There have been rumours going around that I am some kind of nice guy.
I have protested and protested, to no avail.
It is time to put those rumours to rest once and for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we had a live one, and it was nuts.
I've included the opening act, but feel free to skip to the bolded line to see the main event.
_____________________________________________
(20:19:50) Diego: Ugh. Sleep. What is that?
(20:21:11) Toast: welll..... i'm not entirely sure
(20:21:15) Toast: but it's supposed to be good for you
(20:32:19) Diego: I'm sure it is, and I would gladly welcome it back into my life if the whoreson bastard hadn't walked out on me, so FUCK SLEEP SIDEWAYS WITH A PINEAPPLE
(20:32:43) Diego: In unrelated news:
JASON. LINK FOR YOU. CLICKY CLICKY. http://hifish.tumblr.com/post/61361437258/amazon-com-someone-to-cuttle-gay-cuttlefish
(20:34:24) Toast: some day btw, you're going to have to tell me all your secrets to keeping your hair nice and shiny btw
(20:34:38) Toast: (yeah i'm still not quite over how LONG it is haha)
(20:34:46) Katona: Why for me?!
(20:35:01) Diego: Regular washing, lots of conditioner, I use a comb not a brush
(20:35:13) Diego: Also, I am genetically superior with regards to fantastic hair
(20:35:33) Diego: BECAUSE YOU LIKE TERRIBLE WRITING JASON
(20:35:59) Toast: hehe yeah ok
(20:36:16) Toast: the hotel had a honey-conditioner. it smelled quite nice, but oh my goooood such a pain to wash out afterwards o.O
(20:36:39) Diego: I use Clairol Herbal Essences, with rose hip and jojoba
(20:36:43) Katona: Psh.
(20:36:50) Katona: I write terribly, don't mean I like it.
(20:37:25) Diego: I originally bought it because the advertisements promised me an orgasmic experience, but I was greatly disappointed. However, as a shampoo and conditioner it worked quite well, so I made do.
(20:37:32) Toast: i've used a Herbal Essences a few years back, but wasn't too happy with it, sadly because it smelled good
(20:37:53) Toast: and yes, the orgasmic experience was definitely lacking >.< such a fail ad
(20:38:01) Diego: LIES, JASON.
EVIDENCE IS HEREWITH FORTHCOMING FORSOOTH http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3184
(20:38:07) Porter: LordSquirrel logs into the Chat.
(20:39:10) Diego: Welcome. Tonight's discussion topic is orgasmic conditioner and gay cuttlefish shapeshifter sex, brought to you courtesy of tumblr and sleep deprivation. You have been warned.
(20:39:33) LordSquirrel: Okay then.
(20:39:52) LordSquirrel: Apparently My character got denied.
(20:40:00) Diego: But those are the secrets to my epic headbanging head of hair, Steph
(20:40:56) Diego: Yeah. I take it you never did look at any examples of approved character applications?
(20:41:37) LordSquirrel: Everyone that I was talking to on here said that it was ready for review
(20:41:58) Diego: And by everyone you mean, who?
(20:42:00) Toast: haha right-o james
(20:42:58) LordSquirrel: Sar, Ree, and a few other.
(20:43:12) LordSquirrel: Why the heck was it even denied?
(20:43:57) Diego: Have you, YES OR NO, actually looked at any of the approved character applications on this site?
Here's an example of what a character application looks like:
http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3007
and
http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3039
(20:44:15) Diego: I think a comparison should clear up the 'why'
(20:45:46) Katona: Sorry, Squirrel. We require written descriptions of everything in a character application for it to be worth reviewing.
(20:45:53) Diego: This is a writing site, man. We care about writing, about story and narrative. We want a character application to give us a good feel for the character, help us get to know him a little: what his life has been like, that kind of thing
(20:46:29) Diego: If a character is 57 years old, we want to see how he has lived those 57 years, how those years have affected him.
(20:46:38) LordSquirrel: Yes I have. What? Because I didn't put a fucking eighteen paragraph about the history of a character who history isn't even that importanat to?
(20:46:48) Diego: Yes, that is why
(20:47:04) Toast: the concept behind writing is generally that you write
(20:47:09) Toast: and not just list a couple of things
(20:47:13) Katona: Not all the characters have 18 paragraph histories.
(20:47:31) Katona: But you also didn't do a written physical description or explain any strengths or weaknesses.
(20:48:09) Diego: Here's a slightly less insanely detailed level of character application, but which was approved: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3143
(20:48:18) Katona: In other words, your application is basically a list of attributes, which is more the "plan" for a character app.
(20:48:50) Diego: Remember, we won't be rolling dice to determine the progress of an encounter. We will be writing collaboratively
(20:48:56) LordSquirrel: So. You are saying. Even if I submit a character with a lot of personality, who is a great character in his own right. If I don't talk about why he got sad when his fucking dog died when he was ten he doesn't get approved.
(20:49:16) Katona: You didn't even describe a personality.
(20:49:34) LordSquirrel: Do you people have no damn imagination?
(20:49:44) Toast: measure your tone, will you?
(20:49:49) Katona: We're not meant to imagine the entire character for you.
(20:49:52) Katona: You have to write something.
(20:50:11) Diego: We do. Quite demonstrably. But we also have a certain level of standards when it comes to the depth of detail in a character application
(20:50:38) LordSquirrel: Go to hell you elitist fucks
(20:50:40) Porter: LordSquirrel logs out of the Chat.
(20:50:48) Diego: YESSSSSSSSSS
(20:51:13) Katona: Nice.
(20:51:29) Toast: hahaha
(20:51:37) Diego: This is the coffee mug design I am currently drinking from: http://www.deviantart.com/print/12691734/
(20:51:45) Toast: and i was just about to ask why he was such a sore loser
(20:51:53) Diego: Sometimes, life is sweet
(20:51:59) Toast:
(20:52:03) Toast: LUNCH TIME
(20:52:08) Toast: i shall see you guys when i return
(20:52:10) Porter: Toast goes AFK.
(20:52:14) Diego: If I am called an Elistist Fuck, then I am DOING SOMETHING RIGHT
(20:54:30) Porter: Katona logs out of the Chat.
(20:54:41) Porter: Katona logs into the Chat.
(20:55:36) Diego: Man, he didn't even last a week
(21:00:10) Katona: Yeah.
(21:00:21) Katona: Fortunately.
(21:00:22) Porter: TheElvenMidget logs into the Chat.
(21:00:47) Diego: Greetings, vertically challenged elf
(21:00:55) TheElvenMidget: Sup?
(21:01:03) Diego: (whispers to Katona) What's the bet this is squirrelboy back
(21:01:06) Katona: (whispers) Good disguise.
(21:01:08) Diego: G'day Squirrel
(21:01:16) TheElvenMidget: Squirrel?
(21:01:21) Diego: You forgot to change your font setting
(21:01:30) Katona: (whispers) Oh my god.
(21:01:31) Diego: A new player would default to pink
(21:01:49) Katona: (whispers) You totally should have played along!
(21:02:02) TheElvenMidget: What I looked at the settings in the lower right. Whose squirrel?
(21:02:08) Diego: (whispers to Katona) No, too tired to fuck around.
(21:02:23) Katona: (whispers) :favorite:
(21:02:48) Diego: Alas, it was some whining teenager with a grievance over our expectations of a certain level of standards with regards to the character applications process
(21:02:57) Katona: Mine.
(21:03:04) Diego: (whispers to Katona) THIS is how I play along
(21:03:22) TheElvenMidget: Hmm. Sounds weird
(21:03:24) Diego: We had high hopes at first, but the lad couldn't compromise
(21:03:32) Katona: It was MY squirrel.
(21:03:45) Diego: But, c'est la vie. Out with the trash, in with the treasure.
(21:03:50) TheElvenMidget: "My squirrel"?
(21:03:55) Katona: Yes.
(21:04:08) Katona: You asked whose.
(21:04:09) TheElvenMidget: Why do you say that?
(21:04:09) Diego: We take pride in elitism, you see, which rubs some people the wrong way
(21:04:19) Diego: Katona has a squirrel fetish
(21:04:32) Katona: And cuttlefish.
(21:04:49) Diego: Honestly, I was surprised he didn't jump on the poor bloke before circumstances caused his alacritous exit over the topic of elitism
(21:04:51) TheElvenMidget: Eh. Okay. Nice to know I just joined elitist. I guess.
(21:05:15) Diego: No, no, joining comes after the character application. Which is why it is elitism.
(21:05:30) TheElvenMidget: Oh.
(21:05:39) Diego: But if you have any questions, or would like to know what I mean by 'elitist standards' I am happy to assist
(21:05:49) TheElvenMidget: Sure?
(21:06:39) Diego: We are very patient for those willing to listen. It's the ones who get their egos bruised and huff off in a temper that we shed no tears over.
(21:06:51) Diego: Fire away with any questions that you may have
(21:07:00) Katona: Welcome to Thar!
(21:07:12) TheElvenMidget: "Elitist standard"?
(21:07:21) Diego: Ah, the character applications.
(21:07:42) Katona: He's kidding. Our standards are pretty low.
(21:08:15) Diego: Here are some examples of what a character application looks like:
http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3007
and
http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3039
and
http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3143
(21:08:18) TheElvenMidget: I don't get that feeling from the walls of text in the character application threads
(21:08:18) Diego: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rules/Character_Creation
(21:08:42) Katona: There may be a lot of writing, but that doesn't mean it's good.
(21:08:54) Diego: Well, walls of text are what we are all about. This is a writing site. Here, we write.
(21:09:21) TheElvenMidget: ...And writing always requires wall of text?
(21:09:51) Diego: It takes an incredible amount of skill to pull off minimalist description and have it retain any kind of impact
(21:10:05) Diego: But those that can pull it off are envied
(21:10:24) TheElvenMidget: Isn't that what a summary should be?
(21:10:35) Diego: We don't want summaries
(21:10:37) Katona: It doesn't need to be a lot of writing if you can put all the relevant information in the app without writing a lot.
(21:11:09) Katona: But relevant also includes proper description.
(21:11:14) TheElvenMidget: What was wrong with the squirrel guys app?
(21:11:19) Katona: Sorry I'm pretty much repeating what Diego is saying.
(21:11:20) Diego: We want to understand a character's past, their personality, and their motivations. The things which make a character tick
(21:11:22) Katona: I'm tired.
(21:11:36) Katona: Squirrel didn't write anything in his app. Just lists.
(21:11:44) Diego: It was a bland bullet-point list which was barely a caricature of an outline
(21:12:02) TheElvenMidget: What?
(21:13:11) Diego: The history section was a joke. Frankly, I think he was trolling us
(21:13:47) TheElvenMidget: It just looks like a short history to me. What is wrong with it?
(21:14:11) Diego: You cannot tell just by comparing it to the depth of detail in other applications?
(21:15:26) Diego: Let's start with the basics. The first FIFTEEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE discarded with the following description:
"Has lived in the historical district his entire life. Born partially blind in his left eye. At the age of six he lost his father, and his left hand when a old building collapsed on them. At the age of fifteen permanently damaged he right knee."
(21:16:05) TheElvenMidget: I can tell that I'm not looking at a massive wall of text that I keep loosing my place in. And that I get a general sense of the character. As to the detail. Does everything have to be really detailed?
(21:16:09) Diego: No mention of how losing his father affected his outlook, nor how losing his left hand or damaging his right knee affected the course his life took
(21:16:46) TheElvenMidget: Wouldn't it be rather obvious how those would effect him?
(21:16:59) Diego: Not at all
(21:17:11) Diego: One person might take such setbacks as a challenge to be overcome
(21:17:44) Diego: One person might rejoice at the death of a father, and another might mourn
(21:18:49) TheElvenMidget: I don't know. The decision the character makes at the end of the history seems to speak volumes to me.
(21:19:11) TheElvenMidget: That and the "Gives good life advice" thing
(21:19:23) Diego: He's 57, and been begging for 40 years? Since the age of 17? and yet his mother only died when he was 28? What was his life like between 17 and 28 when he was begging while his mother lived?
(21:19:46) Diego: Well, I would suggest you and squirrel have a similar outlook, and may find this place not to your tastes
(21:20:10) TheElvenMidget: I would assume he was begging to get money for him and his mother.
(21:20:18) TheElvenMidget: Seems logical.
(21:20:28) Katona: There are other sites that suit that style of writing, though. I don't see why Thar has to change for that.
(21:20:32) Katona: You know?
(21:20:42) Katona: It just doesn't really make sense.
(21:20:55) TheElvenMidget: ?
(21:21:01) Katona: To come and try and join a site with a different goal and writing style than you're looking for.
(21:21:14) Katona: Instead of looking for a site that has the same kind of writing.
(21:21:22) Diego: We aren't in the business of guessing, elf. We expect not to have to make those assumptions, and for a character application to show that a person has the ability to write a detailed description
(21:22:07) Diego: If someone doesn't like our way of approaching things, then no harm no foul. They can move on and join a different site where people aren't elitist fucks
(21:22:18) TheElvenMidget: Well then I'm sorry I wasted my time here. Good day. Maybe try being more friendly in the future huh?
(21:22:42) Diego: Nope
(21:22:43) Katona: That might be good advice to consider yourself.
(21:22:51) Diego: We are what we are.
(21:22:58) TheElvenMidget: I am being friendly.
(21:23:07) Diego: People either fit in here or don't, and both are perfectly alright
(21:23:19) Diego: It's okay to fit in here, just as it is okay to NOT fit in here
(21:23:22) Katona: Expecting people to change their whole forum for you isn't friendly.
(21:23:38) Katona: And swearing at them when they don't do what you want isn't friendly either.
(21:23:58) Diego: Mind you, Katona, it was Squirrel who swore, not Elf
(21:24:07) Diego: No need to conflate the two
(21:24:10) TheElvenMidget: When did I swear?
(21:24:10) Katona: Oh yeah, sorry.
(21:24:18) Katona: I get confused with the same text colour and all.
(21:24:40) Diego: Just because Elf was defending Squirrel's atrocious application is no reason to mix the two up, even if they did randomly pick the same font
(21:24:50) TheElvenMidget: I'm not expecting anyone to change anything. I just pointed out something that I thought was strange.
(21:25:04) Diego: And we arrived at a difference of opinion, which is alright
(21:25:06) Katona: You signed up to this site to point out something you found strange?
(21:25:06) TheElvenMidget: He had the same font?
(21:25:14) Katona: Hmm, well, thank you, Elven Midget.
(21:25:32) Diego: But, here the status quo is with the elitists, and the standards will not drop because some squirrel whined at us
(21:25:35) TheElvenMidget: No. I signed up because I wanted to see how the community is
(21:25:47) Katona: Oh yes.
(21:25:51) Diego: We are amicable bastards who take writing seriously
(21:25:53) Katona: Well we are two people, not the entire community.
(21:26:36) Diego: True, and we are Australians as well, and I understand there are some culture shocks for Americans encountering Australians
(21:26:39) TheElvenMidget: Taking writing seriously doesn't mean you have to have such restrictions on applications though.
(21:26:56) Diego: In this site: It does. That will not change
(21:27:05) Diego: Accept that fact, or move on
(21:27:29) TheElvenMidget: Hmm. I wonder how long a community like this survives?
(21:27:31) Katona: Yeah, like I said, if someone doesn't like the site, there'll be one for them somewhere else.
(21:27:40) Katona: This one has been here maybe... 8 years?
(21:27:41) Katona: I dunno.
(21:27:42) Diego: For several years, thus far
(21:27:57) Diego: Mainly on the basis of quality collaborative writing
(21:28:10) Diego: And we all get along really well, which helps
(21:28:16) TheElvenMidget: Yes. But looking at recent posts many of the threads haven't been posted on for several weeks.
(21:28:38) Diego: And some are posted on daily. It comes down to the real life obligations of the members
(21:28:45) Katona: It's always been like that. We have fast and slow threads.
(21:28:52) Diego: A lot of us are adults who work full time
(21:29:06) Katona: Or have children.
(21:29:29) Diego: Some of us work full time, have children, social engagements, and all the other distractions which prevent them from logging on more than once a week or fortnight
(21:29:41) Diego: For those members, we are content to have slow threads
(21:29:59) Diego: Because we like and respect them, and enjoy their writing enough to wait
(21:31:09) TheElvenMidget: Ah. I get it. But with such a barrier as the application requirements, and the multitude of slow threads, it might discourage new people who are afraid they are wasting their time on a dying rpboard.
(21:31:14) Diego: (whispers to Katona) Poor guy brought a spoon to a gunfight
(21:31:24) Diego: Their loss.
(21:31:33) Diego: We won't lower our standards
(21:31:39) TheElvenMidget: And yours in the long run.
(21:31:44) Katona: (whispers) It's a bit sad when people get that obsessed.
(21:32:03) Diego: Time will tell, but thank you for your concern
(21:32:16) Diego: We've been going strong for several years already, with no sign of slowing down
(21:32:47) TheElvenMidget: I'll be going now. I thank you two for the pleasant discussion.
(21:32:59) Diego: Most welcome! Have a lovely day!
(21:33:09) Porter: TheElvenMidget logs out of the Chat.
(21:33:23) Diego: ...
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHaaaaaaaHAHAHAHahahahahahahahahahaa
(21:33:28) Katona: If he makes another one I'm going to jump off a cliff.
(21:33:33) Diego: Oh man, that was priceless