Poll of the Day > People who seriously critique a story when the story is not meant to be serious.

(+) Yeah! (+)

why?
Good example of this is anyone who seriously critiques the anime Rent-a-Girlfriend. If you take the premise at face value and enjoy it for what it is it's really good, but then if you seriously start critiquing the real world implications of a fucking harem romcom with classic romcom tropes, like why? Just why?

Judgmenl posted...

why?
Good example of this is anyone who seriously critiques the anime Rent-a-Girlfriend. If you take the premise at phase value and enjoy it for what it is it's really good, but then if you seriously start critiquing the real world implications of a fucking harem romcom with classic romcom tropes, like why? Just why?

Phase value lmao

Words are hard.

Judgmenl posted...

like why? Just why?

Because they find it to be an interesting, enjoyable intellectual exercise. Which is exactly the same reason anyone does the same thing for stories and universes you don't sneer pretentiously at. Just let people enjoy things.

Why? Eccentricity. Personally I'd rather have people like that around rather than the mainline conformist normies. From any side of the aisle. They all have their own unique set of standards for people to fit into.

Reminds me of the stare of disgust those rich ladies would give me when I'd walk into the uptown market after a run all sweaty to get some quick groceries. Sorry, I didn't dress business casual to pick up my baguette, Muffy.

I would add to this people who seriously critique the minutia of a story that is clearly meant to be allegorical

Or otherwise go far outside the bounds of the story to find "plotholes" (eg how does Bruce Wayne cover for his Batman related expenses on his annual taxes)

Blightzkrieg posted...

I would add to this people who seriously critique the minutia of a story that is clearly meant to be allegorical

Or otherwise go far outside the bounds of the story to find "plotholes" (eg how does Bruce Wayne cover for his Batman related expenses on his annual taxes)

People seriously need to learn that not explaining something doesn't make it a plot hole.

Revelation34 posted...

People seriously need to learn that not explaining something doesn't make it a plot hole.

If an inconsistency isn't resolved (whether by explicitly explaining it, or by having some other pieces of the plot do so implicitly), then by definition it is a plot hole, but some people try way too hard to find plot holes that are too irrelevant and/or trivial to be worth bringing up. In many cases, that's because they don't like the thing and are looking for some sort of objective basis for that opinion, but that's not really necessary. Subjectivity is a thing and people are allowed to dislike media just because.

Revelation34 posted...

People seriously need to learn that not explaining something doesn't make it a plot hole.

Exactly, unless the the show / film is deeply rooted reality not every single scene or moment has to have a detailed explanation of all of the motives of all of the characters. Not everything needs to be over thought to obsession.

Judgmenl posted...

Not everything needs to be over thought to obsession.

Axiomatically, nothing needs to be overthought. If it needs to be overthought, then that's not overthinking, that's just an appropriate level of thinking.

Judgmenl posted...

but then if you seriously start critiquing the real world implications

This is a useful criticism to know how well the story is able to sell it's premise or how much suspension of disbelief is required.

Reminds me of the ending of the third season of Paradise PD, (they ripped off the ending from Superman 2)

Bullet: How did you do it?

Fitz: Same way they did it in Superman 2, off screen and with no explanation.

Because if you don't like something, for whatever reason, people want to ask why.

Then you need to explain, say, you don't like a story element because it's dumb.

But you shouldn't care about it, because comedies are immune to criticism (I guess according to you), so it should be ok. But that doesn't mean suddenly someone likes something, just that the reason isn't valid (I guess???).

don't people mostly dislike rent-a-girlfriend because of that one terrible character and not really its premise

i don't think i've seen such universal seething hatred for a character in years

adjl posted...

If an inconsistency isn't resolved (whether by explicitly explaining it, or by having some other pieces of the plot do so implicitly), then by definition it is a plot hole, but some people try way too hard to find plot holes that are too irrelevant and/or trivial to be worth bringing up. In many cases, that's because they don't like the thing and are looking for some sort of objective basis for that opinion, but that's not really necessary. Subjectivity is a thing and people are allowed to dislike media just because.

These people say stuff like "those powers' origins weren't explained so it's a plot hole".

Revelation34 posted...

These people say stuff like "those powers' origins weren't explained so it's a plot hole".

While not a "plot hole" per se, making sure there's some kind of consistent background or explanation for any special powers is an important part of world building. If people just end up with powers for no apparent reason except to advance the plot, criticizing that is quite valid.

adjl posted...

While not a "plot hole" per se, making sure there's some kind of consistent background or explanation for any special powers is an important part of world building. If people just end up with powers for no apparent reason except to advance the plot, criticizing that is quite valid.

Yes but it doesn't make it a plot hole.

because I'm going to tell people that Harry Potter is bad

Revelation34 posted...

Yes but it doesn't make it a plot hole.

It doesn't, but it's bad for a lot of the same reasons plot holes are bad, so lumping them together isn't altogether unreasonable. It's more a hole in the world-building, which isn't technically the plot, but it is an inextricable part of it.

ReturnOfFa posted...

because I'm going to tell people that Harry Potter is bad

Why is it bad?

It's one thing to have a good time. It's another to laugh at or take joy in something horrible. On the other hand, sometimes jokes don't land at all or else hit really hard, and it's nice to evaluate the how or why of it all.