When email was a new thing (wayyy back), one of the common communications making the rounds were joke lists, which probably started as top ten lists, but eventually people forwarding the messages starting making their own ‘hilarious’ contributions – and you could tell, because the later ones were tiresome and repetitive and hadn’t been crafted as well as the earlier ones.
This is a trend that came to define user-generated contect on the Internet. The Jump The Shark website began as a great analysis of an elusive interaction audiences experience with TV shows, but as more people came along they voted ‘Never Jumped!" or ‘First Episode!’ – basically treating the subject with the same extremism people approach Amazon feedback – or they chose a specific episode they hated which didn’t fit the discussion, but DID enable them to impose their unsolicited opinions on others. The entire concept is now diluted to the point of meaninglessness.
Even Wikipedia isn’t immune: Forget reading up on genre; everything is *every* genre, apparently. Where Shark contributors want to validate themselves via opinions, on Wikipedia the contributors are trying to salve their insecurities by demonstrating expertise (which they don’t possess). You know how the kid brother always shouts, "Me, too! Me, too!" and then tries to do what his older sibling just did? Same phenomenon.
TV Tropes combines the worst of these two: the opinions – made worse by the pathological need to present a Civics lecture – and the desire to be seen as knowledgable. Most contributors don’t even know what a trope *is* any more, and it’s going to get worse as more people unfamiliar with the term go to the site. And just forget trying to discuss the difference between specifically tropic writing and garden-variety bad writing. Impossible.
I honestly believe, Freezer, that you intended to contribute to the discussion, but it’s hard to have a productive discussion about storytelling using TV Tropes as the base because one starts off heading in the opposite direction.
Wow. This is a really solid, succinct, straight-to-the-heart explanation of a phenomenon I’ve been taking many more paragraphs to try to convey. Mind if I quote this (credited, obviously) when the subject comes up again elsewhere?
Thanks! I’ve been meaning to get these thoughts down for some time, since in my peer group (and my profession) the subject comes up regularly. This was written with the additional intent of having something ready to go the next time the need arises.
If you feel it’s worth quoting, please do; I’d be honoured.
t!
The orcs REALLY need a new god. Gruuumsh has been less than useless (which is about par for gods, come to think of it). Hard to believe orcs (or ANYBODY in that world) would be monotheistic. Lewie could help. He’s deposed gods before.
Keep in mind … Gruuumsh was consumed by Ranna. We have yet to see for certain in canon if that means he is (and all the other gods she consumed are) gone for good. His demise, I speculated under the previous strip as well as way back a bit, could have released Jone from her servitude to him. That might account for her regenerating in the manner she has, and maybe some other transformations that seem to be taking place. The powers that Gruuumsh employed in creating Jone may no longer be in effect.
Permanently ..? Hmmmmm. I’m unable to predict if Ranna will be destroyed by the end of this story and, if so, what that means for the gods she consumed. will they somehow be released? Or are they so integrated into her essence that they will be destroyed with her? A number of YAFGC races/species may need to find/create new gods, including the orcs. I’ve already wondered if Jone might become the new goddess of orcs when all the dust settles.
If so, her experiences (such as this strip) and how she integrates them into her psyche will make her a very different goddess than Gruuumsh.
Richard has always placed the dramatic needs of this universe above the restrictions of D&D mechanics, so you’re right: We can’t assume how these interactions among the gods work – until we find out!
I don’t think anyone in the YAFGC world is monotheistic, though the Rannites hope to be. Henotheistic ("there are many gods, but I only worship one of them") maybe.
If I were in Glon’s position, I’d want to know to what extent Shaija was aware of his efforts to help Jone conquer her rage. Did she betray his desires knowingly?
While I don’t want to defend Shaija’s actions (she is Evil, after all), we must remember that Jone stabbed her own mother for no reason. Sure, Jone was under the influence of a supernatural rage, but so was Glon on multiple occasions, and even in rage Glon drew the line at hurting his own family. Jone has, until now, shown no signs of such restraint, and as fair as we know Jone may have been bluffing, and would stab them both in the back as soon as she got her hands on a weapon again. We are willing to give Jone a chance, but for Shaija, trusting in Jone’s repentance is a real personal risk. Not everybody is a self-sacrificing martyr willing to take great risks to save the lost: she is an orc, not Jesus.
This decision is probably going to bite her in the ass, but it was less Evil and more Rational. If you or I were in her place, could we really say we would act in a different way?
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Well, that’s . . . not good.
You’ve only pissed her off again.
I’m still waiting for the Fox to realize he had a daughter in the first place. Guess if he ever does it will be too late.
He has many daughters. He’s the Julio Scoundrel of this comic.
I believe the appropriate trope is "Interrupted Cooldown Hug".
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InterruptedCooldownHug
When email was a new thing (wayyy back), one of the common communications making the rounds were joke lists, which probably started as top ten lists, but eventually people forwarding the messages starting making their own ‘hilarious’ contributions – and you could tell, because the later ones were tiresome and repetitive and hadn’t been crafted as well as the earlier ones.
This is a trend that came to define user-generated contect on the Internet. The Jump The Shark website began as a great analysis of an elusive interaction audiences experience with TV shows, but as more people came along they voted ‘Never Jumped!" or ‘First Episode!’ – basically treating the subject with the same extremism people approach Amazon feedback – or they chose a specific episode they hated which didn’t fit the discussion, but DID enable them to impose their unsolicited opinions on others. The entire concept is now diluted to the point of meaninglessness.
Even Wikipedia isn’t immune: Forget reading up on genre; everything is *every* genre, apparently. Where Shark contributors want to validate themselves via opinions, on Wikipedia the contributors are trying to salve their insecurities by demonstrating expertise (which they don’t possess). You know how the kid brother always shouts, "Me, too! Me, too!" and then tries to do what his older sibling just did? Same phenomenon.
TV Tropes combines the worst of these two: the opinions – made worse by the pathological need to present a Civics lecture – and the desire to be seen as knowledgable. Most contributors don’t even know what a trope *is* any more, and it’s going to get worse as more people unfamiliar with the term go to the site. And just forget trying to discuss the difference between specifically tropic writing and garden-variety bad writing. Impossible.
I honestly believe, Freezer, that you intended to contribute to the discussion, but it’s hard to have a productive discussion about storytelling using TV Tropes as the base because one starts off heading in the opposite direction.
t!
Wow. This is a really solid, succinct, straight-to-the-heart explanation of a phenomenon I’ve been taking many more paragraphs to try to convey. Mind if I quote this (credited, obviously) when the subject comes up again elsewhere?
Thanks! I’ve been meaning to get these thoughts down for some time, since in my peer group (and my profession) the subject comes up regularly. This was written with the additional intent of having something ready to go the next time the need arises.
If you feel it’s worth quoting, please do; I’d be honoured.
t!
That was a lot of words just to say "Screw TV Tropes."
I fell like an opportunity has been missed. A mere fall, however high, won’t kill Jone. Someone just made themselves a very mortal enemy.
Noooooo poor Jone she has been dumped on her entire life and when she finally has a chance of redemption she is pushed off a cliff.
… Bummer 🙁
Bear in mind that Jone stabbed her mother… who is Shaija’s sister-wife. So… not condoning Shaija’s actions, but I can see why she felt that way.
The orcs REALLY need a new god. Gruuumsh has been less than useless (which is about par for gods, come to think of it). Hard to believe orcs (or ANYBODY in that world) would be monotheistic. Lewie could help. He’s deposed gods before.
Keep in mind … Gruuumsh was consumed by Ranna. We have yet to see for certain in canon if that means he is (and all the other gods she consumed are) gone for good. His demise, I speculated under the previous strip as well as way back a bit, could have released Jone from her servitude to him. That might account for her regenerating in the manner she has, and maybe some other transformations that seem to be taking place. The powers that Gruuumsh employed in creating Jone may no longer be in effect.
Permanently ..? Hmmmmm. I’m unable to predict if Ranna will be destroyed by the end of this story and, if so, what that means for the gods she consumed. will they somehow be released? Or are they so integrated into her essence that they will be destroyed with her? A number of YAFGC races/species may need to find/create new gods, including the orcs. I’ve already wondered if Jone might become the new goddess of orcs when all the dust settles.
If so, her experiences (such as this strip) and how she integrates them into her psyche will make her a very different goddess than Gruuumsh.
They could do worse than an insane god who never speaks.
These are excellent points!
Richard has always placed the dramatic needs of this universe above the restrictions of D&D mechanics, so you’re right: We can’t assume how these interactions among the gods work – until we find out!
Thought-provoking; thanks.
t!
I don’t think anyone in the YAFGC world is monotheistic, though the Rannites hope to be. Henotheistic ("there are many gods, but I only worship one of them") maybe.
Well, that’s going to leave an impression on Jone… Or more like she’s going to leave an impression on the ground!
Either way, the situation is going to have some impact on the future!
The pitfalls of misunderstanding…
Wow. Rich, great job on pacing, building suspense, a moment of hope, and then the twist. Bravo!
I can’t blame Shaija for what she did. But I do feel a bit sorry for Jone.
Brutal deconstruction. Well done.
Shaija demonstrates why Glon needs her.
That’s heartbreaking.
On multiple levels. What’s worst is that I can’t really be mad at Shaija, despite my mile-wide soft spot for poor Jone.
I hope she takes what Glon said to heart despite that.
Well, I won’t feel bad when Jone comes back and kills everyone now.
Glon looks mostly sad… but also a little angry?
If I were in Glon’s position, I’d want to know to what extent Shaija was aware of his efforts to help Jone conquer her rage. Did she betray his desires knowingly?
t!
"I am not mad, but I am very disappointed."
I feel bad for Jone…she always looks so sweet when she smiles like that.
*sigh*
Shaija just didn’t know what she was doing…
> she always looks so sweet when she smiles like that
She really, really does.
t!
Damn it! This is why the world is going to hell. The people on it keep acting like demons towards each other.
While I don’t want to defend Shaija’s actions (she is Evil, after all), we must remember that Jone stabbed her own mother for no reason. Sure, Jone was under the influence of a supernatural rage, but so was Glon on multiple occasions, and even in rage Glon drew the line at hurting his own family. Jone has, until now, shown no signs of such restraint, and as fair as we know Jone may have been bluffing, and would stab them both in the back as soon as she got her hands on a weapon again. We are willing to give Jone a chance, but for Shaija, trusting in Jone’s repentance is a real personal risk. Not everybody is a self-sacrificing martyr willing to take great risks to save the lost: she is an orc, not Jesus.
This decision is probably going to bite her in the ass, but it was less Evil and more Rational. If you or I were in her place, could we really say we would act in a different way?
I love it when this comic inspires deep conversations!
You’ve earned it.
t!
I'll blame Shaija for any future bloodlust from Jone.