tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post7081807765060153383..comments2024-03-04T02:09:30.979-06:00Comments on One Man's Pony Ramblings: Fandom Classics Part 185: A FLEet|ng LIght |n thE DArknEsSUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-75950076005841814552016-11-05T21:39:50.173-05:002016-11-05T21:39:50.173-05:00I honestly think that many people just don't r...I honestly think that many people just don't realize that parchment is made from skin. On the other hand, EVERYONE knows what leather is.<br /><br />Regardless, if I was really invested in justifying use of the word parchment, I might try to make the case that in Equestria, it's shorthand for parchment paper (why ponies would write on parchment paper, or why it would have acquired that name in the first place, are open questions). It'd be tough to make any equivalent argument for the word leather, though.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11581572699330155065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-72565937314026607732016-11-04T10:20:43.333-05:002016-11-04T10:20:43.333-05:00Very belated comment: parchment is mentioned in &q...Very belated comment: parchment is mentioned in "Lesson Zero", so it's been canon for a long time (albeit probably accidentally).Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03769758118827489093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-44645654440349105952016-11-03T00:30:42.139-05:002016-11-03T00:30:42.139-05:00"... but when I started to organize my though..."... but when I started to organize my though<b>t</b>s... for the reader to turn over an<b>d</b> envision for themselves."<br /><br />I actually love messed up implications like with the whole parchment issue, especially in a setting as kid-friendly as Equestria. It sets up an interesting contrast, and I've never felt that Equestria needs to be some kind of utopiaHolly Oatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01703437987958922954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-12721691091397592992016-11-01T23:27:12.431-05:002016-11-01T23:27:12.431-05:00My assumption was that while traditional parchment...My assumption was that while traditional parchment had to be animal skin, modern didn't, as long as it had the same weight and strength or whatever. But that's apparently not the case. I'm guessing the writers made the same assumption or just used the term without thinking about it. I might have even used it, though I would have intended it to mean some wood- or reed-based substance. Kind of like how everyone says Applejack wears a Stetson, though she really doesn't, but it's something easy to gloss over anyway. usually.<br /><br />I'm on board with the point here, though, that the possibly creepy context of leather potentially carries a lot of meaning in a dark story, and when it turns out to be a mere oversight, it can feel like a let-down.Pascoitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861834765162800926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-29417525444505095652016-11-01T17:04:12.564-05:002016-11-01T17:04:12.564-05:00But that still leaves the issues of 1: anything wr...But that still leaves the issues of 1: anything written before Season 6 did not have this justification, and 2: sometimes canon is ill-considered and better dumped in the memory hole if it's minor and ephemeral (see, for example, pies as nonlethal, non-injuring weapons that still somehow work in a battle--notably not brought back for the Crystal War timeline). <br /><br />And, of course, if you're okay with parchment being used (as a normal matter of course, not involving any dark implications) on the basis of canon, it's hard to justify having a problem with leather, especially when applied to similar purposes. It leads to things like, in this case, the absurd (or at least in need of explanation) "well, it's totally fine for them to write and maybe print on animal skins, but for them to bind books with it is troubling." Icy Shakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490981784760484964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-54785492609557518732016-11-01T07:26:11.376-05:002016-11-01T07:26:11.376-05:00The problem with parchment is that they use it in ...The problem with parchment is that they use it in canon, don't they? I've gotten the impression they do, though I might not be remembering right.<br /><br />Now I'm going to check.<br /><br />A quick Google search for "parchment site:mlp.wikia.com" turns up only one page of hits, and only one of those hits is from an episode transcript, but there it is, from "The Fault in our Cutie Marks." Twilight: "Oh, I hope I have enough ink and parchment to document everything!"<br /><br />I did a similar search for leather, and it turned up nothing from transcripts.Pascoitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861834765162800926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-59045428912193342262016-10-31T20:52:02.376-05:002016-10-31T20:52:02.376-05:00Ah, well, we can't always get what we want in ...Ah, well, we can't always get what we want in that respect. I totally get the feeling, though.Present Perfecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195959811544391904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-47265589131668444902016-10-31T20:06:46.958-05:002016-10-31T20:06:46.958-05:00Truthfully, I enjoy both of the stories I wrote, b...Truthfully, I enjoy both of the stories I wrote, but I think some of the other stories in the top rated deserve to be higher than mine, like anything by Horse Voice.Flashgenhttp://www.fimfiction.net/user/Flashgennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-67732661544456885512016-10-31T18:42:05.407-05:002016-10-31T18:42:05.407-05:00I'd add to the leather issue in Pony: parchmen...I'd add to the leather issue in Pony: parchment.Icy Shakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490981784760484964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-42575079444922123772016-10-31T18:39:05.078-05:002016-10-31T18:39:05.078-05:00Well, there's (also?) the sequel effect, where...Well, there's (also?) the sequel effect, where fewer people read it (looks like about a quarter as many) but they rate it higher (about half as many upvotes, a sixth as many downvotes) because of selection bias.Icy Shakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490981784760484964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-75611349852971185402016-10-31T18:29:27.436-05:002016-10-31T18:29:27.436-05:00Happy to stop by. And thank you again for the revi...Happy to stop by. And thank you again for the review.Flashgenhttp://www.fimfiction.net/user/Flashgennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-2342359996090352652016-10-31T18:09:29.671-05:002016-10-31T18:09:29.671-05:00Mm, true. Do you say that because you think it'...Mm, true. Do you say that because you think it's not as good?Present Perfecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195959811544391904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-23433281022783432192016-10-31T17:26:53.004-05:002016-10-31T17:26:53.004-05:00It's funny what seemingly minor things readers...It's funny what seemingly minor things readers will pick up, isn't it? Though as I said, the leather bit didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story, given how quickly it became obvious that the implication was unintended.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting, Flashgen! It's always nice to hear from an author.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11581572699330155065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-14167798646578944562016-10-31T16:53:53.918-05:002016-10-31T16:53:53.918-05:00I'm constantly bugging authors about the impli...I'm constantly bugging authors about the implications of using leather in their stories, because I believe the majority of them are doing it unconsciously. A leather-bound book is supposed to be sophisticated and rare and expensive, right? Except leather takes on a whole new meaning in Equestria where most animals are semi-intelligent and cows are sentient. It's an easy thing to overlook.Pascoitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05861834765162800926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-40319821382336430452016-10-31T14:31:22.452-05:002016-10-31T14:31:22.452-05:00I was also left a little disappointed by some of t...I was also left a little disappointed by some of the unanswered questions, but this story was still fantastic IMO, and besides, the sequel does its share of answering and is a lot clearer about the things it needed to clear up.DannyJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13273313206696087395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-83581857784188897152016-10-31T10:08:00.297-05:002016-10-31T10:08:00.297-05:00Well, technically, the sequel is the highest-rated...Well, technically, the sequel is the highest-rated one on the site, though it shouldn't be.Flashgenhttp://www.fimfiction.net/user/Flashgennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-69535777320811407392016-10-31T10:06:04.853-05:002016-10-31T10:06:04.853-05:00You know, out of everything I wrote in those stori...You know, out of everything I wrote in those stories, the one thing I never really thought about was the leather journal... I'm gonna go and edit out any mention of that, 5 years after I published the story. Seriously, I haven't seen anyone else mention the implication of that in reviews or comments before. It's messed up.<br /><br />Overall, I can agree with most of what you said in your review. The hidden messages were one of the things I enjoyed the implication of when I was writing it, but I feel that implication gets lost when I'm not the one reading it.<br /><br />The same is true of what goes on in the story. I definitely wasn't trying to be cryptic for the sake of it, but when you look at everything, it does come off that way. I'll definitely pay more attention to an outsider's viewpoint with what I write in the future.<br />Flashgenhttp://www.fimfiction.net/user/Flashgennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8184562969471581744.post-29853923921927928282016-10-31T07:22:04.466-05:002016-10-31T07:22:04.466-05:00This is the highest-rated horror fic on the site, ...This is the highest-rated horror fic on the site, though! :B And fuck, there's an anagram? This thing keeps unfolding.<br /><br />Also, from Fleeting Light straight into goddamn Couchtavia. You really know how to pick 'em, Chris. XDPresent Perfecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195959811544391904noreply@blogger.com