The reason why ETC Chapter 15 has been deleted (IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ) · 5:52am Jan 13th, 2014
You may notice that Chapter 15 of ETC is gone. There has been an awful lot of controversy surrounding it, but I want to explain my actions here.
I am not doing this because people threatened to downvote the fic. I am not doing this because there were 300+ comments. I am not doing this for anybody but myself.
I am doing this because I realize the mistake I made.
Here is the thing. I added in the bit in chapter 15 about Zero Tolerance in canterlot… well, on a whim. It was never meant to be a part of the story. I have had ETC planned out (for the most part) since the beginning, and having Canterlot operate under Zero Tolerance was not a part of those plans.
When I was writing the Dash/Shining Armor scene, the original plan was just that Armor asks Dash to leave for a few weeks so that things can calm down. However, when he mentions that they had to send word to Cloudsdale, THAT is what freaks Dash out. At the last minute, I decided to add in the “Zero Tolerance” thing just to heighten the drama, make it look like what Dash had done was REALLY extreme.
When I added it in, I thought “Hey, this might come up next chapter too! It’ll be a fun little thing to add in there for the conversation!” Now I’ve had some time to think about it… and I realize what the issue is here.
Like I said, I have had ETC planned out for a while. The next chapter, Chapter 16, has been one that I have been wanting to write for two years. Obviously, it’s what everything has been building to. So I took some time to get away from everything, and I just asked myself this:
Does adding in Zero Tolerance as a last-minute plot element add to the next chapter, or take away from it? Does it make the next chapter more compelling, or more confusing?
Bottom line: do I want to write the next chapter, the most important chapter of ETC, with this new major plot element added in?
no
That’s all I needed to think about, really. Not comments, not down votes, not anything. The fact is, I put adding in drama while taking away from the story that I had built.
It’s a tough decision to take down a whole chapter, but wen I look at what ETC is, and more importantly what I WANT it to be, I think it’s the right decision.
Now, I know some of you are going to think I am giving in to peer pressure. But again, this was a conscious decision that I made. After talking it over with a number of very close friends and fellow writers, it’s the right thing to do.
If you’re disappointed in me, I’m sorry, but at the end of the day… Exit Through Canterlot is my story. It’s a story I have been telling for the past year and a half, over 100,000 words. It’s the most important creative endeavor I have ever undertaken, and when I realized that I made a mistake that took away from my enjoyment of the story, there really was nothing else to say about the subject.
I know that this creates a slippery slope of editing, but trust me, I don’t plan on going back and changing things. This is not a case of “Brian’s going back and trying to perfect everything.” This is a case of me realizing that I made a mistake in deviating from a plan that I have been looking forward to for two years.
So, yeah. I know a lot of you will be happy, some of you won’t be, but I do ask that no matter what, you understand and respect my decision, as an author, to make this change.
And ETC? Trust me, the next few chapters are gonna be awesome. As I said, I'm getting rid of the wrench i threw in, and it's back to what has always been planned, and my excitement for the story is through the roof.
Thank you all so much. No matter what happens—controversy, mistakes, arguments—I appreciate the feedback of every single one of you. I friggin’ love all of you guys so much.
Expect the revised ETC to be up in the next few days at most. There really aren't many changes to be made, just wanna make them then confirm them with the usual suspects.
-Brian J
I was confused as to why they'd have a draconian law like that in place, while not even having a rudimentary anti-vandalism law.
Any one who gives shit for this move is a moron.
It's your story. Do what you wish with it... We're just here for the ride.
Well, I am, at least.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Huh. I was wondering about that, but it's an understandable move. It's why I've removed things from my works, because they just don't mesh with the new narrative or the way you wanted it to go.
I for one won't be bitching at you. I just want to see chapter 16 soon :3 Seeing the update, even with all the controversy, got me excited all over again.
Whoa, am I just having some weird deja-vu, or is this directly contradicting the previous blog?
I tried to check, but it wasn't there, and now I'm not sure what's real and what's not anymore.
I was almost positive there used to be a blog here about how the zero tolerance policy was actually vital to the story or something.
I am mildly confused!
Well, as long as you're doing it because it's what you want to do, I'll stand behind your decision (even though I thought the chapter was fine as is), and I'll be looking forward to chapter 15 v 2.0
Also, since you deleted the previous blog (as far as I can tell), this is still technically the 99th.
Sorry, I didn't get to read chapter 15, so can someone tell me what happened.
1713864
That's cause I deleted the previous blog, haha.
I posted that one as a quick-fix, but after having some time to think about it, I changed my mind.
Or maybe you're in the twilight zone. It's possible.
1713869 Both Canterlot and Cloudsdale had a Zero-Tolerance policy to violence. Since Rainbow retaliated after Octavia cut her tail, she was temp-banned from being in Canterlot and Cloudsdale due to that policy. Because of this, her tryout for the Wonderbolt Academy was rejected because it started during Rainbow's probation period. Dash is crushed about this, realizing her dream is now threatened and even possibly out of her reach due to a fight somepony else started. It showed why zero-tolerance is a terrible policy as it hurts the victim just as much as the instigator.
Aw man, I never even got the chance to read Chapter 15 so I dont even know what the problem even was. Guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer to read the new Chap.15 without the "controversial" mistake.
1713886 Alright, thanks for telling me.
The only part that I take issue with is that several pages of comments are now gone, and Warwolf and I were taking the opportunity to play lawyer (he was winning, I think). I think Joural and Wroth were getting in on it too.
It was kind of like playing Goldeneye with legal arguments, and I'm pretty sure it marks us all as huge nerds, but dammit, we were enjoying ourselves.
Maybe we should start a club.
1713869
Spaghetti in the comments. Lots of spaghetti...
1713871
And here I was thinking you were gaslighting me...
All drama and whinging aside, it is certainly nice how this particular creative medium allows for quick and (relatively) painless edits and improvements. Certainly looking forward to what you have in store next.
1713891
Yeah, nothing I can do on that front. Sorry.
I kinda thought the comments would stay, but... eh, oh well.
1713898
You'd think they would, really. I mean, you can see them without accessing the chapter.
1713891
I got on it whenever Shadysands was doing his thing, then I got back into it when I was mentioned again.
I think this was a good choice.
Mind, are you going to repost chapter 15 with the Zero-Tolerance thing taken out?
1713954
Yeah, in the next few days. Gonna make a few minor alterations to the chapter too beyond the zero tolerance going bye bye, but it really shouldn't take that long.
Well I'm glad you had the courage to admit a mistake. I was a little....worried that the 0-toralence thing was bad.
1713915 1713898 sadly comments are tied to chapters individually, rather than the story, It's a drag.
Anyway, on the Cloudsdale approach, I think what confuses me is the need to send word there... I mean, she now has a record, right, so wouldn't that still affect her chances, regardless of that? So why the added effort of sending word there? Why would she be banned from her home city, when it's not Canterlot?
Eh. I can only say that if the Zero Tolerance thing was a whim and really doesn't affect your plans for the story either way, it might have been a healthy choice to remove it, although I have no doubt that you'd have made it work in the end.
Looking forward to the progression of the story as the events and their ramifications unfold. Definitely enjoying the way the story has been a very good look at values and when lines get crossed. Keep it up! :)
1714014
I thought it might have something to do with how the database was set up.
Ah we'll, them's the breaks.
1713891
An ace attorney club. Sign me up!
Oh well. I did always find zero tolerance rules rather idiotic. Although the rest of the chapter was cool with me. But judging by the hostility in the comments about that, I wasn't too surprised when you pulled the chapter down.
Chapter 15 was heavy handed. On the punishment side of things. It's one thing to see Octavia become more and more of a vigilante that begins to go against everything she stood against at the start of this venture, but it's another to ignore the positives of chapter 15 and the effects it had on Octavia.
Rainbow Dash most certainly is in the wrong on so many levels. Yelling at a guard telling them how to do their job, taking matters of the guard into her own hoof, crashing an art event or whatever that place was supposed to be called to lecture and yell at other ponies getting more and more out of control as she takes it upon herself to even ruin all the 'art' that those ponies like, and assaulting a pony who though reacted childishly and overly cruel, Rainbow Dash had certainly brought it upon herself.
Rainbow Dash is a role model, it's good that she questions the likes of this slanderous art and gets upset at the guards, but if she gets away with taking action into her own hoof to hunt down and instigate a fight, and brings harm to another pony, that's when things get out of hand and need to be addressed. If she gets away with her actions others would see it as "Okay" and it could lead to more RD incidents.
Octavia has been on the road to ruin for some time now, very long time now. . . it's time she started to reflect on the reasons she even picked up that can of spray-paint in the first place and see she's become something she herself protested against. Bringing pain to ponies who have no real control over how Canterlot is ruled or how the ponies in Canterlot treat other ponies, she's really gone over the deep end. She even alienated Vinyl, her closest friend.
Chapter 15 can be fixed. Photo Finish and other things like Octavia's reflecting on her actions are a must keep. It's time ponies questioned Oc--Flanksy's actions.
If the next chapter doesn't so much as give Dash like a night or two in the slammer and faced to take some anger management classes or community service, that will be considered a failure on this story's behalf. Some mention that can be later used to further push that Octavia's judgement on how easy the mane 6 have it and how they too add to the problems of society, who promote Celestia's way of governing, we need something like that.
Also, please get yourself some pre-readers, not just some editors or some butt-kissers, but people that will actually call you out on stuff that's not working. I may not be this story's biggest fan anymore, nor why I haven't downvoted or removed it from faves still, probably due to just hoping this will end with something purposeful since it feels like its been dragging its hooves along for awhile now, but idk. Probably because I still think its fun and by far original for Octavia and Vinyl, probably first fic in existence that didn't try copying others' works like Scratch Tapes, Allegrezza, University Days, but mainly because of the personal perspective morality issues Octavia saw in her everyday life done to other ponies without a care or even a thought be it intentional or not.
I know you want and only want to do things, much like the ponies Octavia views as in Canterlot, but honestly you really gotta show you care about your readers because if they start thinking you're going to be deleting chapter after chapter whenever it gets called out on something you later find doesn't fit the story, you'll end up having people who won't even read it updates anymore.
"But the many outweigh the few, it's already a hit and I surpassed my expectations." some might say. But in a world with tons of great stories vying for attention, how many are still following the story enough who still actively read and care about it?
People make mistakes. You're only human, so whether you really meant for the zero tolerance to have always been intended but suddely now not seen as such a good idea after backlash pointing it out to which you may have agreed with after looking into it, but none of that matters. Point is chapter 15, as heavy-hoofed as it was on the PUNISHMENT side of things and Blue Blood's rather... all knowing and overreaching acts on Rainbow Dash with the whole Wonderbolts thing, which if Dash does get a criminal record it could very well cause that to happen but for Blueblood to insure it happened, that was outside his jurisdiction.
Anywho, I hope you're just fixing chapter 15, it had good stuff, and not just throwing it all out. Story is already out there anyways, so even if you kept rolling with Zero Tolerance, despite how contradicting that was to like everything at this story's core, it wouldn't be more of a mess if you threw out how this all now brings ponies to be disheartened that this lovable and yet peaceful protestor has actually been causing such pain on other ponies, even though they aren't of Canterlot.
And of course, RD still needs to be called out.
Not sure if I mentioned it, but you should get yourself some pre-readers, those that are seen as competent at calling out stuff that doesn't work, contradicts something already established, or goes too far or not enough.
Not so much the editor kinds, just the kind that don't wear their best lipstick to place upon your derriere just to get advance screenings as the story develops.
Also, no, I'm not volunteering. If that's what you thought I was attempting with this post, heaven knows I have enough to read on my plate and others who already ask me to do that stuff. Not enough time in the day and this story is popular enough so I'm sure you can find somepony with a mouth.
Also, for bucks sake, stop having ponies say "hell" and such. I always found the lack of effort put into ponies swearing or damning something in our tongue as lazy given all the coloful swears they tend to use in the show for pony's sake. Not that you'd give a flying feather or anything about such horseapples, so congratu-pony-lations on at least sticking with the story this far. But you get my drift, you see it as "people don't care" I see it as "author doesn't care to be creative".
That's my two-cents on human sayings vs pony saying at least. But for Celestia, get a good pre-reader to avoid readers from feeling they wasted their time on something that later changes its mind telling them "Read the next chapter 15" that might actually just skim over the stuff 15 tried to address.
Though I hope in the next version Octavia has a more expanded scene or focus. I was getting tired of seeing so much Rainbow Dash focus. /personalopinion
[edit fix: Derped on a title, meant to say University Days.]
1713894
I've always thought that it would also make for a great academic paper, the interaction between author and readers that the medium allows and how it impacts the story itself. Any bright mind interested? Or maybe it's already been done somewhere. That wouldn't surprise me.
Brian, I'm detecting a little contradiction between this post and the -- late -- last, but whatever
A soothing balm has been applied to my jimmies and my Suspension of Disbelief can be reset back to its previous save point. As a result, the downvote's been revoked. Now that things have been set on a non-jimmy rustling course, I can once again look forward to the next chapter instead of gazing at the update with apprehension and gritted teeth like I was going to.
I've realized I'm going to have to be more careful with fanfic justice systems. They've always been an annoyance but I never imagined they could make me so upset.
1714131 Same here, downvote removed.
1714131
>I've realized I'm going to have to be more careful with fanfic justice systems.
*Raises glass* You and me both man. You and me both.
It's totally understandable and respectable, don't worry about my feelings on making your fic what you want it to be.
1714123
Because they certainly haven't been doing their job with someone whose been doing nothing but hate art, attacking people with paint, and yet as the story had shown they didn't care till the end. The guards have been doing NOTHING.
It was a public area, it was Graffiti intended as hate for the bearers and as "Public Art" she was free to clean off the statue. She didn't escalate it, she came there to set things straight and fix the statue honoring them and she didn't attack until Tavi did and she simply fought back in self defense after she decided to cut her own tail off, a piece of herself was chopped straight off.
So now it's okay to talk about the guards and the art? You didn't seem that way before. She didn't instigate a fight, Tavi did by physically attacking her. She went off, told off everyone who just enjoyed all that slander and graffiti because all it does is make themselves feel better at the cost of others and as said, Tavi instigated it and escalated it.
Simply, no it is not, she cleaned a public statue, and tavi chopped off a personal piece of her body. She deserves to be let back out to clean off her own statue. it would be a failure if Dash actually was forced to do that for someone who has been attacking her friends, vandalizing their homes, constantly slandering and hating them with her "ART", and even when she saw her she never attacked and chose to lecture her and the idiots who believe in her art, she instead got her TAIL CHOPPED OFF for her trouble, that's finally taking it to show that Tavi thought herself truly above the law because the Guards didn't finally come till after Rainbow Dash decided to go for self-defense.
1714131 Honestly TSG, I've noticed you're a little high strung. Decaf? :P
1714131
i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/317/833/905.jpg
1713855
This is the ride.
...I guess that joke could be objectionable? In that case, "For some people this is the ride." Some people being a nebulous group that obviously doesn't include the rest of us.
1714317 I blame that first one on the author's love for Flanksy and the want to continue creating more conflict for the story to show further degradation and deviation of Octavia losing herself in a list of excuses just to continue expressing her personal distaste of how she views society.
You know, the more you point out stuff on the selective parts you wanted to argue, the more overall ridiculous this story seems begins to sound. Bravo.
By your logic though, it seems like if the guards won't do anything then you're free to do as you please? Please let me know how your experience with the local law enforcement goes next time you yell one of them in the face for not doing their job and you can proceed in detail of how to go about doing it properly.
Rainbow Dash was not attacked, she had hair cut off from her tail, half-way cut. Octavia didn't come close to cutting off a piece of her actual tail bone though. It would be enough to enrage and want to beat somepony up, and aside from how nimble Octavia is with those scissors, what Rainbow Dash was doing went from simple beating up a mare, she was embarrassed, hurt emotionally at losing her pride and joy trademark long rainbow tail, to wanting to see blood.
Lets face it. Octavia may have some endurance with having to stand and play so much, but she's not a fighter. Rainbow Dash could of easily killed her considering how she was aiming. She was lost in rage, if ever there was a moment that this fic would have a scene to warrant blood, it'd be that being bucked in the chest with a strong hook, and she then tried to ram her hoof in Octacia's face with full force.
Rainbow Dash. She'll break a pony. She's the pony AJ calls to destroy barns. She's the pony that casually kicks through 10 trees. She rips boards in pieces with her bare teeth.
Seriously, Dash is a living weapon. The guards did their best to calm Dash down, they knew they had to break that up quick. Honestly, RD didn't even have to raise a hoof because everypony had already been shocked into silence over the actions Octavia did. And to actually gloat about how RD deserved her tail to be taken like that... yeah, she lost all support.
In short though, whatever you say, RD still broke the law and should spend her part of disturbing the piece with a night in jail to reflect on her violent outburst. Had she not missed her mark with how furious she was, Octavia would need a new face.
At this point, I've just learned to accept whatever comes. The fight with RD and Octavia can be patched by a guard trapping her in magic just as she was going to swing at Octi. Get reprimanded and told to leave things to the guards, since technically what Octavia did was something that warranted action for once. Defacing a statue might not be unlawful, and freedom of speech is protected by Celestia herself, but defacing a pony in such a way is totally within grounds for guards to take action.
If people want to dislike the story, whatever. It's at like 1200+ at this point. If he felt like sticking to his guns about No Tolerance Policy, honestly while I think the way he executed chapter 15 was a bit overreaching, it certainly would of added some more conflict. Conflict that would of been good 10 chapters ago. But it certainly could of been worked in much like how the show works in whatever contrivances they feel like so long as it tells the overall moral.
Personally though, while I'm fine with losing some parts that would cause inconsistencies a mile wide, that chapter still had good stuff outside of RD and Octi.
Also, I need to stop typing whatever pops into my head. Anyhow, more wall of text for your skimming pleasure.
I'm still waiting for a complete tag on this sucker before I bother to pass judgement on it. Could use a better pre-reader honestly though.
You're free to disagree, I'll just continue to stick to my guns on the matter.
Ugh, still not 12 yet... so close r.r but yet, nothing more to babble on about on the subject. Oh well, guess I'm done.
1713855 HI! :D
1714014 OH MY GAAAWWWW~D
Yeah, everything this man said.
The other scenes were nice like with Photo Finish, and Octavia reflecting on her actions are good things to work at.
Because these are real life guards apparently, You also have to remember that Rainbow Dash is a national hero and has saved Equestria from Discord and Nightmare Moon, the fact some guards can't and won't catch a petty graffiti artist that has attacked, vandalized, and slandered this entire time shows that guard standards in Equestria is pretty piss poor if they can't save either the nation, or just catch a common crook.
She was indeed attacked, you just said she cut the hair from her tail. I suppose cutting pieces from your body is fine if I draw no blood? It's battery dude, it's against the law and carries fines and jail time, she was also smirking, keeping the scissors near her as well as the fact she is pretty much a madmare at this point who believes she wouldn't have retribution caused for her actions.
In short, Octavia should never have attacked then for the self-defense she got in return.
I'm sorry did you forget the fact she broke into homes, vandalized personal property, constant slander (Freedom of Speech does not protect hate speech), attacked pinkie pie with paint, and the only thing warranting action is A TAIL CUT? She's been above the law for a WHILE now.
1714317 1714590 Guys, I think it's time to let it go.
1714703
But I like these discussions about plots
Man, if only people got as riled up about actual bullshit zero-tolerance systems as they do about fanfic ones.
1714703 awww, but I'm soo hung up on it. What can I possibly do now?
1714757 Complacency begets apathy. Only those with power and money can make their voices heard. Everyone else gets locked up or shot by bored cops who go praise themselves over shooting some old lady holding up a sign that was talking too much.
I wonder how long it'll be before youtube is purged of all videos of stuff that shows how messed up our world really is when you give power to a bunch of average Joes that grew up as bullies or other and gained a position of power to do as they please and expect us all to feel safe as others choose when and how to ruin our lives for their own amusement?
Oh, right, fanfics and real world issues...
/)escapism(\
1714637 Whelp, that was fun, but really, it's his story. And just because you help save the world with magical trinkets a few times, doesn't mean it'll give you a free pass to do what you want. I'd gladly punch RD in the face if those words ever came out of her mouth. And to Celestia I'd say, I'd do it all over again, only with effort next time.
Celestia has ruled and protected the land for a thousand(s) of years. Yet, despite the vandalism she still chooses not to get directly involved. For a pony that can switch on her all seeing TiVo and play every episode of your life on a whim, she still abides by her ponies' free will and right to express themselves, nothing is more unsettling for her than the thought of her ponies feeling as if they are being oppressed, and by her own rule no less.
Anyways, since this is a blog and not the story page, I'd rather not continue this. But props for not quoting me. The fic has its flaws, but its still fiction. I only ever wanted to say to the author that he had a couple good stuff he should feel like he did right and should keep the stuff that worked in case it's just going to skip over everything chapter 15 tried to do. Which is the impression I originally got.
I don't comment since I think its pointless since he's stated a very long time ago that he writes what he wants the way he wants which equals feedback a pointless endeavor, my point though wasn't so much feedback as it was trying to convince him he had a couple good things going that last chapter. he can sweep it all under the rug, I don't personally care, long as the story eventually reaches its end.
This is my last comment, feel free to continue but for the most part, it's just a drop in the bucket on my list of fics that went from amazing to average but still very much enjoyable. I love talking ponies, but arguing to defend some person's personal view and speaking of the ponies as physical embodiments like they actually are their elements thus they can do no wrong is just one of the fanon ideas I hate the most. It is very restrictive thinking imo. Honestly nothing makes me groan harder when someone uses the excuse "I'm the element of ____ I can't possibly do bad!" but I don't call them out on it. Why? It's Headcanon=/=Fanon
Some stories are best enjoyed from afar. This is one of those stories. Lest you drive yourself made nitpicking. I wasn't aiming to pick this story apart. Not intentionally at least.
I agree with your decision. But I do have to disagree with one thing you said.
"I never thought my 100th blog post would be like this"
puu.sh/6jOB8.png
This isn't you 100th post, unless I'm missing something. Also, I think this is just a temp hosting, so the image might break after a while.
1714123 that was beautiful. I been saying the same thing about RD situation.
If she gets off scot free then. That might as well push Octavia over the edge into believing that she was completely right and undo any guilt she may have felt.
1714757
There's a reason you only really see them in places where the ones it is being applied to are not also the ones keeping people in office. In actual US jurisprudence what Shining did would be unconstitutional in several ways.
EDIT:
Even Three Strikes laws have largely been rolled back in most places IIRC.
1714971
I had another temporary blog up, but deleted it.
Wait... that means I can still do the 100th blog post. It's not too late! I haven't missed it! The spirits did it all in one night!
Quick! Down to the poulterists down the street to fetch the finest pheasant they have!
1714123
And
Hi, my name is Props. I'm one of Brian's pre-readers. Let me explain to you the issue in your assumptions.
We, the four or five pre-readers (this number fluxuates due to life, because we do have lives outside of lipstick-to-ass ratio discussions and enjoying reading things that are unedited and unreleased) are only shown one chapter at a time. Brian has not told ANY of us how ETC ends, nor has he ever shared with us the plans for the upcoming chapters of his story. We 'blind' edit his stories, only having knowledge of what has come before (and knowledge of his preeminently kissable ass).
The problem with this chapter is that the zero-tolerance policy created a massive plot hole... for an upcoming chapter. Something that we as pre-readers and editors could not have possibly known. We did mention the zero-tolerance thing in our commentary and editing sessions, but it wasn't seen as a major issue. Controversial? Yes. Story-breaking plot hole? No.
Allow me to point out this quote from Brian's blog (do you think the red lipstick is too much?)
The reason this chapter went away was that this plot element that was added in on a whim turned out to affect something that the pre-readers had no knowledge of at all. We didn't know how Zero-Tolerance Policy would play out: we assumed, on further reading, that it would have a hand in how Flanksy/Octavia was punished, but without knowledge of the upcoming chapter, this wasn't an obvious plot hole to anybody other than Brian and his lipstick-smeared butt.
Brian will confirm that this is something that we as pre-readers wouldn't have been able to anticipate as creating a plot hole. We knew it would end up being controversial. But we didn't see a plot hole or a major problem.
One last thing I figured worth mentioning from your comment:
To give you some context, the pre-reading and editing team that works for Brian, myself included, also are the team that works on all of ShortSkirtsandExplosions' major work. He doesn't let us edit his little things or things that he doesn't think are worth editing because he did them to be silly, but basically every really serious work (Background Pony, End of Ponies, etc) has seen our hands in the story. This same team that works for Brian also works for me. We're a group that rotates our story work and our editing work. When Brian isn't writing, he's editing for me, or Skirts, or any of our other group members. Skirts DOES edit stories, too, on occasion. Oh, and you follow a solid majority of this editing group as favorite authors on this website. Me, Brian, ShortSkirts, Ponky, and Vimbert.
So, before you insult a group of people that you don't know and you have no idea as to the circumstances of the pre-reading and editing, please carefully reconsider your statements, because this was no fault of ours. The layers of lipstick we'd caked on had gotten in our eyes, and made it hard to read.
I don't blame you, really, if you felt it detracted from the story you truly wanted to tell. And it was a recent chapter too, which puts it in a kind of grace period I sometimes grant in cases of newly published art and writing. Heck, it's fan fiction, right?
I thought the "Zero Tolerance" policy was a little weird for such an apparently enlightened culture, anyway. And I guess I'm kind of on Dash's side in this whole thing... she was being a real hothead, sure, but heck. I've never thrown a punch in my life, but if a masked vandal came up to me and suddenly shaved my hair after defacing my house and terrorizing my friends, I'd like to think the law wouldn't handicap my lifestyle for the foreseeable future just because I lost my temper and... well there I go now, jumping into the debate. These things tend to catch on like brush fires, don't they?
1713891
I was just in it for the discussion of the situation myself, but it was kinda fun, I gotta admit. I'm a bit sad to see all those pages of discussion evaporate, but hey, at least we had fun writing it all, right?
....Right? 
1715345
Sup Props. Can I call you Props? K, cool. Poppy it is.
I'll assume you never read his 99th blog then.
CARRYING ON.
Poppy, sometimes you should just learn to take the time to read my ramblings just a wee bit harder. Maybe you would of noticed I was assuming the chapter 15 had no one or possibly only even one *shrug* idk, pre-reader. Propping the bomb about being 4 of 5 just depresses me.
I won't go into detail here since you should know the parts very well by now. So, MOVING ON POPPY!
YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK POPPY! IT'S THE AUTHOR'S REFUSAL WHO HAPPENS TO BE A FRIEND THAT REFUSES TO TAKE ADVICE ABOUT THE FLAWS YOU WANTED HIM TO CHANGE.
Btw, you look better in metallic green lipstick then red. Just saying.
WOW that was short and concise. And I didn't even have to go into how its a pre-readers job and how we all deal with stories on a per-chapter basis 99% of the time like my work with Hyperexponential, Gravekeeper, who only let you in on what you see now to gauge how it flows, does it fit, does this clash with any continuity thus far, hey does this element work here or is it 10 chapters too late given?
Nope. All that was easily avoidable since you're not at fault, or the other 3-4. Because much like certain little dragons, minor details don't matter pfft, what do people care right?
And hey, thanks for introducing me to the story Poppy. And sorry if somehow I haven't fallen to the awe and wonderment that the crew who work with SS&E partially and very restrictively work on this.
I had thought honestly that maybe, just maybe, no one was around to offer him help for chapter 15. THANKS FOR ASSUMING ASSUMPTIONS ON MY BEHALF!