When seeing man’s most depraved horrors,
When facing nature’s most fearsome wrath,
We can find comfort that our nobility will shine.
And the Light is always brighter than the Darkness.
To the people of Boston:
May the following days hold more courage and charity than despair.
Well my internet is down again, making me wonder if I should find some other method of blogging. (You all have RSS [Readable Smoke Signals] right?)
So some quick notes on things I hope to write more about later.
Dr Who – Happy 50th, Doctor! Yeah I finally got around to watching a complete episode. I admit it’s not bad. In fact it kind of reminds me of MLP:FiM in that it’s not ashamed to wear its heart on its sleeve. And some days you like a bit of entertainment like that. (oh and Karen Gillan is ridiculously hot)
Legend of Korra – Finished it. Loved it. Though it felt obvious that they were trying to compress a potential half season or more worth of story into the last ten minute.
MLP: Dragon Quest – This is what happens when you allow the “meta text” of your media to become “the text”. Reviewing this is like trying to do the dance number of a musical in the middle of a minefield.
SPN: Goodbye Stranger – Who let this lovechild of Caged Heat and Swan Song out of its cage?
Work on some writing projects since I have nothing better to do in the meantime. Hopefully will be able to share them when I return.
Ended up sick today so while I got to enjoy MLP, I wasn’t able to sit up and type much.
In the meantime, go caption this!
After a particularly horrid week at work I ended up picking up the newish game Mark of the Ninja from Steam (after all, the best therapy is virtual murder sprees). So while I slay my way and catch up on everything, let’s look at some great comments from both of my readers. (hah, just kidding, I really have 3!)
First, the supernaturally talented and divinely beautiful swenson writes about Korra:
I love reading people’s theories about things I’ve already seen. You’re… close in some aspects, very far in others. Certain things, I think you’ll like in the end. Other ones, you’ll probably be a whole lot less excited about.
Well good, I wasn’t sure whether to continue with my method or not. Now not being human and lacking emotions I usually don’t mind anything a story does as long as it’s organic and fits with said story. There’s been quite a few sci-fi and fantasy tales which give me the heebie jeebies or make me pretty depressed (and other negative feelings) but I actually recommend them because they’re at least well written and logical.
Anyway, I just wanted to talk about the Equalists for a bit… what makes them bad, in my mind, is not that they want equality. It’s the way they want to get it, by actually removing others’ bending abilities. Chi-blocking is all well and good, and I’m totally in favor of non-benders learning it as part of a general self-defense course (especially with all the bending-powered gangs in the city…), but actually removing someone’s innate abilities? That’s different.
I should explain: While I understand how the show is meaning for them to be in the wrong (and can agree with that on an intellectual level) I am mostly calling out that the show isn’t doing a very good job as presented of enforcing the “evilness” of the Equalists. Though part of this is a tension of audiences. If the show was geared more towards adults, Amon would probably be the equivalent of a state executioner who takes away the bending abilities of those convicted of crimes. From there would be a conflict of say… him striking out on his own because he believes the system corrupt or some other reason we could invent given enough time to brainstorm. The important part is that it would be more subtle and questionable who was in the wrong or right. Of course, being for teens and younger, the show is a little more forthright (nothing wrong with that, I remember growing up just how unaware I was of much subtlety, it’s not something kids grasp easily). I’ll also admit some conflict arises from a differing in audience. Kids and younger are more likely to imagine themselves benders (or the avatar) since they all know they’re special so the horror of Amon and the Equalists strikes a cord with them. However those of us that are old and ancient, we realizes that no, we’re the muggles; we’re the ordinary folks; we’re not that special. One of the victim groups’ suffering strikes a stronger cord with one audience section than another is all. Consider me just observing it. 
Then on to the worst MLP episode evar the Last Roundup:
Swenson makes a good point so we’ll just move on to the saintly (and leading pope canidate) Eric:
All I know is that despite this being presumably an Applejack episode, Derpy Hooves’ one-minute dialogue scene stole the show. By the way, Nate, I do hope you got a chance to watch the original version of Last Roundup. I’ve just as soon accept that Greedo shot first than that the new Derpy is canon.
Unfortunately Netflix shows the heretical altered version which I knew was altered the moment I saw it because Derpy was so forgettable (when her 1 second costume and apple bobbing still sticks in the mind). What’s worse is that from everything I could find, the only people Derpy offended were perpetually sensitive ninnies none from the group that would find her actually offensive. Look, I’m all in favor of tolerance and not being an insensitive ass to people but can we go back to having only those who have cause to be offended be the ones offended? Offense by proxy is just stupid!
Then the overwhelmingly charming Foxfier with her heavenly singing voice sings:
Character development. Applejack is a stubborn toot… and still is, doesn’t “Get over it” in one episode. (or… like…five, I think it is now.)
*deep breath* Ok, as I say all the time (particularly to writers) a character’s “strength” is the exact same as his/her “flaw” what differentiates them is context. Favorite example: a character is “decisive” and “quick-witted” on a battlefield but is “impulsive” and “foolhardy” in social situations (yes, this is one of the hallmarks of Game of Thrones – the characters are very consistent). Another way this manifests is what I’ll call (and will come back to if I ever talk about politics) “value priority”: if two or more goods (moral, physical, etc) are in conflict, how does the character choose them? Say for instance, you value honesty very highly. Then, even though you’re quite loyal to your friends & family, if one of them asks a question or another situation arises, you’ll respond to it with the truth even if doing so would hurt the listener. Likewise if you value loyalty the highest, then although you quite value honesty, you’ll lie for the sake of your loved ones if need be.
Thus (as you’ve probably figured out) in MLP in theory, the “element” each of the mane six represents should be their highest value. Which makes tLR a failure because here we see AJ choosing dishonesty rather than “betray” her hometown. Yes, if you ask me Rainbow Dash and Applejack should trade elements. AJ’s demonstrated loyalty without measure while RD has shown she is honest to a fault (no matter if it hurts someone).
Also what earned tLR a coveted “0″ rating is it is the first episode (I recall) that has what I call “fractal stupidity”: a moment in a media which gets increasingly dumber the more you look at it (almost as if it’s infinite and repeating). Yes I’m talking about the “car chase” scene. The faults I’ve been able to tally so far?
With all the extra weight and the greatly reduced pulling power, Applejack’s stagecoach should have left the other cart so far behind I’d have to use advance math to calculate the loss. As it is, we’re treated to the equivalent of a Yugo running down a Corvette.
Goodbye everyone! It’s been fun.
Luna arrives tonight leading her army of AI squids that will put us all into Australia to fight Kevin Costner in order to power Will Smith’s plane as he fights off the giant zombie triffids. I think.
Up for discussion: if you’re alive tomorrow, who saved you? the Doctor? Sam & Dean Winchester? Buffy & Angel? Or was it Twilight Sparkle and Friends? Be sure to show your work.
To my grandfathers and their brothers, of the navy.
To my cousin Josh, of the marines.
To my buddies Shaun and Jim, of the marines.
To my buddy Russell, of the air force.
Of anything you ever need, ask of me.
It’s the least I owe to each of you.
Thank you all for your service.
(in which I ruminate about the various reasonings about why heroes do what they do – or don’t)
(also it is dedicated to Linkara)
The first and most obvious rationale for why heroes don’t kill is that unless you set up a legacy villain*, once the bad guy/gal is dead you can’t tell any more stories with them. That really sucks if the antagonist had perfect “conflict chemistry” with your protagonists. Well, you could do a villain that keeps coming back but once death is cheapened it’s much harder to draw drama from the stories. So as a writer, it’s usually a good idea to find some justification for your heroes to avoid killing.
*Now there’s a story I’d love to write for DC: Is the Joker just one man???**
However, before we figure out why a hero shouldn’t kill, we must determine for what reason a hero might kill in the first place. For the moment, let’s set aside all the debates about justice and deterrence (not that they’re unimportant, it’s just beyond the scope of many comics to deal with) and instead focus on a matter that’s not discussed as often: recidivism reduction. Let’s be honest here, a dead criminal is one unlikely to repeat their crimes, and in a universe of cardboard jails (i.e. 99% of comics) that is a big concern to the heroes. So in almost all discussions, that has to be the riddle we tackle: why not put a permanent end to an individual’s crime spree?
First, let’s look at Superman. No, let’s back up, and look at God or at least, the Divine as a concept. A human is a thing of incomparable worth; all the measures by which we grade wealth in this world are, creations by people – people are the source and font of all wealth. So to have any person die (especially by a willful act like execution) is to lose something of great value to the society, especially since as willful beings, a human that’s unproductive or harmful now (like a criminal) could redeem themselves and become a great asset to society, this is why most sane societies are reluctant to execute. This then leads us to one of the justifications for a Divine Being executing someone. A being that is omniscient is one that can at least be 100% certain about a person’s guilt, and a reasonable estimation on whether that person can be redeemed or not (setting aside the implications of free will for the moment); thus we have one reason why many faiths might be ok with the concept of God(s) executing someone.
This brings us ultimately to Superman and here we have two aspects. First is that of the public’s perception of him. Depending on how public his power set is, people at least are aware that Superman isn’t as limited to location as most mortals are and he has senses very different from ours. As far as many of them know, he could have the same rights to execute someone as any divine being: certainty of guilt and remoteness of redemption.
However, the second aspect is that of Superman’s perspective. Whatever else anyone believes, he knows that he is not really divine (and Doomsday proved how mortal Supes can be). Ultimately he seeks, he longs to fit in with the world that has adopted him and while he might always be just a little outside of humanity, he would still be closer than if he took up executions. Doing so would create an insurmountable gulf between him and humanity that not even the Man of Steel could cross. By refusing to kill, Superman makes a continuing effort to be a part of us.
And what about all the times involving aliens or things not of earth? For the same reason that alcoholics cannot drink even under reasonable circumstances. To be as powerful as Superman is to enter an all or nothing state. Slippery slopes are a lot more dangerous when you have super speed.
But then, what about the opposite side? More normal characters like Batman don’t have the same concerns as Superman and his ilk. Indeed, the very creation of the identity of Batman is to separate from the group, from society. Heck in a lot of instances it clearly is justifiable homicide and he wouldn’t be guilty of anything by law or greater morality.
There is a principle (I hope my more intelligent readers – which of course is all of you – will help me find the term for this) that when a lawful governing structure fails to perform its proper duty, citizens have a right, neigh a responsibility, to take up that duty instead. Batman is about the failing of a system, the corruption of a governing authority. Just as cops don uniforms when executing their duties (because in doing so they become not individuals, but symbols and representatives of the system they serve), so Batman must don a symbol to represent the system he alone champions. But it’s considerably more complicated when talking about a democracy or republic.
With a democracy (like a city and/or city council), the public makes a large agreement on how they want to operate as a society. This agreement forms laws which subdivide into two parts: what is banned, and the punishment for the violation of said ban. In this country, in the city of Gotham, the public has decided that punishment will not be meted out immediately, but will be determined by a due process in order that the innocent not suffer. Batman, in his efforts to be a symbol of the people’s decisions (the job corrupt cops have vacated), cannot violate this due process (as it would ruin his efforts). Thus he works only to capture. If the public votes and decides that criminals, even those as vile as the Joker, are not to be killed, then Batman will not kill them as to do so would be a violation of his very being.
And since a lot of his efforts come from suffering the trauma of losing a loved one at a young age, his efforts are not only to fight corruption, but Death itself, and so he cannot stand to be even an instrument of his truth archenemy.
ADDENDUM
Of course all of this kind of leads to fridge logic about why wouldn’t death penalties be more popular across the DCU. I know we have things like “insanity pleas” but honestly, if someone like the Joker truly terrorized a society as consistently as he does everyone in the DCU, the summary execution of all clowns would probably become a constitutional amendment. And that’s including that in a world of mind control, shape-shifters, time travel, clones, alternate universes and even murder victims coming back to life, it would probably be impossible to convict anyone. Discuss among yourselves.
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**Of course, I’d end the story as ambiguous as possible because… well it’s the Joker!
(bonus points to those who can identify the post title)
Man, this was one of those days… I was going to complain about something but you know what? No. Let’s laugh at death instead.
SIB reminds us:
(I’d like my killing with a side of death)
When actually, I think Superboy was just trying to clarify things for any Japanese in the audience.
So remember kids, if you get killed, try not to die.
Well I was terribly hoping to have MLP back up and working tonight, but still no luck.
So… ripping off Mark Shea, I decided I’d have fun with one of my spam filter. It’s always good for self-esteem.
Great put up, very informative.
Thank you. I only try to put up the greatest of great.
I’m wondering why the opposite experts of this sector don’t understand this.
Because the non-bronies have yet to see the light and join the herd.
Or… were you talking about the sector that’s actually pro-Celestia? (both of them)
Oh no, sector refers to a location. So this must be opposite of my location. So experts in… *checks globe* Australia? Why don’t you understand this? WHY?
You should proceed your writing.
There goes my hope to proceed other’s writing.
I’m confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Awww, thanks Mom. 
What’s Taking place i’m new to this,
Uh oh… looks like the spammer is having an out of body experience.
I stumbled upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads.
Oh please, citizen. It’s all in a day’s work. Your gratitude is all I need.
I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist other users like its helped me. Great job.
You have contributed, Mr Spammy. Good job indeed.
My Result:
Iron Pony Competition Against…
…
