Definition Problem: Depending On The Writer

As pointed out on Ask The Tropers by Hershele Ostropoler:

The page is supposed to be about writers having different takes from other writers regarding a character. But a lot of the examples are just characters being flexible for Rule of Funny. Or works with only one author. The description even includes

Should this be split off?

... So tell me again how can a character's depiction vary "Depending on the Writer" if there's only one writer to begin with?

edited 27th Apr '11 12:37:48 AM by Stratadrake

I added a (belated) note to the discussion on "Ask The Tropers" to point out that the description already extends to this. I think if it does then the title is incorrect, and should be something a bit more like Different Personality As The Plot Demands.

edited 27th Apr '11 1:06:50 AM by captainbrass2

How old is Depending on the Writer? 'Cause, while I wasn't around during those days, I know this site used to be exclusively about television shows, where the collaborative nature of the medium makes determining who wrote what very difficult. Does that have anything to do with it?

Well TV shows have an entire staff to write and each one will generally post a concept and then write the basic or full script while other writers are busy with other ones. So episode by episode it could be this easily.

One of the CSI DVD commentaries they talked about how one episode had its basic plot brought forward and each act had a different writer on it and the head writer just kept things so they didn't go completely against each other. (they even pointed out how one act had sex appeal, another focused on science, then another had action and so on.)

edited 27th Apr '11 3:56:13 AM by Raso

Even if there's only one writer, it could be considered to mean "depending on how the writer feels today."

The Internet Archive's oldest version is from early 2008, after the Great Crash. I had thought it was older.

The "same writer makes them different every time" line is in that 2008 version.

The original YKTTW, also from 2008. It seems the emphasis was on the change in characterization, with changes in writers being the most common cause, but this may have gotten lost with some people. Interestingly, this exact title was never suggested.

Bump

So, in view of @Morgan Wick's post above, it looks as if this trope has always really been about characters with inconsistent personalities generally, whether or not that's the result of writer change. Perhaps we should ask for a crowner on a name change. Any views on this?

Also what should the change be to - Different Personality as the Plot Demands, the original YKTTW title, something else?

edited 2nd May '11 7:34:56 AM by captainbrass2

One person having an issue in 3 years doesn't seem rename worthy to me, somehow.

Simply because no one brought up the issue before dosen't mean the issue shouldn't be considered.

Bump.

Let's start with the basic metric: given that the definition has included, as far back as we can find, "the change in characterization, with changes in writers being the most common cause," is there any indication in the wicks that it is being misused?

A name that is working should not be changed without very good reasons and a strong consensus.

Deliberately changing to a snowclone that may be misleading (since there's no indication that this is an "as the plot demands" sibling trope) is a poor move in any situation.

I have to agree that the title is open to interpretation to mean both "depending on who's writing" and "depending on how the writer feels". Given that both result in the same thing, namely inconsistent characterization, I think this is just fine.

The former is a far more likely interpretation, though, as the latter is largely blind to the reader unless blatant signs of Creator Breakdown start showing up.

Stale?

Clocked.

Clocked almost a month ago. Now what?

There was never much in the way of compelling evidence here, and the clock has run its course. I think we call this one stale.