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Post by xenophonhendrix on Aug 26, 2009 3:42:08 GMT
Thread necromancy is a bit annoying, it makes it difficult to find past threads.... I suggest starting a new thread for your question - it's an interesting one. Why would something as useful as a blinker stone become a gift so strongly associated with romantic relationships? Would that be tolerated by potential mystics who needed a blinker stone for training but didn't have a significant other to give them one?
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sz
Junior Member
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Post by sz on Aug 26, 2009 5:54:10 GMT
It might be that if someone can't form an intimate relationship with someone else, they are probably not personally stable/mature/approved/etc. enough to deserve a blinker stone...?
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Post by xenophonhendrix on Aug 26, 2009 6:18:57 GMT
Antimony doesn't actually have that kind of relationship, so far as we know. She got her stone through a trick of the psychopomps.
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tds
New Member
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Post by tds on Aug 26, 2009 6:49:02 GMT
Just because she doesn't have such a relationship doesn't mean she can't. sz's theory still has merit.
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Post by Casey on Aug 26, 2009 6:50:08 GMT
I'm going with the simpler explanation: It was a convenient plot device.
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jon77
Full Member
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Post by jon77 on Aug 26, 2009 7:32:05 GMT
I'm going with the simpler explanation: It was a convenient plot device. I'm with you on that one
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 26, 2009 10:31:12 GMT
Both humans and animals use shiny rocks to impress members of the opposite sex. It wouldn't surprise me to see Antimony's blinker stone being used in the plot as a symbolic bridge between the etheric tenet and science in some future romantic relationship. On that note: Because we now have a candidate for "bad boy" I think I will agitate the forum by repeating a prediction I made back in August 2008 in an obscure thread about Antimony's future romantic prospects. Since Antimony's somewhat mirroring her mother's track through GC there would be great plot symmetry if she winds up in a similar triangle and making a similar choice... which would argue against favorable outcomes for any "good boy" like Smitty. I'm unsure the story contains the male sides of any Antimony triangle so far but this party coming up would be an excellent place to introduce some. I predict a "bad boy" male lead character debut somewhere between now and mid-book 3. Well... a bad boy to the extent such is allowed in GC, maybe a nicely romanticized but dark, troubled and emotionally unhealthy guy she can decide to make her life project around graduation time.
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Post by sanguine on Aug 26, 2009 12:01:14 GMT
IF's got a good point. It would make quite some sense for the blinker stone's form to be a stone rather than, say, a wand (which could more or less serve the same function). I agree with how it falls into place as an object of animalistic/etheric nature, but not with science though. Sorry, I've not completely thought that part through.
And oh, no agitation here. I personally find it pleasing to see other people bring up their predictions about GC. All make for good reads since that way we get to confirm our own quiet predictions with that of others, while simultaneously showing Tom how wonderful we find his work to be to the point that they're apparently worth speculating about.
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Post by chiparoo on Aug 26, 2009 12:44:50 GMT
A Blinker Stone is Pretty. People in love give pretty things to one another! It's also very useful. Remember the note on this page in which tom comments that a knife is a good gift because it's handy and practical? Also, Occam's Razor. It's a pretty thing.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 26, 2009 14:05:37 GMT
I agree with how it falls into place as an object of animalistic/etheric nature, but not with science though. Sorry, I've not completely thought that part through. Unless another blinker stone appears, Antimony would have to give her blinker stone to someone for blinker-stone-giving to happen. Should she give her blinker stone to someone who's scientifically-oriented then it would form another symbolic bridge between the etheric and science. Antimony as a medium is a bridge between worlds in herself, but her character started with scientific leanings and has been developing in a more magically-oriented direction. I can see her representing the etheric side in a couple. If I were Tom that might be something I'd do at the conclusion of the comic. It caused some minor agitation when I first posted it here. In addition to all the inherent weaknesses in predictions by plot symmetry, and questions about my casting and assumptions regarding Surma, there was also some Antimony/Smitty shipping back then which my theory wasn't friendly to.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 26, 2009 14:09:14 GMT
Also: On the practical side of things, if your beloved has your blinker stone you'll always be able to check up on be with them in spirit.
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Post by Casey on Aug 26, 2009 14:58:49 GMT
Antimony as a medium is a bridge between worlds in herself, but her character started with scientific leanings and has been developing in a more magically-oriented direction. Interesting, I did not reach the same conclusion. Hasn't she been copying off of Kat's work for a while?
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Post by idonotlikepeas on Aug 26, 2009 15:03:29 GMT
Well, the fact that they were traditionally given as gifts between couples doesn't mean that's the only way to get one.
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Post by the bandit on Aug 26, 2009 16:05:26 GMT
Why would something as useful as a blinker stone become a gift so strongly associated with romantic relationships? The blinker stone became a gift so strongly associated with romantic relationships the same way diamonds did. Blinker stones are rare (and pretty). Rare = valuable. Valuable = a big deal when you give it to someone. A Gift at Great Personal Cost = the perfect way to show the extent of your love for another human being. They're traditionally given between couples, but nothing is stopping you from going out and buying yourself your own diamond. Any mystics sans blinker stones will just have to deal with it; it's not like they could steal someone else's stone, after all. (*blink*)
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Post by Casey on Aug 26, 2009 16:52:03 GMT
Just FYI, diamonds are neither rare nor inherently valuable. I know that making a statement about your example does not debunk your point, and I'm not trying to debunk your point... just trying to debunk some myths about diamonds.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 26, 2009 16:57:49 GMT
Antimony as a medium is a bridge between worlds in herself, but her character started with scientific leanings and has been developing in a more magically-oriented direction. Interesting, I did not reach the same conclusion. Hasn't she been copying off of Kat's work for a while? Exactly. She copies Kat's work and watches Kat build robots but doesn't appear much interested in doing these things herself. In the beginning of the story Antimony's science fair proposal appeared to involve dissection but we haven't seen anything like that in quite a while. Antimony's lockpicks are now part of Reynard, she is teaching him to use them but can't use them herself. It's true that Antimony saw/spoke to psychopomps as a child but that wasn't revealed at first. Antimony is learning how to use her blinker stone and has ventured into the forest. Since Antimony is our POV into the GC universe it would natural to her to assume a scientific sort of bent as a default; she's asking questions and trying to piece together facts to solve mysteries. I doubt she'll ever renounce her quest as such but I do think her character is much more magically-oriented than she used to be.
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Post by Casey on Aug 26, 2009 17:01:57 GMT
Yeah, I didn't reach the same conclusion. I never saw her as scientific. She admitted that building robot--which consisted of snapping pieces together like Legos--was the extent of her ability in that regard. She's been seeing psychopomps since she was a little kid, she even helped them out when she was 6, Shadow 2 immediately identified her as someone who could help him at the beginning of the story, and she's been using Kat's brilliance to help her pass her scientific classes.
So I think we agree that Annie is more etherically-oriented. Where I disagree is I think she has always been that way, that that was not a later development.
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cantabile
New Member
Never thought I'd be back on a forum...
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Post by cantabile on Aug 26, 2009 17:04:17 GMT
I would venture a guess that the ideal situation when a blinker stone between couples would involve both parties being able to use the stone. Which would lead to endless out-of-body romps together. Exhibit A (obviously, not a couple): www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=599
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Post by the bandit on Aug 26, 2009 17:16:51 GMT
Just FYI, diamonds are neither rare nor inherently valuable. I know that making a statement about your example does not debunk your point, and I'm not trying to debunk your point... just trying to debunk some myths about diamonds. True, but that's a recent historical development. In the same way, I doubt that denizens of the woods consider blinker stones inherently valuable. (Whoa! That's speculation!)
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Post by Mylian on Aug 26, 2009 17:20:37 GMT
Also: On the practical side of things, if your beloved has your blinker stone you'll always be able to check up on be with them in spirit. I'm agreeing with this. A blinker stone, after being used by someone for a while, would tend to become a very personal part of that person. You wouldn't give access to such an intimate part of you to just anybody.
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Post by wynne on Aug 26, 2009 17:59:51 GMT
So... does that mean that Donald and Anja constantly have mind sex with each other? That's kind of a disturbing thought. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I mean, they're married and all. But still.
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Post by Casey on Aug 26, 2009 18:16:29 GMT
That's not disturbing, I think it's hot as hell. On the other hand though, I don't think Donny would be able to use a blinker stone. I could be wrong though.
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Post by Mylian on Aug 27, 2009 2:43:21 GMT
No, Anja said that Donald can't use blinker stones. You're right.
And yet Donald gave her a stone. Where did he get it from? Did he buy it for her or what?
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Post by Mezzaphor on Aug 27, 2009 7:09:58 GMT
Interesting, I did not reach the same conclusion. Hasn't she been copying off of Kat's work for a while? Exactly. She copies Kat's work and watches Kat build robots but doesn't appear much interested in doing these things herself. In the beginning of the story Antimony's science fair proposal appeared to involve dissection but we haven't seen anything like that in quite a while. Antimony's lockpicks are now part of Reynard, she is teaching him to use them but can't use them herself. It's true that Antimony saw/spoke to psychopomps as a child but that wasn't revealed at first. Antimony is learning how to use her blinker stone and has ventured into the forest. Since Antimony is our POV into the GC universe it would natural to her to assume a scientific sort of bent as a default; she's asking questions and trying to piece together facts to solve mysteries. I doubt she'll ever renounce her quest as such but I do think her character is much more magically-oriented than she used to be. Yeah, I didn't reach the same conclusion. I never saw her as scientific. She admitted that building robot--which consisted of snapping pieces together like Legos--was the extent of her ability in that regard. She's been seeing psychopomps since she was a little kid, she even helped them out when she was 6, Shadow 2 immediately identified her as someone who could help him at the beginning of the story, and she's been using Kat's brilliance to help her pass her scientific classes. So I think we agree that Annie is more etherically-oriented. Where I disagree is I think she has always been that way, that that was not a later development. And I reached yet another conclusion: Science isn't monolithic; people aren't black-and-white; and Annie, in spite of her overall interest in the etheric and ambivalence towards the scientific, has an interest in biology. No doubt a result of her father being a surgeon. It caused some minor agitation when I first posted it here. In addition to all the inherent weaknesses in predictions by plot symmetry, and questions about my casting and assumptions regarding Surma, there was also some Antimony/Smitty shipping back then which my theory wasn't friendly to. If Anthony was the "bad boy" back in the day (and not just that boring guy at the back of the classroom), I think he was less likely the sort to attract the ladies' attention, and more the sort who everyone was afraid would grow up to be a serial killer. If anyone fit the "bad boy who all the girls want" archetype, I suspect it would be young Eglamore, what with his long hair and his being sent to the teacher's office for punching bullies to defend his lady-friends' honor.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 27, 2009 11:22:13 GMT
And I reached yet another conclusion: Science isn't monolithic; people aren't black-and-white; and Annie, in spite of her overall interest in the etheric and ambivalence toward the scientific, has an interest in biology. No doubt a result of her father being a surgeon. I'm not trying to say that Antimony has transformed into a pure etheric creature now; I agree that she has elements of both within her personality and represents a bridge that way too. I simply think her character has developed in a much more magically-oriented direction than she was at first. If Anthony was the "bad boy" back in the day (and not just that boring guy at the back of the classroom), I think he was less likely the sort to attract the ladies' attention, and more the sort who everyone was afraid would grow up to be a serial killer. You might be surprised. Some girls like that sort of guy for the danger. Others want to heal someone who's damaged, others just like a puzzle. Is sticking up for a girl all that bad or rare? Some people might look at the exact same sequence of events and conclude that Eggers is breaking the school no-fighting rules because he's noble and that it'd be sad to let an incident like that ruin his overall good reputation and future at the school.
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Post by Ulysses on Aug 27, 2009 18:11:13 GMT
Also: On the practical side of things, if your beloved has your blinker stone you'll always be able to check up on be with them in spirit. Basically what I was going to say. I imagine they started as a way for couples to be together even if far away from each other, but given time they've become a more generic gift between those couple who know about the stones, as shown by Anja's stone from Donny. Given that Donny cannot use blinker stones, this may be a clue that they are also a sign from one partner to another that they can be trusted - "You can look at me any time you like and see that I'm not up to anything devious".
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Post by Casey on Aug 27, 2009 18:45:58 GMT
Also: On the practical side of things, if your beloved has your blinker stone you'll always be able to check up on be with them in spirit. Basically what I was going to say. I imagine they started as a way for couples to be together even if far away from each other, but given time they've become a more generic gift between those couple who know about the stones, as shown by Anja's stone from Donny. Given that Donny cannot use blinker stones, this may be a clue that they are also a sign from one partner to another that they can be trusted - "You can look at me any time you like and see that I'm not up to anything devious". Well that is only true if the blinker-owner leaves their stone in the vicinity of their partner. What would be creepy, though, would be if Donny wore Anja's blinker stone. So she can ALWAYS check up on him. Talk about p-whipped! But on another note: I think in the case of Donny and Anja specifically, I think his giving her a blinker stone could be seen as an indication that he's trying to tell her that it is ok with him that she is "one of those people" with etheric abilities. I bet this became an important factor in their early relationship, because Anja was sooo worried that he would dislike her because she was 'different', and he was sooo like 'I don't care, you're super triple sweet'. And giving her a blinker stone would be like saying "this is how much I accept you as you are." Everyone go Awwww......
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 27, 2009 19:26:51 GMT
Well that is only true if the blinker-owner leaves their stone in the vicinity of their partner. I can think of ways around that. Just make it seem like a gift when it's actually not. If your beloved isn't familiar with the spying aspect you could take him/her shopping for a ring or other setting as a gift. Then have the stone set in later, leaving the implication that you're giving the stone as well. If you ever need the blinker stone you can summon it while leaving the setting behind; that gives you the extra bonus of chewing him/her out for losing the stone. You can pretend to buy another one or to find it later. And yeah, if he/she does know all about blinker stones you could simply hide it somewhere. Anja's might be stitched into the lining of Don's briefcase or under the rug in the back of his car, for example. I think in the case of Donny and Anja specifically, I think his giving her a blinker stone could be seen as an indication that he's trying to tell her that it is ok with him that she is "one of those people" with etheric abilities. .... I think you're right, I can see such an anecdote coming out at some point in the comic. I can also see Kat flinching and trying to think of an excuse to leave the room when Anja starts telling it.
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Post by Seth Thresher on Aug 28, 2009 3:29:04 GMT
You, something just occurred to me:
load-bearing blinker stones.
What if you knowingly placed blinker stones (or a sufficiently large one) into the foundations or supporting structures of a building? Wait a few months or years until the situation calls for it, blink it back and...
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Post by the bandit on Aug 28, 2009 14:44:22 GMT
A lot of these theories don't make sense when you take into account that it is the owner who can tap into the stone from a distance, not the giver. I'm pretty sure I remember a Word of Tom that indicated once you give a stone you lose all claim to it.
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