Home » The Crystal Hall » Questions and Answers » Background and Backstory (What is reasonable to be known in WU)
| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54228 is a reply to message #54220 ] |
Thu, 23 February 2012 16:19   |
 Laudator
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Registered: February 2009 |
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| Diane Castle wrote on Thu, 23 February 2012 20:01 | | curiousreader wrote on Wed, 22 February 2012 17:30 | ...questions about Whateley recent history stuff...
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Some of that, we have not plotted out, so we can't tell you. Some of it, we have plotted out, and it's relevant to future stories, so we can't tell you. And we can't tell you which is which, because that would spoil the plots.
Diane
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54244 is a reply to message #54220 ] |
Thu, 23 February 2012 19:45 |
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Nicky82
Messages: 1409
Registered: May 2011 |
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| Diane Castle wrote on Thu, 23 February 2012 21:01 | | curiousreader wrote on Wed, 22 February 2012 17:30 | Hey quick question did a lot of the significant historical event happen in the same way at the same time frame.
The Kennedy Assassination go down the same way and at the same time.
November 22, 1963?
In that same thread what about Watergate scandal would they have gotten out of that suit if they had a telepoter to get in and out?
In Vietnam, did the government secretly seen mutants in to Saigon to go behind enemy lines and disrupt the war for the north?
Just some thoughts flouting through the head while watching an episode of "Early Edition."
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Some of that, we have not plotted out, so we can't tell you. Some of it, we have plotted out, and it's relevant to future stories, so we can't tell you. And we can't tell you which is which, because that would spoil the plots.
Diane
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Personally I would think that the readers should be let know what the protagonists know (I would say the everage teenager will do as benchmark for the general definition of protagonist in WU, the setting is about students attending highschool), it allows to understand better the characters, maybe not the events cited by Curiousreader but other events that should logically be public knowledge be should be aviable to the readers.
Possible topics are:
- Superheroes, Supervillains and their organizations, what does people know about Dr Diabolik? Crucible? Cataclym? Deicide? The Deathmaiden? Deathlist? Champion? The Magus? Lady Astarte? The Amazing Three? The Empire City Guard? The New York scene in general? The Syndacate? The Grand Hall Of Sinister Wisdom?
- Organizations like the MCO, the DPA, the Vatican, the ARC
- Mutation, superpowers, origins, batson fatcors, dynamorphs, etc.
- Magic, its rules, the various types of entities
- Political movements like H1! and Evolution Rocks
- The Goodkinds and their activities
- The military, the MSOC, the Dragonslayers and the Butcher Row
It doesn't have to necessary be the truth, just the general perception about the subject, it shouldn't be spoilerific.
[Updated on: Thu, 23 February 2012 19:46]
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54267 is a reply to message #54244 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 04:29 |
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Diane Castle
Messages: 2511
Registered: September 2007
Location: Oregon, USA |
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| Nicky82 wrote on Thu, 23 February 2012 16:45 | Personally I would think that the readers should be let know what the protagonists know (I would say the everage teenager will do as benchmark for the general definition of protagonist in WU, the setting is about students attending highschool), it allows to understand better the characters, maybe not the events cited by Curiousreader but other events that should logically be public knowledge be should be aviable to the readers.
Possible topics are:
- Superheroes, Supervillains and their organizations, what does people know about Dr Diabolik? Crucible? Cataclym? Deicide? The Deathmaiden? Deathlist? Champion? The Magus? Lady Astarte? The Amazing Three? The Empire City Guard? The New York scene in general? The Syndacate? The Grand Hall Of Sinister Wisdom?
- Organizations like the MCO, the DPA, the Vatican, the ARC
- Mutation, superpowers, origins, batson fatcors, dynamorphs, etc.
- Magic, its rules, the various types of entities
- Political movements like H1! and Evolution Rocks
- The Goodkinds and their activities
- The military, the MSOC, the Dragonslayers and the Butcher Row
It doesn't have to necessary be the truth, just the general perception about the subject, it shouldn't be spoilerific.
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We've deliberately filled in a great deal of this kind of information. Some of it, you have to re-read stories to find. Some of it is in the canon materials section of the forum. Others will show up as stories touch upon them. But a great deal of this would fall into the 'common person never heard of it' or 'common person has completely skewed view of it' areas. We have provided a great deal of information about Dr. Diabolik and how his works impact Jadis' life. Just look through the stories where she appears. Even at Whateley, she's seen as the evil daughter of an evil murdering supervillain, with people regularly walking up to her and going ballistic because her dad killed their mother/father/sister/uncle/entire freaking family. Dr. Diabolik is responsible for deaths in the five digit range! (Around 17,000 at last listing by Jadis.)
So, after years of teasing, we unveiled Dr. Diabolik in all his evil, as he attacked Staci's town. What more could you want?
Similarly, you have gotten to see - bit by bit - a lot of other background information. How much would be enough? The Encyclopedia Whateleyanica? Do you really want one of us to put aside writing stories for a couple months in order to compile assorted background material that might never be relevant?
Diane
"WHO has deactivated my BEAUTIFUL frogs?"
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54284 is a reply to message #45021 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 15:16 |
Laudator
Messages: 953
Registered: February 2009 |
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The Whateley Uncyclopedia. Full of information, nearly all of which is false.
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54285 is a reply to message #54267 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 15:33 |
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Nicky82
Messages: 1409
Registered: May 2011 |
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| Diane Castle wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 10:29 | We've deliberately filled in a great deal of this kind of information. Some of it, you have to re-read stories to find. Some of it is in the canon materials section of the forum. Others will show up as stories touch upon them. But a great deal of this would fall into the 'common person never heard of it' or 'common person has completely skewed view of it' areas. We have provided a great deal of information about Dr. Diabolik and how his works impact Jadis' life. Just look through the stories where she appears. Even at Whateley, she's seen as the evil daughter of an evil murdering supervillain, with people regularly walking up to her and going ballistic because her dad killed their mother/father/sister/uncle/entire freaking family. Dr. Diabolik is responsible for deaths in the five digit range! (Around 17,000 at last listing by Jadis.)
So, after years of teasing, we unveiled Dr. Diabolik in all his evil, as he attacked Staci's town. What more could you want?
Similarly, you have gotten to see - bit by bit - a lot of other background information. How much would be enough? The Encyclopedia Whateleyanica? Do you really want one of us to put aside writing stories for a couple months in order to compile assorted background material that might never be relevant?
Diane
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So generally speaking we can assume that public opinion knowledge about mutants and paranormals in general comes from comix, news and Goodkind/MCO/H1! propaganda?
Just to know what is the general attitude towards the protagonists and the paranormal comunity in general.
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54286 is a reply to message #54285 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 15:51 |
Niknokitueu
Messages: 668
Registered: May 2011
Location: Swansea, UK |
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| Nicky82 wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 20:33 | So generally speaking we can assume that public opinion knowledge about mutants and paranormals in general comes from comix, news and Goodkind/MCO/H1! propaganda?
Just to know what is the general attitude towards the protagonists and the paranormal comunity in general.
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Well, that is all a part of the joy of the way it is set up.
In a city, people will tend to be more exposed to supers, but will also tend to be more hostile to their existence.
In rural areas, you can pretty much grab the ball and run any which way with it. Whether it is a few nice people in a H1-dominated town or a single bigot in a well-adjusted and well-informed town, all things are possible.
Decide the level of knowledge you want, and the typical behaviour of the average person, then work out a way to justify such knowledge and behaviour.
You could have a very well-informed townsfolk that is still hostile - maybe they had a super roll through their town a few years ago, and may even still be rebuilding.
You could have a badly-informed townsfolk that is tolerant and trusting. After all, there are some in real life.
You could have well-informed that are nice, or ignorant that are nasty, or any combination that you want.
Just come up with a justification, and run with it.
Have Fun!
Niknokitueu
Do, or Do Not. There is no Try.
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54290 is a reply to message #54285 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 17:50 |
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Diane Castle
Messages: 2511
Registered: September 2007
Location: Oregon, USA |
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| Nicky82 wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 12:33 | So generally speaking we can assume that public opinion knowledge about mutants and paranormals in general comes from comix, news and Goodkind/MCO/H1! propaganda?
Just to know what is the general attitude towards the protagonists and the paranormal comunity in general.
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And FOX News. And superhero 'watch' shows, which try to get footage of superhero - supervillain battles, deliberately making the heroes look more heroic and the villains look more evil, no matter what is really going on.
In a place like Birmingham, Alabama, you might have most people having never seen a real mutant in their lives, just what they've read in newspaper and seen on teevee and been told by friends. After all, how many superpowered individuals are there in a place like, say, Alabama? Or Albania? Or Angola?
The answer is that there may be so few that ordinary people are more likely to be seriously injured in a bathroom accident.
Diane
"WHO has deactivated my BEAUTIFUL frogs?"
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54293 is a reply to message #54290 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 19:35 |
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Nicky82
Messages: 1409
Registered: May 2011 |
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| Diane Castle wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 23:50 | | Nicky82 wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 12:33 | So generally speaking we can assume that public opinion knowledge about mutants and paranormals in general comes from comix, news and Goodkind/MCO/H1! propaganda?
Just to know what is the general attitude towards the protagonists and the paranormal comunity in general.
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And FOX News. And superhero 'watch' shows, which try to get footage of superhero - supervillain battles, deliberately making the heroes look more heroic and the villains look more evil, no matter what is really going on.
In a place like Birmingham, Alabama, you might have most people having never seen a real mutant in their lives, just what they've read in newspaper and seen on teevee and been told by friends. After all, how many superpowered individuals are there in a place like, say, Alabama? Or Albania? Or Angola?
The answer is that there may be so few that ordinary people are more likely to be seriously injured in a bathroom accident.
Diane
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I don't see FOX News here in Italy but from what I've been able to understand it's more entertainment than information, either that or a lot of garbage, is it any better in WU? What is its position about mutants?
And how much influence the Goodkinds have over the massmedias?
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54301 is a reply to message #54294 ] |
Fri, 24 February 2012 21:06 |
Niknokitueu
Messages: 668
Registered: May 2011
Location: Swansea, UK |
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| Sir Lee wrote on Sat, 25 February 2012 00:35 | It's 2007, guys. Even on rural areas, people will google for it. Well, perhaps they will have to drive into town and *then* google for it.
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More accurately, people can google it, rather than they will google it.
There are an awful lot of 'sheeple' out there that accept the first source of news they get. And if it happens to be a less than reputable source, well that's people for you.
Given how easy it is to find the truth of any fact you want, it is surprising how many people are ignorant of what is happening.
Perfect example: I am an intelligent person, as is my wife. (Actually, I think she is more intelligent than me, just less educated). Back about a year or so before the Iraq war, I heared a news article where the then prime minister (Tony Blair) gave a somewhat biased speech against Saddam Hussein (sp?). I remember remarking to my wife "There is going to be a war".
Remember, here, that all official news channels were carrying more of the PM's words along the lines of 'no we are not considering sending armed forces into Iraq'. And all the 'pro-government' red-top papers were passing on that 'fact'.
Lucy, having accepted what was being said at face value, called me on it. I (being sane) took back my statement (despite still being sure of myself). When we did invade Iraq I reminded her of our discussion, but she had not remembered it (it was not important enough to have stuck in her mind).
The point still stands, though. The massed media were all reporting one set of facts, whilst reading between the lines I could see that something else was going on.
You would be surprised how many people 'know' things that are just plain wrong. Those of any religious faith can point to everyone that does not share their faith and 'know' the others are wrong, whilst they are right. This applies equally well to any aspect of belief (not just religious belief), especially when 'facts' are being reported.
I try to listen to as many differing news sources as possible, and then try to draw my own conclusions on the 'facts' that are presented. I am constantly amazed by how many people just take their 'normal' source of 'facts' as being true, and never think to try to corroborate the information.
My 2p.
Have Fun!
Niknokitueu
[Updated on: Sat, 25 February 2012 21:25]
Do, or Do Not. There is no Try.
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54316 is a reply to message #54293 ] |
Sat, 25 February 2012 03:23 |
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Diane Castle
Messages: 2511
Registered: September 2007
Location: Oregon, USA |
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| Nicky82 wrote on Fri, 24 February 2012 16:35 | I don't see FOX News here in Italy but from what I've been able to understand it's more entertainment than information, either that or a lot of garbage, is it any better in WU? What is its position about mutants?
And how much influence the Goodkinds have over the massmedias?
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Many people feel that liberals have too great an influence on the media, and see FOX News as the antidote. Many people feel the first claim is specious, and FOX News is too conservative. And many people feel that both extremities have too great an influence on the media.
Okay, RIGHT NOW, leet me beg people not to get started on who is right and who is wrong. There is no answer to that, and it will only lead to a flamewar, and me locking this thread. Okay? No replies to the above paragraph. Please.
That said, in the Whateley Universe, the Goodkinds own so many media outlets worldwide that they can control far more than you would expect. Even if you live well outside the U.S.
And what they don't outright own, they can still affect through advertising dollars. Who wants to get their major advertisers mad enough to yank all their commercials? The people who are famous for doing that kind of thing in our world pretty much lost their programs and ended up as C-list or D-list celebrities. Anyone ever heard of Henry Morgan?
Diane
"WHO has deactivated my BEAUTIFUL frogs?"
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54318 is a reply to message #45021 ] |
Sat, 25 February 2012 03:41 |
khade
Messages: 1639
Registered: May 2011
Location: Rockies |
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I know you said not to, but my answer is too good, I don't pretend to understand politics or politians or celebrities or whatever, but I read a book once, known as The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and it had a comforting answer, I'm sure you all know it.
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My opologizes, if this gets this topic locked.
Edit
Oh, who was Henry Morgan, anyway?
[Updated on: Sat, 25 February 2012 03:42]
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54321 is a reply to message #54301 ] |
Sat, 25 February 2012 03:58 |
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Sojiro
Messages: 1676
Registered: November 2011 |
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| Niknokitueu wrote on Sat, 25 February 2012 03:06 | You would be surprised how many people 'know' things that are just plain wrong.
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Ostriches bury their head into the sand.
Lemmings occasionally kill themselves.
Spinach have lots of iron.
Etc...
Once a mistake makes its way to a reference book, it can take a stick in "common knowledge" for a LONG time.
And more relevant to the post above, the way the brain works makes it very hard to avoid being brainwashed by the media. For example, the brain is very bad at remembering the context of a learned information. For example you won't be surprised to learn that experience shows that hearing a piece of information repeated by 12 different source will have a very strong tendency to stick in people's mind (since they've been hearing it all over the place, it starts being accepted as "common knowledge" that "everyone knows!"). But would you have guessed that studies shows that the same source repeating the same piece of information 12 times is almost exactly as effective? That's because our brain just remember hearing it and doesn't bother cataloging the source. So unless you make a very deliberate effort to put the facts back in context, hearing something from a shitty fake report from Fox News or heavily supported in a serious press article, it will have roughly the same effect on your brain.
More frightening, the brain usually only remembers the core information and dismiss the rest. So reading an article whose title is "Senator Loopy denies all tie to gay bordello", or "What links the Senator Loopy and the gay bordello?" or "No connection whatsoever found between Senator Loopy and gay bordello" all have similar effect! The majority of people only remember having heard about Senator Loopy and a "gay bordello" in the same place, so both items have their memory space strengthened (you heard about them once more) and linked. Additionally, in that previous example if the body of the text is the exact same between all articles (and only the title changes), people will tend to remember Senator Loopy as being responsible for the gay bordello significantly more often in the first articles rather than the last. Only changing the title a little bit to make it more or less biased will have a large effect even if 99.9% of the material (ie : the entire text) is the same.
And let us not even get into Asch experiment's, which deals with how hearing other's opinion can literally warp your perception of reality.
People are much more vulnerable to manipulation than you'd think. Even those that are highly educated and think critically and usually check their sources and such. The brain simply has too many blind spots that can be exploited. (and as often with blind spots, most don't even realize those exists so they can't fight them effectively)
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| Re: Background and Backstory [message #54322 is a reply to message #54316 ] |
Sat, 25 February 2012 04:00 |
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Sojiro
Messages: 1676
Registered: November 2011 |
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| Diane Castle wrote on Sat, 25 February 2012 09:23 | Who wants to get their major advertisers mad enough to yank all their commercials? The people who are famous for doing that kind of thing in our world pretty much lost their programs and ended up as C-list or D-list celebrities. Anyone ever heard of Henry Morgan?
Diane
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Nope, never heard of that person.
Which might very well be your point!
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