Homesuck: Vriska Rising

[Archbio]

I just realized that at the rate things are going, my three least favorite trolls (Vriska, Eridan, Gamzee, in some order) are going to be the three who survive the longest.

Three obnoxious characters, plus a character that's pretty much a cypher to the audience at this point (Aradia.)

Joy.

This was exactly the most true-to-character way Equius could have died: Getting off on being sadistically dominated by a higher-blooded troll.

It doesn't make the sequence feel any less sadistic.

[Solid Snake]

Originally Posted by Archbio

It doesn't make the sequence feel any less sadistic.

It's interesting to think about the recent character deaths from a big-picture thematic perspective of the ideals or "lessons" enforced by the narrative, as so far, each and every one of those "morals" is ridiculously grim.

The villains (or anti-heroes, if you buy Hussie's interpretation of Vriska) always win.
The heroes always lose.
You cannot defy fate.
Life is futile and hopeless.
If you are less powerful than your opponent, you might as well not try.
Attempting to confront evil will result in your demise.
If you have been bullied into submission and (literally) been physically handicapped due to said tormenting, you totally deserved it and your tormentor will kick your ass after you've rejected her advances. You're a wuss.
If a crush rejects you, it's her fault and she should die for it, particularly if she's female because women can't make romantic decisions for themselves.
Someone finding the act of being choked to death sexually arousing is somehow funny.

I'm kind of hoping the kids at least bite the trends. If the trolls are just like a precautionary tragic tale for the kids to avoid, I think I could live with that. If this is supposed to actually foreshadow future conflicts arising among the kids that result in them killing each other nonchalantly, well, that's when I probably stop reading Homestuck.

[Kim]

Was mostly enjoying the death trend, cuz I found the deaths enjoyable, but wasn't attached to any troll enough to feel super bad about a death. I liked seeing the good ones die because it was just more interesting, and I did enjoy that it came out of nowhere. However, at this point, I'm not enjoying it as much, not because of anything I dislike about the deaths, but because there've been so damn many of them at this point that they've really ceased to matter. The troll cast was too large for their inevitable deaths to be truly enjoyable.

[Solid Snake]

" THERE ARE BIGGER FUCKING FISH TO FRY, PEOPLE."

Man I'm sure there must be, like, hundreds of really annoying questions on Formspring that Andrew doesn't want to have to deal with questioning his decisions, and many of them are probably worded poorly, but even still, show some goddamned respect for people who support your product by reading your shit, Andrew.

Also, really, stop choosing the most antagonistically-worded hostile criticisms just to make your readers look like assholes so you could wave your superiority complex in our faces. Seriously, I (and I'm sure many others) wrote virtually the exact same question as that poster, only I did so in a way that was actually taciturn and respectful, and in such a manner that you could have feasibly responded to the question asked with courtesy and engage in real discussion.

It's strange that I can love an author's webcomic but hate his blog simultaneously and with such dualistic passion.

[Overcast]

He really doesn't have time for real discussion, and I'm guessing after taking the time to answer so many some odd questions he is becoming steadily more jaded and apathetic to what other people care about since it is his story and they are questioning how he is leading it.

[Solid Snake]

I'm firmly of the belief that remotely decent human beings who happen to be authors, screenwriters, or creators of any sort are actually capable of handling criticism from supportive readers in a constructive, or at least polite, fashion.

If nothing else it's kind of Etiquette 101. The problem with responding exclusively to the "criticisms" that are most idiotic and that portray him in as the pitiable target of unfathomable stupidity is that in doing so he intentionally attempts to typecast all critics of his work into that categorization, while avoiding what could potentially be a frank, honest and open discussion about his creative decision-making.

Or hell, just put everything on lockdown and refuse to answer any questions on formspring until after the product's finished.

Whatever you do, don't treat the people who've made you and your webcomic into an internet success story like a bunch of assholes to be degraded for daring to raise an objection against your impeccable, flawless, untouchable work of untold beauty.
...because sounding like an arrogant and careless douche really only makes Andrew increasingly comparable to the bastard child of Vriska and Eridan.

[PCD]

It's a bit odd to think that, as someone who started out almost entirely writing his stories off the suggestions and ideas of his readers, now he couldn't give less of a shit what anyone thinks of what he's writing but him.

On the one level, I can respect that he has what he wants in mind, and he's working towards it regardless of what others think, because this is a story he's writing as he wants. On another, it's unbelievably aggravating the way he words his responses, to make it feel like he no longer has respect for anyone who's not him, and never concedes on points, because it's more entertaining to chew out the people who have angrier and poorly-worded complaints than thought out ones.

[Overcast]

Though you have to remember that his webcomics have become increasingly more popular the less he has allowed the reader to have a part in the story. Jailbreak was an outright failure, he rectified this a bit with Problem Sleuth, and then outright threw us out in Homestuck. We aren't worth a lot besides being those who appreciate his work, and an artist doesn't need to be a nice person. Most in fact are terrible people, it is how they overcome criticism from people they believe don't actually know what they are talking about.

Now I'm not saying what he is doing is right, but I don't read his foamspring anymore and I'd really advise most people to not do it either. Because I'm only here to read his work and move on, his on a list of a many webcomics I check on a m, w, f basis.

[Krylo]

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

I'm firmly of the belief that remotely decent human beings who happen to be authors, screenwriters, or creators of any sort are actually capable of handling criticism from supportive readers in a constructive, or at least polite, fashion.

I think the problem is you are assuming that a work enjoyed entirely on the internet and given an unmoderated and mostly anonymous method of communication with the author is going to have rude comments as the exception, as opposed to the rule.

[Specterbane]

I know it's a lot on there, but if you read the "new reader?" page it does well to explain his reasoning behind what he does.

Also, back on topic, Equius died predictably in character. Which is a shame, I think he would've lived if he'd grown out of his obsession over the bloodlines, but THAT'S THE POINT. I'm still thinking this shows that the trolls actually missed the point of the game because of using their psychic powers and other general prowess to power through the game without following the typical path that allows takes then through maturity in their quest.

It seems like trolls are naturally selfish and impatient, so what were seeing could be the natural state of trolls that aren't focused on subjugating other races and planets; hence the need for moirals and that crap. I think that's been pretty well established through any of the troll arcs. As far as it being murder after murder, we didn't see the whole troll adventure to begin with; all of the troll stuff that isn't direct interaction with the kids has been rushed up to this point so why shouldn't this be too? The answer is because it should still be rushed, no matter how much the fans care about the trolls.