Weiss gets a comical head bump that Ruby pushes back in. You aren't supposed to take that seriously at all. It's an anime thing. It might possibly be in poor taste, but it's not supposed to be reflective of serious abuse at all.
Winter and Qrow getting into a fight with weapons might be something to take a bit more seriously (since Cinder later paints the hunters as a bunch of reckless violent brutes as opposed to the dignified professionals they're supposed to be). However this is a setting where people get into fights with lethal weapons for sport, counting on their magical soul forcefields to protect them, so again, at no point in that scene did either Winter or Qrow think Winter was seriously capable of cutting out Qrow's (a well known huntsman who naturally has aura) tongue in one slice. Comparing it to attacking someone in real life with a knife is quite frankly, silly.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:20:10 PM by AJSthe2nd
A lot of the fandom has already decided that Mr. Schnee is abusive, based on some of Weiss's comments and Weiss's song lyrics. I'm reserving judgement until I see more.
Even in this modern day and age where smacking as discipline (be it via hand, belt, shoe, etc.) is discouraged, it still form a part of parenting techniques in many places. Also, while it was much more common in the past and almost unheard of in certain countries these days (while still being more common in other countries), the clip around the ear was a common form of discipline from teachers to pupils and also 'you idiot' reactions between friends or siblings or any other kind of peer.
I am not saying any of this to get into a debate of the rights and wrongs of real life situations and where it crosses the line for anyone here. That would be a discussion for different forum threads anyway. My point in mentioning this is that this is why we see it in stories - more commonly in the past than in the modern era, it's true (and depending on culture and genre as well).
It's very much a thing in anime/manga even today, however, and that is something RWBY does take a lot of inspiration from. It's also still used even in modern western storytelling in cultures where the real life discipline methods are falling out of favour, it's short-hand for 'strict, traditionalist disciplinarian' (if between a parent figure to a ward/offspring figure or a boss to a subordinate or a teacher to a pupil) or for kids/siblings/peers who are close together in age/emotional bonds/etc. who smack each other around for being an idiot.
So, when it crops up in stories, I take my time to come to a conclusion about what the story's intention is. At the moment, its purpose with Winter appears to be 'strict disciplinarian who takes on a mother role to her younger sister', given certain things that we've seen (such as Ruby not being particularly bothered by it) and which would set up her up in opposition to someone like Qrow who has a more undisciplined approach to handling his nieces.
I would need to see much, much more to conclude that the story intends Winter to be abusive.
Then again, while I was raised after caning had been banned, I was still raised in an era where kids still got smacked or clips around the ear or hit by thrown chalk/blackboard rubbers when teachers got irritated. And my age is not excessive, so we're not talking that long ago. So, I've seen the real life that stories tend to take these story structures from.
It certainly doesn't reflect what I personally would tolerate in real life (none of the above, for the record) but when choosing to study what the story is trying to show us (at the moment), I'm not ready to label Winter abusive. That might well change in the future if the story gives us more, evolving information but, for now, I don't think the show is telling me that's what she is.
By the same token, since I've seen absolutely nothing from Mr. Schnee, I'm withholding any firm opinion on what he's really like, and am staying open minded on whether or not he's:
- abusive (he certainly could be),
- a Georg von Trapp style disciplinarian (also possible),
- a more misunderstood figure as per European legends of the Winter King (aka Frost King or Snow King depending on which folklore tale), where the folk tale sets up the Winter King as the evil villain who is keeping the world in eternal winter, only to discover he's being imprisoned or controlled by the real villain (inevitably either his wife or daughter who tends to get called the Winter Queen or the Snow Queen or some similar variation, who is the true villain) and is very grateful to be freed from what ever terrible situation he is in.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:28:41 PM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.Okay, I just got back from work and I see a discussion on "Winter is abusive because of the Dope Slap".... Really?
Honestly, I'm happy that the Winter did that, as it provides an excellent contrast between her and Yang, the Cool Big Sisters shown. Yang is protective and kind towards Ruby; Winter is strict and disciplinarian, but incredibly caring (or in other words: Sugar-and-Ice Personality/Kuudere)
That and the fact that there are people who think that "family member smacking another for answering a question stupidly = evil and abusive" irks me to no end.
The thing is, we have Weiss' statements implying he was abusive (very... difficult... childhood.) and the fact that the Schnee Dust Company, which he is the CEO of, has sketchy practices regarding Faunus labour, does not paint him in a good light.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:44:06 PM by BlackSunNocturne
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Chalk and Blackboard rubbers?
What about a some ol' fashioned ruler spanking?
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:45:43 PM by randomness4
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.I don't want to draw out this conversation too much longer. In any case, since a number of people are making the same sort of points I'm just going to respond to some of the general arguments being made.
1. "Weiss is a soldier/Huntress/has aura and can take more punishment than a normal person can." You know this is the kind of logic that often gets any abuse other than male-on-female ignored, right? The assumption that a woman cannot hurt a man or another woman lets female abusers get a way with stuff that many male abusers would be punished for.
2. "Winter shows concern afterwards." Meaningless. Abusers frequently do that. The stereotype of the guy who beats his girlfriend bloody, then buys her flowers? It's a stereotype for a reason. Abusers of all stripes and levels of extremity will claim to care about their victim, after the fact. Many of them even mean it—there's absolutely nothing that could be done to convince the family of the victim in the real-life case I'm dealing with right now that they've done anything wrong, and they're all heartbroken she doesn't talk to them anymore.
3. "It's an anime." First off, the comedic abuse in many anime has often acted as a massive turnoff for me. It's rarely funny and it contributes to the notion that someone hitting someone else for being "stupid" is acceptable. Secondly, please indicate the moment to me in that scene where Weiss distorted, or any of the other crap that anime characters do when struck. It's certainly not a form of "comedy" that's been common in the show previously.
4. "She couldn't actually cut out Qrow's tongue." See point 1. Whether she could succeed or not doesn't change the fact that she pulled a weapon on him and proceeded to try.
5. "There are tournaments in the setting." We have boxing, UFC, etc. If Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had gotten into a fight in public with no gloves on, they'd have gone to jail. Qrow vs Winter was not a tournament fight. It was conducted under no rules and was not prearranged. It was started in the middle of the street when Winter pulled her sword on Qrow, made a very graphic threat, and charged him.
As for "what the show intended", that's meaningless. What I saw was a very unpleasant woman strike her hero-worshiping sister, then start a violent altercation with a man whom she announced her intention to maim.
Now, if the show tries to make her more likeable later on, I'm open to that. If they want to reveal, as Tobias suggested, that Winter and Qrow are secretly working together or something and that the fight was staged, I'm especially down with that. But my first impression of this person is highly negative.
EDIT: Saw this get added and needed to reply.
It is. Seriously, one of the core tenants of society is that no matter what somebody says, you don't get to hit them. And no, you don't get a pass just because they're a family member.
It's one thing to defend the slap in a fictional context, but if you believe this in real life, remind me to never go anywhere near your family.
Oh, and knock it off with the "really" comments. You've done it to Tobias and now to me. It's getting irritating. Just because you don't like the topic of conversation doesn't invalidate it. Would you prefer another round of "let's joke about incest being funny"?
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:50:47 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar
I know where the theory comes from. There's also the song lyrics. But most of it can also be interpreted other ways, too. I'm not dismissing anything right now. I won't be surprised if he is genuinely abusive and I won't be surprised if he's more like Georg Von Trapp or the Winter King.
What about a some ol' fashioned ruler spanking?
That wasn't allowed after caning was banned because it's a type of caning. Throwing rulers, however, if a ruler was closer than the chalk or rubber? That I witnessed plenty of times.
The cartoon bump that Ruby pushed back in with a giggle.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:52:12 PM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.![]()
Damn straight I still responded. I said I didn't want it to drag it out forever, and that therefore I wasn't going to reply to everything that had been said, but instead to the conversation in general. That's right there in the first section of what I wrote. I can go back and highlight it for you if you like.
Fair point. Still don't think it's a well-executed moment and I still have a pretty negative opinion of Winter.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:53:45 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar
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Throwing rulers? Hopefully they didn't throw hard, someone could get marks from that.
I don't think we need to go the mod route. I think this topic is pretty much hitting the end of discussion anyway.
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Blackboard rubbers were even worse than rulers. And, yes, sometimes there was blood. And, no, that's not a good thing.
edited 2nd Sep '16 7:57:23 PM by Wyldchyld
If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
x3 I know blood may taste decent, but I'd never assume it's a good thing.
edited 2nd Sep '16 8:13:18 PM by randomness4
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.![]()
To be honest: I'd rather see the Edgelord jokes and memes more than the last couple big conversations. At least those make me laugh instead of depressed
edited 2nd Sep '16 8:20:43 PM by BlackSunNocturne
And see I'd rather have an actual conversation. I mean jeez, it's not like everyone has to like the same aspects of the show that you do. So, Tobias thinks Jaune's arc needs work, and I think that Winter's initial appearance made her look like a bitch. Neither one of us is saying the show sucks, just that parts could be handled better, or that we dislike characters whom the rest of you like.
In the interests of moving on, thought I'd link this amv
. Songs a touch overused, but I thought the vid itself was well-done.
Well, I just saw the damn chapter since ambas is going to talk about it:
First is funy you talk about it the sound because before Weiss give sof punch to Ruby that sound HARDER than the slap doap Winter give to Weiss, which by this logic would mean Weiss is being violent to Ruby because she is ruin her ilusion.
And for the context, is not that Winter hit Weiss and them start acting nice, Winter ask how she have been and Weiss talk to her rank in order to impress Winter and she slap to said she actually ask how she have been, this is pretty break out of abuser in fiction who first beat the person and them act nice while here Winter amonish(I think that is the word) her sister for acting like Soldier.
Also when people said "she act nice latter" is not a token gesture like many abusive do in fiction, she ask if is doing well in school, thank Ruby for taking interest on Weiss(as ship taste so blatant that make me wink) and help Weiss with her sumoning problem and her issue with her father.
So the point of that scene is not "Weiss is abusier" is just "Winter is military and think like that" I know couple of people who have Militar as parent they where very controling or imposing, the scene where to highlight that.
Now about the fight
". If they want to reveal, as Tobias suggested, that Winter and Qrow are secretly working together or something and that the fight was staged, I'm especially down with that."
I dont, it would be silly and it seen like typical comic book retcon of "Now THIS IS what it happen" everytime something goes bad(which considet the medium is a lot) the fight show the weakness of both Qrow and Winter: Qrow go to his way to antagonize Winter as much as posible and is clear he want the fight to happen, I mean he know Ironwood was watching everything and yet he said nothing, while Winter get her pride the best of her and strike him.
In short, Qrow is dick and troll, Winter is hardass who is pride to a fault.
Also, I dont want to sound bad but what the show intent is meanless because of what you particulary saw? I mean damn...
"Do i have to call the Edgelord posse again?"
Now I imaging three edgelord in pillar man pose, that have to be a thing
A posse is made of tres people, right?
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.

Yeah, the idea was that Weiss was being too focused on business and how well she was doing in school, and Winter was simultaneously being strict by whipping her around into focus with the slap, and caring by showing legitimate interest in Weiss' personal life rather than her growth, especially given that Weiss was previously shown to be obsessed with proving she was the best, from her goal of teaming up with Phyrra to form a strong team to her problem with following Ruby due to Ruby's childishness. It might have come off as odd, but given how it was followed up with what seemed like fully legitimate concern, I'm inclined myself to take it at face value and say it was a one time thing.
Plus, I feel like it was meant to go along with Winter's legitimately imposing appearance, causing the interest she shows in Weiss' personal life to appear more surprising, and yet reinforce Weiss' happiness to see her from before. As I see it, Winter started as an unknown that Weiss nonetheless seemed excited to see, which contrasted the general view of the Schnee household as a wholly toxic environment. When she lands with a contingent of soldiers and robots, she strikes an imposing, militaristic figure, and when Weiss starts reporting in, the smack and shift to the more casual tone is meant to further jar us. I thought it was surprisingly well done as a way of playing with viewer expectations.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/lb_i.php?lb_id=13239183440B34964700 Alfric's Fire Emblem Liveblog Encyclopedia!