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What to do about Troper Tales.

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HarryMiste Curtain Call from Dark Side Of The Moon Since: Dec, 2009
Curtain Call
#101: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:27:25 PM

Seriously, I'm reading through the pages you linked. Most of them don't really seem that bad. Maybe I'm missing something, but they don't seem creepy, or inappropriate. Do you have examples of specific entries?

I'm assuming that you're reading in the order I posted, so let's have a look at that first page.

This Troper has nearly 80 GB of porn on an external hard drive (not bragging, stating fact — please don't flaunt your e-penis in my face) that isn't even remotely hidden. "K:/New Folder (2)" is enough for me. And no, there's no encryption. And yes, there is stuff that's illegal in my jurisdiction.

This troper encrypted half his hard drive and his secondary browser's history inside it. His secondary browser is the most used, with the links out in the open. The encrypted part can also be shut off by a combo of keys, and he'd still able to perform many basic stuff. Now if only he'd clean up some ends on the "open" part. This is done since...porn is illegal where he's living.

This troper has nothing to worry about: his computer-only porn stash is protected by RAM-only file systems, encryption, passwords, steganography, dead-man's switches, and careful selection of software. Not even the FBI could get their hands on it — and for good reason.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:28:10 PM by HarryMiste

Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is no "big lie", there is no "system". The universe is indifferent.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#102: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:28:28 PM

The first two are boring and the third is dumb. There are bad troper tales but I think you're reaching.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#103: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:28:34 PM

[up][up] Which page are those on? Those don't seem that bad though. Just kind of silly, and stupid.

[up] What he said, dumb and boring, but not wrong or creepy.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:30:06 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
HarryMiste Curtain Call from Dark Side Of The Moon Since: Dec, 2009
Curtain Call
#104: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:29:33 PM

[up][up]I think you ignored the parts where they deliberately state what they're doing is illegal. That's grounds for concern.

[up]Porn Stash.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:30:00 PM by HarryMiste

Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is no "big lie", there is no "system". The universe is indifferent.
melloncollie Since: Feb, 2012
#105: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:31:33 PM

Yes, but Troper Tales aren't inherently illegal or conducive to illegal things. You say so yourself, it's not about the individual entries but about the concept as a whole. Those particular entries can just be deleted.

PigeonShamus Since: Feb, 2011
#106: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:33:20 PM

So you guys think someone boasting about the size and legality of their porn collection is something that TV Tropes should be associated with? You think pages upon pages of sad people talking about breaking pencils and how girls are stupid because they won't date them and their awesome all-black outfits is something that TV Tropes should be associated with? You think this is either relevant to the major goal of TV Tropes or the image that TV Tropes presents? Because, like it or not, it colours public perception of it significantly. You don't have to wipe these things from the face of the earth if you just move them somewhere else - the only difference is that these people, and these comments, are no longer associated with TV Tropes. What's the problem with that? What is so intrinsically important about Troper Tales to TV Tropes that it needs to remain?

edited 1st Feb '11 11:34:20 PM by PigeonShamus

Meeble likes the cheeses. from the ruins of Granseal Since: Aug, 2009
likes the cheeses.
#107: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:34:29 PM

Here's a question. Why keep Troper Tales?

Some of them, like the table top example that Shimaspawn listed, provide valid examples of the trope in question, and can be useful in that regard.

Others bring in Inbound Links, which is traffic that comes into the wiki from offsite. The Slender Man Mythos TT page has brought in 50 inbounds so far... while not a phenomenal number, each link increases site traffic, which increases ad revenue.

Those are just a couple of positive contributions the non-creepy articles can have. Given that, we would really need a good reason not to have them. If a page is a net positive, deleting it would be a net negative action.

Visit my contributor page to assist with the "I Like The Cheeses" project!
melloncollie Since: Feb, 2012
#108: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:34:35 PM

^^ Have you been reading? Nobody is saying that all troper tales including the bad ones should be kept, we're saying that not all troper tales are inherently creepy.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:34:53 PM by melloncollie

TheManInBlack Since: Oct, 2009
#109: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:34:38 PM

[up][up][up][up][up]They just said he didn't want the FBI on his hard drive looking for porn AND FOR GOOD REASON. I admit I'd be embarrassed to, don't want, and shouldn't have to have the FBI prying into my fetishes (insert awkward gag about muscle girls here) but I don't enter into survislist mode and vaguely hint that I have snuff porn on my computer.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:35:41 PM by TheManInBlack

Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#110: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:35:06 PM

We can delete that stuff. I don't see how it's intrinsic to the concept of Troper Tales.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
SpellBlade Since: Dec, 1969
#111: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:35:45 PM

[up][up][up][up] And those were from SA.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:35:52 PM by SpellBlade

TheManInBlack Since: Oct, 2009
#112: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:37:35 PM

Spell Blade: Dead fucking on.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:37:47 PM by TheManInBlack

HarryMiste Curtain Call from Dark Side Of The Moon Since: Dec, 2009
Curtain Call
#113: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:38:11 PM

We can delete that stuff. I don't see how it's intrinsic to the concept of Troper Tales.

Because the concept of Troper Tales will invariably breed egotistical, psychopathic and creepy entries. Suggesting you should keep it around doesn't look to kindly on this site.

Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is no "big lie", there is no "system". The universe is indifferent.
SpellBlade Since: Dec, 1969
#114: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:39:17 PM

[up][up] Yes, this means getting inbounds from problem pages is not a good thing.

I wonder what else is spreading trouble? Let's take a look.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:40:25 PM by SpellBlade

Ninja_Orca Since: May, 2009
#115: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:40:26 PM

Basically the question here is "Do you want standards?" Cause with the entries that have been brought up in this thread, and the ones in the SA thread that I can bring over, standards aren't looking too good.

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#116: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:40:27 PM

It's not a problem page, and there is nothing wrong with getting traffic from another forum.

So far what this thread has brought up was three mildly questionable examples, and a lot of just boring mundane stuff.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:41:19 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Nebro_Gnosis Since: Dec, 1969
#117: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:41:26 PM

Hi. I only edit sparingly and so I'm not really "known" on this site, but I've noticed a lot of this insane shit for a pretty long time and I feel like I need to speak up.

Because seriously, Troper Tales is objectively awful shit. Seriously. A lot of it is unintentionally funny and so for that reason I could see it garnering its own site, but so much more is just creepy, disturbing shit. I don't buy for a second that Troper Tales has any more worth to the site aside from being a gigantic fucking laughstock. Maybe it used to or something but we have a trope called Moral Event Horizon for a reason. TT is way beyond that horizon and someone needs to take it out behind the shed and blow its collective head off.

Seriously. When you have people gushing about their misogyny and pedophilia and straight-up racism, you know something has failed. Time to amputate.

Meeble likes the cheeses. from the ruins of Granseal Since: Aug, 2009
likes the cheeses.
#118: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:42:07 PM

And those were from SA.

Ok, I'll grant that was a bad example.

Choosing random article, the TT for Big-Lipped Alligator Moment has 41 inbounds.

Art Initiates Life has 13.

Post-Historical Trauma has 21.

See how these are starting to add up?

edited 1st Feb '11 11:42:34 PM by Meeble

Visit my contributor page to assist with the "I Like The Cheeses" project!
HarryMiste Curtain Call from Dark Side Of The Moon Since: Dec, 2009
Curtain Call
#119: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:42:21 PM

It's not a problem page, and there is nothing wrong with getting traffic from another forum.

You're getting traffic from another forum with the context that it is a bad thing. That's no excuse.

As for the problem page bit, how the hell is the Mythos deserving of a Troper Tales page? Anyone who claims they were visited by Slender Man is clearly either mistaken or not exactly mentally sound. Joke or not, taken out of context it looks bad.

Choosing random article, the TT for Big Lipped Alligator Moment has 41 inbounds.

Art Initiates Life has 13.

Post Historical Trauma has 21.

See how these are starting to add up?

That traffic creates ad revenue theory? Doesn't work if you factor in stuff like Ad Block or No Script.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:44:47 PM by HarryMiste

Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is no "big lie", there is no "system". The universe is indifferent.
HarryMiste Curtain Call from Dark Side Of The Moon Since: Dec, 2009
Curtain Call
#120: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:43:27 PM

this deserves a new post

So far what this thread has brought up was three mildly questionable examples

What the fuck are you talking about? Admission of paedophilia is mildly questionable?

Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is no "big lie", there is no "system". The universe is indifferent.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#121: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:44:07 PM

[up] There's taking things out of context and taking things so out of context that you're forgetting basic common sense. You're erring on the side of no one has ever read anything ever that wasn't squeeky clean. They'll have no idea how to react to jokes, fiction, or sarcasm.

There were no admissions of paedophilia. One of them said porn in general was illegal where they live. He could be hiding straight missionary style porn. One said that something he had was illegal, but didn't say kiddie porn. It could be gay porn. Or furries. One didn't say that he had anything illegal, just that he didn't want people in it.

edited 1st Feb '11 11:47:42 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
PigeonShamus Since: Feb, 2011
#122: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:45:13 PM

To reiterate what is being said - inbounds are good. Inbounds to pages where people are flexing their e-muscles by making up sad badass stuff are bad; inbounds to pages with frankly perturbing fetish fuel are bad; inbounds to pages of people claiming they are doing or have done illegal things are bad. They look bad for TV Tropes, and like all good loud minority groups, they colour everyone else's perception of the site. They aren't necessary to the agenda of the site, and they don't appear to offer anything that wouldn't be offset by an influx of people who are now aware that TV Tropes isn't full of weirdos and creeps. Keeping TT would be an unnecessary burden on mods, who would have to engage in a lot more proactive policing because the report system just isn't that clear (I never knew of it before it was brought up in the other thread just before).

What is there in favour of TT? What is there that is a persuasive argument against moving it off-site so people can relate their stories without being associated with TT?

TheManInBlack Since: Oct, 2009
#123: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:45:14 PM

It is shimaspawn, when all the inbound traffic is either from SA, ED, or 4chan coming to mock you (sorry to lump you SA guys in with them, but you know). Next time we get a rash of griefers and trolls....they won't be white hatting. Yeah, no matter what we do, we will get trolls. That's expected and why we have mods. Bit this place can quickly become a cesspool and breeding ground for them, and when that happens it will effect the wiki.

That and its just nice to have standards for its own sake.

Meeble likes the cheeses. from the ruins of Granseal Since: Aug, 2009
likes the cheeses.
#124: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:45:45 PM

Because seriously, Troper Tales is objectively awful shit.

If this is the case for Troper Tales as a whole, you should be able to show us how.

Seriously. When you have people gushing about their misogyny and pedophilia and straight-up racism, you know something has failed. Time to amputate.

And those are the kind of pages that I'm perfectly fine with cutting. I don't see how people are making the leap from "Some of these pages have bad content" to "All Troper Tales must go."

Visit my contributor page to assist with the "I Like The Cheeses" project!
Meeble likes the cheeses. from the ruins of Granseal Since: Aug, 2009
likes the cheeses.
#125: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:47:32 PM

That traffic creates ad revenue theory?

This site exists almost solely due to revenue gained by ad clicks. More traffic means more potential clickers.

To reiterate what is being said - inbounds are good. Inbounds to pages where people are flexing their e-muscles by making up sad badass stuff are bad; inbounds to pages with frankly perturbing fetish fuel are bad; inbounds to pages of people claiming they are doing or have done illegal things are bad. They look bad for TV Tropes, and like all good loud minority groups, they colour everyone else's perception of the site. They aren't necessary to the agenda of the site, and they don't appear to offer anything that wouldn't be offset by an influx of people who are now aware that TV Tropes isn't full of weirdos and creeps. Keeping TT would be an unnecessary burden on mods, who would have to engage in a lot more proactive policing because the report system just isn't that clear (I never knew of it before it was brought up in the other thread just before).

What is there in favour of TT? What is there that is a persuasive argument against moving it off-site so people can relate their stories without being associated with TT?

I agree on inbounds for pages that have objectionable content. What I've been saying is that I haven't seen a persuasive argument from your side on why the pages that have value-neutral or value-positive content should be moved or deleted along with the bad ones.

edit: (Sorry for the double post, as fast as this thread has been moving I didn't think it would be possible)

edited 1st Feb '11 11:51:12 PM by Meeble

Visit my contributor page to assist with the "I Like The Cheeses" project!

20th Apr '10 12:00:00 AM

Crown Description:

Don't bother to say "all of them". Name specific Troper Tales pages that should be axed. An "UP" Vote means you think it should be cut completely. A "DOWN" vote means it should be kept.

"I don't care for this page" is not a reason to cut it. "This page is unsalvagable. Kill it with fire" is.

PLEASE bullet point pro and con examples if there are more than one.
  • Cut
  • Cut
  • Keep
  • Keep

Action will be taken on Tuesday, 8 February 2011.

Total posts: 1,358
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