New story + thoughts on its reception · 9:57pm Feb 4th, 2016
As you probably noticed, I posted a new story for the first time since late 2014, and let me tell you, it feels damn good. 2015 was terrible for me in pretty much every way, so getting back in the saddle is like kicking that year's dust off my shoes. As for the story, you can find it here:
Anyway, to see and discuss my thoughts, which doesn't require any knowledge of the story, click the link below. To talk about the story itself, though, I'd prefer you posted those comments on its page.
I knew from the start that this one was going to draw some heat. Portraying Celestia as inept, in any way, is always going to attract her most ardent defenders. You know, the ones who can't take a joke. But that's fine. I'm not here to pander to the fragile feelings of a handful of babies who freak out when someone tips their sacred cow. As a comedian, I'm happy to get any strong response, whether it's laughter, discomfort, or boiling rage. Laughter is best, of course, but misdirected outrage (which rightfully belongs on the show's writers for giving me the material) is a good supply of extra hilarity.
Of course, there are also some people who just don't get anything from it, and those are the ones I've failed. Comedy is subjective, of course, and no attempt at humor can resonate with everyone, but I always try to include something for everyone. So if you read the story and it was just kinda there, I apologize for wasting your time.
I have to admit, the momentum this story picked up caught me a little off guard. I'm sure it was helped by its extended (and as of this moment, ongoing) stay in the New Stories box, but I didn't do anything to advertise it, put virtually no effort into its description, and cobbled together a lazy cover image in MS Paint. I expected it to be a flash in the pan, getting some quick laughs before disappearing like a fart in the wind.
Instead, it's shaping up to be a fart in a crowded clown car. Okay, that simile isn't accurate, but it got stuck in my brain, and I had to let it out somehow! And I'll bet none of you will ever be able to see a bunch of clowns evacuate a small car again without wondering which one drove the rest out.
Anyway, being controversial is a new experience for me, but at least no one has said the writing sucks!
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2...
1...
Sacred cows make the best hamburger.
3733172 Damn straight.
Well, I enjoyed it. So it was a well spent 15 minutes on my part.
It was time well spent to read in study hour. Love it.
Cow tipping actually isn't even a thing. They'll just wake up on you and move. But the analogy still works.
Pardon if I excuse myself from commenting for a bit, I need to go retrieve my sides from orbit.
The writing sucks
jk, had to say it, loved the story.
3734016 Thanks. I was afraid no one would ever say it!
3734016
3734022
Well, it was disqualified from the Writeoff for not entering on time, so objectively speaking it must suck.
Everyone should therefore go read it in order to be a rebel.
It's not that I adore Celestia to no end. Chrysalis beat her to the punch. It's just I don't understand the prime form of comedy: Comedy garnered from the misfortune, suffering, or even misery of others.
What I mean is, while others see a silly fony panfic being merrily contrarian about Celestia's power, I see someone—whether or not they be fictional—getting completely and utterly humiliated.
And I just don't get how or why it's funny.
3736108 Humor comes in a lot of forms, and they resonate differently with different people. Since it's so subjective, all a comedian can do is try to aim their humor at the audience that will best appreciate it. Still, even when a person doesn't find a joke funny, it was still worth telling if it affects them in some way, because our response to humor gives us a window into our own minds and can reveal truths about ourselves we wouldn't otherwise see.
Or maybe I'm just talking out my ass to hide how I'm not as funny as I think I am.
3736138 I'm gonna go with the latter. I'm not going to realize the secrets to the human race and life as we know it because of a bad joke.
And dude, you think you're not funny? You've never heard my punthetic jokes.
3736142 Hey, I admitted that I really do think I'm funny, and all (completely false) modesty aside, I have a pretty good track record to back up my egomania!
Oh, and here's a little secret for you: I love terrible puns. The more cringe-worthy, the better.
3736152 I'd love to reply, but I have this really weird feeling that you and I aren't going to get along.
Don't ask me why, cuz I don't know.
3736166 That would be a shame, but it happens sometimes. For what it's worth, I don't get that impression, but if you don't think we can get along, I hope we can at least part on mutually respectful terms. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
3736186 Well, at that very least, that comment greatly offset my qualms. I guess what really gets me is I don't know why I'm so suspicious. Maybe something you said made you come off as an insensitive asshole? Maybe it's based on our differences in comedy tastes alone? I dunno.
Or maybe it's just because I'm some dumb angsty 14 year old who listens to Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, and Nickelback.
All of those facts are true, by the way. I'm also Autistic.
Think ya need to calm down, mate.
4457130 What an odd thing to say about a blog written over a year ago. I get that you didn't like the story this post refers to, and that's all well and good, but I can't help wondering if you've taken something personally.
4457148
Just saying, it kinda makes you look pretty passive aggressive when you insult others on a blog away from the comments page rather than to their face. Not to mention, what ya sound was just mud slinging and petty.
Look, the only reason I felt compelled to comment was that I was HAPPY you didn't call anyone out in the comment section. More than anything else, I was just disappointed that you actually had, and arguably in an even worse way.
4457198 I didn't insult anyone in particular. It was a generalized statement that I can't even apply to individuals without divining their motives. To claim that it's somehow worse than attacking people in the story's comments is—and I hope you appreciate how tactfully I'm wording this—a dubious premise, at best.
And anyway, this blog was tagged with that story, so anyone who added it to a bookshelf (with active notifications) would have seen it in their feed. I think that conclusively disproves the notion that I was saying anything behind anyone else's back.
4457251
Guess we'll have to just agree to disagree. I'm just half wondering why you've reacted more strongly to my comment here rather than on the actual story, considering that comment was an actual criticism.
I get that some of those comments you got weren't on the level, but posting insults in response only lowers you to their level.
4457284 Your criticism of the story was based on personal, subjective tastes. As such, there's no reason for me to respond. Were I to do so, I suppose I could share an anecdote about how my two brothers and I mock/taunt/harass each other ruthlessly, to the point that a casual observer might think we hate each other, yet we actually have a great relationship. However, that probably wouldn't alter your perception of the story in any way because it doesn't conform to your experiences, so its relevance is virtually nil.
Your comments here are of a different nature, calling my personal character into question. That demands a response.