu, after all.
-
Because I just did preliminary research about MonMusu. by
on 2015-09-19 23:28:00 UTC
Link to this
I don't actually care about it.
-
Too bad there's no Cockroach Pokémon... by
on 2015-09-19 03:44:00 UTC
Link to this
I'd request it to be on my team in a heartbeat.
-
Blattodea are sadly underrated. =] (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 09:01:00 UTC
Link to this
- For Pippa: kitties! by on 2015-09-18 22:07:00 UTC Link to this
-
Yay, cats!!! Thanks!!! by
on 2015-09-19 02:56:00 UTC
Link to this
Although that "Persian" looks more like a Siamese cat to me. But never mind. Cats!!!!
-
Yeah, Gen I was weird in that regard. =] (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 09:00:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Can I be a trainer in Skarmory's Gym? by
on 2015-09-18 13:36:00 UTC
Link to this
Or the Water-type Gym, if there is one?
-
Paging EPL by
on 2015-09-19 01:07:00 UTC
Link to this
E-mail me, please, when you have the chance.
-
* Also pages EPL * by
on 2015-09-21 04:10:00 UTC
Link to this
Please also check the email I sent when you have the time.
-
Sure! =] by
on 2015-09-18 21:40:00 UTC
Link to this
Your team (in the postgame):-
---
Mantine @ Leftovers
Water Absorb
Defog
Scald
Toxic
Confuse Ray
Xatu @ Rocky Helmet
Magic Bounce
Psychic
Roost
Calm Mind
Heat Wave
Jumpluff @ Nothing
Infiltrator
Acrobatics
Sleep Powder
Swords Dance
Seed Bomb
---
Yeah, Gym trainers are gonna get three because, well, because I'm lazy. -
Ooo, pretty ^_^ (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 20:10:00 UTC
Link to this
-
If other Boarders would be indeed allowed to be trainers... by
on 2015-09-18 14:57:00 UTC
Link to this
Then could I be one at Des's Fire-type Gym?
-
With a name like mine... by
on 2015-09-18 14:10:00 UTC
Link to this
...did you think there wouldn't be a water-type Gym?
It's totally not a ripoff of Discworld, no, what are you talking about -
If Scape is cool with it... by
on 2015-09-18 13:39:00 UTC
Link to this
...then you are more than welcome to pal around with me in the jungle riding flying prehistoric Pokémon!
(Also, have you received my email?) -
Semi-relevant-slash-irrelevant post by
on 2015-09-18 04:28:00 UTC
Link to this
still waiting on my Flying-type gym btw
To those who have agents, missions, plans for missions, etc... If you could create a Pokemon team based on the agents you have so far (can be fewer than six), which Pokemon would you choose to represent each of your agents and why?
Falchion would be a Skarmory of course, Rashida would probably be a Persian (too bad it doesn't get Future Sight), Ripper would be an Archeops because feathered dinosaurs, and then among the other of my RCs I'd go with Cupid as a Togekiss, Sarah as a Staraptor, and maaaaaybe E.V.L. as a Mismagius.
Miscellaneous choices would be Rayner the Zebstrika (pity it's got sucky stats), Lapis the Horsea (or maybe a Lapras, or even a Sharpedo? IDK), Salvo the Electrode, Feratu the Crobat, and of course, Brenda the Rapidash.
Heh. All but two of my choices are Flying-type, but type coverage be damned. They all seemed appropriate enough. -
You got your Gym already. by
on 2015-09-18 05:27:00 UTC
Link to this
Right here.
-
...Huh. Okay, then! by
on 2015-09-18 13:36:00 UTC
Link to this
And I did check it out just now. Color me pleasantly surprised indeed - though I honestly thought Scape would’ve gone for Aerodactyl for the Mega, not just out of favoritism but also to tie into fit the prehistoric theme.
-
Ooh, nice! by
on 2015-09-17 22:49:00 UTC
Link to this
I... fail to get the badge's reference, sadly.
However... is the thing about Arbok a MonMusu reference?If so you picked the wrong species my favorite member of the harem is Suu -
Yup. by
on 2015-09-17 23:00:00 UTC
Link to this
The badge reference is that the founder of the idea of liminality of experience in history was Arnold van Gennep, though the cause was more enthusiastically taken up by Victor Turner, who I've been studying as part of my degree. As for the Arbok thing, that was more a reference to the main character of the show's, er, interesting dynamic with his impromptu serpentine roommate. There are other ones in there, scattered throughout; the emphasis on Japanese culture (mountain shrines being rather common in Shinto and Buddhist traditions) and the idea of being very good friends with your team being a less explicit version of the show's central harem comedy dynamic.
-
What are you studying, Scape? (nm) by
on 2015-09-18 04:21:00 UTC
Link to this
-
History. With additional cultural anthropology. (nm) by
on 2015-09-18 18:02:00 UTC
Link to this
-
This is about parenting. And Sharks. by
on 2015-09-18 20:58:00 UTC
Link to this
Originally I was just going to email this to only hS, but then I realized that a) it would catch his attention better on the board anyways and b) everyone could get a laugh out of it.
For those of you who aren't interested in parenting, however...
You are a shark in a strange blue sea.
Feel free to share other ridiculous things that've popped up through the internet that you've found, or think are funny. ;)
-July, with a shark army -
I am a big fan of Twitch Plays Parenting. by
on 2015-09-19 17:39:00 UTC
Link to this
That would be hilarious.
Since you know me, you can guess that I'm somewhere between Backseat Parenting and Ironic Hipster Parenting. Though some days I feel inclined to Paleo Parenting...
(Kaitlyn says she does French Parenting, but there's never enough wine...)
~
And.
Sharks.
What have you unleashed upon me?
(I have 1.48 megasharks, and 288 gigafish... has my life gone wrong or right?)
hS -
Yes! by
on 2015-09-19 22:00:00 UTC
Link to this
Very very right, I think.
-July, with the shark army -
Sharks! Did somebody say sharks!? by
on 2015-09-19 08:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Oh Celestia, it's cookie clicker for sharks. Thank you. This is the best.
I do kinda hope it could be updated to have cookie clicker like graphics. This game does not give you the same feeling of accomplishment these kind of games desperately need. When progression is your only mechanic, you need to have that progression feel good. Make it an accomplishment of its own to add another shark to your school. Each and every grandma in cookie clicker gives you a strong sense of acomplishment just byenslavinghiring one. Short of that, this is a solid clicker game, that I am interested to see where it goes. -
"cookie clicker" by
on 2015-09-21 06:53:00 UTC
Link to this
Oh Valar, what have you done to me?
-
Hey, nobody made you unleash the Grandmapocalypse. (nm) by
on 2015-09-21 09:57:00 UTC
Link to this
-
I'm not sure if you're joking? by
on 2015-09-19 21:57:00 UTC
Link to this
But you do get very much a sense of accomplishment because of the end sequences.
-
"When progression is your only mechanic." by
on 2015-09-19 10:24:00 UTC
Link to this
Nonsense! This game has lots of mechanics. I can't even count the number of different buttons available to click on. They've sullied pure progression with their 'interactivity'.
You should play Progress Quest instead.
hS -
Ah, yes, the sharks. by
on 2015-09-19 05:24:00 UTC
Link to this
"You are a shark in a dark mysterious sea.
The chimaeras are ancient kin of the shark kind, reunited through wild coincidence.
What peerless wonders have they found in the dark?"
The French parenting bit reminded me of this: have a Mental Omega. -
It seems my childhood... by
on 2015-09-19 02:46:00 UTC
Link to this
... involved Lion Parenting.
Granted, there were no actual wildebeests, but things did go pretty abruptly to wrack and ruin for a while there. Unlike Simba, though, nobody tricked me into thinking it was my fault; there are just external forces of crappiness that can gang up on you no matter what you do. Thus, my life was ruined with an odd combination of self-esteem plus anxiety, high personal standards plus lack of ambition. Life is weird, y'all.
There was also Philosophical Parenting, but I'm pretty sure everyone gets a bit of that. {= )
~Neshomeh -
Hehe. by
on 2015-09-19 21:55:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm pretty sure I was free range.
-
Interesting (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 01:07:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Ahh, the shark army. by
on 2015-09-18 21:07:00 UTC
Link to this
"You are a shark in a dark mysterious sea.
The whale song fills you with the same feeling as the gates. But so much smaller."
But I digress.
Strange/funny things found on the internet? Well, probably everyone has heard of this one, but... I present to you: QWOP.
I have only ever seen one person beat this game before: my brother, who ended up plowing right over the fifty-meter hurdle and dragged it behind him to the finish line. - Weird things on the internet, eh? by on 2015-09-19 04:28:00 UTC Link to this
- She's back. (New interlude) by on 2015-09-19 04:17:00 UTC Link to this
-
Oh dear, has someone committed an Orangism? by
on 2015-09-22 01:16:00 UTC
Link to this
As in, accidentally starting an argument about tone, causing people to argue? I certainly hope no circular arguments, that is, points that circle back around to the beginning of a debate, have been made or said.
(Be right back, I need to call the DRD on myself. And, it's not my fault if you read orangism as something else.) -
My own thoughts. by
on 2015-09-21 20:56:00 UTC
Link to this
First I'll start by saying there seems to be a whole lot of arguing going on below this, so I'll just get right to the story, which is frankly what people should be focusing on.
I'm just going to come out and say it. I like this story a lot. After an early moment of confusion (I'll touch that in a bit) it was enjoyable. I have seem a few comments about tone. I loved the tone. I love when we see something that breaks the mold, the impression I often have gotten through discussions and stories and such, was often "It must be funny or it's bad". This idea always kind of irritated me, because every writer has a different style, and not everyone can write a funny story, and not everyone wants to write comedy. This is a fantastic example of a story that was well written, dealt with mature themes, and frankly was not funny (at least I did not think so). This is not a bad thing. Comedy is not the end all be all.
Now on to the part of confusion. Very early on I got confused because in one paragraph you were using gender neutral pronouns. I was not sure who it was referring to. Further keep in mind not everyone knows gender neutral pronouns. I actually had to look it up to confirm it. Since it really came up in only one paragraph, my question is, do you really even need it? Just my thoughts on that.
Now final remarks on whatever seems to be going on below. From what I gather it seems that you want to resign as a PG because a few people did not think the tone was adequate. In the most bluntest form, I say screw them. First tone is the author's choice. Are you satisfied with the tone? If yes, then that's all that matters. I also think that going into a less expected tone/genre/etc. is the mark of a truly talented writer. I think tactically that was the right choice. I would even go so far as to say, that if this piece were humorous, it would not have worked.
Now time for a bit of a soapbox with regards to tone. I am all for opening the PPC community as a whole to "darker" tones. If someone wants to write something that is heavy on dramatic elements and low on humor, I say go for it. I think we can classify the PPC as a long-runner now. These things need to evolve, or they will stagnate. I think accepting "darker" toned pieces is a good decision. This is not the time for that debate so I will say no more about that.
But back to the resignation, I see absolutely no reason to do it. -
Tone is not the problem. by
on 2015-09-21 21:19:00 UTC
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Please reread my first response.
"That said, I don't personally like the direction being taken with the PPC here.
To me, at least, it's much too harsh."
This has nothing to do with the matter of tone. It has to do with an actual direction of things changing towards being authoritarian, to borrow the word.
His Elflordliness Huinesoron has written dark things set in the universe of the PPC. I have written things that are not comedy, and have dealt with mature issues. We are not saying 'no, everything must be funny'.
This has to do with the direction of taking something in the PPC itself in a direction that is against things that have been set previously as precedent for years.
This means that either there is a breaking of PPC-canon, or that things are going in an unsavory direction in-universe.
The second is the thing we are taking issue with.
There is a reason that we both listed a bunch of agents who had done similarly (without getting the book thrown at them). There is a reason that hS wrote the ficlet response that he did- which actually features and talks about agents that were involved in his HQ-focused series that had to do with the Department of Internal Security, which used to do the thing that the DIA is pulling in this story! His miniresponse is quite serious in tone because that's what was called for!
There is breaking the mold. This is when you do something new.
There is breaking the canon. This is when you are going against what has been previously established.
This was the second.
There is nothing wrong with having darker tones present in the PPC. But the PPC is not a "grimdark" universe. We charge for discordant tones and going against the themes of a canon at times for a reason. Needless to say, it goes for the PPC and people who write in this shared universe as well. -
What I am suggesting... by
on 2015-09-21 21:33:00 UTC
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Is that perhaps the canon can, and perhaps should evolve. I am also not going to go any further into this debate. There is a time and a place for that, and this was supposed to be me congratulating the writers on a story that I think was well written and quite enjoyable. I will also admit that I did not thoroughly read the responses pertaining to this debate, because I only wanted to briefly touch upon it. Otherwise I would have thrown my two cents directly into that debate. The final thing I will say here is that you seem to have two choices. Keep it the same or its going in the wrong direction. I think there are multiple options. I also personally like this direction because I enjoy seeing internal conflict. It makes it seem more realistic.
But because I do not want to derail this any further, I thought this was not only well written, but I enjoyed it. I for one am looking forward for how this arc plays out. -
My thoughts. by
on 2015-09-20 16:07:00 UTC
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I apologize ahead of time if what I'm about to say seems harsh; as I typically say at the head of these reviews, it's never my intention to insult or belittle. I've been thinking about this for a while now. A lot of what I'm about to say is going to be extremely subjective. You are free to accept or dismiss it as you like.
This piece… I was not a fan of it. The stuff with the Reader interacting with the TARDIS was interesting, but kind of awkward to read. The highlight was the scene with Alex Dives, beyond a doubt. It was both emotional and very solidly written. But the rest of the story felt very slow to me.
I'm honestly a little tired of reading about the various PPC Time Lords and Ladies bemoaning their fate and that of Gallifrey. That was one of the various reasons why I stopped watching Doctor Who. It felt like there was a lot of that here. I understand they have a lot to complain about and are justified in doing so, but that particular drum has been beat so much that I've stopped caring.
And then we come to the Aviator/Rina Dives. Forgive me for saying, but I don't like this character any more.
It started when she changed from a human into a Time Lord. I was not a fan of that particular decision. At the time, I thought it was a cheap means to avoid killing a character. You get the emotionality of death without the otherwise required baggage. I didn't raise a fuss about it, however, because I trusted in Iximaz's writing abilities. I thought she might do something new with the concept.
As time went on and more bad things happened to the Aviator/Rina, I became less interested in the character. I have no problem with characters who suffer. On the contrary, I would argue that its very much necessary. Without a struggle, there can be no triumph. The character will neither evolve nor change. But this suffering should have a point beyond "to make the audience feel pity." I did not get that with the Aviator/Rina. It just seemed to me like she was getting hit with problem after problem just so readers would go "aww, poor thing." She didn't win; she didn't evolve. Maybe she did and I missed it, but that's what it felt like to me. That is not interesting.
I was honestly kind of excited when it seemed like she was going to be gone for good — or at the very least, for a sizable amount of time. Maybe there would be some stories about her partner going solo, or working with someone new. I thought at the very least she would come back with a better grasp on life and herself. But I was incorrect.
I also want to touch on the comparisons between A/R and the Doctor. They popped up both in the fic's author notes and in the comments here. Part of the reason why I think the character no longer gels with me is that she stopped being herself and started being a disjointed expy of the Doctor. Let the Doctor be the Doctor, and let A/R be A/R.
Finally, I want to comment on some of the things that July said. I think that she is correct in her assessment of this portrayal of the PPC. I think it would help if we had some more stories about the DIA to tone them down a bit (get on that, Ekyl!). That being said, I do not agree with your decision to immediately give up your PG-ship. You're a very good writer; one of the better ones in this community, I would argue. But even good writers are not immune to mistakes. That is no reason to resign.
But that's ultimately your decision. Think on it for a while, at the very least. -
Oh, there's plenty of evolution in the future. by
on 2015-09-20 17:17:00 UTC
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The Aviator's story is far from over.
-
I'm working on an email to you anyway. We'll discuss? (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 16:18:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Sure, sounds good. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 16:29:00 UTC
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-
Sent. It's a bit rushed, sorry. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:08:00 UTC
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-
A ficlet response. by
on 2015-09-20 14:17:00 UTC
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"Hey, love."
Steve looked up and waved. "Heya. How are the kids?"
Tango chuckled. "Luden's been busy explaining that his white hair makes him better than everyone else, Jason's been playing 'Hunt the Snark' with the Telcontar girls, and Aaron... last I saw him, was trying to headbutt his way through a wall."
"Pretty much normal, then." Steve reached up and held his wife's hand over his shoulder. "What brings you here, then? Nyx busy?"
"She's got a cowrite with someone from Elven Linguistics, so I'm at loose ends."
Steve frowned. "She's got a what?"
"A... what do you call it when you get sent off to work with a one-time partner?"
"Oh, that. Haven't a clue. Special assignment?"
"That'll do." Tango glanced at the console screen. "So what's in the news today?"
Steve grinned. "Which one? The Monitor says the Troupe By Any Other Name got caught in a Quiddich match, and are now second place in the league. The Real Monitor," he waved a sheet of colourful paper, "is yelling about two of the Yellow Roses swapping identities. PPC Radio are still going on about that body-swap thing, Radio Nutmeg 'won't believe how hilarious these 10 Bad Slash mission reports are', the-"
"Etcetera, etcetera." Tango tapped on the screen. "But what about the real news?"
"Oh, on the network? Mm..." Steve pulled up the bulletin boards. "Looks like... oh, you remember that Dives girl?"
"Uh... failed to kill her partner and ran away?"
"Something like that. Apparently she's back and in DIA custody. There's a recording..."
The video was small and greyscale, showing a nondescript corridor. Tango frowned. "Is that DIA Central?"
"Can't be." Steve scanned the message the footage was attached to. "But is. I guess this Ghost chap has connections."
"Yes, dangerous ones. So what-?" Tango fell silent as two DIA agents appeared on screen. There was no sound, but someone had helpfully subtitled the video:
I have calculated the probability of certain verdicts. I must admit that her future career is looking rather bleak...
The two Assassins watched the video through until the officers left the screen (Cancellation of accu...). Then they watched it again. And again.
"Steve," Tango said, her voice almost dreamy, "can you look up what the Dives girl was accused of?"
"I... yes." Steve tapped away, hauling up the relevant edition of the Multiverse Monitor. "Theft of a TARDIS, interfering with a canon 'verse, dereliction of duty, damaging public property, and endangering agents' lives."
"That's... roughly what I remembered. Um." Tango drummed her fingers on the console. "This... I don't like the look of this."
"It does sound a bit like overkill," Steve agreed. "A tracking bracelet, probable imprisonment, and no pay? For making off with a TARDIS we stole to begin with?"
Tango's lip twisted. "Steve... you do remember I stole PPC technology, abandoned my job, and ran off into a canon world, yes?"
Steve stared at the video, frozen on the last view of the DIA officers. "You think they're going to come after you next?"
"Don't I have a right to worry?" Tango gripped the edge of the console with both hands. "I do not want to go back into the clutches of PPC security."
Steve pressed a hand over his wife's. "If they come for you," he said, "I'll get you out. I promise." He smiled lopsidedly. "I did last time, didn't I?"
Tango shook his hand off. "It's not just about me, though." She waved at the door, at the rest of HQ. "Nyx set off high explosives across half the multiverse. Your old partner broke canonical laws of death. Half of DOGA got there by setting canons on fire. Blue - I know they couldn't exactly arrest him now, but they have exorcism capability, I'm sure they do."
"Tang', none of those..." Steve took a breath, started over. "I know this looks bad, but the Dives girl has a lot more charges piled on her than any of you did-"
"Ontic."
"... they said she was fine now."
"Whereas Dives is still compulsively stealing TARDISes and running away? I heard that was a one-off, a snap."
Steve tried to force a laugh. "The Flowers should be thankful she didn't take a flamethrower to them."
"And if she had, they'd have sent her to FicPsych. Not locked her up and thrown away the key." Tango's face hardened. "At least - that's what they would have done before."
Steve stared at the console, at the frozen video, at the news of Dives' return, and her immediate arrest. "We should do something."
"Yes." A beat. "What?"
"... I don't know."
There are a lot of people who have bad, bad memories of the last time the PPC's security apparatus went about arresting people in public.
I really liked the writing in this story; I thought all the characters' reactions were spot-on, and that the Aviator was convincingly heartbreaking. I really, really want to believe that your plan is to use the incident to have the Board of Flowers slap down the increasingly authoritarian DIA, in a beautifully-written trialogue between the Sunflower Official, Tiger Lily, and Guardsman, in which the Lily starts off by defending her department, but ends up being persuaded by the SO (and dare I hope, the Sub Rosa?) and promising massive changes. I think that would be a genuinely good way to cap and end this arc - by showing that the PPC isn't the unfeeling police-state its agents are coming to believe it is, and that when the Flowers are presented with a 'justice or mercy?' choice like this one, they will come down on the side of mercy.
hS -
That's a good plan. by
on 2015-09-20 19:01:00 UTC
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Assuming I could write that (hell, it's a pretty big assumption that I can write), I would get started on that immediately. It would certainly work well as a capstone to this whole business, and there's definitely potential for comedy here as well as a big happy ending. For instance, I am imagining the Reader sitting in the public gallery with a placard reading:
FREE THEGALLIFREYANOLYESTIANEARTHESEFORMERLY HUMANSOMEWHERE IN THE MIDWESTIAN
RC 3-APPLE-14 ONE!
Or something. Plus other stuff too, but we can hash the details out later.
We'd all need your help, though, since I don't really have a handle on the Flowers outside of Admiral Pansy (and even then only maybe). Hm... it's almost like an anti-Emergency, if we get enough people on it. A statement of intent: the PPC is not for those who think it's a police state, or who would like it to be one.
Come to think of it, Statement Of Intent would be a pretty good title for it too. =] -
Alright. Its time for my thoughts. by
on 2015-09-20 16:59:00 UTC
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I am awake now, and full of energy. I gave the story a re-read, and here are my thoughts.
You and July are way overreacting to this. But you have some points.
First, as Ekyl stated, Rina is in a holding cell. A place of temporary confinement before she is put to trial. She has Fic Psych personnel attempting to work on her vast psychological issues while she is in said holding cell, and she is to be given a fair trial by an impartial jury (and judges, but as you stated, they have been gentle before). What about this screams police state again? The fact they had guns out when she arrived? Yes, let's approach an unknown TARDIS, a favored mode of transportation by many Sues and renegade Time Lords, with a holstered baton and a cop of tea. (That was meant to be cup, but seeing how we are talking internal police, the typo stays) The fact they used a pair of handcuffs to escort her away? So, what, just because she is an agent means she gets to skip on by without retribution of any sort? She snapped, who knows how demented she may or may not be. The cuffs are probably for her safety, as much as everyone else's. That she is in a holding cell? That boggles my mind. When in the history of ever has anybody objected to the use of a temporary holding cell, as long as the trial was relatively quick to follow. And she is heading off in a mere few days. That is pretty darn speedy to me. So, tell me, where has the DIA turned into a police state again? When did they "lock her up and throw away the key"? Why must the whole darn thing be disbanded for doing their jobs, and being rather merciful while doing so.
That all being said, there is one glaring issue, that does need addressing. The list of punishments and their likelihood. Mandatory time within ficpsych, removal of stolen TARDIS, and increased mission load would be the standard punishment. Perhaps the Flowers would understand the mission overload is what caused her to snap in the first place, and drop that punishment. Forcibly removing her new identity, the one she has spent centuries in, would be far beyond what they would ever even consider, much less the insinuation that this is the direction they will go. If that section were removed, and replaced with one of the nurses performing some psychological evaluations, I don't think we would be having any problems.
That all being said, this was very well written. It makes me sad that because of a very good story that took a turn some people disagree with, Iximaz may well step down as PG. Ix, I implore you, do reconsider. This story does not define how you see the PPC. Does not say anything about your ability to judge people's ability to write within it. Hold your hat high, be proud of what you wrote, and be thoughtful of where you go next. -
'there is one glaring issue, that does need addressing' by
on 2015-09-20 17:13:00 UTC
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You mean... the only issue I did in fact address?
The only information Steve and Tango have is 1/ the list of charges, which I've glossed as being listed in the Monitor after she left, 2/ the fact that she was arrested, and 3/ the conversation between the Guardsman and Terabyte. They don't even know she's in a cell. 'lock her up and throw away the key' is a direct reference to the line about the probability of long-term incarceration being 60%. I think it's a fair description.
hS -
Yeah, that line should've been messed with to make it cleare by
on 2015-09-20 18:33:00 UTC
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-r that "incarceration" could also mean inpatient treatment at FicPsych, which is more likely in Rina's case than actually being sent back to the jail. I'm sure that's a thing they can do, but when there's as wide a range of options as is available to the Board and DIA, it's pretty rare in practise. Most people who do things that would require that are probably sent to FicPsych instead - and to spend a term in there of any substantial length, you probably have to have done something really bad, like outright murder people.
That is, admittedly, just off the cuff spitballing at the moment though. I'd have to mull this over for future writing. -
What people seem to be forgetting... by
on 2015-09-20 14:41:00 UTC
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Is that the DIA is just holding on to her until the BoDH decides what's to be done. Though again, I probably should've pushed more for it to be clearer that FicPsych was a much likelier outcome than locking anybody up "and throwing away the key".
As for whether "police exist" means the PPC is turning into an unfeeling police state, as the person who sort of introduced the new state of the DIA with the intention of trying to go interesting places with it (I know, I know, I haven't written a bloody thing in 5 years; I keep meaning to...), I'd rather like the chance to do something with the concept rather than have it all be thrown away. I should probably hurry up and, you know, actually write stuff, but the way I've always envisioned the department, they're emphatically trying to find a balance where they're effectively defending HQ and its populace without turning into the DIS.
Not to mention that, alarmist rhetoric aside, these situations presented are rather different. Though in hindsight the way the arrest is written comes off a bit... abrupt? I would have to think on how I'd've justified it if I was writing it. -
"And it's about time." by
on 2015-09-20 10:41:00 UTC
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I'm not sure why everyone's bothering with all the SPOILER space when the original subject line says "She's back." But, here goes...
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
We knew she'd be back, of course. After all, we never saw the body, and Ix made Suspiciously Specific Denials every time someone asked her about it.
Interesting to see the DIA has got some proper holding cells since Crashing Down, and it looks like they don't seem to have a system to allow people out on bail. (No-one even mentions the possibility of bail, so they obviously don't believe it exists.) I can see why some people are a bit worried about this.
But apart from that, it was a great story. It kept me gripped wanting to see what happened next. And I can't wait to see how it develops. (I'm just hoping the Aviator won't be punished harshly.) -
Didn't really think about that. by
on 2015-09-20 14:45:00 UTC
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In honesty, the possibility wasn't something that occurred to me because, in HQ, how would it work? Money isn't much of an object in the society that's sprung up in there, so I'm not sure how it would translate.
The in-universe handwavey answer might simply be she's considered too much of a flight risk, though - or too fragile. The story does mention FicPsych is monitoring her. -
Yes, Christmas in September! by
on 2015-09-20 11:02:00 UTC
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POILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
I knew it, this pepperpot would not be the end of her, but I really feared she would return much later, or end up on her fourth body right now, and I must admit I really want to see each Rina/Aviator get their own missions. I just hope we'll be seeingo see the reunion with Alex, Zeb, Xandria after the trial, it would be great to read.
Futures interactions with Des, who also ended up with the spiky side of the Stick of Accidental Transformation would be something to see too.
You are awesome Iximaz, and I'm sure your work will continue to be great.
Also, betting my left arm this interlude will not be the end of the story for Baby, she doesn't deserve this, even if she stole an PPC Agent.
Hardric, waiting for the next missions of 3-Apple-14. -
I'm not entirely sure I liked it. by
on 2015-09-19 23:27:00 UTC
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I'll give you all this: it was well written. You guys did an excellent job on that matter. I certainly felt for the Reader and for the Aviator and everyone else. You did an excellent job of setting up the stage, there.
That said, I don't personally like the direction being taken with the PPC here.
To me, at least, it's much too harsh.
You're implying a level of ruthlessness I don't like, and one that, quite frankly, isn't generally seen in the spin-offs I like best. The Flowers, for the most part, don't indulge in a theatre of cruelty. The organization is ragtag; the PPC, in-universe, consists of outsiders. People who fell off the face of their home canons and worlds, people who wandered in by mistake and decided to stay. People who embraced the weirdness and chaotic. Plenty who embraced another life outside the margins. Not just the agents, but the Flowers too, if you choose to take Origins as canon as well.
Badfic missions are terrible yes, and wear on agents. But think of it this way: you, you lot aren't the first ones to write an agent having snapped, or the first one coming back. I realize that to you, Ixi, and co, that the arc is an important one. But I think you are blowing the response up far out of proportion when previous spin-offs had...
-hm.
Off the top of my head: Huinesoron's DoGA missions having Constance forcibly pry Dafydd back from the death whether anyone agreed with it or no. Result? Retirement, lots of shouting, but them still being able to come back to HQ with no problem and even choosing to keep their kids involved in the general PPC HQ culture.
Nume's former lunatic partner Cameo only being kept probably permanently in FicPsych despite being Cameo.
FR of Cupcakes fame having snapped and trying to kill his partner, but only being put through FicPsych for it before returning to duty.
And of course my Agent July, who racked up several of the same charges as Rina/Ave there, except with purposefully returning to HQ after having attacked someone, minus the Time Lordness and TARDIS. She got a stern talking to and told to go to therapy in FicPsych.
There are plenty more.
This is not an institution of rules and enforcement of that ilk. I remember one short story not too long ago that Huinesoron commented on and said similarly: the DIA in this is coming off terrifyingly harsh, and- here's where you should worry, considering whom it is coming from- militaristic. If that was your overall intent, well done, but I will have to vehemently disagree with this rendition of the DIA.
Your making as big a deal of this as it is, when compared with the previous mentions, makes me concerned about what it is exactly you are doing. We have spoken. I know your intent is not to make the Aviator Overly Special. But with the above in mind, that is what is happening with this story arc. There are already plenty of examples where agents running off into foreign parts, and sometimes tramping through things while having gone crazy is something that is accepted that happens, and treatment is given, if they choose to stay or aren't capable of making that decision. What happens in response is missions. The Flowers don't have much understanding of humanoids and humanity. Agents don't have much understanding of the Flowers That Be. Explicit sadism is something that tends to result in an unpleasant end.
I know you're trying something different. But I definitely do not like the PPC the Aviator returned to, and it is not one I write in, and I'm not in agreement with the choices you have made here for her arc and how it has turned out.
-Regretfully, a July -
Allow me to take a stand. by
on 2015-09-20 16:37:00 UTC
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First of all - I understand you never said Brink was bad and/or poorly written. This is not the case here.
Next, I believe both you and Ixi are overreacting about the entire issue. She thinks she messed up bad and is trying to revoke her PG Hat for completely no reason, while you feel like she stepping over the bounds of what the PPC is supposed to be. But does anyone really know what it is supposed to be? This it is not as, like you said, "ragtag" as it originally was, but things are bound to change; people are maturing, the Organization itself develops.
It is the same thing as Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures - one more dark, one more G-rated. The PPC started as SJA and is slowly turning into DW. Yes, I know the original principle of the Organization: comedy, chaos, and a happy bunch of misfits, but this will not always be the case.
This is why the missions are spin-offs - different from the original and your vision of the PPC will always be different than, let's say, my vision of the PPC. Unless you're hoping to create some kind of position that will decide if the missions are kept in-check with one, decided version? On a sidenote, July, you may want to double-check your wording because you really made it sound negative. One line struck me in particular:
"I am not sure I like this because of the extremes the DIA are going to, which is results in a PPC I would not want to write in."
Don't you feel the 'Write-This-Like-I-Want-Or-I'll-Quit' vibe coming from this? Because I kinda do.
***
Now, for the DIA itself, let's check the Department's functions according to the wiki, shall we?
"The DIA's patrol division are known to keep watch on agents who are a little too trigger-happy (...)"
Fair enough, after THIS mission, I feel like they would keep an eye on the Second Rina.
"They are also charged with arresting and detaining agents who have (...) been marked as needing disciplinary action and have not yet been assigned any particular disciplinary route."
Don't you feel like this is exactly what happened? Yes, in Brink the Aviator's crimes were listed but this may be the one mistake that caused this entrie issue to arrive. What if that "Agent Dives, you are under arrest(...)" part didn't exist? Don't you think it's be perfect plausible for them to detain the Aviator because of the 'disciplinary action'? And why, you may ask? Well - here it is:
The issue about the Flowers - honestly, even now I have trouble with characterizing the Flowers, but can anyone really say they know exactly how a Flower is supposed to be portrayed? I don't think so.
You said the Flowers generally "don't indulge in a theatre of cruelty." Fair point, but consider who is the Flower in charge of the DIA? Tiger Lily who, according to her wiki profile, doesn't tolerate insubordination and, in one of her creator's story, is said to enjoying being in charge. And it is just as you say - the Flowers don't understand humanity - Tiger Lily didn't understand Rina's regeneration, near-death experience and three (!) Legendary Badfics taken down in a really short amount of time. Add a Bleeprin deprivation and you'll get a mind more fragile than a soap bubble. The Flower just saw her as a rogue and ordered her incarceration to cement her authority in the Department. This, as hS pointed out, would be a great spark to a new arc in PPC history. A civil war, per se.
***
Now, my opinion on the interlude is irrelevant here, so I'll keep it to myself. The point is, while this was probably not Ixi's aim - she presented us with a hint that things in the PPC may not exactly be as pink and easy as we'd like them to be. This is why I disagree with your view on the PPC but hey, you've been here much longer than me, maybe you're right after all. I am not afraid to admit my mistakes, so let's see how things will evolve. -
Hold on a second. by
on 2015-09-20 17:12:00 UTC
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I know you were responding to July, but I'd like to respond to some of the points you made.
This is why the missions are spin-offs - different from the original and your vision of the PPC will always be different than, let's say, my vision of the PPC. Unless you're hoping to create some kind of position that will decide if the missions are kept in-check with one, decided version?
The problem with this point of view is that we are not discussing the tone of individual spin-offs, but the portrayal of shared elements in the PPC universe. Agents are as varied as the day is long, but those shared elements should be consistent and fit the PPC canon. Those are the parts that should be decided.
[…]can anyone really say they know exactly how a Flower is supposed to be portrayed? I don't think so.
Yes, someone can. That's because many of the Flowers have preexisting characterizations. We know how they speak and how they will react to different situations. Apart from those Flowers that have only been mentioned a few times, they are known entities. You can't pretend they're blank slates.
Fair point, but consider who is the Flower in charge of the DIA? Tiger Lily who, according to her wiki profile, doesn't tolerate insubordination and, in one of her creator's story, is said to enjoying being in charge.
"Strict" does not and should not immediately translate to "cruel."
The Flower just saw her as a rogue and ordered her incarceration to cement her authority in the Department.
This makes no sense. Why would the Tiger Lily order an agent's arrest to solidify her own authority? She doesn't need to prove anything. The Flowers are pretty much unchecked in their own dominions. The Aviator wasn't trying to usurp the Tiger Lily.
This, as hS pointed out, would be a great spark to a new arc in PPC history. A civil war, per se.
A civil war. Really? Please tell me you are speaking in jest. That strikes me as an extremely bad idea outside of AUs. -
I'm also not sure there's much deliberate cruelty going on. by
on 2015-09-20 17:24:00 UTC
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If that is an impression that's come across, that's an error in how information has been presented, not how the state of things is supposed to be. And I don't see "detain this rogue, possibly dangerous agent pending the Board's decision re: what to do with her" as all that cruel personally.
-
There is nothing I can correct here. by
on 2015-09-20 17:18:00 UTC
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I acknowledge all the responses.
And yes, the civil war was the closest to a joke I could do right now. -
It has also all gone down in a rather short timeframe. by
on 2015-09-20 16:59:00 UTC
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That's why details like it being noted FicPsych is watching Rina are important. This has all happened pretty quickly and they're not just kicking her around for sport or anything, they're trying to get the full story and make sure she's looked after too. At least, that's where I was going with things when doing various beta-y stuff/giving my input on how the DIA would probably operate.
Also, I do think it's perfectly fair for them to have told Rina exactly why she's being detained - unless people are objecting to the very concept of arrests being a thing, I suppose. The way I look at it is that she stole a PPC TARDIS (I do agree with hS on one thing - why do we even still have those?), went on a rampage in a canon universe doing the kinds of things agents kill Sues for, then after centuries of shenanigans crash landed in the Cafeteria atrium and nearly crushed several agents doing it. This is less stopping someone from trying to leave the PPC, and more taking exception to going AWOL and causing the exact kinds of problems the PPC tries to stop. Of course, things probably shouldn't've shifted from "are you okay? We're here to help!" to "YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!" within the space of two lines. -
Do you mind if I set something straight? by
on 2015-09-20 18:21:00 UTC
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RinAviator didn't go "on a rampage in a canon universe doing the kinds of things agents kill Sues for", unless you count wandering aimlessly and keeping her head down as a charge. She didn't go running around getting up to insane stuff because she didn't want to draw attention to herself. A few small adventures at the very most, nothing even remotely major.
-
That clarification is useful. by
on 2015-09-20 18:22:00 UTC
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At the time, I thought her various misadventures had been more, well, major. You commented on them thinking she was turning into a Sue because she was acting like someone out of a badfic and that didn't seem like something indicating a low profile being kept. But that's fair.
-
The Suishness comes more from her agent history. by
on 2015-09-20 18:27:00 UTC
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Because, well...
>Girl discovers fandoms are real
>Girl goes on to slay legendary fic
>Girl gets turned into a Time Lord
>Girl goes crazy
>Girl disobeys regulations
>Girl slays another legendary
>Girl finally snaps
>Girl steals a TARDIS and runs away
>Girl finds out she's caught up in a time loop
So it all piles up. Her glitter levels have been rising fairly steadily for a while now; that is why she's getting a Sue tracker slapped on her. -
Sure it seems gliterry at first glance. by
on 2015-09-21 07:13:00 UTC
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However, I think you did a good job of setting a true backstory for Rina, and if you study her story in depth, the glitter level drop fast, in my opinion to the least.
The scenes from her childhood are harsh, and she get real consequences for it, depression, self-harm and a Generic psychiatrist (Generic because if it was only the armchair, medications, no wonder she hate FicPsych).
Slay a Legendary, but with her rookie partner, a partner who "died" because of her (does Zeb know it, now ?), nevermind the ugly implications that Nuzlockers "kill" their other Pokemons this way... I need stop thinking about it
I read Tawaki's take about Time Lord transformation after Rose Potter, for the sake of comparison. Rina's transformation was not a plot device. It was special, but it was not free candy, It never was free candy.
Perfect memory + no Bleep + issues about herself (human life now impossible, being caught between being Time Lord and huùman, ...) + glitterbags trivializing her issues... no wonder they killed this one Sue before LMM.
Other Legendary is maximum squick, she's so broken that self-harming verges on suicide, the cocktail Bleep + Aspirin would not forgive.
She snaps, after her partner die for, and die because of her, for the second time. And it's only an first taste of her future with her family. Too much despair and pain, she flees this, for the simple reason she cannot handle it.
The time loop hold the very distinct probability of her death, she felt it weighting upon her long before she understood there was a time loop in the first place, and it's not something solved without pain (how many time she passed in this blender ?).
She's acting like a Time Lord now because, well, she's a Time Lord now. It' was her only choice for keeping her sanity: she cannot be human anymore, and staying between the two lifes only lead to suffering. It's not an easy way, it's the only way.
Rina Dives/ the Aviator is not a Sue, she'll never be a Sue. She paid every single change who happened to her, nothing granted to her like free candy. Her problems are very real, and the way I'm seeing things, centuries were needed for them. She's like Pyrrha Nikos for me, she sure looks like a Sue, but she has a real story, the changes who happened to her were well-written, the issues were made clear.
The Aviator is not Suvian in any sense of the term. It's only my opinion,but you handled her history in wonderful way, Iximaz (wow, didn't think it would take so much place). -
Fair enough, as said. by
on 2015-09-20 18:29:00 UTC
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It's not quite as severe as initially painted then, but I do feel the circumstances mean it's not exactly extreme that the DIA would have orders to bring her in.
-
Hm. by
on 2015-09-20 03:52:00 UTC
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Considering they're responding to a possible threat in a PPC that has already seen multiple instances of being invaded or hit by canon nasties breaking in or what-have-you, a cautionary response with the hammer ready to be dropped seemed to make sense. This wasn't a DIS style "we're going to drag you kicking and screaming into Central just to watch you bleed" kind of thing and I'm not sure it's all that ruthless considering one of the highest probability penalties is basically "we'll be keeping an eye on you". When I gave the go ahead for stuff, I did it in the frame of mind that they're reacting to something they might or might not be very dangerous, so they're trying to protect the agents who all almost got a TARDIS crashed on top of them. Ruthless would be they kicked down the door and shot her in the face, not gone "would you please come with us?" Also, you bring up FicPsych, which was mentioned in the story. I personally feel your typical agent who pulls something like this is more likely to be kept in FicPsych than thrown in jail; most of the time when something like this happens, it's because somebody's snapped, not out of malice or anything, and especially considering Aviator's mental state that's what makes most sense. I did try to stress during betaing that that should be made more clear.
(It's probably not the best first impression of DIA Special Response, because that's them basically acting like a SWAT team, whereas most of the time they're bailing agents out of missions gone bad and stuff. Patrol officers are probably a little more easygoing than their SRD counterparts most of the time; SeaTurtle once asked me what kind of equipment the DIA likes to carry, and IIRC I said your typical Patrol guy probably likes something like a phaser or a stun blaster or a Potterverse wand that can immediately end a confrontation without anyone sustaining real injury. Though that said, sometimes a job calls for something heavier.)
I think that the possibility of actual trouble for things is not mutually exclusive with the kind of PPC thing you like - however, things evolving should be allowed to happen, and whether it's a good thing, well, that can always be story fodder rather than "this should not exist at all." I could see arguments for and against, say, the PPC having its own police department. I could even see something like this being a debate being held in Central itself, which I might do something with (though since hS writes Dúros I couldn't feature the TL and both lieutenants talking about it without his okay/participation).
(I do agree the officer in that courtyard story was way out of line and I don't feel the DIA would ever consider that acceptable behaviour from one of its own, though. My comment on that is what got me brought in as a beta for this story.)
One possible solution, which I'll work on, is writing stuff showing that lighter side still exists, and it's not all grimness and people getting put in jail. The first DIA story I wrote, for example, had a bunch of officers on their off time having fun and talking about helping people - and Basil chewing a guy out for being too harsh and putting people at unacceptable risk. It's definitely something that could make for interesting writing if allowed to exist, and this debate - some people feeling it's all too much, others not, and all that - could be just as interesting in-universe as out of universe. Of course, in universe, at the end of the day if the DIA exists in its current form it's because the BoDH allows it, so they mustn't see it as that severe a problem - but again, this is something I plan to use as writing fodder.
(This actually gave me a specific idea, too. I could easily see some in Patrol seeing the Special Response boys as a little overeager to break out the toys and drop the hammer. The issue is definitely not as severe as some World One departments are accused of being -- no unarmed civilians are being gunned down in the middle of a corridor for example -- but it's definitely something I could work with if people allow. I might be half rambling and half brainstorming though, I'm like half-asleep. I do sorta want to do a spinoff playing with both the absurdities and more serious aspects of "protecting the Protectors" and all that though; I'm sure there's never a dull day with that job.)
Pardon the giant wall of text, but I'm basically thinking aloud about multiple things. -
A general reply to you. by
on 2015-09-20 23:41:00 UTC
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Ekyl, I have heard plenty about your behavior regarding your "betaing" of this story, and your treatment of its writers.
For the record? The stuff you were doing is bullying.
Your forced your own ideas onto the writers who weren't exactly eager about it. You overrode them multiple times on their own story to push your own concepts into the spotlight.
You have replied and defended the actions of the DIA as written in this more than anyone else involved with writing this, and have generally refused to accept that it a) isn't behavior associated with the DIA prior to you pushing for it and b) keep insisting this is largely totally fine while delfecting what was written onto Iximaz and co.
This is not okay.
You do not own the DIA. You did not come up with the concept. In your attempt to find something in the PPC to "make your own" you have worked very, very hard at warping something beyond recognition to the people who originally had an idea of what it was about.
I heavily suspect that at this point in time I have written more for the DIA proper than you, and that was one silly interlude to just introduce an idea into the PPC at large! You cannot and should not ride on the coattails of other boarders to make the things you want to have happen happen.
So please, knock this behavior off. You have been called out on it in the past, and I am extremely disappointed that you are pulling this sort of thing again. I honestly thought you had gotten better about it, but apparently it was just because I know how to tell you when to quit when I ask for your advice and you're willing to stop, but not when it comes to newer writers whom you are able to shove around more to make your ideas happen.
-July -
I disagree, but apologise if that is how I have come off. by
on 2015-09-21 02:52:00 UTC
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That said, I would rather have this conversation privately if it must happen -- in part, because I won't have my name dragged through the mud in front of the entire community, and in part because I'm not sure how to address your concerns without sounding like I'm deflecting blame and throwing people under the bus, which is not what I am attempting to do.
Quite honestly, the series of events as you portray them isn't exactly how things have gone down, although I will admit I've been a bit gung ho about defending certain things when maybe that isn't really my place since all I am is the beta of the story (I wrote a tiny little bit, because I was asked to, but wasn't a real contributor to the story except as an editor). If I've allowed my defensiveness over one aspect of the story to override Iximaz, I apologise for that but it wasn't intentional, and I've hardly "bullied" anyone; in fact, one of the biggest changes I suggested to the story was overridden by the authors, and I didn't fight it (well, okay, I was a little resistant and made a comment along the lines of "I wish you had kept me in the loop when you decided this," but I backed down rather than make it my hill to die on; at worst, I was a bit annoyed about it). I'm not sure if you've been given an incomplete idea of what's been going on, or a deliberately misleading one.
When I was brought in, it was to do a couple things: Ix wanted me to look over if her ideas for what the DIA would do fit my vision of how they're supposed to work (read: I tried to make them not seem super evil and authoritarian while still allowing the gist to be there - I still do not think it's an inherently bad thing that these days, sometimes people get arrested, but see other comments where I say in hindsight it does feel like it was a bit too abrupt and FicPsych being involved should've been clearer/more prominent) and then to help sharpen up the story in general. The overall content of the story did not change from when I first started looking at it to when the story was published; the only new thing from wholecloth is the TARDIS crash scene, which I'd initially suggested might make a stronger opening. Plotwise, and in terms of most of the dialogue and such, everything after Reader enters the TARDIS (except for the "we're here and ready to help" message from the DIA who think she's trapped in there) is more or less exactly how it was before, though some of the superficial details (it all happening outside the vehicle, etc) have changed. The scene ended up staying but the original intro was put back in; whether that works better is subjective, but I didn't want to fight it. For the most part, I suggested structural and stylistic changes, which ended up being made or not made, and did not mess with the overall plot of the story - everything that happened is what was happening when I was first called in (I think the biggest difference is the scene in Rudi's got rewritten entirely). To say I bullied my way in and forced the story to look how I wanted it to look is false - and again, I don't know if it's a misunderstanding, or people outright lying. Maybe it should have occurred to me to suggest some things, like the conversation between Guardsman and Terabyte, be trimmed out? Who knows, maybe it would have helped, but I did my best to help turn out a good story without taking things over; occasionally there were disagreements over suggested edits or a turn things were taking, or whether certain scenes should be present (I strongly felt the TARDIS scene at the start was just exposition and slowed things down, but backed down from that) but I in fact tried to do the exact opposite of what you accuse me of. When I'm betaing somebody's story, I do my very best to be helpful and improve things as much as possible, and I am outright insulted that you would level these accusations at me - in fact, I consider them borderline libellous. Especially when you launch into some tirade about how the only reason I have changed is you "told me to knock it off" -- over the years I have tried very hard to become a better person, I have done a lot of growing up, and I acknowledge that's not really a journey that ever ends but I will not be told it was all nothing because of an argument on the damn internet. Even here, to say I have not changed is to be deliberately obtuse and to intentionally disregard years of behaviour that has changed for the better, and I will not be publicly insulted in such a manner.
As for the DIA: I have been defensive of them because I was called in to check over their MO and put in some of the groundwork for how they're operating, so of course I would defend the validity and existence of what's there. I've tried to go to bat for Ix's story a bit, because she went into full "I'm sorry I'll leave forever" mode. I apologise if I've overstepped my bounds in so doing, however. All I've been trying to say is that maybe it deserves to be given a chance, especially since it's not like I'm not working on things that would paint a more reasonable picture of them, and I simply disagree that them being willing to arrest somebody means they're as evil and authoritarian and "grimdark" as you and hS maintain. You say I just arbitrarily went ahead and did things with no mind for people who "know how it's supposed to work" or whatever because I was so desperate to make my mark, but when I first came up with these ideas I only went ahead with anything with permission from and discussion with hS. I'll grant this was years ago and might have slipped from memory, but I remember you hearing about this so it feels to me as if you are being deliberately unfair. It is entirely possible, though, that it is simply fresher to my memory. Now, does what's being written wholly match up with how I've envisioned things? No. There have been in fact several things I disagree with of late, though I evidently didn't catch all of them. However, I still feel the need to call for things to at least be given a chance. If I'm a little protective of the DIA, I apologise, but I don't like something I've worked on being discarded as rubbish that shouldn't exist any more than I like the language you employ towards my own person, which makes me out to be some tumourous influence, especially when I have tried to take great care over the years to prevent a situation exactly like this (this is, in fact, why nothing is finished), and have been working on projects I hope will present a more reasonable view of the department. I will also note you ascribe more control over the process to me than there actually was - you act as if I wrote major sections of this story wholecloth, as opposed to basically answering the question "does this make sense y/n".
I am sorry if I come off as excessively angry, but let's not mince words: right now I am trying my best not to be, but I am incredibly hurt that you would say these things to me. You have made some good points but you've also stepped over practically every line on the bloody road, and I apologise for how I might have come off, but I will not be treated this way, by you or anyone else here. I expect a full apology from you for insulting me so severely, and so publicly. I am especially hurt, because I thought you and I were mending things - but I see you hold the same contempt for me as ever. I'm not angry with you, July, I'm just very, very disappointed. -
This turned out lengthy. by
on 2015-09-21 06:28:00 UTC
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"That said, I would rather have this conversation privately if it must happen -- in part, because I won't have my name dragged through the mud in front of the entire community, and in part because I'm not sure how to address your concerns without sounding like I'm deflecting blame and throwing people under the bus, which is not what I am attempting to do."
I was not trying to drag your name through the mud in front of the entire community. I pointed out behavior that is very prominent at this moment in time. As far as deflecting blame you have been doing that for quite a bit of this thread.
"Quite honestly, the series of events as you portray them isn't exactly how things have gone down,"
Strange. Then the several people who have told me the same thing at separate occasions must have been exaggerating the exact same way?
"although I will admit I've been a bit gung ho about defending certain things when maybe that isn't really my place since all I am is the beta of the story (I wrote a tiny little bit, because I was asked to, but wasn't a real contributor to the story except as an editor)."
While ignoring everything else that is not DIA related about the criticisms yes.
"If I've allowed my defensiveness over one aspect of the story to override Iximaz, I apologise for that but it wasn't intentional, and I've hardly "bullied" anyone; in fact, one of the biggest changes I suggested to the story was overridden by the authors, and I didn't fight it (well, okay, I was a little resistant and made a comment along the lines of "I wish you had kept me in the loop when you decided this," but I backed down rather than make it my hill to die on; at worst, I was a bit annoyed about it). I'm not sure if you've been given an incomplete idea of what's been going on, or a deliberately misleading one."
So you had not disappeared on at least one occasion causing me to field at least two freakouts about what should they do, they told Ekyl something he disagreed with and when they said they wanted to keep it you made a comment about their attitudes and vanished without telling them anything?
"When I was brought in, it was to do a couple things: Ix wanted me to look over if her ideas for what the DIA would do fit my vision of how they're supposed to work (read: I tried to make them not seem super evil and authoritarian while still allowing the gist to be there - I still do not think it's an inherently bad thing that these days, sometimes people get arrested, but see other comments where I say in hindsight it does feel like it was a bit too abrupt and FicPsych being involved should've been clearer/more prominent) and then to help sharpen up the story in general."
I was under the impression she asked for help to make it match the PPC, given you are supposed to know the universe and made commentary previous. I think the resident Elf Lord was involved too as far as advice seeking went? I do not know. It is late and I just accidentally titled Huinesoron. Dangerous hour, midnight.
And... the gist being... super evil and authoritarian? I do not understand. Evil is an inherently bad thing, and so is authoritarianism in nearly every case outside of a few.
"The overall content of the story did not change from when I first started looking at it to when the story was published; the only new thing from wholecloth is the TARDIS crash scene, which I'd initially suggested might make a stronger opening. Plotwise, and in terms of most of the dialogue and such, everything after Reader enters the TARDIS (except for the "we're here and ready to help" message from the DIA who think she's trapped in there) is more or less exactly how it was before, though some of the superficial details (it all happening outside the vehicle, etc) have changed."
I've seen the first few drafts at this point in time. I cannot comment on where in the timeline you got involved. I am sure if we asked to see it it would reveal some interesting differences, no?
"The scene ended up staying but the original intro was put back in; whether that works better is subjective, but I didn't want to fight it."
Except as I am aware, you had?
"For the most part, I suggested structural and stylistic changes, which ended up being made or not made, and did not mess with the overall plot of the story - everything that happened is what was happening when I was first called in (I think the biggest difference is the scene in Rudi's got rewritten entirely)."
I cannot comment on this, besides that again, I heard much in the ways of the writers being frustrated and worried about some of the things you were insisting on despite their lack of surety, and their being put down when suggested changes by you were turned down, or they suggested doing something you were against.
"To say I bullied my way in and forced the story to look how I wanted it to look is false - and again, I don't know if it's a misunderstanding, or people outright lying."
I do not understand; are you saying your word is stronger than that of several different people, whom had no reason to bad mouth you, looked up to you, and had asked you for your advice because they were under the impression you would help them? None of them had any reason to lie to me. Again none of them knew they were speaking to me separately. It's awfully strange to think they would have the same delusion, don't you think?
"Maybe it should have occurred to me to suggest some things, like the conversation between Guardsman and Terabyte, be trimmed out? Who knows, maybe it would have helped, but I did my best to help turn out a good story without taking things over; occasionally there were disagreements over suggested edits or a turn things were taking, or whether certain scenes should be present (I strongly felt the TARDIS scene at the start was just exposition and slowed things down, but backed down from that) but I in fact tried to do the exact opposite of what you accuse me of."
The writers are always the final word. Not the beta reader.
"When I'm betaing somebody's story, I do my very best to be helpful and improve things as much as possible, and I am outright insulted that you would level these accusations at me - in fact, I consider them borderline libellous."
I'm surprised! I wasn't aware anything I said was libel, given what I have presented thus far! I apologize for the requiring such accusations.
"Especially when you launch into some tirade about how the only reason I have changed is you "told me to knock it off" -- over the years I have tried very hard to become a better person, I have done a lot of growing up, and I acknowledge that's not really a journey that ever ends but I will not be told it was all nothing because of an argument on the damn internet."
Didn't say that. The context for me telling you to knock it off was entirely in the scope of your suggestions to me for my own work in progress! As you should know I do not share things randomly. I asked you because I valued your advice in that situation! Alas that you think I was implying I was the source of all your growth and had work at becoming a better person! I would never dream of such. I had asked because I thought you had grown as a person!
"Even here, to say I have not changed is to be deliberately obtuse and to intentionally disregard years of behaviour that has changed for the better, and I will not be publicly insulted in such a manner."
Ok. But I'm not. That is why I was entirely shocked to find all this out.
"As for the DIA: I have been defensive of them because I was called in to check over their MO and put in some of the groundwork for how they're operating, so of course I would defend the validity and existence of what's there."
Yes, this is what you have done. But I thought you were invited in to, again, make sure it matched for the PPC tone.
"I've tried to go to bat for Ix's story a bit, because she went into full "I'm sorry I'll leave forever" mode. I apologise if I've overstepped my bounds in so doing, however. All I've been trying to say is that maybe it deserves to be given a chance, especially since it's not like I'm not working on things that would paint a more reasonable picture of them, and I simply disagree that them being willing to arrest somebody means they're as evil and authoritarian and "grimdark" as you and hS maintain."
You did? By and large you have been defending the DIA elements only. Also, a correction. Neither of us have used the words evil, authoritarian, or grimdark. The closest to even using the word "grimdark" was PoorCynic! And he wasn't even talking about the DIA there. Only mopey angsty Time Lords.
"You say I just arbitrarily went ahead and did things with no mind for people who "know it's supposed to work" or whatever because I was so desperate to make my mark, but when I first came up with these ideas I only went ahead with anything with permission from and discussion with hS."
Well, not arbitrarily at all. And I think the point is that no, they didn't. Which is why they asked you. And I can't speak for hS, as I am not Elven and have no mind powers whatsoever, but I believe his lordship's view of the DIA aligned with that of its creator, Artemis, who was all about scooping the flamethrower agents up and depositing them into the Kudzu's caring, alarmingly enveloping tendrils. Mine too, but I don't actually go there. Oh wait, I have a DIA agent too. I guess I am accidentally invested in only goose stepping at work? Wait, I'm in the navy, I can't march for the life of me. That's everyone else.
"I'll grant this was years ago and might have slipped from memory, but I remember you hearing about this so it feels to me as if you are being deliberately unfair. It is entirely possible, though, that it is simply fresher to my memory. Now, does what's being written wholly match up with how I've envisioned things? No. There have been in fact several things I disagree with of late, though I evidently didn't catch all of them."
It is late at night and I would enjoy clarification? How am I being deliberately unfair? What is this about years ago? I do not understand and this is vague enough that the many third parties reading this are no doubt confused as well about what you are implying.
"However, I still feel the need to call for things to at least be given a chance. If I'm a little protective of the DIA, I apologise, but I don't like something I've worked on being discarded as rubbish that shouldn't exist any more than I like the language you employ towards my own person, which makes me out to be some tumourous influence, especially when I have tried to take great care over the years to prevent a situation exactly like this (this is, in fact, why nothing is finished), and have been working on projects I hope will present a more reasonable view of the department."
I never called it rubbish. I am interested in hearing where you are pulling this from. Nor was my language particularly harsh towards you in the first place. I am quite surprised.
I don't think "tumor" is the correct word here. Not that negative, certainly.
It would certainly be a step up if you had DIA works to show proof of purchase with, so to say. I think.
"I will also note you ascribe more control over the process to me than there actually was - you act as if I wrote major sections of this story wholecloth, as opposed to basically answering the question "does this make sense y/n"."
I did not? Unless you are some powerful slightly terrifying puppet master. All I can go off is that several younger and more easily influenced PPCers looked up to you, decided to ask your aid, and then were given an extremely hard time from the sound of it.
I seem to recollect at least one incident where you told them their deadline didn't matter, what mattered was that you felt it was finished? Strange thing for the beta to say, I think, when it should be the author calling that shot.
"I am sorry if I come off as excessively angry, but let's not mince words: right now I am trying my best not to be, but I am incredibly hurt that you would say these things to me."
Ok. I'm feeling rather hurt too. I wasn't expecting to be accused of so many things or to see people I have been keeping an eye on be accused of so many things, which largely seem to involve conspiring against your good name with lots of uncoordinated lying.
"You have made some good points but you've also stepped over practically every line on the bloody road, and I apologise for how I might have come off, but I will not be treated this way, by you or anyone else here."
Out of curiosity where exactly are these lines? Do they involve the ones where you repeatedly put words in my mouth here and elsewhere? Since I had called you out on that previously already.
“I expect a full apology from you for insulting me so severely, and so publicly."
I am very very sorry that I insulted you severely to the point where you felt the need to make baseless accusations against others to right the perceived wrongs against you. Next time I will try to avoid inducing collateral damage, because it is never fun to calm down crying girls at odd hours of the day and sometimes night. It's quite awkward, you see, when I had told them previously I had used you myself for assistance.
“I am especially hurt, because I thought you and I were mending things - but I see you hold the same contempt for me as ever. I'm not angry with you, July, I'm just very, very disappointed.”
I was under the impression we were as well! Does this mean you are no longer willing to provide additional advice and counsel on the story I am planning to work on? My apologies. I suppose I will have to look elsewhere for more suggestions to not make the DIA irrelevant to the PPC in the course of the story. This will be somewhat difficult, because His Elflordliness Huinesoron is very easily distracted and very bad at replying to email in a timely fashion.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to me as thoroughly as you did, however. I greatly appreciate it, seeing how I know how busy we all are these days. -
Re: last bit: It does not mean that at all. by
on 2015-09-21 17:21:00 UTC
Link to this
If I meant that, I would have said it outright. Though I question if you really think my input has any value, since apparently I am nothing but a villain, a bully, and a liar from where you stand. That would make working with you on your story very difficult, I'm sure you agree.
-
Which last bit? by
on 2015-09-21 19:00:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm having quite a difficult time following everything you're trying to say, since it seems to be changing quite a bit.
I'm not even sure at which point I called you a villain, though I did use the word "bullied" (though it is not necessarily automatically linked to accusing someone of being a bully themselves) and I did say it was strange that you said they were perhaps lying, when it would make for quite the mass delusion, though I don't recall specifying you as lying at any point.
Since you are under the impression at this point in time, I suppose I shall have to remove you from the list of people with access to the document in question, which is a shame indeed since you do have useful input, at times. How dire. -
This one. by
on 2015-09-21 19:03:00 UTC
Link to this
"I was under the impression we were as well! Does this mean you are no longer willing to provide additional advice and counsel on the story I am planning to work on? My apologies. I suppose I will have to look elsewhere for more suggestions to not make the DIA irrelevant to the PPC in the course of the story. This will be somewhat difficult, because His Elflordliness Huinesoron is very easily distracted and very bad at replying to email in a timely fashion."
To which I replied that I was still willing to help out, if there was a point in so doing. -
But you said... by
on 2015-09-21 19:06:00 UTC
Link to this
"That would make working with you on your story very difficult, I'm sure you agree."
Which appears to very much not be the case of saying you are willing to help out if there is any point in doing so, as you say.
Are we playing Mass Confusion?
It seems to be the situation. -
What would make working with you difficult... by
on 2015-09-21 19:18:00 UTC
Link to this
Is this evident conviction that I am nothing but a bully and a liar.
This is turning into a farce. You know how to reach me privately if you wish to continue this conversation. -
Frankly, I'm at a loss for words here. by
on 2015-09-21 20:42:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm used to deciphering overly-complicated things — I do that for fun while tackling epistemological questions — but, well, I got nothing in this case. Your replies are so disconnected from what July, Ix and Scape are saying I just can't get what's going on here. I honestly can't get what some of the posts are meant to say.
Well, except for one thing. You seem determined to paint yourself as a victim. You put words in others' mouth for that end; you're insinuating Iximaz is trying to do a character assassination on you.
Your lastest post seems like an attempt to shift the blame to Scapegrace, who, despite having her own problems, tries to do better (cf. this and this).
You? You're either being even more complicated than philosophical ramblings about methods of discerning reality or being purposefully obfuscating. Either way, you're not addressing the points July is raising.
What's more, when your posts aren't confusing they're worded in an insulting way, which makes me think the latter option is the right one.
~Des -
Correcting a little thing. by
on 2015-09-21 12:20:00 UTC
Link to this
"So you had not disappeared on at least one occasion causing me to field at least two freakouts about what should they do, they told Ekyl something he disagreed with and when they said they wanted to keep it you made a comment about their attitudes and vanished without telling them anything?"
Not quite true. Yeah, he vanished a few times in the middle of betaing (though one was a genuine emergency, so *shrug*), but what I want to comment on is the second part.
He didn't vanish, just called me a liar several times and threatened to leave the project even though he knew we needed him to finish the story. -
Re: Correcting a little thing. by
on 2015-09-21 18:10:00 UTC
Link to this
The only time I said anything about leaving the project was at the very end - I told you I was in a bad place with my real life and could no longer give the story my full attention, and was thus stepping down. I even apologised to you about it. This had been going on the whole time I was working with you, in fact, but I did my best to put as much of my energy into the story as I could; it just so happened I could no longer do it, and that had nothing to do with you or the story itself. I simply no longer felt I could continue, and that to try would just be wasting your time. There were about four people betaing this story, and so I figured one of them stepping down would not harm anything at that late point in the work.
Should I have stepped down sooner? Maybe, but I wanted to do the best I could for you and the story. Since, according to Scape, I was neither needed nor wanted, I would have appreciated you sparing my time and energy, especially when you proceeded to lie to my face while making me out to be the devil himself behind my back. If you had these concerns, I was available to talk to about them whenever you so desired. You could have said something; as an editor, once I'm on a roll it's hard to stop me, which seems to be what's happened, but you could have resolved the whole thing by talking to me about it honestly. I thought we were even developing a rapport, and I would have been happy to talk to you about your concerns, but apparently I was mistaken.
As I said to Scape, since this is how you feel, and you think so lowly of me, feel free to take my name off this story and remove anything I contributed to it. Apparently I added nothing of value anyway.
(An aside: Something like what you say might have occurred when there was that brief dustup about the intro? I honestly don't remember. What I do remember is it was a heat of the moment thing and everything was resolved quickly and amicably. I do remember saying you'd been dishonest, but that was because you said outright you only pretended to like what I suggested to avoid having to talk about it - I do indeed consider that dishonesty, and I stand behind feeling that being unwilling to discuss things honestly with one's beta reader makes the entire process pointless. Both author and editor are wasting their time in such a scenario.) -
Oops! by
on 2015-09-21 16:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Correction received!
It can be sometimes difficult to keep track of this sort of thing when so many people are telling you things. -
A response. by
on 2015-09-21 04:04:00 UTC
Link to this
Throughout this entire thing, I've been on the sidelines. I've been a beta on Brink for nearly every version, and I have seen so many changes to the story within these long eight months. For a while, one version was very close to completion; this was about a month ago, around the time that LMM and the stuff after it occurred. After all of the issues surrounding the DIA and the dark nature of it in general, everything changed once again. In order to avoid another situation, the entire story (and almost everything that came after!) had to be changed. So the team decided to bring in someone with more experience in the DIA, AKA you.
I hadn't taken a look at the doc much during this time - it had been a week or two without any changes. It was very nearly done, and superb in quality. Emotion was there, characterization was there, you could feel how each style blended as each author contributed their heart and soul into writing Brink. It was good. The only thing that needed some more polishing was the DIA section, which was why you were invited.
That is not what you limited yourself to.
Essentially, you "suggested" a lot of things in a highly passive-aggressive way that changed the entire dynamic of the story. Both the opening and the endings received heavy changes, some very touching scenes and interactions were removed (in particular, the Guardsman giving peace to the fallen Time Lords as brothers and sisters-in-arms), and a lot of the suggestions you made for "polishing" reasons straight-up took that unique style out of the story. For lack of a better term, it was sterilized. Too precise. And both Desdendelle and I said as much after all of that. I was up for quite a while some nights talking to Ixi because she needed to vent her frustrations with you, and that's why I was present for a lot of the final editing sessions; as support and an extra voice so she would feel able to stand up to you. Whether or not you see it, you WERE being forceful with your suggestions. That biggest change you mentioned earlier was reimplementing the entire opening, which you insisted on cutting; when the authors came to a consensus to add it back in, you did not say something along the lines of "I wish you had kept me in the loop", your exact words were "It's much weaker with this in. Even (Iximaz) agreed when we made the change, so what changed your mind?" After it was explained that this was due to comments from three other betas (including me) who liked the first version better, and Ix specifically stated that she wasn't actually in agreement, she just didn't want to say no, you then said "...that makes the whole process pointless. If you don't like my suggestions, don't lie to me about it."
I can easily name about 20 occasions before then that she had shied away from disagreeing. And that's just her, I can't speak for the other contributors.
Please do not take this as a personal attack. That is not my intention. But you DID change the story heavily, with quite a few choice words if things were changed back; never fully aggressive, but passive. Whether you see it or not, I did, and I am only saying this as an observer who has been watching this whole thing and listening to his friend when she needed someone to talk to because she was frustrated. She has shown immense self-control in dealing with you. I tend to be very internet-shy. I don't post often. But I am speaking up now because this matters to me. -
Well, this is why I apologised for how I might have come off by
on 2015-09-21 04:07:00 UTC
Link to this
And yes, I was rather angry about being left out of the loop. You'll remember that was resolved rather quickly though - I was hurt by Ix thinking I didn't deserve to be told "I disagree" to my face. That's what offended me, not people wanting to go back to the previous version, and I remember you being present for me telling people that much.
-
Well that's disingenuous. by
on 2015-09-21 09:46:00 UTC
Link to this
You weren't invited to comment on anything other than the DIA sections, and you promptly demanded whole sections to be changed that were not even remotely within your purview. You made niggly little stylistic changes and threw tantrums when the author, whose style is both different to and a damned sight more interesting than yours by some distance, changed them back. I recall similar behaviour when you betaed my first mission, which is getting on for two years ago now, and my memory is atrocious so there must have been something going on.
Simply put, you shoved yourself into places where your advice was neither required nor wanted and demanded that the story follow your vision rather than that of the person actually writing it. You can bet your life I'm never going to let you near anything else of mine, and I hope any newer people reading this learn better than to have you as a beta without adult supervision. -
However: by
on 2015-09-21 17:03:00 UTC
Link to this
At no point was this stated by anyone to be the case. If I was not wanted otherwise, there was ample opportunity to say so and it would have been an easy matter to address. Not only was this not addressed, but I was in fact told I was welcome to act as a beta.
However, if I'm apparently the Great Satan, you can feel free to remove my name from the story, and the bits I contributed. -
This is interesting. by
on 2015-09-21 18:10:00 UTC
Link to this
"At no point was this stated by anyone to be the case. If I was not wanted otherwise, there was ample opportunity to say so and it would have been an easy matter to address."
Oh, believe you me, there were plenty of times I asked the others to kick you out of the project. You can thank DawnFire and SeaTurtle for their incredible BS tolerance, because there were many, many nights I was tearing my hair out and trying to not tell you to get the hell out of the doc.
I didn't do it out of politeness to you. I did it because DF and ST are my friends.
"Not only was this not addressed, but I was in fact told I was welcome to act as a beta."
You were welcome to act as a consultant for the parts involving the DIA. Again, when I called for you to be kicked out, I was told no. You're welcome.
"However, if I'm apparently the Great Satan, you can feel free to remove my name from the story, and the bits I contributed."
You have no idea how much I would love to do that.
But Plans have been Set In Motion. So I shan't. -
And if that is the case... by
on 2015-09-21 18:15:00 UTC
Link to this
...Surely you can see how me not being aware of the problem would, in fact, lead to the problem not being solved? That it would just make things worse? I was available to speak to whenever you wished, it did not need to get to this point. I am not the thug you think I am.
I don't hate you, but apparently you hate me, so much that you would make me out to be a monster to the whole PPC. I am very disappointed by that. -
Enough is enough. by
on 2015-09-21 20:09:00 UTC
Link to this
I have tried writing this post about 5 times now. But every time, it did not accurately portray my thoughts. Your behavior has gotten me riled up enough that I am quite literally at a loss for words. I don't know what to say anymore. But I will try anyway.
With this post, you are being quite hypocritical. You state that you're being made out to be a "monster", and yet you're trying to do the exact same thing by essentially stating that it's everyone else's fault for not calling you out sooner. That everyone is out to get you, that it's their fault it came to all of this. By implying that others are trying to demonize you, you are attempting to take the moral high ground. You're hiding your jabs behind a mask of civility. So here is what I have to say: you're still not aware of the problem, despite being told multiple times. This is not on them. You're ignoring your own words and behavior, and shifting the blame. -
Y'know, I think I'm beginning to see what this is about. by
on 2015-09-21 18:36:00 UTC
Link to this
You've gone from defending Iximaz to claiming she hates you and wants to make you look bad in front of the whole PPC (something you're more than capable of doing on your own, I might add). I was wondering about that, and then I remembered who was doing all this and stopped wondering.
It was never about Brink. It was never about defending Iximaz. It was about you. Always, always you.
So no, I don't think you're a thug. I think you're an objectionable, self-important narcissist. And while I sincerely hope you're capable of changing and becoming a halfway decent beta, I'm not going to hold my breath. -
Out of line, Scapegrace by
on 2015-09-21 19:37:00 UTC
Link to this
Stop hurling insults. You've been warned about it before. It is against the rules of the community and it is entirely unacceptable.
Stop it.
-Phobos -
You're right. by
on 2015-09-21 20:08:00 UTC
Link to this
I should have been able to express my opinion without name-calling. I'll endeavour to do better in future.
-
It is very apparent she has no desire to stop. (nm) by
on 2015-09-21 19:52:00 UTC
Link to this
-
*cough* Was that last comment really necessary, man? (nm) by
on 2015-09-21 19:56:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Hold up, here. by
on 2015-09-21 19:55:00 UTC
Link to this
She crossed a line, yes.
But considering your behavior here, and in the past, you don't precisely have room to talk.
Glass houses, Ekyl. -
You're right. by
on 2015-09-20 01:01:00 UTC
Link to this
You're absolutely right.
I'll take this to heart and take a long look at my future stories, rework them to be more in line with what the PPC should be.
I should have known better. I should have known that this goes against everything the PPC stands for. It's my job as a PG to know what does and doesn't fit in the spirit of the PPC, and I just proved I don't. So I'm going to resign, hang up my hat, or give it back, however it works. It was my job to lead by example, and I set a pretty crummy one.
I'm sorry. -
Let me be blunt for a moment. by
on 2015-09-21 04:33:00 UTC
Link to this
I did not initially want to respond to this* - it looks like an argument about canon, which, because canon is very dear to us, has led to Feelings. But I'm going to put 2¢ in anyway, and it may sound a bit harsh, but it's the truth.
It does not matter whether JulyFlame likes your story or not.
Not does it matter if I do. Or if Huinesoron does. Or if Voyd does. If, say, sixteen of us all suddenly go "Whoa whoa whoa, you're way off base," then it might be time to have a discussion. But to immediately recant not only your story, but your PG hat, on the disagreement of one person with regards to its canonical fit, makes no sense.
Relax. We've all got different visions. You've got an arc, and it matters to you, and it apparently has a lot of folks who resonate. I think it would be a gorram shame to abandon that and your hat just because not everyone agrees.
*despite July wanting people to talk you down from being so hard on yourself, because I'll be honest, I haven't followed PPC canon, outside of one or two stories here and there, in upwards of three years. -
Hold on a moment by
on 2015-09-20 02:55:00 UTC
Link to this
I think you should stop and think about this. This is not the first time two PPCers or even two PGs have disagreed about the direction a story has taken. They didn't hang up the PG hat because of a disagreement. Disagreements happen.
That said, if you take some time and think about it and still don't want to be a PG anymore, then that is your choice.
-Phobos -
It's not just a disagreement though. by
on 2015-09-20 03:13:00 UTC
Link to this
What I wrote doesn't follow with what the PPC is supposed to be. With what the PGs are supposed to represent. I should have known better, and I didn't. Simple as that.
-
This seems like a bit of an overreaction. by
on 2015-09-20 03:38:00 UTC
Link to this
One person not liking one story and feeling it doesn't fit in with their idea of what the PPC is doesn't mean you should hang 'em up.
Though that said, multiple interpretations of what the PPC is "supposed to be" are a thing that should be allowed to exist. We're an evolving community and an evolving setting, where multiple interpretations are not mutually exclusive. While I can see where some would have concerns over some things, and in some cases I actually agree, I also feel "this is not exactly like what we would write in 2006 and therefore it shouldn't be a thing" is a bit much. -
Do stop misrepresentation of my concerns. by
on 2015-09-20 04:55:00 UTC
Link to this
"this is not exactly like what we would write in 2006 and therefore it shouldn't be a thing" is not what I said, so please do not portray it as such.
-
Sincere apologies. by
on 2015-09-20 04:56:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm more organising my thoughts, and do suspect I'm babbling aimlessly. Sorry for that.
-
No. No. And no. by
on 2015-09-20 01:05:00 UTC
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Calm down. Breathe.
At no point did I tell you that you screwed up.
I will get back to this in a few hours. -
I'm not sure I agree with your assessment. by
on 2015-09-20 02:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Brink's primary influence, from my perspective at least, was the Third Doctor's incarceration on Earth. Maybe it's just because I've been working with Ix for a while, but it felt like the kind of thing that fitted. As for why she is being treated harshly, well, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Guardsman had pushed for it a little. We've seen in a few bits and pieces that he's feeling betrayed by the Aviator, has taken the Reader under his wing instead, and is sufficiently governed by his emotions to blow up upon losing a screwdriver - forgive my not providing chapter and verse, I'm on my phone and formatting is a royal pain - so I think he'd want to throw the proverbial book at her and could maybe get some stuff to stick. But hey, I'm just some boring little Marx-botherer, you don't have to pay it any mind.
-
Response. by
on 2015-09-20 05:33:00 UTC
Link to this
That is nice to know, but my concern wasn't with regards to inspiration. It had to do with the reaction present in the PPC rather than it being influenced by Doctor Who canon itself.
I already pointed out that I thought it was well written.
Second of all, I do not care that you are a "boring little Marx-botherer". Please stop bringing it up unless it actually has something to do with the conversation or debate at hand. It does not preemptively excuse you from my pointing out issues within your reply, or from not actually answering what I was saying in the first place.
-July, who doesn't actually care what your political or philosophical affinities are unless we are discussing items related to politics or philosophy, thank you very much -
Here's the thing. by
on 2015-09-20 10:05:00 UTC
Link to this
Maybe (as I said) it's because I betaed large chunks of Brink and other Third Aviator stories on and off for ages, but I thought the parallels to the Third Doctor was sort of the point of the story. Second Avi had been pratting about in the actual Whoniverse - not just the Reader's homefic - for a good while beforehand. She's been gone (subjectively) for several centuries. She's an extremely experienced field agent who has steadfastly refused to get any kind of help from FicPsych on a voluntary basis. Now she's back, she's a useful asset, but only if she's sane enough to keep performing missions. That means mandatory FicPsych evaluations and making sure she's not a flight risk - hence the tags and so forth.
Also, I'd say there was a big difference between you saying "I'm not sure I like this" and "[the PPC as Ix described it] is not one I write in". The one is entirely reasonable. The other comes off as an attack. Also also, saying stuff like "I realize that to you, Ixi, and co, that [sic] the arc is an important one." makes your post sound less like reasoned advice from a long-standing member of the community and more like condescension, especially since your example of why Ix was wrong to do it was one of your own agents (about whom I am not privileged to have an opinion). Tone is important, if you'll forgive my repurposing this glass house for a stone-throwing contest. =]
I admit this may be my anger issues talking, i.e. that I only found your post patronising because my brain chemistry blew it out of proportion, and I apologise if I'm jumping at shadows here. Point of fact, what I meant by my previous closing remark was that I expected you to be dismissive of my thoughts on the matter, as in "oh, it's just Scapegrace having a moan, I'm sure she'll run out of steam eventually". Which, upon reflection, is what I should have said. I certainly didn't intend to make this political and can only apologise if I did. -
No, pay attention. by
on 2015-09-20 15:10:00 UTC
Link to this
"Maybe (as I said) it's because I betaed large chunks of Brink and other Third Aviator stories on and off for ages, but I thought the parallels to the Third Doctor was sort of the point of the story."
I am still not talking about the tone of the Whoniverse. I am talking about the tone of the PPC. The one is not the other, and I had not touched or brought up anything with regard to the Whovian side of the story when I gave my review.
"Second Avi had been pratting about in the actual Whoniverse - not just the Reader's homefic - for a good while beforehand. She's been gone (subjectively) for several centuries. She's an extremely experienced field agent who has steadfastly refused to get any kind of help from FicPsych on a voluntary basis. Now she's back, she's a useful asset, but only if she's sane enough to keep performing missions. That means mandatory FicPsych evaluations and making sure she's not a flight risk - hence the tags and so forth."
PPC agents are not (not sapient) animals. They are able to make their own decisions about whether they want to stay or no. I can't say 'hm no I do not feel like being in the military anymore bye'. An agent can do whenever she or he likes. The PPC cannot keep them if they decide to leave. I do not see what is so special about Rina, regardless of how experienced she is or having become the Aviator, that they would make this new kind of decision.
"Also, I'd say there was a big difference between you saying "I'm not sure I like this" and "[the PPC as Ix described it] is not one I write in". The one is entirely reasonable. The other comes off as an attack. Also also, saying stuff like "I realize that to you, Ixi, and co, that [sic] the arc is an important one." makes your post sound less like reasoned advice from a long-standing member of the community and more like condescension, especially since your example of why Ix was wrong to do it was one of your own agents (about whom I am not privileged to have an opinion). Tone is important, if you'll forgive my repurposing this glass house for a stone-throwing contest. =]
I admit this may be my anger issues talking, i.e. that I only found your post patronising because my brain chemistry blew it out of proportion, and I apologise if I'm jumping at shadows here. Point of fact, what I meant by my previous closing remark was that I expected you to be dismissive of my thoughts on the matter, as in "oh, it's just Scapegrace having a moan, I'm sure she'll run out of steam eventually". Which, upon reflection, is what I should have said. I certainly didn't intend to make this political and can only apologise if I did."
Your tone is the one that needs watching. I said straight off the bat that I thought the writing was good. In no way was what I said an attack. What I had to say was directly connected. 'I am not sure I like this because of the extremes the DIA are going to, which is results in a PPC I would not want to write in.' My expression of an opinion is not an attack on her.
You are the one being condescending by trying to make it seem like I am attacking her, and at the same time setting up your replies to make it seem that if I reply in a way that expresses any disagreement with you, it is because I am being condescending myself, and intent on ignoring your opinion.
This is, as I have already told you, out of bounds. I am not going to accept your manipulating tactics, especially when it is because I said something that you disagree with and thus are trying to discredit me as thoroughly as possible.
I will not reply again if you pull any of the above (or related tactics) once more in this conversation. -
Cards on the table: I wasn't being fair. by
on 2015-09-20 18:45:00 UTC
Link to this
First, let me offer an apology for that.
When I get fired up, as has been the case here, I try and beat my opponent down. The fact that I see someone on the opposite side of a conversation as an opponent to be beaten down is probably telling in and of itself, but that's by the by. I was reading the argument I wanted to read, rather than the one you were actually giving, and responded according to that rather than observable reality.
You have several good points concerning Brink's tone, and if you're amenable I'd like to discuss them privately. Everyone's probably had quiet enough of listening to me gripe, for a start. -
Reading the argument you wish to read... by
on 2015-09-21 06:33:00 UTC
Link to this
Tends to result in there only being losers and no winners.
I very much appreciate your willingness to be amenable to further discussion. It takes a lot to admit being wrong sometimes and that you are approaching things at the wrong angle.
It takes a lot of bravery for that, and some of us never learn how to scrape up the courage.
-July -
Also, Techno-Carrot? Wasn't it an Oblong before? :) by
on 2015-09-20 02:31:00 UTC
Link to this
What happened there?
is now picturing an Oblong turning into a Carrot and being very hard to type on.
~DF -
Lost my previous phone, got a new one. by
on 2015-09-20 09:17:00 UTC
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The new one is orange.
Very orange. -
Er, about the Guardsman-Reader relationship. by
on 2015-09-20 02:30:00 UTC
Link to this
Not entering this discussion, just want to clarify one thing--the Reader's been under the Guardsman's wing for quite a while. She has in no way replaced Rina there; they've grown close in their own right, and it happened...oh, actually around the same time or a little after Rina and the Guardsman started to get close. Remember the TARDIS repair session ("Cale Seche")? This next bit isn't out yet, though it was referenced here--the Reader's been taking lessons from the Guardsman, spending a fair bit of time with him. They've become good friends. While Rina is (was) certainly a mutual friend of theirs, and they were both close to her, the Reader grew close to the Guardsman around the same time and in a different way--less a father-daughter thing and more an equals thing. So he hasn't taken the Reader under his wing instead of Rina--they were both already there, in different ways.
(That is a pretty interesting theory, though. The question then, of course, would be: why were the recommendations of one agent--one very close to the matter, at that--accepted and pushed through and all? How would the Guardsman have gotten such pull that something like this could work? And why did no one oppose him, or say 'nah, that's too much work, we have better things to do, and the Flowers don't care enough to get so detailed about it anyway' (or something along those lines)?
This is meant entirely as theoretical speculation, mind you. It is in no way Word of Co-Author that that's what happened; just got curious about following that idea.)
~DF -
Isn't he basically supposed to be a grunt? by
on 2015-09-20 03:45:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm not really sure I see the Flowers going off the recommendation of one random dude, but maybe because he knows her they'd take something into consideration. But then, they could easily consider him just biased.
To me, it seemed like Terabyte was just throwing a bunch of possibilities into the air, re: what would happen from all of this; I actually agree with July in that it's most likely this ends with Aviator getting sent to FicPsych. Personally, I might have put in something to make it more clear that was an option, were I writing it, because I can see how someone might read, say, "incarceration" (which could've also meant inpatient care at FicPsych!) and interpreted it as "she'll be locked up and left to rot".
I do like the comparison to the Third Doctor though. -
Isn't it kind of Terabyte's job to know, though? by
on 2015-09-20 08:18:00 UTC
Link to this
She(?) wasn't an uninvolved agent saying 'omerger, she's totes going to get sacked!', she was a person with extensive experience of the field offering a professional opinion.
hS -
Hm, yes, I agree. by
on 2015-09-20 08:22:00 UTC
Link to this
I think Terabyte identifies as an "it," but trivia aside, that really should be the consideration.
I think it was running down the probable outcomes of the Board looking at all this. Personally, if I were looking at it again I would've suggested it stress that most likely FicPsych gets involved, but who knows if that'd've made the overall story better.
I probably shouldn't jump into discussions when I'd just checked the Board upon getting back from a long day, as I'd done. -
An example of the formatting problems: by
on 2015-09-20 02:14:00 UTC
Link to this
My previous post was meant to be a reply to your first post here. Derp.
-
Good. by
on 2015-09-19 19:43:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Happy(ish) days have come again! -
Well, well, well. by
on 2015-09-19 08:23:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
I just came back from hauling a lot of wood, so I will keep this brief. First, I knew she wasn't really dead. Dead inside? Perhaps. But it was far too easy to bring her back.
Second, just because she survived does not mean she is out of the fire just yet. We will see how the Flowers rule. Probably harshly. However, I thought the Time Lord thing was permanent. It would seem like cheating just to strip it now. Then again, if it could be done, it may be a harsher punishment then anything else they could do.
Third, I hope she gets better. She is getting the mental attention she so desperately needed. It's OK. It gets better. I promise.
Now, I really need to sleep. More wood tomorrow I think. Well done all of you. Ill chat if I can tomorrow.
If any of this makes no sense, know that I am near to sleeping on my keyboard tired. But I had to read through this first. Now. Sleepy times. -
Disguises by
on 2015-09-19 13:54:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
We were only able to come up with two ideas as to how the disguise might be removed: using a Chameleon Circuit (and subsequently wipe the Aviator's memories in the process), or using an Escafil device to trap her in human morph (which, for an agent who got into an accident and made a huge mess of a fic, would be nigh-impossible to get thanks to red tape, but for the Flowers, it wouldn't be any hassle at all).
And you're right, that would be the harshest punishment they can do to her. She's been a Time Lord for four hundred and thirty-five years; that's about twenty-four times as long as she lived as a human. There's very little of what she used to be left; forcing her back into human form would break her. -
She's Baaaaaaack! by
on 2015-09-19 06:47:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
If somewhat loopy in the brainpan. I'm holding out hope that the Ten Years Hence will come to pass, since everybody was happy there, but even if it does, it seems like it's going to be a long, hard rode for Rina/The Aviator/whateverwerecallinghernowIvelosttrack -
Well, what did you expect? by
on 2015-09-19 13:55:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
She's surprisingly much saner now than compared to when she left; she's in shock, she's grieving, and trying to cope.
And she's called the Aviator now. Hope that clears it up. :P -
Technically... by
on 2015-09-19 18:03:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Her name is Arinorelivandrisar. Arin for short.
She usually goes by the Aviator, or Ave for short. -
Actually... by
on 2015-09-19 18:04:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
She considers the Aviator to be her 'real' name now. Arinorelivandrisar was just adopted for while she was living on Gallifrey because it didn't stand out like a renegade name. -
I'm just gonna make a wall of spoilers for everybody. by
on 2015-09-19 04:36:00 UTC
Link to this
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
Does that work? I hope so...
Now to wait for the Misaimed Fandom. Yes, I'm looking at you. Yes, you in the back.
-
No Subject by
on 2015-09-19 07:00:00 UTC
Link to this
Hi. I'd like to join the PPC since I just can't take badfics and suefics anymore.
-
Greetings. by
on 2015-09-20 10:44:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome. Have some sonic screws. (You'll have to supply your own sonic screwdriver to go with them.)
-
Welcome to the PPC, fellow newbie! by
on 2015-09-20 03:49:00 UTC
Link to this
Well, technically I guess I would be a returnbie, since I was here before but went away and just recently got back here, but since the total time I have spent on Board is about two months, I could be classified as a newbie as well...
Sorry for the rambling. I am another fellow Boarder who found about the PPC through Tv Tropes, so we also have that in common.
Here, as a Welcoming Gift, I present you with a Rorschach Book. It can change to any text in existence. Just close your eyes while holding it, think about what you want read then blink on purpose three times and it should have changed. -
Welcome! by
on 2015-09-20 02:47:00 UTC
Link to this
I've been pretty bad about welcoming newbies lately, including one fiasco where my message was left unfinished for so long that it got eaten twice, but: Welcome to the Board! We're glad to have you. Here, have a Welcome Gift of Swiss Bleepolate, and a set of Gummyblees that will turn into (gummy-candy-mixed-with-bleep) items from your top three fandoms as soon as you pick up the package. Enjoy, and Welcome a-Board again!
~DF -
Hello! by
on 2015-09-19 23:56:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome to the crazy. I don't have any gifts for you (sincere apologies), but I do hope you enjoy your stay!
-
Welcome to the madhouse! by
on 2015-09-19 20:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's a replica of Lobelia's umbrella, because why not, and a box of extra-buttery popcorn to eat while on a mission or throw at offending Sues, whichever strikes your fancy! :)
-
First (Fluttershy-supplied) plover! (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 19:35:00 UTC
Link to this
- Oh, Tawaki. by on 2015-09-19 19:50:00 UTC Link to this
-
That's why I threw in the extra qualification. (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 20:03:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Hi there! by
on 2015-09-19 17:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome to the PPC! Have this miniature star!
(Some assembly required. It's basically just a balloon full of hydrogen right now.) -
Welcome to Creation, here's your shovel. by
on 2015-09-19 17:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Have a shovel enchanted to dig up plovers!
... yes, I know plovers are Tawaki's thing. -
Hiya! by
on 2015-09-19 16:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Have an urple ocarina, and tell us a little bit about yourself! What're your fandoms?
-Alleb -
Hello and welcome to Atop... wait... wrong greeting... by
on 2015-09-19 14:56:00 UTC
Link to this
Anyway! Welcome to the PPC! Have this replica of the One Ring that gives you amazing parkour skills!
-
Welcome aBoard! by
on 2015-09-19 14:51:00 UTC
Link to this
Have one of my own she'd feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes!
-
*shed (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 14:51:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by
on 2015-09-19 13:32:00 UTC
Link to this
Hello, and welcome aBoard! For your newbie gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!
Since you've already checked out the Original Series and the Constitution, I'll just reiterate what Darkotas said and point you at the Wiki; if you have any questions, just look here before asking. We like a newbie who does the research.
As for potential other spin-offs for you to read, have a list of my favorites!
Hope you like it here! :D -
Welcome to the PPC! by
on 2015-09-19 10:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's your starter Pokémon:-
Iiiiiiiit's Farfetch'd!
And your starting item is:-
Mom's Lipstick from The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth!
Now, Mom's Lipstick is a pretty interesting item - it grants an additional 10% damage boost to non-contact moves, the same as any other pure range-up from TBOI:R - but Farfetch'd shouldn't use it. Ever. It's one of the few 'mons with a dedicated item that doesn't actually suck, with its Stick raising its Crit chance by two stages, and its stats are so supremely awful that it's hard to do anything with it. On top of that, Farfetch'd doesn't have a lot of non-Contact moves. Sorry, newbie, y'all been screwed by the RNG. =] -
Velkommen, Bobby. by
on 2015-09-19 07:40:00 UTC
Link to this
(Shh, it's a Shout Out.)
Here, have this cup of confused Lapsang Souchong tea. It's not quite certain whether it smells like a campfire or not, so be gentle with it, aright? The taste is still exquisite, though!
Also: you are a Boarder, not an agent.
~Sgt. First Class Des -
Re: Velkommen, Bobby. by
on 2015-09-19 09:51:00 UTC
Link to this
Well, I am a newbie.
-
Don't worry, we don't eat Newbies here. by
on 2015-09-19 10:03:00 UTC
Link to this
We give them shinies and help them. Na?
-
Welcome by
on 2015-09-19 07:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Since you're signing up right now, there's a special one time offer. For only 375 low monthly you installments of $9.99 you can platinum membership....
That joke got older quicker than I thought it would. Welcome to the board. Just a couple of questions to help us get to know you a bit better.
1. How did you find the PPC?
2. Have you read the PPC Constitution?
3. The Original Series?
4. Fandoms?
5. Preferred Pronoun?
6. Favorite Agent/Spinoff as of yet?
7. Anything else you care to share?
And have a digital pet alligator. Careful. It nips a bit. -
Well... by
on 2015-09-19 07:31:00 UTC
Link to this
I found the PPC at an article about it in tvtropes.org, I have read the Constitution, I working on the Original Series, I have a lots of favorite fandoms, though I love Tolkien's works and Assassin's Creed the most, I preferred "she/her", I honestly admire Jay and Acacia (but I'm sure when I read more of the missions, I'll have more favorite Agents) and I, like all of the Agents, want to keep the fandoms safe.
-
Another troper? by
on 2015-09-19 07:41:00 UTC
Link to this
I think that's a majority of the newer ones. Just if it was not clear, you the boarder is not the same as an agent, that will come later
Regardless welcome and enjoy your stay here. -
Thanks! by
on 2015-09-19 07:46:00 UTC
Link to this
It's much appreciated!
-
You are not an agent, but... by
on 2015-09-19 13:36:00 UTC
Link to this
If you ever decide to go for Permission, nothing says you can't write a self-insert. :)
Also, hello, fellow troper! Looks like you and I found this place the same way! -
Hihi! by
on 2015-09-19 07:12:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome! Always nice to find someone new, so here's a Newbie Gift of the World's Most Annoying Button. Please don't press it. Ever.
If I may ask, how did you find the PPC? Also, we'd love if you could tell us about yourself a bit - favorite fandoms, interests, what-have-you. Stuff like that.
Since you're new, I'll refer you to The Original Series. Give it a read, it's how this all got started. After that, head over to our Wiki if you'd like to learn some more stuff about us or find some spinoffs.
Welcome aBoard!
-
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ by
on 2015-09-19 16:39:00 UTC
Link to this
Hi, I'm Chatvert. You might remember me from such oldbie PPC lore as "why the ... do we have all these Sean Beans running around" and "takes three-year breaks between posting missions".
That's it.
July's making me post because she's been re-enabling me into the PPC all day.
So.
Hi.
:V -
Welcome back to the PPC! by
on 2015-09-21 11:43:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's your NG+ starter Pokémon:
Iiiiiiit's Golem!
And your NG+ starting item is:
Blessing of Osiris (Weapon) from Ascendant!
So, this is actually quite a useful item, since it doubles the BP of your next move if you knocked out your target. It can be really useful on sweepers, and works very well with Golem's high Attack and access to Sucker Punch. It's mostly seen on mons like Scizor who make things like Bullet Punch work, but yeah, it's fine for the G-Man too, especially since you can bait in a revenge sweeper with a Sucker Punch. =] -
Oh, you wrote the Sean Bean agents! by
on 2015-09-21 02:33:00 UTC
Link to this
I absolutely love that idea! Makes me wish I had thought of it. Will you be writing again anytime soon?
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Welcome back! Have an urple ocarina; my name's Alleb, short for Alleb Knight, I got here back in May. Nice to meet you!
-Alleb -
Egads, I made a run-on. by
on 2015-09-21 02:35:00 UTC
Link to this
Apologies-- second try.
...But I'm getting ahead of myself. Welcome back! Have an urple ocarina; my name's Alleb, short for Alleb Knight. I got here back in May. Nice to meet you!
Thaaaat's better.
-Alleb -
Technically, the error is a comma splice. by
on 2015-09-21 15:51:00 UTC
Link to this
A true run-on sentence is when you just jam two sentences together without any punctuation at all that is what I am doing right now.
A comma splice is when you use a comma to connect two sentences as opposed to using a semicolon or separating the sentences with a period), it is not as egregious as a run-on, but it's a good thing when an editor is able to catch one. -
Huh, I'd never heard that before. by
on 2015-09-23 21:35:00 UTC
Link to this
If nothing else, the PPC has really improved my grammar. Thanks!
-Alleb -
Do I know you? Ah well, welcome back anyway! by
on 2015-09-20 14:54:00 UTC
Link to this
Have one of my shed feathers and a complimentary kit of Spikes! (And forgive me for saying this, but I honestly haven't yet read about Team Phoenix or any related shenanigans thereof ^^; I'll remember to fix that sometime!)
-
You can never have too many Sean Beans running around. by
on 2015-09-20 10:46:00 UTC
Link to this
Anyway, welcome back. Have these sonic screws. (You'll have to provide your own sonic screwdriver to go with them.)
-
Welcome home, green kitty! by
on 2015-09-20 04:17:00 UTC
Link to this
Good to have you a-Board again.
And that's a cool smiley! -
YAAAAAAAY! by
on 2015-09-20 04:00:00 UTC
Link to this
YER BACK YAY
-
It's a pleasure to meet you. by
on 2015-09-20 03:35:00 UTC
Link to this
I have just got back here about a month ago, and prior to that I was here about eleven months ago but I only ever here also for about a month back then, so we wouldn't know each other.
Have a Rorschach Book. It can change to any text in existence. Just close your eyes while holding it, think about what you want read then blink on purpose three times and it should have changed. -
Why, hello! by
on 2015-09-20 02:36:00 UTC
Link to this
I remember those Sean Beans! That was fun to read. Always kind of wished that Alec Trevelyan had stuck around being written about, he's very fun.
Anyway, welcome back for however long you're staying! And have a Welcome Back Gift of Swiss Bleepolate, for those times when you want your Swiss chocolate to ease the pain of dreadful memories. Are you still into the various movies with Sean Bean in them? On that note, have you seen him in Game of Thrones? :)
And, of course: how have things been? What are you up to these days, apart from being re-enabled by July?
~DF -
Welcome Back! by
on 2015-09-19 21:37:00 UTC
Link to this
Good to see you again!
-
Thanks! It's good to be back. B) (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 00:11:00 UTC
Link to this
-
So you're the one who wrote Project Phoenix! by
on 2015-09-19 20:35:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome back! Here are two complimentary bottles of Bleeprin and a mini-Missingno named HoOh! (I'm trying to adopt some of the ones I already have out in advance because my upcoming mission's got a small army of them.) HoOh looks like a small Aerodactyl skeleton, doesn't eat as far as I can tell, and enjoys playing practical jokes on people. Have fun!
-
Whyyyy is that my legacy. :| by
on 2015-09-20 00:14:00 UTC
Link to this
Thank you for the Bleeprin! Mine's all gone off by now, I suspect. And the Mini sounds quite adorable. :D
-
Dai Stiho! o/ by
on 2015-09-19 19:55:00 UTC
Link to this
I know of you from Plurk, but I'm not following you there. We can change that, if you want? ^^ It's not necessary, though.
Welcome back to PPC Life! -
Dai! by
on 2015-09-20 00:13:00 UTC
Link to this
Ah yes, I've seen you around! Didn't realize you were involved in the PPC, too...
-
No worries! ^^ by
on 2015-09-20 00:19:00 UTC
Link to this
I haven't applied for Permission or anything.
Mostly, I beta. :) -
Have a welcome-back plover! (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 19:33:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Yay! I've finally been plover'd! (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 00:10:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Welcome (back) to Creation, here's your shovel. by
on 2015-09-19 18:07:00 UTC
Link to this
Have a shovel enchanted to dig up whatever your standard Newbie Gift is!
I'm familiar with your username at least... speaking of July, I'm tied with her for second-most stories in the Department of Floaters. Tee hee. -
Thank you! by
on 2015-09-20 00:12:00 UTC
Link to this
Which reminds me...I have QUITE the backlog of missions to write. B)
-
Hello there! by
on 2015-09-19 17:30:00 UTC
Link to this
I've been here for... four years? almost, and I don't know you, so have a welcome-back gift of a cup of Earl Grey tea. No, it's not going to eat your face if you try to drink from it, promise.
-
I remember you! Because I am a lurker. by
on 2015-09-20 00:09:00 UTC
Link to this
I lurk. It's my thing. :V
And thank you for the tea, the description of which is in no way suspect. :P -
I see, I see. by
on 2015-09-20 19:42:00 UTC
Link to this
Well, nice to meet you properly, then!
-
Returnbie! *glomp* *poke* by
on 2015-09-19 16:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti! And welcome back! You're... you're the guy who wrote Team Phoenix, no? :D
I'm still pretty new, only been around for a year and a half, so that'd be why you don't know me. Nice to meet you, though! -
Oh no. Is that my legacy? D: by
on 2015-09-20 00:07:00 UTC
Link to this
Nice to meet you! o/ Also I'd like to apologize on behalf of twelve-year-old me. Because. Yikes. Need to do some severe retconning of all that!
Oh...oh God. That was half my life ago. I am officially a Lifer. -
Since you're mentioning that... by
on 2015-09-20 02:42:00 UTC
Link to this
...well, I basically said up above that I enjoyed something you wrote when you were twelve. Which is true. Just wanted to add that, well, I knew already and certainly can understand that you wanted to redo that; doesn't mean it wasn't a fun read, though.
Apologies if that made no sense, of course; that's what happens when you try to acknowledge that you know the author's opinion on their own, quite old work, and also enjoyed certain aspects of it (mainly the concept of bringing in a whole bunch of Sean Bean characters, and especially PPC Agent Alec Trevelyan, who I keep trying to write as 'Alex'). Basically, I know it's old, and isn't perfect, but I had fun reading it.
And, on that note, it's certainly time to stop repeating myself.
~DF -
Oh, no worries! by
on 2015-09-20 20:05:00 UTC
Link to this
I just have a looot to retcon. I'm glad you found them enjoyable! And if you're looking for more with Alec, not sure if you're aware of these! and more to come.
-
We're having the weirdest Gathering of Two. by
on 2015-09-19 16:45:00 UTC
Link to this
Crossover much?
I should feel more guilty about this particular image but oh well. -
b e t r a y a l (nm) by
on 2015-09-19 16:48:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Have there been any hatefics written about the PPC yet? by
on 2015-09-19 22:49:00 UTC
Link to this
If so, what were they and what was the PPC's response?
-
I recall this incident. by
on 2015-09-20 13:35:00 UTC
Link to this
From a little while back - the fic itself was taken down by the author shortly after is was posted, but some excerpts exist in the comments. And those same comments show what the response was at the time.
If it were to happen again I assume that the PPC's response would probably be along the lines of 'don't really care / what a funny troll'.
- Irish -
I have a copy of this! by
on 2015-09-22 11:51:00 UTC
Link to this
It took me until now to figure out where I'd filed it, but I've put it up on Google for people to look at.
The Eight Gates (anti-PPC story)
The other anti-PPC story I'm aware of is the very old, very good, and sadly unfinished Ashes to Glory (which will be up at that link within the hour). It was written by a member of the PPC, but we don't know which one. :-/ It was really interesting, though.
hS -
I don't have a copy of this. by
on 2015-09-22 12:19:00 UTC
Link to this
Specifically, that link is giving a 404 error. From what you wrote I was assuming that 'The Eight Gates' could be found at that link, and the 'Ashes to Glory' would be available soon. Did I misunderstand that? Because the Ashes link works fine, but
Seven DoorsEight Gates doesn't.
I do like the Ashes to Glory story, and would have linked to first, but I couldn't get the wayback machine to find it for me. I'm glad it's been archived though, it's an interesting take on the PPC universe.
- Irish -
Blarg. New 'Eight Gates' link. by
on 2015-09-22 12:34:00 UTC
Link to this
Let's do this the other way.
(Ashes was the one I didn't have archived at the time; it only took five minutes to get up, though.)
hS -
Re: Blarg. New 'Eight Gates' link. by
on 2015-09-23 18:10:00 UTC
Link to this
Oooooh, thanks! So, uh, which mission was this written in response to?
Also, have any agents ever participated in missions that took pace in their home continua? -
Links by
on 2015-09-24 15:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Since Herr Wozzeck mentioned that it was his first mission and that Florestan recruited Zerenze there, it must be this, although its author apparently changed their name.
Barid and Brightbeard from World of Warcraft went on Missions in the World of Warcraft.
James Vulpes and Saxo Cruore were rescued from a Harry Potter x Labyrinth crossover and went on a mission in another Harry Potter x Labyrinth crossover.
Also, many Tolkien elves, like Dafydd Illian, on missions in Lord of the Rings.
I’m sure there are more.
HG -
Whoa. Thanks! (nm) by
on 2015-09-24 19:53:00 UTC
Link to this
-
That happens all the time. by
on 2015-09-24 13:29:00 UTC
Link to this
Agents from canon universes are often called in to sort out badfic from that universe. They know what's wrong and can provide expertise in the canon.
Agents from specific badfics are a lot rarer, but I'm sure it happened at some point. =] -
Also... by
on 2015-09-22 14:32:00 UTC
Link to this
Did someone say... Blarg? (spoilers for Ratchet & Clank.)
-
Yep, that's the fic I remember, aright. (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 13:28:00 UTC
Link to this
-
The Gates link is giving me a 404 error (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 12:01:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Also getting a 404 from this link. (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 12:24:00 UTC
Link to this
-
I remember that, too. (nm) by
on 2015-09-21 15:59:00 UTC
Link to this
-
I have no memory of this... by
on 2015-09-20 21:50:00 UTC
Link to this
And I posted in the thread.
Y'know, I think I know what the culprit might be, and I am perfectly fine with my memory continuing to rot because of it. -
I had only the vaguest memory of it. by
on 2015-09-22 11:43:00 UTC
Link to this
But I was pretty sure I involved one of Herr Wozzeck's missions, so I just searched for the names of his agents. Fortunately it was recent enough that it hadn't (quite) dropped off into the electronic abyss. I wouldn't have bothered to check the archives.
Also, I can't read your subject line without thinking of Gandalf in the mines of Moria 'I have no memory of this place...'.
- Irish -
I think so? by
on 2015-09-20 04:58:00 UTC
Link to this
I think I distinctly remember at least one being written around two, three years ago.
-
It exists... by
on 2015-09-20 02:58:00 UTC
Link to this
...and it is laughably bad. They thought they would spork us, but they didn't actually know anything about us.
Don't know where it is, though. Sorry.
-Phobos -
...that sounds very vaguely familiar. by
on 2015-09-20 04:16:00 UTC
Link to this
But only that. Mainly, I'm remembering the bit where someone plagiarized TOS and ACMESES and we found out and reported it and all. There's even a doc with a ton of charges written up in the comments; I found it a bit ago. Apparently, I was going to do something with it, I expect as a cowrite.
But yeah, no clue where to find this badly-done sporking of the PPC. Which is a pity, because it sounds funny.
~DF -
Hatefics can't affect the PPC. by
on 2015-09-19 23:02:00 UTC
Link to this
The PPC is partly quarantined--that's what Permission is for. PPC fics written without permission just bounce off our creativity shield harmlessly.
-
Has the PPC ever done fancomics or fanvids? by
on 2015-09-20 04:48:00 UTC
Link to this
My curiousity is at its peak. Or should that be [pique]?
-
Fan comics? :D by
on 2015-09-20 04:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Why, yes! hS has done a comic called Generic Surface, which is probably linked through the wiki (try Agent Louise's page) and is certainly linked through his webplex. There's even a PPC game, which I'm pretty sure can also be found on his website. Come to think of it, he's even made a video or two as Agent Dafydd--funny, that, he's rather done everything, hasn't he? :)
Apart from hS, I'm not sure, though I expect some other things exist. There's certainly a lot of fanart, and even the Playscriptes, which have been recorded. Not to mention the Multiverse Monitor...
In short: we are indeed a multi-media community! :D
~DF -
Whoops, should have been more precise... by
on 2015-09-20 05:18:00 UTC
Link to this
I meant, have they exorcised fancomics or fanvids instead of fanfics?
-
Ohhh. by
on 2015-09-20 05:39:00 UTC
Link to this
Hm. Well, I know there's been discussion about it, but I think it's generally been left along because you'd have to draw the comic reactions or video the video...or else insert bits of the fancomics/vids somehow and get really creative with the mission structure. Or else just describe the comic or vid really well, which sounds annoying and rather boring; I've also seen sporkings on other comms of fancomics that used...must've been screenshots, or something, and then prose reacting to it. Not sure if any PPC missions exist to them, though.
I've certainly been thinking for quite a while of missioning a Quotev quiz, though. Just haven't found one bad enough. I'm...not entirely sure how I was thinking of going about it, unfortunately, but I know it involved an agent taking the quiz and pointing out what was wrong...s'pose they could whack the screen afterwards? Or be on-scene and selecting options that are hanging in the air in front of them? It could work.
~DF -
That'd make for a pretty cool interlude. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 19:08:00 UTC
Link to this
-
...you make me want to write about a very bored Dawn. by
on 2015-09-20 23:48:00 UTC
Link to this
Doing this for kicks, that is.
-
"... This quiz smells like glitter." (nm) by
on 2015-09-21 00:21:00 UTC
Link to this
-
That's it, I'm doing this. by
on 2015-09-21 04:00:00 UTC
Link to this
At some point. Probably long after you've forgotten about it. But it will happen... probably...once I find time and a good candidate.
~DF -
A candidate you say... by
on 2015-09-22 01:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Well, what about this,
creativelynamed "Which boy would you date from my school" using terrible (do we have a ppc version of the s-word?)jpegs of the author's friends and quickly switches to anime characters about halfway through. Typos and grammar errors abound.
Or, if you wanta classic case of celebrity stalker-ismTWOO WUV, you could do One direction boyfriend!-random-asterisk. (punctuation written out for clarification.)She also gives you a bizzare story about how you hook up with your new one direction boyfriend and more bad jpegs! And she borders on wearing underpants on her head, too.
That was the most html I've ever done in a board post. -
Re: Hatefics can't affect the PPC. by
on 2015-09-19 23:07:00 UTC
Link to this
I see, I see. But have any been written?
-
I can guarantee you at least one exists. by
on 2015-09-20 02:49:00 UTC
Link to this
The laws of probability confirm it. However, if you'd want to find it, you'd be out of luck there. I've had this question myself and gone looking, to no avail. None of my... business associates could find any either. But, it is a mathematical certainty that they do exist.
-
I'm not sure... by
on 2015-09-20 00:23:00 UTC
Link to this
I think maybe, at some point, someone might have. But it wasn't remarkable enough for me to recall it, and I've read pretty much everything PPC, so it probably wasn't a big deal.
I know someone flamed Jay and Acacia, as it's in the original series, but I don't think that was a hatefic. And then there was the big "you're anti-feminist" thing, which is about as ridiculous an accusation as it gets, IMO, considering the PPC does a lot of standing up against the wilting-flower Sue who gets rescued by her strong and handsome LO...
Anyways, yeah, I think it might've happened; I have a vague idea that it has. It probably wasn't well-done enough, or didn't generate enough discussion, to stick around long enough for me to encounter it sometime during the last four or five years.
There's "Suedom"; it does have Jay and Acacia as villains, but I don't think that counts as a hatefic because it's well-written (albeit unfinished) and just doesn't have the "hate" part of hatefic in it. It's more of a different perspective on the PPC-versus-Sue situation; after all, Sues are living creatures in their own, odd, eldritch-abomination way.
-
Security badges? by
on 2015-09-20 02:57:00 UTC
Link to this
I know that the PPC is about as unprofessional as a paramilitary organization can get, but I've decided that I will use security badges for my agents once I get permission. The thing is, I want to have them ready before I ask for permission. As such, I have no idea how to fill them out.
As in, what information should be displayed? I'd guess that an RC number, name, and department/division should be on there, but what else? A normal answer would be fine, but if someone were to make a chart (Different departments would probably have different information), I could have an even easier time doing this, for both myself and other people. Which reminds me, once I master doing this, I will be open to making badges for others.
And, lastly, I may or may not have asked this before. I'm one of those people who doesn't have any memory of what they post. So, uh, sorry if I have, in fact, asked before and forgotten. -
Re: Security badges? by
on 2015-09-22 11:19:00 UTC
Link to this
I could see this sort of thing being used. Although depending on the level of information you want to include, some kind of ID card (like a driving license or passport style of thing) might be better.
As has already been pointed out, agents already wear flashpatches that identify their department (and there is the recent idea of pins to indicate temporary assignments with different departments), so I'm not sure that a badge with just basic name/department info on it would serve much purpose, but a more detailed card might be useful(I'm assuming that Personnel have detailed files for each agent, and that this card would just be a brief summary).
Details that I can see being on this would be:
* Full name
* Maybe a photo if it's to be used for actual ID purposes (after all, you've got be able to prove to the HQ bartenders that you're old enough to drink somehow)
* Maybe some kind of unique ID number - agents could change their name, and Personnel having some kind of number for looking up a specific individual would probably make their paperwork easier to keep track of
* Age (see previous comment concerning bartenders)
* Species (might not always be obvious, particularly with human-looking aliens)
* Department
* Division
* Indication of experience (I know we don't have ranks like in the military, but some distinction between Newbie, Agent and Veteran Agent could be possible)
* Any special permissions/notes (such as licensed Sun Crusher pilot, completed lightsaber safety training course, etc.)
* Any special restrictions
- Irish -
There's actually a precedent for IDs. by
on 2015-09-22 16:58:00 UTC
Link to this
An old, old precedent it is, too. I think the only remaining (or just only?) example is Talia Nightsong's ID, which you can find on her LJ profile. Just scroll down a bit, it's got a front and back.
It seems to cover most of your data, Irish, with the addition of organ donor status and minis; and maybe the Psych Eval number stands in for experience and special notes? It's interesting to me that its presence seems to imply that every agent should have a psychological evaluation on file...
I think it would be fun to create more of these, with better-quality graphics. {= )
~Neshomeh -
"No. There is... another." by
on 2015-09-22 20:35:00 UTC
Link to this
And it's hosted on your website. Tut tut, Nesh!
Agent Lambda's SIELU ID
Based on which, it is apparently a good thing she never ran into Dafydd.
hS -
Well, now there's three! by
on 2015-09-22 21:51:00 UTC
Link to this
Because I went and spent my free time on it. This version is slightly modified from the Artemis one, since I hadn't realized Lambda's existed. (Also, I like this better anyway.)
And, I may regret saying this, but now that I've got a template, I can make more pretty easily. >.> I just need the relevant info, a decent image (preferably a headshot) at least 100x120, and (optionally) your choice of font for your agent's handwriting. For the record, I used this to get a random 8-byte hexadecimal code for the Psych Eval number.
I'm open to suggestions for modification, too, if there's anything people think desperately needs to be there.
~Neshomeh felt creative today. -
Very nice! (nm) by
on 2015-09-24 12:26:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Heeey, was that an offer? ^_^ by
on 2015-09-23 16:26:00 UTC
Link to this
The easy one:
~
Selene Windflower
Image: This one
Species: Vampire - Dracula
RC: 7219
Age: 250ish
Sex: Female
Height: 5'11''
Build: Thin
Eyes: Red
Hair: Black
Department: Floaters
Division: N/A
HoD: Floating Hyacinth
Psych Eval: D871AAA10F7513C1
Blood Type: Any
Organ Donor: No
Partner: Kaitlyn Jackson
LO(s): Boromir/ Mini(s): None.
Other: Formerly DOGA. Under DIA monitoring.
~
I'm not sure if you were making minis/LOs a choice, so I've provided both.
And now, the tricksy one.
~
Kaitlyn Jackson
Image: Will this work?
Species: Human - World One(?)
RC: 7219
Age: 25
Sex: Female
Height: 5'5''
Build: Hobbity
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Department: DCPS, Floaters
Division: Lord of the Rings, N/A
HoD: Asphodel, Floating Hyacinth
Psych Eval: 11EF894186710F32
Blood Type: A-
Organ Donor: Yes
Partner: Chelsea Miller, Selene Windflower
LO(s): Lúthien, Hermione Granger/ Mini(s): None.
Other: OFUDisc graduate.
~
I will forgive you for not doing that.
(Also, have you considered replacing the barcode with a QR code containing the actual information? Most of it should probably fit.)
(I'm also now expecting a canonical explanation of the psych code from our resident FicPsych expert. I particularly want to know what that AAA in the middle of Selene's means. >:D)
hS -
Selene & Kaitlyn, new style. by
on 2015-09-26 21:36:00 UTC
Link to this
How do you guys like this new back, with the magnetic strip and QV code? I think I've won myself over, personally.
hS, any issue with the changes I made from what you submitted? I changed "Other" to "Special Status" after I did Nume's, and I don't really think transfer history or OFU-graduate status warrant special note. I also put Floaters first for Kaitlyn's ID, since I perceive Floaters to be her primary assignment these days (and I know she's not happy about it). I also mucked about with the color balance of her picture a fair bit, since the original is really dark and muddy. It was just big enough to work, though!
~Neshomeh -
That's amazing. by
on 2015-09-27 18:39:00 UTC
Link to this
I approve of all the changes (though I think Selene just arbitrarily decided at some point to be 250 until further notice). Kaitlyn won't be happy about the department order, but that's officeocracy for you.
I particularly approve of Selene's writing - that's pretty much perfect. And the QR/mag strip combo works wonderfully...
Thank you!
hS -
Yay! by
on 2015-09-27 19:14:00 UTC
Link to this
Glad you approve. ^_^
The font I used for Selene is Gare de Chambord, if you want it for your own use.
The offer is still open to change Kaitlyn's, if you run across something you like for her.
~Neshomeh -
Oh, and: by
on 2015-09-24 15:27:00 UTC
Link to this
What's a QR code, and how would I do that?
~Neshomeh, knew she was forgetting something. -
One of these: by
on 2015-09-24 16:08:00 UTC
Link to this
(URL)
That was generated from text entered on this website. If you plug the image URL into this other website, you can read the text back out.
It's probably a bit oversized for entering all the data, but you could do a name and department pretty easily:
(Impressively, the reader above can actually find and read the QR code on there! Try it and see.)
hS -
Interesting! by
on 2015-09-26 01:25:00 UTC
Link to this
Oh, those things. Didn't know that's what they were called. I'll try it for your two. If it works nicely, I'll redo the others to include 'em. (Gotta redo my two and Rina's anyway.)
It IS pretty impressive that the reader can just find it in any old image.
~Neshomeh -
Gack, I almost didn't see this. by
on 2015-09-24 15:25:00 UTC
Link to this
Phobos read the post before me, so the link was dulled. {= P But yes, it was an offer! I'll do 'em up tomorrow; won't have a chance today, unfortunately. I've already thought about how I'd handle a case like Kaitlyn's, though, so I will absolutely give it a shot.
To answer your questions: No, it wasn't meant to be a choice. I just forgot to edit the template before I did Ilraen's and didn't catch it before it was too late.
The official explanation for the code is... it's random. ^_~ It's a randomly generated filing number. Any arcane significance you read into the characters is all in your head. Incidentally, have you considered stopping in for an appointment sometime soon?
~Neshomeh -
Oh, yeah, handwriting. by
on 2015-09-23 16:30:00 UTC
Link to this
Selene's is spikey. Kaitlyn's is curly, probably a copperplate or calligraphy script if you've got one. And both of them will only sign their first names.
hS, almost capable! -
Speaking of (and Ix, this goes for you, too) by
on 2015-09-26 02:08:00 UTC
Link to this
I'll pick from what I've got for now, but if you want, I can redo it anytime with your choice from DaFont.com, which has a truly awesome amount of selection. You're sure to find something you like. I'm gonna be looking for my own characters.
~Neshomeh -
Ooh, these are nice! by
on 2015-09-26 06:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Sweet Home Oklahoma for the Aviator (which I find hilarious, since I was born in Tornado Central), and Lefty Does Righty Charcoal for Zeb, because I figure trying to write with a pen in your mouth is about as easy. :P
(Allow me to reiterate how awesome you are, please?) -
Will do! by
on 2015-09-26 21:39:00 UTC
Link to this
... As soon as I know whether the new-style back will stick, anyway. D'you like it? I used your suggestion for a magnetic strip as well as hS's QR code. {= )
(And d'aw, thanks, for both times. T'ain't no big thang... ^_^; )
~Neshomeh -
These gave me a funny idea... by
on 2015-09-26 06:36:00 UTC
Link to this
Wherein the Aviator (finally!) tries to teach Zeb how to write.
...I should really go to bed now. ^^;
(Oh, that reminds me for some reason, I corrected the weird coloration of the Aviator's eyes. Nice spot. :P) -
Slight modifications, plus how to do non-humanoids by
on 2015-09-22 23:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Did Ilraen's, corrected some minor things I found I didn't like in the template:
Changes I've made to accommodate him as a non-human are changing hair to fur (this could be swapped out for any particular identifying feature) and using blood type "X". This ought to cover it, yes? No?
~Neshomeh -
If it's not too much trouble... by
on 2015-09-22 22:49:00 UTC
Link to this
Do you think you could make one for the Aviator? I'd ask for Zeb, too, but the only thing is, I'm not sure how well the template works for non-human(oid)s... ^^;
The Aviator
Species: Time Lord - World One
RC: 3-Apple-14
Age: 453
Sex: Female
Height: 5'10"
Build: Slender
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Department: Department of Mary-Sues
Division: Freelance
HoD: The Sunflower Official
Psych Eval: 6712A40AE881207DC664
Blood Type: O+Though, does this apply to Time Lords? I'd think their blood would be incompatible with anything else
Organ Donor: Yesthough they're also probably not compatible with most agents
Partner: Zeb
LO(s): None
Other: Licensed TARDIS pilot
Signature: The Aviator, in whatever font you've got closest to this.
As for a suggestion, I'm not sure if it's different anywhere else, but my own student ID has a magnetic stripe on the back that allows us to make purchases anywhere on campus (and a lot of stores in town, as well). Would that possibly be a thing in HQ? It would certainly be one way for the Flowers to give the agents their (negligible) wages, and it would be accepted as a method of payment in all official establishments in HQ, like the Cafeteria, the General Store, Rudi's, et cetera. -
Aaand here's the Aviator's! by
on 2015-09-23 04:16:00 UTC
Link to this
I've worked out almost all the kinks with the template. I'll almost certainly redo this and the others when I've got it all sorted out, but here it is for now!
(Speaking of kinks, did you know you used two eye colors in the image? They're ever so slightly different.)
And, if it wasn't clear in my above post with Ilraen's ID, I can totally do Zeb's. Just switch out "hair" for "fur" or whatever. {= )
~Neshomeh -
Eeeeeeeee! by
on 2015-09-23 12:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Thankyouthankyouthankyou! *glomp* I love the font! That's awesome!
*takes a closer look* ...Huh, so I did. I did not notice. Whoops!call it a quirk of regenerating
Okay. *cracks knuckles* Here's Zeb's reissued card!
Zeb
Species: Luxray - Pokémon
Age: 3
Sex: Male
Height: 4'5"
Build" Lion-like
Eyes: Yellow
Fur: Grey and blue
Department: Mary-Sues
Division: Freelance
HoD: The Sunflower Official
Psych Eval: (Apparently I managed to mess up Ave's. Somehow?)
Blood Type: X
Organ Donor: Yes
Partner: The Aviator
LO(s): None
Special Status: -
Signature: Would it be possible to make a completely unintelligible scribbling line? He would have tried to sign it with his mouth and... not succeeded. :P If not, Bradley Hand ITC would be great. All capital letters.
Thank you so much!! -
Done! by
on 2015-09-23 15:31:00 UTC
Link to this
I couldn't find a scribbly font, alas. I used to have some fun ones that might've worked, but I haven't figured out how to put new fonts on my new laptop yet. Sigh.
The only trouble with the Aviator's psych eval number was that it was two bytes too long (20 characters instead of 16). I just whacked the extra characters off the end, that's all. {= )
Switched "lion-like" to "lionesque" 'cause it's a cool word. Hope it's okay.
~Neshomeh -
Leonid? =] (nm) by
on 2015-09-23 16:17:00 UTC
Link to this
-
That's a noun, though, innit? by
on 2015-09-24 15:15:00 UTC
Link to this
And apparently it refers to a meteor shower occurring around November 15 and appearing to originate from the constellation Leo.
The more you know...
~Neshomeh -
Clippy says: by
on 2015-09-24 15:56:00 UTC
Link to this
"It looks like you're trying to find a synonym for 'lion-like'.
"Have you considered 'leonine'?"
Actually, that can't be Clippy; it's much too helpful.
hS -
Speaking as a Classics student (ish)... by
on 2015-09-24 20:00:00 UTC
Link to this
Leonid and leonine are both fine; it's mostly a question of what you're referring to. Latin is godawful. Let's not mince words. =]
-
*glomps again* by
on 2015-09-23 15:34:00 UTC
Link to this
Nesh, has anyone ever told you you're the best? Because you're the best! :D
-
A very old precedent indeed. by
on 2015-09-22 19:46:00 UTC
Link to this
That looks kinda familiar - I think I probably came across it on Talis' wiki page (which just shows the front).
I would think that most agents should have a psych eval on file - given the known dangers of field work, I would think that agents would be required to have a little chat with one of the FicPsych nurses before being cleared for field duty. Not sure if they'd bother with that for non-field staff, like the guys in Building Maintenance or the Intel sorters, but for everyone else it just seems like a sensible precaution.
- Irish -
And I should really proof-read my posts. (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 19:54:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Re: Drinking age in HQ by
on 2015-09-22 14:20:00 UTC
Link to this
What is considered 'drinking age', exactly? It varies wildly enough in World One, never mind a multiuniversal extradimensional location such as HQ, where you get continua where the legal adult age is ten and another has theirs at a hundred and ten.
-
That's something I've wondered about before. by
on 2015-09-22 14:41:00 UTC
Link to this
Although not in too much detail.
Even if we go with 21 as being a typical-high value for World One, what does that mean for people like elves? 21 is basically a toddler for them, isn't it?
Honestly, bartenders in HQ probably have one of the hardest jobs of all: never mind taking on Sue, just trying to figure out if they're supposed to be serving people or not could drive them insane!
Thinking about it, the only two ways I can see that would make sense are:
1) There is no minimum age, and all agents are expected to be sensible enough to determine at what age they individually should be able to drink alcohol.
2) Behind each bar is a huge cross-reference chart consisting of species and canon or origin (sub-divided by location in the case of those canons that are detailed enough to have multiple areas of jurisdiction with different ages), which gives the appropriate in-universe drinking age.
Or the meta explanation: if you think your agent should be able to get served, then they can get served. I'm guessing that, for human agents at least, most people will assume that the drinking age will match that the one for where they live - so for me, that's 18 (or 16 if you're ordering it with food and with a responsible adult).
- Irish -
Considering how lax HQ is about other things... by
on 2015-09-22 14:57:00 UTC
Link to this
The first possibility makes more sense.
...then again, the second option is so crazy, it has 'HQ' written all over it. :P I doubt it would actually be used, though; it would take thirty minutes just to determine if you're allowed to serve somebody! -
We already have something. by
on 2015-09-20 03:02:00 UTC
Link to this
They're called Flash Patches.
-
All that tells you is where someone works. by
on 2015-09-20 04:25:00 UTC
Link to this
And, besides, even if the PPC doesn't really use security badges, that doesn't mean they don't have them. Corporate security guards have their logos ironed on to their uniforms, if they even have them, but they also have badges. I would find it extremely bizarre if the PPC has no automated security measures whatsoever-especially considering how easy it would be to get lost and wander into a potentially restricted section. All Sun Crusher pilots need a license to fly the Sun Crushers. Just watch Voyager, and count how many times a shuttle is stolen. It's about once an episode. Now, imagine that instead of Voyager and shuttles, it's an insane agent and a Sun Crusher.
Congrats, DOGA, you just vaporized Middle Earth because you were too cheap to put security scanners on your stuff. Simply, put, HQ has some of the most dangerous things in existence, and only having them protected by agents who are trained to recognize people is a recipe for disaster that outstrips anything ever seen before. -
Re: All that tells you is where someone works. by
on 2015-09-20 06:46:00 UTC
Link to this
Flash patches do seem to have some sort of
magicalsufficiently advanced technological power, though; for one thing, they generate the Someone Else's Problem field that helps cloak agents in canon. I think it was also mentioned in a spin-off that they contain something that stops agents from being reassembled into their home continuum? So I suppose you could also assume that they work as a sort of security badge.
-
First step is always the hardest by
on 2015-09-20 07:21:00 UTC
Link to this
Oh well, here I come ...
I am a french student who discovered PPC this summer, thanks to TV Tropes (heavens to murgatroyd, what a complete and utter surprise) and The Original Series, who were some great fun and have been lurking around all summer.
My fandoms include the work of the Eddings, Jim Butcher, Mistborn of Brandon Sanderson, the Wheel of Time, RWBY, Order of the Stick, the Persona series, Fire Emblem, and different sections of the MegaTen verse, Devil Survivor, for example. I alllso began Doctor Who New Series, and The Lord of the Rings, bookverse, though I already read the Silmarillion. I like tabletop RPGs and STRs too.
My favorite author here is Iximaz and my favorite agent the Aviator, her spinoff was the first I read in its entirety, and I found it awesome.
Nice to meet you, this community seems really nice, and I hope I will stick around for a long time.
And before leaving, here is an [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNtcP6EXm3s opening music] for a newbie. (RWBY openings are so great, and they feel perfect for PPC in my opinion).
P.S. : Be merciless for SpaG, I fluently read English, but I didn't write with it for a long time, and I intend to get Permission a day or another, the glitterbags from Personaverse and Dresdenverse will not kill themselves (though with Sues, you never know ...). -
Presenting some badfics. by
on 2015-09-22 19:53:00 UTC
Link to this
I hope it doesn't matter if I'm posting some of the badfics I found here, right ?
I already pointed some badfics here, so here I come with three new monsters to take down. I'm warning you against Dresden Files spoilers here, up to Skin Game. If you think these fics aren't so bad, don't hesitate and say it. I want to be sure I can spot badfic.
So, let's begin :
- The Memories Left in the Fog, a Persona 4 fic with an amnesic FeMC who live in Dojima Residence, a "very special guest" according to Igor, with a unstable Velvet Room (cannon is defending itself, I'm sure of it), really urple passages, and a protagonist using Fool Izanami, but not the Wild Card. Sweet Philemon.
- Hell's Bells Potter, a "master of death", post DH Harry get transported to the Dresdenverse while he's searching Merlin's cloak in Burkina Faso. In the Chicago Museum. During Dead Beat. His first action is stealing Butters' moment of awesome against Cassius, the one foreshadowing his role as a Knight of the Cross, and his role as Sue's drummer. It. Cannot. Be. Right.
- ReVamp. This is the main course. I'll be honest, I only began the first chapter, did some scrolling before posting it, but it was necessary. The three chapters are actually three rewritings of the Dresden Files with a WCV!Harry.
First problem, it begins with Blood Rites, leaving the first books rotting in some sort of beige transition. No consequences for this thing's nature, it's still in the White Council, and he passed through Summer Knight alive, altough Elaine was his first kill (the only thing I found logic here, since they were... close during their apprenticeship), and other shenanigans like this.
The other chapters are about Dead Beat and Proven Guilty.
Second problem, the author continues the canon slaughtering by revealing McCoy as Not!Harry's grandfather, who let him walk around with Bob, AND it introduce Maggie in the first Maggie. Harry's daughter, six books before Changes.
This vampire need to die now, and I recommend dropping this Stu in the Deeps, during White Night, so the uber-ghouls take care of him.
The author got others stories, and I'm betting my left arm that some of them will be missionable too, judging by this one. -
I don't think anyone will really mind. by
on 2015-09-22 22:10:00 UTC
Link to this
I for one posted several list of goodfics and badfics almost immediately after joining. I think people here like having new material to claim for missions and discuss. Just don't overdo it by always posting just badfics reports and you should be fine.
I can speak for the second and third ones, since I am not familiar at all with the Dresdenverse. However, I think I will have to agree with your assessement of the first one. The canon breaking parts were as you said and as for the urple prose passages, well nothing could show them better than the fic itself, so for the interest of other Boarders, here are some glaring examples:
"The sky rippled a beautiful red and black, but it wasn't reachable. It was the only thing the fog couldn't touch- and naturally, if it couldn't reach it, then I certainly couldn't. The fog was ubiquitous. It was my reality to wander the infinite fogbank.
The world was sky and fog and shadows; eternal and immutable. Against infinity, a moment is useless. That was why I didn't keep memories. This was a world where nothing worth preserving happened; there was no growth, no change. Stagnation defined this worthless realm, an eternity of perpetual peace drowned in the fog."
"...Human faces that stared out of the inky shadows of the world.
I heard a cry of grief; a wailing dirge from the uncountable to a single extinguished life that pieced my chest with empathetic heat. I was being ripped apart, parts of me that I never knew existed pulled in opposite extremes-"
"This place was at peace, I realized. That was why it was so terrifying. This was a place that had decided entirely what it was to be for all eternity, and would resist all change to that end. Time would not flow here. The fog would not lift.
It was the most permanent sort of mask. A seal never to be broken."
I rest my case. -
Welcome a'Board! by
on 2015-09-22 18:20:00 UTC
Link to this
Yay, we share plenty of fandoms! *high-fives* Glad you enjoyed the Original Series. When you say "French student", does that mean you're majoring in French or you come from France and happen to be studying here? Either is pretty neat. :)
Have some Shire oatcakes and a Gatorade bottle! (Perfect for storing potions in.) -
French, living in Dijon *high-fives* by
on 2015-09-22 19:52:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm a student in history, and I'm working on the late Roman army.
i read your missions too, they were pretty funny to read. I'll taste these cakes later, and the potion... I look forward to writing a Dresdenverse sorcerer agent when I'll try to get Permission someday, when I'm well-known here. It would be perfect for the potions. -
I'm glad you like my stuff ^_^ (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 23:26:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Welcome aboard! by
on 2015-09-21 23:27:00 UTC
Link to this
[throws glitter]
-
*Search for Sue* by
on 2015-09-22 05:42:00 UTC
Link to this
Oh sorry for this, and thank you for the greeting. However, where did you get that much glitter, in the Cafeteria ?
-
Welcome to the Board! by
on 2015-09-21 03:31:00 UTC
Link to this
Another fellow Boarder who got here thanks to Tv Tropes. There does seem to be quite a large number of us here.
I love all things related to Persona 3 and 4. I haven't had the displesuare of encountering any badfics about them, but please be sure to report your findings sometime so that someday when we both have our Permission we can take them out together. On that note, what is your favorite P4 goodfic? I don't know who you ship with Yu/Souji, but since Naoto is your favorite, let me present with one of my personal favorites,
Fortuna Favet Fatuis.
It is about Shouji going back in time after reaching the Bad End in December, with him getting back his memories at the time he makes the contract the second time around. There are a great deal of changes in relation to the game after this. It does ship him with Naoto, but I can't see that being a problem with you from what you have
stated. It also is unfortunately long since dead, but enjoy it while it last. I for one have read and re-read it many times. -
I'll take a good look for this. by
on 2015-09-21 06:31:00 UTC
Link to this
However, I've only read P3 goodfics for the moment, using some Tv Tropes recs. However, I think I found P4 badfics, here they come :
- Waking up in Persona 4 , I swear, this only the debut of the plot, not even a murder, but the English is slaughtered, the "MC" is atrocious, she goes in the Personaverse after dying ... Could someone present her to the Reaper, please ?
- Persona 4 Naoto Verson (the typo is in the title). This one is strange, not completly read it, but it make Naoto's story not really different from Yu's, several typos and non edited imitations of the game's lines in the first chapter, even Sukuna-Hikona uses izanagi's moveset. Really strange.
However, do you know the first Persona games too, and do you have them ? -
Yes I do! by
on 2015-09-21 06:43:00 UTC
Link to this
My knowledge on the first three persona games may not be as extensive as the one I have of P3 and P4, but I do know them, yes. I do not currently have the games with me anymore though.
I will have to take a look at those P4 badfics later, but from your descriptions they do sound pretty bad. -
Okay by
on 2015-09-21 07:18:00 UTC
Link to this
I have them, but Eternal Punishment is on emulator (why Atlus, Europeans were not good enough for your game ? Hope it will not happen with Persona 5).
The second one feel more weird than bad, if I had to resume it... it would be like Yu dressed up like Naoto, except for some facts about Naoto herself. -
I also really hope it doesn't happen with P5. by
on 2015-09-21 15:44:00 UTC
Link to this
Because apparently people in the Americas were not good enough for Eternal Punishment either.
It is looking really good. It seems it will provide a nice contrast to P4.
I would have to get them both in the emulator if needed, because I no longer my PS and I don't have a PSP.
Okay, the first is really bad indeed. At least she doesn't instantly remember all the plot of P4, that would be the only thing that could make her more of a Sue than she already is. And at least it seems to be dead, so we don't have to deal with anymore of it.
You know, keep that "someone send her to the Reaper" remark in mind, because that sounds it would make for an awesome assassination method.
I will have to get back to you about the second one later since it is quite long. -
The MeagaTen verses are rich with deathtraps. by
on 2015-09-21 19:12:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, there is two nuclear apocalypses, a black hole sucking up the world, demons and gods everywhere, rampant mass destruction ... The kills are just waiting for agents here.
The Americans got the PSP remake, the Europeans nothing, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
A last Persona fic I spotted, I would like additional opinions for this :
- Persona 2 IS Into Another World , the first chapters don't look good, with the OC sent in the Personaverse by Philemon and being given a special title, verbs who are vanishing, self-thaught, although low, skills for naginata, references thrown around like free candies, but the author seems listen her reviews, the OC has not the canons fawning before her, so I'm asking for other Boarders' opinions. -
Right you are. by
on 2015-09-22 16:33:00 UTC
Link to this
Sorry to hear that. It is probably considerably harder to get hold of them here in South America than it would be in North America, if makes you feel any better.
That one is quite long. It seems to me that it will take a rather long discussion to ascertain the truth of this matter. What do you think of us taking this over to e-mail
exchanges? -
Wow, I feel bad for you. by
on 2015-09-22 19:52:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, the video game market isn't exactly bristling with informations about South America.
No problem about my mail, here it comes : richard.keselo@orange.fr.
However, be aware that I'm beginning a new year in university, so don't be surprised if I take some time for sending answers. -
It really isn't. by
on 2015-09-22 20:15:00 UTC
Link to this
You can sort of get a feel of what the video game market is like over here by watching both Global Games videos on this playlist on the Extra Credits channel, particularly the Brazil video, since that is where I live.
Alright then. I am also in the beginning of a new college semester, so also don't be surprise if takes time for me to actually send you something. -
I watched Brazil's video. by
on 2015-09-23 05:52:00 UTC
Link to this
It's really interesting, and I should watch more videos on this channel, thanks for showing me this.
-
You're welcome. :D by
on 2015-09-23 07:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Extra Credits is really awesome. You should definitely check them out.
-
YOU LIKE SANDERSON AND WHEEL OF TIME. by
on 2015-09-21 02:44:00 UTC
Link to this
That's awesome! Ehehe, it's so cool to have another Sanderson fan on here! Have you read any of his works other than Mistborn?
WoT doesn't have much of a presence on here, as far as I can tell; I started reading the series a while back, stopped, but I'm giving it another go. I only got to the fourth book, though, so no spoilers. =]
Ah, I'm still excited about having another Sanderson fan!
Oh, nearly forgot a gift! For thee, I will deviate from my normal boon and give you a blello mistcloak. Not exactly good for sneaking around, but it is a mistcloak.
-Alleb -
You know, it could be useful. by
on 2015-09-21 06:13:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, if a Sue sees me with this, she'll never think I could be an ennemy until I charge her and portal the glitterbag in the Tomb of Horrors (how many of them would be needed in order to reach Acererak's true lair, in your opinion ?).
About Sanderson, I only read Mistborn, the sequel and his work on Wheel of Time, sorry. I konw his other series from name, but you never get enough time for all the books, series, ... -
Hmm, I don't think I got that far. by
on 2015-09-21 23:00:00 UTC
Link to this
Tomb of Horrors sounds somewhat familiar, but Acererak is lost on me. My memories of the exact plot and names are as shadowy as a Halfman's cloak, though, so I might have gotten there...
Oh, I know that feeling. You probably shouldn't start The Stormlight Archive: its books are over a thousand pages each. He has some short stories that probably wouldn't take more than an afternoon or so, if you wanted to try those out. Sixth of the Dusk is great; they all are, really.
-Alleb -
Big books don't scare me. by
on 2015-09-22 05:36:00 UTC
Link to this
But you're right, beginning with the shorter ones is better.
I was talking about the D&D supplement The Tomb of Horrors, 1st Edition, with the demilich Acererak, and Gary Gygax's ultimate deathtrap. Just watch this. They'll never escape this alive. -
Ooooh. That would be why I didn't get it. ^_^ by
on 2015-09-23 13:37:00 UTC
Link to this
I haven't played any D&D... yet. I'm currently reading through the DM Guide, and my group's meeting in a few weeks to create characters. We're using 4Ed; I'm excited.
Hmm, I'm afraid the link didn't work. I'm sure I can find it somewhere, though.
Oh, by the way, what makes a campaign really fun for you? I want to make sure my first campaign is fun for my group, so I've been asking around and reading lots of articles.
-Alleb -
So, you want advices. by
on 2015-09-23 17:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Be aware that I din't so much GMing, and never in the 4th Ed, the rules were not really appealing to me. However, I think that what I'll say is relevant for all the RPGs.
Your world need to be alive.
The PCs will need a setting with a real background, characters who will deal with them and won't be some extensions of your will, they'll need to care for the world where they will play. I don't know what's their classes, their tastes, but I know they'll quickly stop having fun if the setting is too much generic,if they feel they're interacting with you and not with your world. If it means you'll have to make some changes in-game, then don't be worried. If they're not going immediately for your latest dungeon with all the data you brainstormed so hard, don't be afraid. If it's really an important step of your world they'll eventually come here.
I think it's important too for the players to see the campaign's world change because of their actions, they'll get a sense of achievement, and I think that's important for a campaign. You can even initiate some changes by yourself, provided they're logical, for instance if a goblin horde loses it leaders to your PCs, some ogres and their ogre mage leader could enslave them, then be replaced by the hordes of the lich they're were fleeing in the fisrt place... Your campaign must not be a mere set, it must achieve its own existence.
Morever, never forget Rule Zero : "Have fun, every single one of you".
P.S. : It could feel ridiculous, but check Darths and Droids and GM of the Ring. You'll see what's make a bad or a good GM here. -
Thank you! by
on 2015-09-24 13:02:00 UTC
Link to this
A living world... well, I can certainly try! ^_^ Thank you very much!
That's probably one of the things I love most about D&D-- the world is so free. I can do absolutely anything I want, and then my players get to run around in my creation! It's awesome!
-Alleb -
Hello! I love tabletop RPG as well! by
on 2015-09-20 20:15:00 UTC
Link to this
But no one else in my area does… :(
But I'm gonna try and get the Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space RP as a site online for fans to play the game on together, if I can get BBC's permission. Man, are they picky with their permission grants…
Anyway, have some Generic chocolate chip cookies, homemade! -
You used dark chocolate, right ? by
on 2015-09-20 20:24:00 UTC
Link to this
It's the only thing who deserve to be called chocolate.
I can relate about RPG, I never really had potentials players around, but online plays are a possible solution.
P. S. : Now I think about it, I don't remember seeing your last mission on the wiki, did you forget it ? -
Yes, dark chocolate is king! by
on 2015-09-22 03:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Therefore, I used that type.
Which mission are you referring to? -
All Hail the king! by
on 2015-09-22 05:38:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm talking about your mission in the Whoniverse, you didn't put it on the Wiki, so I'm warning you.
-
Thanks. (nm) by
on 2015-09-26 23:39:00 UTC
Link to this
-
Welcome, welcome. by
on 2015-09-20 19:40:00 UTC
Link to this
Here, have a cup of totally-not-going-to-eat-your-face-if-you-try-to-drink-it Earl Grey tea.
-
Earl Grey, I never tried this before. by
on 2015-09-20 19:47:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm sure it will be a Iroh-grade tea, thanks.
Also sending my regards for Agent!Desdenelle. You'll only become more machine than man if you let it win, never give up. -
*tilts head* by
on 2015-09-20 22:36:00 UTC
Link to this
*tidies Desdenelle the mini-Agent*
You missed a D there — it's Desdendelle.
Anyway, worry not. His is not a sob story, I promise.
Also, Iroh? Iroh for best character ever.
The game, as you might have noticed, is afoot. We are going to need a lot of tea. -
Damned typo. by
on 2015-09-21 06:41:00 UTC
Link to this
Two minis for one day, that's not cool.
Happy to know this, the agents deserve a good ending with all these missions they go through.
Iroh, teaholic and badass supreme, what else could we ask ?
Do you happen to have redbush tea in your reserves ?
It will be needed indeed. -
*blinks* by
on 2015-09-21 16:20:00 UTC
Link to this
Roiboos isn't actually tea, you know. The only things that can be called tea have actual tea in them (or, weirdly enough, jasmine). The word you're looking for is "infusion". Still, nothing wrong with it; pretty tasty, in fact, though I'm partial to Earl Grey and Lapsang Souchong myself.
~Des, Tea Fanatic -
Didn't know this. by
on 2015-09-21 19:15:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, it's called "thé rouge" in French, so...
Oh well, you learn something each day. I likes normal tea too, nature or sometimes with dark chocolate. -
's a common mistake. by
on 2015-09-22 10:15:00 UTC
Link to this
If I'd have had a Shekel every time I heard someone call a cup of lemongrass infusion 'cup of tea' I could buy a small apartment here.
That said: what's nature tea? And... tea with chocolate? *mind boggled* -
'a common mistake' by
on 2015-09-22 11:44:00 UTC
Link to this
Tea, noun:
5. Used as a general name for infusions made in the same way as tea (sense 2), usually from the leaves, blossoms, or other parts of plants; mostly used medicinally, sometimes as ordinary drinks.
Commonly with defining words, as alehoof, balm, beef, camomile, camphor, coffee, cowslip, hartshorn, laurel, lemon, lemon-grass, poppy, rosemary, sage, saloop, sassafras, senna, tilleul, valerian, willow tea: see these words. So humorously limestone tea (quot. 1723).
1666 Philos. Trans. 1665–6 (Royal Soc.) 1 250 They dry..Sage-leaves..and prepare them like The, and..get for one pound of it, four times as much The.
1699 J. Evelyn Acetaria 27 Some of them [flowers] are Pickl'd, and divers of them make also very pleasant and wholsome Theas, as do likewise the Wild Time, Bugloss, Mint, &c.
1723 W. Stukeley Let. 22 July in W. C. Lukis Family Mem. W. Stukeley (1887) III. 249, I am just drinking your health in a swinger of limestone thea [Bath water].
1724 I. Watts Logick i. iv. §4 Tea, which was the proper name of one sort of Indian leaf, is now-a-days become a common name for many infusions of herbs, or plants, in water: as sage-tea, alehoof-tea, limon-tea, etc.
1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. l. 222 He treated me with Tartarian Tea, which I took to be Beans boyled in Milk, with some salt.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. 1 314 Of some of these Ingredients [Marsh Mallow, &c.] so dried, make Tea, as you do common Tea, with boiling hot Water.
1778 R. James Diss. Fevers 135 Any syrup, jelly of currants, barley-water, gruel, or any sort of tea.
1783 S. Chapman in Med. Communications 1 305 He was advised to leave off drinking foreign tea, and to drink valerian, or rosemary, tea.
1795 C. R. Hopson tr. C. P. Thunberg Trav. (ed. 2) I. 128 Of the leaves of the barbonia cordata the country people made tea.
1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons I. iv. 152 The men had made a fire in the galley to make tea of an acid herb, called ‘erva cidreira’.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 1127 Lemon-grass Tea, an infusion of the leaves of Andropogon Schœnanthus, substituted for tea in many of the interior districts of India.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 112 Tea..of heaven, a Japanese name for the leaves of Hydrangea Thunbergii.
1881 Trans. Obstetr. Soc. 22 32 The word ‘tea’ is by the natives of this island [Jamaica] applied to any infusion made from leaves of plants either fresh or dry. ‘Cotton leaf tea’ is made from the green leaves of one of the shrubs that produces the cotton of commerce.
1893 S. Baring-Gould Cheap Jack Zita II. xvi. 41 It is given poppy tea, and that sends it to sleep.
~The Oxford English Dictionary.
Does it count as an error if ~350 years old?
hS -
Simply put? by
on 2015-09-22 12:19:00 UTC
Link to this
Yes. It's like saying the world is flat.
OTOH, it's a word, a definition, and those only have meaning because of wide agreement.
Confused? So am I. -
Is this that prescriptive-versus-descriptive thing again? by
on 2015-09-22 13:14:00 UTC
Link to this
Because I have only one thing to say in that discussion:
Carrot oranges, alumina caterwaul. Gerbilteeth!
(What? It means something to me, what do you mean I can't redefine words on a whim and expect you to understand me?)
hS -
RE: prescriptive/descriptive thing by
on 2015-09-22 15:03:00 UTC
Link to this
Your incredible concise argument reminds me so very much of this brilliant comic :)
- Irish -
Wittgenstein the Witty... by
on 2015-09-22 13:17:00 UTC
Link to this
Already talked about pointing at your teeth and saying "Abracadabra" while you mean "my teeth ache". That's not what I meant. Rather, consider this: is there anything in the word 'green' that is inherently green? In the word 'vert'? 'ירוק' (yarok)?
-
Yep! Look: by
on 2015-09-22 13:21:00 UTC
Link to this
Green
hS -
Now, now... by
on 2015-09-22 13:24:00 UTC
Link to this
It is agreed that 'green' points to a certain colour. However, there is nothing in the particular word 'green' that means that colour has to be called by it; 'vert' and 'ירוק' also equally point to that colour. That's why I say there's nothing inherent in the word 'green' and it's a consensus thing.
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No, no, look. by
on 2015-09-22 13:33:00 UTC
Link to this
Green has an intrinsic connection to the colour it describes, because it is that colour! If that doesn't happen for you, you must be writing green wrong. Are you sure you're not accidentally thinking in right-to-left? Because obviously neerg doesn't have any inherent connection to the colour green; that would be silly.
And we can't have any silliness around here.
hS -
If "Green" has an intrinsic connection to the colour by
on 2015-09-22 17:19:00 UTC
Link to this
how are there colourless green ideas that sleep furiously?
(Or is "colourless green" one of those Suvian colours like urple and wilver?) -
If green (the word) is inherently green (the colour)... by
on 2015-09-23 06:27:00 UTC
Link to this
Then why do 'vert' and '青い' (aoi) also mean 'green'?
Interestingly enough, the second one? It also means 'blue'. -
Perhaps they don't? by
on 2015-09-23 07:01:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, we all know that '[English is] the language of Shakespear and Milton and The Bible' (Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw), so perhaps you ought to simply accept that all other languages are just made up to be difficult? It's like Sparhawk said - the reason foreigners are so slow-witted is that they have to translate all their thoughts into their funny foreign languages before they talk. (The Elenium or The Tamuli, David & Leigh Eddings)
^ The above is a joke.
So go on, then: what is the argument for claiming that spoken language is inherent in the subatomic particles and forces of the universe? You and James Shields have both said there is one.
hS -
It is not really about wheter language is inherent... by
on 2015-09-23 21:03:00 UTC
Link to this
At least from my standpoint. Rather it is about wheter we can epistemologically be sure that the concepts we assign to certain objects actually correspond to those objects and if those objects are actually same as how they appear to us.
I said that there is nothing inherently green about the word green. I didn't say that there was a argument for spoken language being inherent to the universe. Sorry if that part got confusing. Philosophy tends to be rather confusing in general. -
Um... so what were you saying? by
on 2015-09-23 22:15:00 UTC
Link to this
James S: It seems to me that there is not anything particularly green about the word green, either.
hS: Yeah, but that's self-evidently true. The structure of the universe does not include language.
Des: And no, it's not evident — I've had many a conversation about it.
James S: I tend to agree with that "no it's not evident" part.
I'm pretty sure at least one of you is claiming there's an argument, though not one you agree with.
hS -
Honestly... by
on 2015-09-24 04:55:00 UTC
Link to this
I think you can mostly chalk it up to that conversation getting really confusing. Maybe Des was claiming it. I don't know. Just let me go back and see exactly what everyone was saying up to that point so that I can give you a proper response, okay?
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Basically... by
on 2015-09-24 22:33:00 UTC
Link to this
I was claiming there's an argument that I don't quite understand. I'd ask the guy who made it, but he's in vacation in Poland for the next week and a half, so I can't do that.
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I suppose the best thing right now... by
on 2015-09-25 03:44:00 UTC
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Would be to postpone this debate until such a time when you can do that, then.
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Hm... by
on 2015-09-23 07:34:00 UTC
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I know there is one because I've debated the issue with a friend. I'm not sure what the argument is, however — for me it's pretty obvious and he didn't quite make it clear.
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Eh. by
on 2015-09-22 13:42:00 UTC
Link to this
Can't have a serious philosophical debate if you want silly.
Gas gas! -
I wasn't trying to. ^_~ (nm) by
on 2015-09-22 13:46:00 UTC
Link to this
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Well... by
on 2015-09-22 13:54:00 UTC
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I kinda was, because hearing others' opinions on such philosophical matters interests me greatly.
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It seems to me... by
on 2015-09-22 16:27:00 UTC
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That there is not anything particularly green about the word green, either. Same thing goes for the word verde, the portuguese word for green.
What makes a spoon a spoon? Why is it called a spoon and not a fork? What if what people call spoon is actually a fork? -
Yeah, but... by
on 2015-09-22 16:41:00 UTC
Link to this
... that's self-evidently true. The structure of the universe does not include language (unless it does). So... where's the big philosophical debate supposed to be? Whether people can/should be allowed to change the meaning of words over time?
wife, noun.
1. a. A woman: formerly in general sense; in later use restricted to a woman of humble rank or ‘of low employment’ (Johnson), esp. one engaged in the sale of some commodity. Now dial., exc. with distinctive premodifier, esp. in compounds such as alewife.
I think all the wives in the PPC would agree that words change their meaning. ^_~ You may take that sentence in any of its possible interpretations; I think it holds true for all of them.
hS -
There can be very little debate... by
on 2015-09-22 17:12:00 UTC
Link to this
If both people agree on the debated article. And no, it's not evident — I've had many a conversation about it.
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I tend to agree with that "no it's not evident" part by
on 2015-09-22 19:52:00 UTC
Link to this
Also, if you would like to have a Boarder to have philosophical discussions with, I am all up for it.
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My bad. by
on 2015-09-22 10:27:00 UTC
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I was talking about actual tea, not infusions. And I eat the chocolate with the tea, I'm not dropping chocolate in the tea, if it's what you're thinking.
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*ears twitch* Did somebody said, "Iroh"? by
on 2015-09-20 19:53:00 UTC
Link to this
*inhale*
IT'S A LONG, LONG WAAAAAY TO BA SING SEEEE~~~♫ -
But the girl in the city by
on 2015-09-20 19:56:00 UTC
Link to this
THEY LOOK SOOO PRETTAAAAY!~♫
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"Come on! We're talking a gold piece here!" by
on 2015-09-20 20:13:00 UTC
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"Let's see some action! Dance!"
AND THEY KISS SOOO SWEEEET THAT YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO MEEEET!~♫
*hit it Ixi!* -
Take it away, Iroh! by
on 2015-09-20 20:16:00 UTC
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THE GIRLS FROM BA SING SEEEEEEEEEE!~♫
God, I miss Iroh so much. ;-; -
Ya know, around Korra Book Three by
on 2015-09-20 20:23:00 UTC
Link to this
There was that time where people were thinking Zuko was gonna die... I actually hoped it happened because then he would appear in the Spirit World and Iroh would be there waiting for him. And the first thing he says would be, "Welcome, prince Zuko. Would you like some tea?"
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^ (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 19:54:00 UTC
Link to this
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Welcome! by
on 2015-09-20 18:50:00 UTC
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Hi, and welcome! Here's some Bloffee - you'll be needing it soon enough, I'm sure.
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Hi, (there is echo here) by
on 2015-09-20 19:35:00 UTC
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So, there it is, the Bleep version of coffee, *sips* ... Not bad, and a certain Persona badfic I saw is already fading (eyes growing inside the Velvet Room, just suepid). I'm sure it would taste better with pure cocoa.
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Hot Bleepolate, I think.., by
on 2015-09-20 21:41:00 UTC
Link to this
I'm fairly certain that's a thing, but I'm pretty new so I can't be sure. There's a list on the wiki of all Bleep products...
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It's there, I've seen it. by
on 2015-09-21 06:38:00 UTC
Link to this
I was talking about pure cocoa powder, with no sugar. I added this in a coffee before, the result is not bad.
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Hella by
on 2015-09-20 18:31:00 UTC
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Welcome to the board and here is a blood shot red light pen.
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Hello. by
on 2015-09-20 18:43:00 UTC
Link to this
Nice to meet you. However ,this pen needs an ophtalmo right now (perhaps he could give him glasses powerful enough to upgrade it to a lightsaber ^_~).
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Greetings. by
on 2015-09-20 17:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome. Here are some sonic screws for you. (You'll have to bring your own sonic screwdriver to go with them.)
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Greetings too. by
on 2015-09-20 17:59:00 UTC
Link to this
Read your first mission, hope for you it will be the first of many.
I'll guard this with me, you really never know when something will be needed here, isn't it ? -
Dai Stiho! ^^ by
on 2015-09-20 17:40:00 UTC
Link to this
(And it's okay not to know what that means, unless you happen to have read the Young Wizards series as well...?)
*Optional!Hugs*
Hope you enjoy your stay! :>
TVTropes sure has dragged in a lot of us, hasn't it? ^_~ -
*Hugs are fine* by
on 2015-09-20 17:46:00 UTC
Link to this
Never read Young Wizards before, but judging from what I saw, this series will be fine on my Kobo.
I discovered Tv Tropes itself three years ago, at most, and now i just don't know what I would without this site, naviagtion between the tropes leads to great discoveries ... provided you don't let it Ruin Your Life, eh. ^^ -
Truth! by
on 2015-09-20 17:50:00 UTC
Link to this
Happy reading, then! ^^ They're over here: ebooksdirect dot diane duane dot com
As for TVTropes; it's been more like 5 years for me, but the risks of Wiki Diving haven't decreased or increased much lately. XD -
Thanks for this. by
on 2015-09-20 18:03:00 UTC
Link to this
I will get them when I have the time and the money for this.
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Welcome aBoard! by
on 2015-09-20 14:48:00 UTC
Link to this
Have one of my own shed feathers and (seeing as you've read LoTR) a replica of the One Ring that actually makes you invisible!
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Looks like a really sharp thing ... by
on 2015-09-20 16:59:00 UTC
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But I couldn't use it against Sues, glitters would ruin it.
I read your spinoffs too, they're just my sort of crazy, though Rashidi is really trigger-happy. Salutations to your own private army.
Uh, about that ring, it seems fire doesn't affect it, and the inscriptions ... Did you go to the OFUM recently ? -
Welcome to Creation, here's your shovel. by
on 2015-09-20 14:11:00 UTC
Link to this
Have a shovel that digs up... more shovels.
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Never underestimate a shovel. by
on 2015-09-20 16:54:00 UTC
Link to this
It only means more weapons againts the glitterbags.
By the way, what sort of magical material was used for this shovel, and how many dots of artifact does it take ? -
O_O by
on 2015-09-20 17:09:00 UTC
Link to this
You play Exalted.
YOU PLAY EXALTED.
AAAAAAAHHHHHH
*is too busy rioting to inform you that it's a three-dot orichalcum shovel* -
Ah. by
on 2015-09-20 17:28:00 UTC
Link to this
Cooler than the average daiklave then. However, I cannot really play Exalted right now, since I would have to find some players. It doesn't stop from drooling over The very soon to come 3rd Edition.
Roseblack for Shogun, Exalted doing their job of defending Creation, and Sidereals Karma Houdini to the stake, that's my credo. -
Oh, tiens, un autre Français! by
on 2015-09-20 13:02:00 UTC
Link to this
... Enfin, je suis corse, mais bon, OSEF.
(For the sake of convenience, the rest of this post will be in English.)
Welcome aBoard! I'm also currently reading the Dresden Files books (I'm at Death Masks right now), and I should probably try to find some time to watch RWBY Volume 2.
Anyway, have this blue cat! Unlike its bigger cousin, it's not a river. I think. -
It is so cute by
on 2015-09-20 16:50:00 UTC
Link to this
I hope he/she will get along with my cat, she can be a mouthful sometimes.
You read the Dresden Files too, then. I remember Death Masks as the last one with a french translation, a pity for us. I hope you like seeing Dresden facing the impossible however, because after this one, playtime is over for him and the real work begins.
Must admit I didn't knoww there was another French here, though. -
Dangit, Mattman. Newbie! *glomp* *poke* by
on 2015-09-20 12:31:00 UTC
Link to this
Hello, and welcome aBoard! As your welcome gift, take this plate of freshly-made SPaGhetti!
And aww yuss, another RWBY and OotS fan! *high fives*
*blushes* Glad to know you like my stuff! Have a list of my favorites!
It looks like you already know how to use the Wiki, but I still like to remind newbies to check it out before asking questions on the Board. We like newbies who do the research. :) -
Must. Not. Squee. by
on 2015-09-20 17:22:00 UTC
Link to this
I hope this SPaG will be enough for me, I'm not exactly confident with my grammary here.
Thanks for the list, but I already began to read this after you and other Boarders posted you recommndations.
About webcomics, it makes me think, does anyone know these ones :
- Oots fan-comic Murphy's Law , short but interesting,
- Darths and Droids, the one comic that will make you say "Jar Jar, you're a genius"
- Strain42's comics about Persona series , all of them pure moments of fun. Rest of them are on Duckweb Comics, but this site just doesnt' want to work right now.
P.S. : About the wiki, the Aviator's page is blank when I load it, but works just fine when I search for Rina Dives. Would anyone already had this problem before ? -
Ooh, Darths and Droids! by
on 2015-09-20 17:26:00 UTC
Link to this
Have you ever read DM of the Rings? It's what inspired Darths and Droids; if you haven't read it, check it out!
Page is loading fine for me, that's weird.
*summons bigger fish and wanders off* -
*Send the fish to Rudi's* by
on 2015-09-20 17:33:00 UTC
Link to this
Cafetaria would not be able to profit from this. Actually, I read DM of the Rings first, but D&D seems just so crazy and funny.
Page is loading, but I only get the title, wiki activity and the categories find it weird to. -
*looks around for Ixi* Newb!!! *glomp**boops* by
on 2015-09-20 11:42:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome to the PPC! Have this complimentary Ion-Trail-In-A-Jar!
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Ow. by
on 2015-09-20 12:10:00 UTC
Link to this
Thanks for the greeting, but what's the use of this thing, exactly ?
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I don't know, Just throw it at something (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 12:44:00 UTC
Link to this
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Welcome to the PPC! by
on 2015-09-20 10:22:00 UTC
Link to this
Here's your starting Pokémon:
Iiiiiiit's Golurk! (Whom you may know as Golemastoc)
And your starting item is:
Gold-Plated Bomb from Risk Of Rain!
The Gold-Plated Bomb is a weird one that acts similarly to the move Pay Day. When the holder makes contact with a target, it deals an additional Fire-type attack at 60 Base Power using the holder's Attack stat. It's expensive, but you also get more money from battles. However, it's a one-use-only item and ill-suited for competitive use, though the extra damage can be nice for Golurk to hit through a pesky substitute or ensure a kill with, say, Phantom Force. -
Thanks! by
on 2015-09-20 10:43:00 UTC
Link to this
My team on White uses a Chandelure, but I find Golurk really nice.
Don't care for the Gold-Plated Bomb, competitive isn't my cup of black coffee.
Also, sorry if I'm rude here, but is your cowrite with Iximaz going well?
I mean, your missions were great, and I just can't help but laughing at the idea of Second Rina, Zeb, Woobles and the Notary on the same mission, it will certainly be perfect.
Also, for Gabrielle, just try these musics, they're really soothing, you cute little thing :
- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIRi-Hml6_g Smile]
- Persona 2 official heartwarming [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gxV-wiTpFM moment]. -
Also: *tidies up Woobles the mini-Agent* by
on 2015-09-20 11:32:00 UTC
Link to this
My cowrite with Ix has ground to a halt of late, mostly due to my unfamiliarity with the fic in question's primary source material. Wobbles and the Notary tend to mostly show up in RPs now, because I am lazy and don't do much mission writing, but it's nice to feel appreciated. =]
Gabrielle and Doktor Trollenfisch will return, though. Depend upon it. =] -
Oops, bis. by
on 2015-09-20 10:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Is there a particular way to insert links here ?
Because I love sharing music that semm appropriate for the moment and other things too, and don't think you'll find the links I'm posting appealing to the eye.
Hardric, newbie on web writing too. -
We use the pointy brackets round these parts. by
on 2015-09-20 11:28:00 UTC
Link to this
If you want to put a link in, use Name Of Link/Sarcastic Phrase/whatever you want to say
But without the spaces between the a and the brackets. =] -
Thank you for the information (nm). (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 12:08:00 UTC
Link to this
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Dresden Files, Persona, AND Order of the Stick? by
on 2015-09-20 09:50:00 UTC
Link to this
I have to applaud your taste there. I'm a big tabletop fan, too. What does STR stand for? I don't think I've encountered that acronym before.
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Oops by
on 2015-09-20 10:20:00 UTC
Link to this
I thought about the french acronym here, the english version being RTS, like Red Alert 2 and its mod Mental Omega, for example.
I have books for 3.5 D&D, Dreden Files RPG, L5R and Exalted, and you ?
About taste, well I read Eragon, and it took me some time to understand how much urple it is, and I finished it only recently, for completion's sake.
Hardric, who need to think in English now.
P.S. : Your favorites in Persona (games, characters, ...)? -
Ah, okay by
on 2015-09-20 10:44:00 UTC
Link to this
The only RTS game I've played much of is Disgaea, which I like more for the story than the play style. It's very funny.
I mostly play Pathfinder or the various World of Darkness games; I've recently started a Mage: the Awakening game. I've read the Dresden Files books, though, and while I'm not a huge fan of the FATE system it uses, I do like the "Guest Star" phases a lot, and plan to blatantly rip it off.
I haven't played the Persona games very much, because I don't own any Playstation systems, but I do like the Persona 4 anime and I've been playing Persona Q recently. My favorite character is Naoto. -
My friend. by
on 2015-09-20 11:09:00 UTC
Link to this
Naoto is my favorite for P4 cast, too.
Never played Persona Q, but it appears to be a great game. Who do you prefer in the P3 section of the cast, though?
Love Disgaea too, with 2 being my favourite.
Yeah, that's the thing with FATE system, you always create great characters with it, and roleplay will not be forgotten here. -
Newbie! Oh, Frabjous Day! Callooh! Callay! by
on 2015-09-20 09:01:00 UTC
Link to this
Welcome! Here, have a head that's always screaming!
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*Put on earbuds for the noise* by
on 2015-09-20 10:28:00 UTC
Link to this
Thank you for this, I'm sure it will be a great anti-sales representatives bell, provided they value their life more than benefits, that is.
I read your first mission too, and I sure hope the next will be just as good. -
Ah, thanks. by
on 2015-09-20 19:55:00 UTC
Link to this
Appreciated! :D
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Hello there! by
on 2015-09-20 08:17:00 UTC
Link to this
Nice to see a fellow OotS fan around. I suppose you don't want this halfling courage rock I found? No?
Okay, you can have this golden spork instead. It's enchanted against glitter.
Just out of interest, what Fire Emblem games have you played? -
Re : Hello there! by
on 2015-09-20 08:33:00 UTC
Link to this
I played Blazing Sword, Binding Blade, The Sacred Stones, Awakening, Genealogy of the Holy War, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn and I have Thracia 776, Sword of Light and I am also playing the mods The Last Promise for Blazing Sword and Genealogy of Tordo, the only way I know of playing Ishtar (yes, some of them are on emulator, I blame their age and Japanese only publications).
This spork is great for the Cafeteria, since Sue corpse looks like the main course here.
Thanks for the stone too, but Roy need it right now. -
Cool. by
on 2015-09-20 09:20:00 UTC
Link to this
Lack of localisation: the curse of being a FE fan. I'm working on Gaiden and FE1 right now - it's going a bit slowly, because I also have Xenoblade Chronicles and Skyrim to distract me.
Awakening's my favourite, though. I haven't played as many as you have, because I won't use an emulator for anything that was localised, but I have The Sacred Stones on my 3DS.
~Seafarer, who never gets tired of arguing that Awakening doesn't suck -
What by
on 2015-09-20 10:10:00 UTC
Link to this
How could Awakening "suck" ?
This game banished the specter of localisation, it saved IS when it entered in "Final Fantasy" mode, it is a great experiment, it finally reintroduced sword/magic classes, it has Lucina and it and paved the way for FE Fates, for Naga's sake ! What could be wrong with this game (feet don't count)?
You're not alone, Seafarer. -
There are valid criticisms. by
on 2015-09-20 19:35:00 UTC
Link to this
The big one seems to be an overall weak plot in comparison to the rest of the series. Then there are the people who complain about the lack of a true "Hard" difficulty - it jumps straight from the tame Hard to the utterly insane Lunatic. I've also heard it said that the protagonists behave like a bunch of sociopaths. Then there's the usual refrain of 'it's catering to casuals so it suxxorz lol'. And there's hating on the DLC.
Yeah, I've been on IGN too much. -
This has some validity. by
on 2015-09-20 19:43:00 UTC
Link to this
The game is not perfect, but hey, they're never perfect. However, I fail to see how the protagonists are sociopaths, it appears a little over the top here. Besides, this guys would be complaining much more if the series died with Awakening, because there would be no hope of better games in the future.
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One person's perfect... by
on 2015-09-20 19:56:00 UTC
Link to this
...is another's average. Ever played Super Mario Galaxy 2? To me, that's perfection. There's no game in the genre I'd rather play.
As for the sociopathy... can't find a source, so I guess that was just some nut raving on IGN comments.
Did you try Lunatic+? -
No, did not really see the appeal. by
on 2015-09-20 20:01:00 UTC
Link to this
I mean, i've looked for the stats and the skills in this mode ... I could not do this, no matter how many times I try I would lose someone, and can't accept this, even for Vaike. These stats are madness
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Heh. by
on 2015-09-20 20:08:00 UTC
Link to this
It's really rough up until about chapter 6, then you start getting powerful, and then you get Morgan and basically start laughing at the enemies. Also? Dark Mage Laurent.
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Will be trying this someday, I suppose. by
on 2015-09-20 20:15:00 UTC
Link to this
Dark Mage Noire is something too.
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A few caveats: by
on 2015-09-20 20:21:00 UTC
Link to this
Def flaw Avatar is a no-go. Counter still hurts like hell unless you go bows/Mire. And until you get bow access, you will need the Remove command.
There is no way to beat Lunatic+ offensively. It's all about tanking.
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By the way... by
on 2015-09-20 14:20:00 UTC
Link to this
I found that there are no missions or anything about Assassin's Creed in the PPC. What's with that?
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Well... by
on 2015-09-20 14:21:00 UTC
Link to this
People just haven't written missions into the continuum. We're not trying to catalogue every continuum ever; that would be impossible. We just catalogue the ones that have recorded missions.
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To expand on that... by
on 2015-09-20 19:38:00 UTC
Link to this
There is one mission that involves Assassin's Creed. However, it is not categorised under AC, probably because the only AC elements involved are the Sue in question.
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Questions on the origins of Gabrielle by
on 2015-09-20 16:47:00 UTC
Link to this
Because I want to see how hard I need to knock some sense into her former trainer
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TL;DR does Gabrielle have a home fic? (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:37:00 UTC
Link to this
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She comes from an actual game cartridge. by
on 2015-09-20 22:35:00 UTC
Link to this
She was stuck in the P...il the cartridge's internal battery ran out.
One of my agents actually has a similar origin; Chakkik's original Secret of Mana game cartridge was completely wrecked by glitches, meaning he's technically the only survivor from his home universe. -
Not a good way to leave. by
on 2015-09-22 06:10:00 UTC
Link to this
On the bright side, her trainer died with the cartridge, so problem solved. About the person using the cartridge however ...
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Overreactive censor is ovvereacting. PC, and until. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 22:36:00 UTC
Link to this
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She does not. (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:53:00 UTC
Link to this
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...? (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 16:56:00 UTC
Link to this
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Scapegrace's/Ixi's Stepford Smiler!Flareon (nm) by
on 2015-09-20 17:25:00 UTC
Link to this
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Guess what? by
on 2015-09-20 18:40:00 UTC
Link to this
I just bought my first DS and a copy of Pokemon White! It's a pink DS Lite.
So... any suggestions? ^_^ -
CONGRATS! by
on 2015-09-23 03:26:00 UTC
Link to this
Unfortunately, I'm only a Gen III and below type of guy, so I'm kinda useless here.
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Belated congratulations! by
on 2015-09-22 18:18:00 UTC
Link to this
I haven't played White in a while, so the only specific recommendation I have is "get the Larvesta egg once it's available to you, I'm told Volcarona are awesome". ^^;
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About Pokemon you could choose by
on 2015-09-20 19:28:00 UTC
Link to this
It's only my opinion, but I think that getting a Ghost type could be a good idea, Chandelure and Golurk seem pretty neat for me, and not only for the Elite 4. Besides, if you want to do a Nuzlocke, a Ghost type will soak up all the Explosion of the world. Other Nuzlockers could think it's a bad idea, but I already saved some of my Pokemons this way with my Misdreavus in my Pearl Nuzlocke.
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Further to this: by
on 2015-09-20 20:00:00 UTC
Link to this
Get an Eelektross.
Because Eelektross is best pokey men. -
*head pokes up* by
on 2015-09-20 18:44:00 UTC
Link to this
DID SOMEBODY SAY POKéMON?!
What sort of suggestions do you want? Which starter to pick?
It's generally accepted that Oshawott gives you the easiest run and Snivy the hardest, but it really all comes down to personal preference. Just remember to always have a well-balanced team with good coverage, and you'll be ready for anything!except that final boss god i hate that final boss augh -
Thank you! by
on 2015-09-22 12:42:00 UTC
Link to this
I... chose Snivy anyway. >_>
I love her -- she's just so snaky and attitudinal. Also, apparently Purrloin is kinda terrible until it gets Fury Swipes? Valefor, my Purrloin, is using Cut as his main attack now. Because he can't deal any damage otherwise. Hopefully he'll do better as a Liepard.
My Lilipup, however, is pretty great. She's nearly as useful as Zeta, and she's also brought me a great ball, a full heal, and a hyper potion.
I fought the first gym, too! The only really eventful parts of that were: the level 4 Patrat I caught because he was the first one and I wasn't sure if I was doing a nuzlocke yet (I decided not to) took one of the "two turns charging up moves" which probably would have been an OHKO for Valefor. The other one was my Panpour super-effective critically hitting the gym leader's fire monkey for an OHKO. -
Lilipup's pretty good! by
on 2015-09-22 15:14:00 UTC
Link to this
And Stoutland is surprisingly good, especially since its hidden ability is Sand Rush. Works well with stuff like Hippowdon. God, I've not run a sand team in aaaaaages. =]
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I actually like Tepig for the starter. by
on 2015-09-20 19:15:00 UTC
Link to this
Then again, I pick the Fire-type every time. And call it Prodigy. Because puns.