The Index of the Giant's Comments V―On a Saner Forum, We Wouldn't Need this Index

[unbeliever536]

I think these particular tweets contain enough context to stand on their own; as opposed to the question-and-answer routine a few years ago, where the Giant's tweets were just the answers.

I'd like to know what the Giant is confirming as "correct" in the second tweet.

Edit:

The question being answered is

So it did not exist before this instantiation? This is its first experience?

Given this, I'd suggest transcribing the second tweet as "[Greg did not exist before possessing Durkon], though obviously..." if it is to be transcribed.

[Gwynfrid]

Looks like these are valid to include, except the item about Malack and "Durkon" being free-willed, which is redundant with this quote.

[137beth]

Here's a minor quote that seems to have slipped the thread's notice:
On the increased use of half-panels.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I’d be okay with including, probably under the art section, I’m guessing.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I’d be okay with including, probably under the art section, I’m guessing.

I find that "The comic is using more half-page images" is not something we need to record as having been verified by the author. We can just point to the comic and state that indeed, there is more of them than there used to.

GW

[Kish]

I'm inclined to think that his answer is indicative of there being no valid information there as well: he's using more half-pages because he's using more half-page splash panels. It's an inch away from a tautology.

[Emanick]

Yeah, I err on the side of inclusion more than the average person here, but I also don’t think that merits indexing.

[Jasdoif]

Been a busy week....

• Vampires being negative energy spirits shaped by its hosts darkest impulses...is expressly stated in the comic. We already have quotes about assuming accuracy in the text and dialog conveying non-visual information, so I'm not seeing what makes this specific instance of the general case to be worth including. (If I'm reading all these recent posts right, that makes it 5 in favor of including it, 3 against)
• Hel preloading HPoH with instructions during his inception seems new, and probably worth including. (8 for, 0 against)
• The tweet about vampires and free will...well, what I find interesting about it is the opening sentence tying species to which deity the vampire spirit; I remember some posts contesting whether Hel would be responsible for creating the vampire spirit for a dwarf would worshipped a pantheon other than the Northern gods, so this seems viable enough to include. (2 for, 6 against)
• As for half-panels and half-panels....Well, I want to make some comment about half-and-half and homogenization, but I suspect I'd be trying to milk more value out of the post than it actually contains...so I'm thinking it doesn't need to be included. (2 for, 4 against)

[unbeliever536]

Been a busy week....

• Vampires being negative energy spirits shaped by its hosts darkest impulses...is expressly stated in the comic. We already have quotes about assuming accuracy in the text and dialog conveying non-visual information, so I'm not seeing what makes this specific instance of the general case to be worth including. (If I'm reading all these recent posts right, that makes it 5 in favor of including it, 3 against)
• Hel preloading HPoH with instructions during his inception seems new, and probably worth including. (8 for, 0 against)
• The tweet about vampires and free will...well, what I find interesting about it is the opening sentence tying species to which deity the vampire spirit; I remember some posts contesting whether Hel would be responsible for creating the vampire spirit for a dwarf would worshipped a pantheon other than the Northern gods, so this seems viable enough to include. (2 for, 6 against)
• As for half-panels and half-panels....Well, I want to make some comment about half-and-half and homogenization, but I suspect I'd be trying to milk more value out of the post than it actually contains...so I'm thinking it doesn't need to be included. (2 for, 4 against)

• I think an explicit answer to a question that has been raised (is Greg's information on the nature of vampires completely accurate or colored by his biases and character flaws) is worth including despite the fact that we have some general answers already, since it's come up multiple times on the forum.
• I've said my piece on this one.
• This tweet is almost directly duplicative of the other vampire cleric post we have. I don't think the implication that Malack's vampire was made by Nergal because of his race is enough to warrant inclusion.
• Someone wondered why there were more half-panels and the Giant's answer was essentially "because I like them". Not really seeing any information there.

(I'm not sure how this adjusts your counts)

[Jasdoif]

I've said my piece on this one.

Your piece doesn't seem to include a preference on whether or not it should be included, though.

[unbeliever536]

Your piece doesn't seem to include a preference on whether or not it should be included, though.

Oh. Um, oops. Count me in favor please.

[Jasdoif]

OK; that would put the first tweet right at the threshold to be included without the possibility of a vote, the second tweet retains unanimous support, and the other two are under water (which probably means it's a little late for them to get ponchos).

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That makes the tentative list....

The Nature of Vampirism "...a negative energy consciousness created in the shape of your own worst impulses, stuffed into your dead body to animate it."	#1112	02/13/2018	Tentative, appears will be included without vote.
HPoH ( ) Didn't Exist Before Durkon Was Vampirized Though he arrived "with certain knowledge, like language and whatever Hel told it to do as she was shoving it in there."	#1112	02/13/2018	Tentative, appears will be included without vote.

Planning on getting to an update cycle on Wednesday; that should be adequate time to get more input on any of the four quotes mentioned and/or critique my wording.

[tomandtish]

Put me as include for first three and omit for last one.

[Jasdoif]

Okay, that puts the third quote...very close.

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Yes, the last is a briefer repeat of an existing, more detailed, forum post. The second one is probably worth including - the morsel about Hel having pre-loaded Greg with whatever information she felt he would need (which would include the Plan to destroy the world, plus whatever carrots she offered to purchase his loyalty) is definitely something I can see myself having to refer back to.

The first quote is generic enough that I think it is also a repeat of some other quote, so we probably can skip it.

Grey Wolf

I'm for including the first quote too. Like the person who asked the question, I was unclear on whether the HPoH was correct/telling the truth in what he was saying. And I've read all The Giant's quotes on vampires a few times, so I don't think this was old information simply being rephrased.

Doublechecking: Is that a yes, no, or don't care about the

Yes, as a lizard-snake-thing, Malack was made by Nergal. But both he and Durkon's vampire are equally free-willed. He follows Hel's orders because he's a *cleric*, not because he's a vampire. Choosing to obey is still a choice.

tweet? I've been assuming you quoted Grey_Wolf_c because you agreed about it not needing to be included (because of the already indexed posts); but now that the tweet's in one-vote range between "don't include" and "include but may be voted on", I want to be sure.

[martianmister]

Include all.

[Kish]

I'm voting "no" on including the free-willed quote; it has no information that isn't already in the Index.

[Jasdoif]

Okay, the last two have been pushed into vote-able range. So:

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The Nature of Vampirism "...a negative energy consciousness created in the shape of your own worst impulses, stuffed into your dead body to animate it."	#1112	02/13/2018	Tentative, appears will be included without vote.
HPoH ( ) Didn't Exist Before Durkon Was Vampirized Though he arrived "with certain knowledge, like language and whatever Hel told it to do as she was shoving it in there."	#1112	02/13/2018	Tentative, appears will be included without vote.
Malack was made by Nergal But Malack and HPoH ( ) follow their creator gods' orders because they're clerics, not because they're vampires.	#1112	02/13/2018	Tentative, appears will be eligible for vote.
On Half Panels and Half-Page Splash Panels	#1086	07/27/2017	Tentative, appears will be eligible for vote.

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If anyone wants to make more arguments for/against or contest wording (particularly those last two, which are sitting right on the threshold), now's the time....

[Keltest]

Isnt the third one almost word-for-word identical to a forum post already in the index?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Isnt the third one almost word-for-word identical to a forum post already in the index?

Déjà vu

GW

[Jasdoif]

Isnt the third one almost word-for-word identical to a forum post already in the index?

Almost, yes; that's why the part that's new is what I based the title on. (Does this mean you're not in favor of including it?)

[Keltest]

Almost, yes; that's why the part that's new is what I based the title on. (Does this mean you're not in favor of including it?)

Yes, yes it does.

[Jasdoif]

Well, Keltest's reversal sunk the free will one. That said, I did said I'd try to get to this on Wednesday, and here we are.

So....

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UPDATE COMING, CALLING FOR PMs TO REQUIRE VOTES

Anyone thinking the entry marked "Accepting PMs to require vote" should not be included in the Index should send me a private message, saying the entry should require a vote. (The default is to include, an item not voted on will be included in the Index.) If I get PMs from two or more people about the particular entry, it will be voted on to decide inclusion; the vote will be the next stage, and I'll announce it when the vote is ready.

A couple of the quotes below reached strong consensus already. A vote is considered unnecessary in these cases, so they will be included.

Proposed Items for Index 5.5
The Nature of Vampirism "...a negative energy consciousness created in the shape of your own worst impulses, stuffed into your dead body to animate it."	#1112	02/13/2018	No vote required, will be included.
HPoH ( ) Didn't Exist Before Durkon Was Vampirized Though he arrived "with certain knowledge, like language and whatever Hel told it to do as she was shoving it in there."	#1112	02/13/2018	No vote required, will be included.
On Half Panels and Half-Page Splash Panels	#1086	07/27/2017	Accepting PMs to require vote. PM threshold met, vote required.

PMs will be accepted until Februrary 23th, 9PM EST already. I'll try to update the table if/when entries get sufficient PMs.

To send me a PM, click my username (The vaguely-pronounceable(?)-looking word above the spellcasting-and-invocation-using banana with purple hair) and select "Private Message". Or I guess you could click here. Anyway, include the title of the entry you're nominating in the message. Mentioning something about "Index Nomination" in the subject line would be helpful.

A few final reminders:

• Don't post suggestions to require votes. They're sent by PM to avoid filling up the thread with them, posts will not be counted.
• Only PM for entries you think should be excluded. They'll be included if they don't receive sufficient nominations.
• We're not voting on the entries yet. The voting will be the next stage, assuming a vote is required; I'll call for the vote at an appropriate time.
• There's still a banana in charge. Hi.

Further discussion of entries is encouraged at this point. In particular, recommendations for different titles and descriptions for the quote entries are things I'd be happy to consider.

[Peelee]

A few final reminders:

• There's still a banana in charge. Hi.

This always makes me happy.

[Jasdoif]

Looks like we're having a formal vote this year!

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Item up for voting:

• On Half Panels and Half-Page Splash Panels

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• Please bold your yes/no votes, it'll make it easier for me to notice when I go through and count everything.
• Please avoid discussing the quote itself, outside of giving an explanation for your vote in the same post as your vote. This'll make it easier to catch up after the vote, if a new quote comes along while we're still voting.
• Per Rule F4, inclusion by vote requires a quote to have two more votes in favor than votes against.

Voting will be open until February 24th, 8PM EST.

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A few final reminders:

• There's still a banana in charge. Hi.

This always makes me happy.

I'm glad the Polymorph Incident has managed to improve the quality of life for someone

[Keltest]

I vote No. I don't think its entirely without merit, but its tautological enough and easy enough to point out on our own that it moves into clutter territory for me.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Item up for voting:

• On Half Panels and Half-Page Splash Panels

No. We don't need a WoG confirmation of a basic tautological fact about the comic.

Grey Wolf

[Emanick]

No. While I support the fact that we’re holding a vote this year - wheeee! - I don’t support including something that doesn’t actually tell us anything new.

[Peelee]

No. I wouldn't say it's tautological, but I would say it's saying of the same thing twice in different words.

[Kish]

No to recursion.

[5a Violista]

I vote YES because it (implicitly) says that there's no other underlying motives (financial, experimental, artistic, complexity, etc) for the use of half-pages: in regards to page layout aesthetics, the sole difference between older books and newer books is the increased use of half-page splash panels. Or, simply put, the author thinks it looks/flows better this way.