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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 12:14:44 GMT
It's possible to edit the thread title and nobody cares about that silly »competition«. I know I'd prefer if the OP contained some actual information or opinion or more than five words, rather than being comprised of »FIRST POST« with an added URL tag essentially all the time.
Here's a question to the thread: if you could choose freely, who would you want to take you into the Ether? It's as personal as naming your child, although opposite in direction; instead of expressing what the future should hold, you give your last thanks to those you trusted in.
I'd choose either an Arabian phoenix, or Sappho. The former would make a fantastic last sight, but the latter would probably make better conversation. Hopefully this decision shall have to wait for a while, though.
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Post by KMar on Feb 26, 2014 12:39:41 GMT
Because you wanted to change the title of the page. Oh wait, that maybe can't be as easily changed Yeah, I don't think it's really even possible, but in addition, that's an illegitimate move. You know, there is a sort of competition for creation of each page thread. And you have to give it a title matching the page. And then it's that, so you have to choose it wisely. Otherwise we would just write "beat you b****es!" to the title and change it to a more suiting one when we have had time to digest the page. So, you have to balance between the two, being fast enough to actually get the thread, and to give it enough thought to get a title line that you can be happy with. Sometimes it's not optimal, but as long as we do give it the thought it remains good. I've been abiding by this rules of this 'game' since erm... who knows, and this is the first time I see them so well articulated (actually even described in the first place). Wonder if some social scientist or some other almost science-y humanities-stuff person has studied this kind of emergent, unspoken social codes of conduct of forum behaviour. On the topic of this thread: Didn't expect this, either. I bet Tom will still not reveal anything about Mort's background. |
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Post by alpacalypse on Feb 26, 2014 13:38:31 GMT
Way to keep us on our toes Tom. I thought this chapter would be short at first, but then I thought that it might go on a bit longer, and I dont think anyone could have seen this coming (we all wanted Annie and Mort vision). This is why I really love GKC. Its got beautiful artwork, an interesting and diverse cast, a deep plot that gives us whimsy, normality, craziness, and emotion. Homestuck was too ADHD for me. I tuink Tom has a great balance of seriousness and fun, which is much more enjoyable for me. I cant wait to see what direction the next chapter is going to go in. I really dont want to see Mort leave, but I do wanna see how the ether guiding process works in more detail. Maybe Mort will leave behind some of his shape-shifting powers to Annie somehow and she takes over spooking people?
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Post by kukapetal on Feb 26, 2014 13:50:49 GMT
Wow, I'm a bit more busted up about this than I expected. Why is it always the really funny chapters that end in a huge emotional gutpunch? Well played, Tom. Well played  |
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Post by zimmyhoo on Feb 26, 2014 13:53:44 GMT
whaaaaat
no
Mort, don't do this thing.
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Post by legion on Feb 26, 2014 13:57:21 GMT
SUDDENLY
Tom is good at this: unexpected wham line out of nowhere, then chapter end, bam!
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Post by thedoctor on Feb 26, 2014 14:20:07 GMT
SUDDENLY Tom is good at this: unexpected wham line out of nowhere, then chapter end, bam! That's a left hook, a right hook, now where's the uppercut? In the bonus page, I assume? |
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Post by goldenknots on Feb 26, 2014 14:24:07 GMT
I'm curious about what pushed Mort to make this rather momentous decision. He's been hanging around for a while, and we don't know if this is because of his own decisions or to suit someone else's purposes. Was he fated to stick around just so that this "practice session" would be possible? Has he finally passed a test?
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Post by zimmyzims on Feb 26, 2014 14:28:23 GMT
It's possible to edit the thread title and nobody cares about that silly »competition«. I know I'd prefer if the OP contained some actual information or opinion or more than five words, rather than being comprised of »FIRST POST« with an added URL tag essentially all the time. But it does contain some, be it very concise information about the actual page. That's the point, you have to stay informative somehow, comment somehow. And the "competition" is set, you cannot undo it. It is very simple: only the first page thread will stay, all others will be discarded. So, if you want to affect what is said in the first thread, you have to be faster than others. If you start to write an essay about the page, then you have to post it in someone else's thread. Which is what people do now. And that works just fine. Edit: and as you can well observe, there is plenty of us who care a lot about this. |
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Post by ctso74 on Feb 26, 2014 14:32:27 GMT
Eglamore *bursting in*: "And I am your true father!" Coyote *speaking through the thin walls*: "I've been running the ROTD, this whole time. Mwahaha!" Smitty: "Um... I will use my power to manipulate the Court and rule the world." Kat: "What!... I!... Ug!... Too much..." Didn't expect this, either. I bet Tom will still not reveal anything about Mort's background. I hope he does. It would be a nice departure, to learn more about him. And it would bet to rest some "Wild Guesses" about him. The bonus page should be Robes from Annie's and Mort's point of view. Or Kat's POV of the employee rec area, with Robes complaining over a cup of foggy punch.[/quote] |
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Post by Daedalus on Feb 26, 2014 15:21:18 GMT
Well. Sudden mood whiplash. (Also, I thought that Mort bapped Annie and I was confused.) Theories on who Mort is, anyone? My vote is on the Artilleryman (woot, wildspec!) Because you wanted to change the title of the page. Oh wait, that maybe can't be as easily changed Yeah, I don't think it's really even possible, but in addition, that's an illegitimate move. You know, there is a sort of competition for creation of each page thread. And you have to give it a title matching the page. And then it's that, so you have to choose it wisely. Otherwise we would just write "beat you b****es!" to the title and change it to a more suiting one when we have had time to digest the page. So, you have to balance between the two, being fast enough to actually get the thread, and to give it enough thought to get a title line that you can be happy with. Sometimes it's not optimal, but as long as we do give it the thought it remains good. You can change the name of the thread. And (wince) I already did exactly that once before - remember the debacle when I posted the 'new page' five minutes before the hour and then just changed the title to match it afterward? It's possible to edit the thread title and nobody cares about that silly »competition«. I know I'd prefer if the OP contained some actual information or opinion or more than five words, rather than being comprised of »FIRST POST« with an added URL tag essentially all the time. It's not uncommon for the OP to go back and add an opinion/info to their post. And seriously, just look further down the page if you want opinion - or add your own. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 16:09:58 GMT
It's possible to edit the thread title and nobody cares about that silly »competition«. I know I'd prefer if the OP contained some actual information or opinion or more than five words, rather than being comprised of »FIRST POST« with an added URL tag essentially all the time. But it does contain some, be it very concise information about the actual page. That's the point, you have to stay informative somehow, comment somehow. The point is that it's counter-productive and encourages people to type fast and post lazy so that they can be first, instead of rewarding effort. I don't see how literally two words plus the page link should affect any discussion that much. Assuming that the first post does steer the discussion substantially, though, wouldn't it be great if it offered anything to actually discuss, or at least an interesting opinion to start off the chatter? I sure as hell don't observe who makes the page discussion threads anymore because there's no functional difference to me. The OP links to the comic and adds 1-5 words and I gloss over that in a second, since I already expect nothing but the briefest possible, therefore utterly boring, recap. I'm not demanding essays at all, just some five minutes of effort so that the discussion can kick off and go somewhere. Rawr! It's not uncommon for the OP to go back and add an opinion/info to their post. And seriously, just look further down the page if you want opinion - or add your own. The rest of my post, the part you didn't quote, contains my opinion on today's page, and my other posts on these forums also contain several opinions, sometimes even on the comic, as well as mediocre jokes. If you think my opinions are absolutely worthless, that's fair enough, but don't say »or add your own« like I don't even put in the effort. That's harsh! |
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Post by Daedalus on Feb 26, 2014 16:36:11 GMT
It's not uncommon for the OP to go back and add an opinion/info to their post. And seriously, just look further down the page if you want opinion - or add your own. The rest of my post, the part you didn't quote, contains my opinion on today's page, and my other posts on these forums also contain several opinions, sometimes even on the comic, as well as mediocre jokes. If you think my opinions are absolutely worthless, that's fair enough, but don't say »or add your own« like I don't even put in the effort. That's harsh! My apologies; I was not paying enough attention to your post. (And I would want the Moddey Dhoo, personally - I loved that character. I'm a traditionalist.) Regardless, the rest of my argument stands. The OP is a fun contest, and opinion is still added later - or can be retroactively added to the OP. |
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Post by atteSmythe on Feb 26, 2014 16:49:21 GMT
Ahhhhh! Ahhhhhh! Ahhhhhh!
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Post by zimmyzims on Feb 26, 2014 17:37:18 GMT
But it does contain some, be it very concise information about the actual page. That's the point, you have to stay informative somehow, comment somehow. The point is that it's counter-productive and encourages people to type fast and post lazy so that they can be first, instead of rewarding effort. On the contrary, allowing edition afterwards is counterproductive, as I explained, we would just have a "first post" competition then and stupid titles (only to be changed afterwards). As the title will stick, we will have to give it a thought. As you may have witnessed, and as Daedalus pointed out too, "author" often adds something to the OP afterwards. But aside from that outlaw bastard Daedalus, I haven't heard that anybody would have changed the title, and that was in exceptional circumstances. I don't see how literally two words plus the page link should affect any discussion that much. Assuming that the first post does steer the discussion substantially, though, wouldn't it be great if it offered anything to actually discuss, or at least an interesting opinion to start off the chatter? You can add whatever to the thread, even to OP, were you creator of the thread or not. But only the author of the thread gets to choose the title. In any case, I do not at all think the creator of the page thread either is or should be entitled to decide the way of the discussion. As the thread is related to an actual page of the comic, it is this page that will set the direction of discussion and everybody is free to affect the way it goes. It is in that sense a bit different to a new topic thread where the writer of the OP defines what is the topic. Here he doesn't and shouldn't either. Now, KMar's post made me notice that competition of course is not quite as set as I let understood. We probably wouldn't have to destroy all bar the first thread created. I don't know how this forum platform works, but I'd imagine it would be possible to argue and vote about which thread is kept. But keeping the first thread is quite equal and fair way, leaving no ground for disputes. Obviously, it only works and is fair as long as we do not change the titles and punchlines afterwards ( Daedalus!!!), otherwise we could write the thread title and punchline the night before and just come press enter when the new page arrives and edit them to fit the page afterwards. We would gain the privilege on naming the thread unfairly. This code has produced itself here quite spontaneously amongst the forumers, and it works out fine. The next passage of your post was treated here, and well, you can observe the reaction of Daedalus, KMar and myself, just for examples. It's not uncommon for the OP to go back and add an opinion/info to their post. And seriously, just look further down the page if you want opinion - or add your own. The rest of my post, the part you didn't quote, contains my opinion on today's page, and my other posts on these forums also contain several opinions, sometimes even on the comic, as well as mediocre jokes. If you think my opinions are absolutely worthless, that's fair enough, but don't say »or add your own« like I don't even put in the effort. That's harsh! As if he ever meant it that way, come on. He was commenting, not your opinion on the page, but your opinion that the page thread's OP should have an opinion on the page. And what he said is that the opinions are expressed in the posts after it and if that is not enough you can always (not only this time) add your own. So, it was only to say that the opinion on the page does not have to be in the OP of the page thread. In fact, as I pointed out, it's better that it is not there. And had nothing to do with your contribution or lack thereof. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 17:38:55 GMT
Well, if it's kosher to edit the post later, then it should be alright to edit the thread title. That said, I'll shut it. Edit: Okay, zimmyzims, I'll say it again: why yes, I think that the OP should indeed add to the discussion instead of posting nothing useful. As should everybody in the thread. People are going to discuss whatever, anyway, but if the OP provides some discussion fodder, that's a good device to get a thread on the rails. Also, one post ago you claimed that the OP gets to »affect the discussion« but then you went directly against that, so I don't know how to discuss that particular point now. Also also, »the first one gets it all« is by no means fair and equal, because the surest way fo be first here is to put in little effort. What I'm also not arguing is that people should post empty OPs and edit later, but that people should post interesting OPs that one can react to, while everyone retains the freedom to discuss something else entirely. — I wouldn't invest my time into typing this, either, if I didn't want to read people's opinions about this comic that I like, instead of »postcount++« in free variation. Here, I even have a suggestion: everybody agrees not to post these threads any sooner than 9.15am, so that people have time to look at the comic for a while, form an opinion, write something interesting, make up some questions or whatever, and still get to play Sudden Death with discussion threads when the clock hits 9.15. Or this doesn't happen and it's not really important anyway. ---- The Moddey Dhoo is a fine example of stuff I wouldn't know about, were it not for this comic (see also: bismuth crystals, the Flammarion engraving, laser cows). I've also grown rather fond of dogs, what with all these canines running the place, instead of finding them mostly amusing or mildly annoying. Dogs are quite cool to be honest, since they can run great distances and precisely trace the movements of the surrounding odours! — One time I found an Italian Greyhound suddenly storming right past my back, catching up with its cycling owner, with all its feet in mid-air. After the initial second of »what the hell happened«, I thought that was really powerful. |
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ty
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Post by ty on Feb 26, 2014 18:32:28 GMT
No! I would be sad if Mort was gone.
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Post by exuberancium on Feb 26, 2014 18:33:47 GMT
That's pretty heavy: Tom's basically killing off (again) a fairly important character "again"? |
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Post by sidhekin on Feb 26, 2014 18:55:49 GMT
I'm curious about what pushed Mort to make this rather momentous decision. All the talk about guiding Jeanne into the ether, doing right by her. And about Surma. The girls have provided a different take on the decision than he once had. And it resonated with him. Perhaps he's thought about his choice ever since he "got his job". Or not. Either way, this whole chapter has been about guiding the dead into the ether. Plenty of push. Well. Sudden mood whiplash. (Also, I thought that Mort bapped Annie and I was confused.) Theories on who Mort is, anyone? My vote is on the Artilleryman (woot, wildspec!) Ooh, I like it. Unlikely though. Unless he's lost all memory of both Jeanne & his own name. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 19:02:26 GMT
That's pretty heavy: Tom's basically killing off (again) a fairly important character "again"? Everyone forgets about the Security Robot, but he will last in the vault of my memory, buried along with the whole two pages that featured him, which is just as much as the Artilleryman has had so far, I think. Rust in pieces. Edit: About Mort's origins; the inscription in Mort's hallway reads »dulce et decorum est [pro patria mori]«, for what it's worth, but Mort seems quite too young (and short) to be a soldier of the Empire. |
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Post by philman on Feb 26, 2014 19:25:34 GMT
That's pretty heavy: Tom's basically killing off (again) a fairly important character "again"? Well, Mort's already a ghost, he must have been killed off already sometime before we met him! |
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Post by Daedalus on Feb 26, 2014 19:58:03 GMT
I'm curious about what pushed Mort to make this rather momentous decision. All the talk about guiding Jeanne into the ether, doing right by her. And about Surma. The girls have provided a different take on the decision than he once had. And it resonated with him. Perhaps he's thought about his choice ever since he "got his job". Or not. Either way, this whole chapter has been about guiding the dead into the ether. Plenty of push. Well. Sudden mood whiplash. (Also, I thought that Mort bapped Annie and I was confused.) Theories on who Mort is, anyone? My vote is on the Artilleryman (woot, wildspec!) Ooh, I like it. Unlikely though. Unless he's lost all memory of both Jeanne & his own name. I remember vaguely a WoT that said Mort doesn't remember his life. But I'm probably wrong. The only thing we know for sure is the 'sweet to die for your country' thing. |
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Post by Intelligence on Feb 26, 2014 20:48:24 GMT
Mort... Don't....  |
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Post by nero on Feb 26, 2014 22:14:32 GMT
No, Mort's a great character. I'm hoping that maybe Mort will receive an upgrade/promotion and then he can still appear in the comic.
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fishtie
Full Member
...I've learned to be amazed first and ask questions later.
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Post by fishtie on Feb 26, 2014 22:39:04 GMT
Why is my knee jerk reaction: Well that sounds like a lot of paperwork?
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Post by KMar on Feb 27, 2014 0:38:22 GMT
*KMar proudly continues upholding the long tradition of GKC forums', that is, derailing comic threads into the abyss of meta and the wastelands of offtopic.*Well, if it's kosher to edit the post later, then it should be alright to edit the thread title. That said, I'll shut it. Edit: Okay, zimmyzims, I'll say it again: why yes, I think that the OP should indeed add to the discussion instead of posting nothing useful. As should everybody in the thread. People are going to discuss whatever, anyway, but if the OP provides some discussion fodder, that's a good device to get a thread on the rails. Also, one post ago you claimed that the OP gets to »affect the discussion« but then you went directly against that, so I don't know how to discuss that particular point now. Also also, »the first one gets it all« is by no means fair and equal, because the surest way fo be first here is to put in little effort. What I'm also not arguing is that people should post empty OPs and edit later, but that people should post interesting OPs that one can react to, while everyone retains the freedom to discuss something else entirely. — I wouldn't invest my time into typing this, either, if I didn't want to read people's opinions about this comic that I like, instead of »postcount++« in free variation. Here, I even have a suggestion: everybody agrees not to post these threads any sooner than 9.15am, so that people have time to look at the comic for a while, form an opinion, write something interesting, make up some questions or whatever, and still get to play Sudden Death with discussion threads when the clock hits 9.15. Or this doesn't happen and it's not really important anyway. But that would destroy the excitement and mental drama of those brave enough to endeavour into the grand competition of making the Opening Post. ''Shall I insert just one simple word and make a link out of it? But then my fellow forum-dwellers would think I am a person who seeks barely a short-lived - and oh-so-easy - shot at glory, instead of being righteous hero and honourably contributing multiple sentences as an intro to upcoming discussion, or at least choosing wisely a one-liner witty enough. (A tragic hero even, as that well-thought opening paragraph will be almost surely forgotten, as likely as that lone word devoid of all meaning, class and style you could have posted much faster.) And oh look, the clock's ticking.'' This 'creating-threads-game' is one of those games that has no other rules than those the community as a whole has agreed upon and collectively imposes, and in this case, the best rules are those never said aloud. Trust me, I live in a social democratic country and certainly am not a stranger to the concept of fair and equal opportunity, and I say: this is not the place nor the time for it. Replacing a tradition by a rational compromise (in the name bringing sanity into this silly game) would make it lifeless and boring, and convert us into, dare I say, a Sweden of webcomic forums.
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Post by Daedalus on Feb 27, 2014 1:16:18 GMT
Just thinking about the page today...who has actually died in the course of the comic?
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Post by fwip on Feb 27, 2014 1:16:43 GMT
If Mort's thinking of killing himself, it sure doesn't have the same significance for him that it does for his friends. That smile is just a bit too cheerful for someone who's about to die.
The next chapter will be The Realm of the Dead: Part 2. See you there!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 1:21:33 GMT
@kmar
Rest easy: I made an OP for that Hetty bonus page once, since nobody had made any such thing in twenty minutes or something (I know, crazy!), and I can assure you my thought process was really not much like »shall I compare thee etc.«, more like »you're slacking off on the Internet anyway, might as well give a damn«. I threw up a few sentences that took like three minutes to post, such as basically »oh hey there's that orange dust again!«. Then someone said the orange dust was maybe traces of gold, and then other people said other stuff altogether. That worked.
Also, we both posted our 300 words or something about forum games that will also be forgotten tragically, which didn't really hold us back. I sure as hell won't be the nasal jerk tromboning »stop having fun!« at people, much less on a forum where I want to have fun myself, but I still think there's a distinction between a one-word-post and a short sentence like »Hey maybe we'll get to learn about the Artilleryman, what do we know about that jerk anyway?« — Whatever. It works out either way, and everyone likes it, I'm honestly fine with that.
HOWEVER, why am I apparently not part of The Community as a whole for my daring disagreement? I keep getting sucker-punched here! I even speak the tiniest bit of Swedish, though I'll admit that's my own damn fault right there.
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Post by alpacalypse on Feb 27, 2014 4:10:53 GMT
Just thinking about the page today...who has actually died in the course of the comic? Off the top of my head, Robert Paulson. I mean that chicken wing. I guess the green guy got killed, and other people in backstory, but I think you mean in the present context of the story. The old robot that Kat brought back to life could be considered to have died. Oh Red and Blue died. But off screen then they Jesus'd there way back. Edit: Renard totally roasted that Hetty chick. |
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