Random Questions Thread

If an anthro bird had Feather Fingers, what part of the "hand" you think would the pinion joint be located? Would pinioning cripple the whole "hand"? What does a pinioned wing look like in comparison to a non-pinioned wing?

Edited by Nukeli on Feb 16th 2020 at 8:49:15 PM

Eep. Feel dumb now. Yeet of anxiety and awkward.

Edited by FriedBaka on Feb 16th 2020 at 5:29:56 AM

not to be rude but it would probably help you a lot if that text actually had a specific question in it other than "hey is this interesting?"

(and danganronpa is a whole different kettle of fish- i'd advise you to not make comparisons to media you haven't yourself consumed!)

Edited by ImmortalFaust on Feb 16th 2020 at 3:28:55 AM

Will do next time. just gonna let this stew and decide for myself.

Edit: I will ask someone in a PM.

Edited by GAP on Feb 18th 2020 at 4:55:22 AM

Can religious catholics go around wearing/carrying their rosaries around their necks for no real reason?

Edited by Nukeli on Feb 20th 2020 at 12:29:15 PM

Dont understand the question. What do you mean by "no reason"? If they are Catholic, isn't that reason enough?

Disclaimer: I'm atheist and was not raised in any religion, but I do have a bit of an interest in the sociological and psychological effects of religion and religious practice. If an actual Catholic would like to take a crack, be my guest.

Based on my cursory Googling, wearing a rosary around your neck if you're not clergy is a little weird, at least in the US. The gist that I got is that practicing Catholics don't generally wear their rosaries when they're out and about without purpose or a reason, even if that reason is "I just want to show my devotion", or if they don't consciously know why. Like, it's not supposed to be treated like any other piece of jewelry. The impression I got is that it's not like how people unconsciously put on their wedding rings in the morning- you don't just put your rosary on just because you're Catholic, the way that you'd put on your wedding ring just because you're married. I hope that makes sense?

Other answers I saw from practicing Catholics indicated that they strongly associate rosaries with the ritual of prayer and interaction with God, and so they might only wear their rosary if they were going through a tough time and wanted the comfort of a tangible reminder of their faith on their person. For some people, the ritual of prayer and using the rosary helps ground and comfort them during tough times. And even then, it's more common for the rosary to just be carried in a pocket or handbag or the like.

Ultimately, it differs by person. Consider what sort of reason your character might have for wearing the rosary, even if they don't consciously realize why, and work from there.

Edited by CrystalGlacia on Feb 19th 2020 at 12:00:45 PM

I came across a fanfic where a character is having their first experience of physically splitting themselves, and they described it as if they both are and aren't in several places at once, that on one level they were "aware of the actions of several people" and on another level they "had three separately thinking and acting minds".

What would you call such a state of existence? It seems to me that the Self-Duplication caused their mind to effectively "transform" itself into a system comprising several "subminds" subordinated to one "overmind", with each submind controlling its own body and the overmind being effectively a disembodied overseer with theoretically absolute authority over the subminds (barring Split Personality-like divisions).

Edited by MarqFJA on Mar 3rd 2020 at 10:47:50 PM

I dont think that has a name, so you are free to make one up. It sounds like a fascinating concept, and I would encourage you to develop it. What are the implications of three independent minds that share thoughts and memories, but each having an independent sense of self? And then (I assume) merge back again?

I think of it more as the subminds merging into the overmind rather than the subminds merging with each other (whether as an initial step or while leaving the overmind as a distinct entity), with both the subminds and the overminds existing within the same soul, which itself exists in a plane of existence where the physical world's concept of distance is utterly irrelevant (i.e. one of the bodies could be light years away from the others and it would be the same as it standing right next to them).

FWIW, this state of existence (one person in multiple bodies) technically has a name of its own: "multipresence" or "simulpresence". It's just curiously underused.

Edited by MarqFJA on Mar 5th 2020 at 3:15:06 PM

Why do critics hate the whole "Curtains are blue" or the "Cigar is a cigar" memes respectively?

To quote Umberto Eco, "A narrator should not supply interpretations of his work; otherwise he would have not written a novel, which is a machine for generating interpretations." I believe no work of fiction has a single 'correct' meaning or interpretation, regardless of what the creator says. Creators, like everyone else, are biased and non-objective, and are perfectly capable of putting something into a work without realizing that it's even worth notice, let alone changes the meaning of the work. As a writer, that belief keeps me sane, and from obsessing over meaning.

With that said, in reference to the quote in the linked comment, it was my impression that English class is supposed to be about developing your critical thinking and argumentation skills, but I understand that that's harder to teach than 'this is what it means now stfu'. 'Figuring out what it means' isn't the problem, it should be the point. Focus on debating and presenting evidence, not on which one is more right, and you'll be in business.

How many characters should a Rogues Gallery for a Web Serial Novel have? Is 30 too many? I want to avoid Loads And Loads Of Characters, but at the same time i'm worried that i won't have enough characters to keep the story interesting

Edited by Nukeli on Mar 12th 2020 at 2:35:14 PM

Exactly as many as you have unique character concepts for.

It might depend somewhat on the degree to which the audience is intended to keep track of these characters.

If they're villain-of-the-week types (even if recurring), then having many of them doesn't seem inherently problematic. If they're important characters, part of an ongoing plot in which they each have a specific, irreplaceable role, then the more of them there are the more the viewer has to keep track of.

Similarly, if a given episode focusses on one or two at a time (perhaps with others as insignificant background characters), then having lots may well be fine. Conversely, however, if each episode splits its focus amongst a great many of them, then there's less time to develop any one, and the numerous jumps may cause flow and comprehension problems.

Edited by ArsThaumaturgis on Mar 13th 2020 at 1:20:45 PM

"Game of Thrones" (the books) are you best example here.

I named my main character Jan Brandt, and neglected to Google it. Apparently there's a businesswoman with the same name famous enough to have a wikipedia page. Should i change the character's name? I can't think of any other german name that goes with "Brandt" that sounds good and gender-neutral

I wouldn't sweat it. Jan and Brandt are common enough names separately. It's not like she's trademarked the name.

Your character would have to resemble the real person in more than just name to qualify as questionable.

I'm currently writing an Urban Fantasy piece, place of action of which is Mexico. So, can someone point me at the materials, related to local Mexican folklore and mythology?

Not an expert, but this site should get you started.

Thanks, it helps a lot!

What part of South America where it is more likely to find saltpans on the coast?

Natural or artificial?