It’s one thing to cut down on goading/bullying/etc., and another to cut out joking, teasing and the like.
I prefer to encourage creative insultery. Study Epic Rap Battles of History. Insult wars are a way to test two sides of the equation: the wit to come up with good targeted insults, and the poise to be hit by targeted insults without losing your cool. The ideal targeted insult compares one of your flaws to one of my strengths, and could only come from me and could only be targeted at you — it’s the opposite of the generic “you’re stupid” and “you’re ugly” and “you’re gay” that are just, well, lazy.
(I figured out a couple years ago that telling people in e.g. the YouTube comment section that they should stop using “gay” as an insult isn’t likely to have much effect… but telling them that their insult is “lazy” or similarly uninspired might possibly have a greater effect, so I’ve been giving that a try.)
The kids who aren’t bullies, but just feel they have to cut someone down (one off bullying behavior), often loose steam when your Dad has given you potent Latin names of some slug, squid, or jellyfish. Took the starch right out of their sails if they were insulting me in a group. They loose their steam when they have to ask you, “Wait, what does that mean?”
Kudos on Todd, for calling her out but not make a big deal out of it.
Another cool thing, even though the girls have issues with each other, they accepted the “sisters” thing pretty much right away. Especially Amanda – even though I’m not a fan of her credit’s due: she never disputed Selkie being less of a “daughter” to Todd than herself.
If I was going to shake anything I’d shake the multiverse.
In fact it reminds me of the time I played in a multiverse dungeons and dragons campaign. We were playing newly or nearly accended beings. My character used a lyre of destruction, that had been improved into a circular organ/harp to summon a band of demons and instruments to perform a song of destruction. Resulted in destroying an entire reality and the adjacent 12. So thirteen realities just gone completely erased and reformated. But we succeeded in destroying the evil restaurant/bar/tavern.
Okay, -now- I see a legitimate pair of siblings in Selkie and Amanda.
Now, when all of a sudden Amanda and Selkie inevitably get into a violent punch-up that results in at least two bruised eyes, one concussion and a broken limb; it will be because that’s what siblings do sometimes. It’ll happen maybe a few times a year – perhaps every week on Sunday like clockwork – because that’s what siblings do, especially when one of them (be it from trauma or brain chemistry) is especially short-fused.
And now, I fully expect that when teenagerhood drama starts to cool down, and the pair of them have freedom and control over their own lives (and possibly their own living spaces separate from each other), they’ll actually discover that sisters make really Good Friends.
Thank you. 🙂
Well, neither of them are likely to be into pretty floral bonnets…
^ like….
“likely” as in “probably” as in “they probably are not going to like those things”
his grammar was correct, you made a mistake trying to fix it
I think he was saying he liked the previous comment.
YES
It’s one thing to cut down on goading/bullying/etc., and another to cut out joking, teasing and the like.
I prefer to encourage creative insultery. Study Epic Rap Battles of History. Insult wars are a way to test two sides of the equation: the wit to come up with good targeted insults, and the poise to be hit by targeted insults without losing your cool. The ideal targeted insult compares one of your flaws to one of my strengths, and could only come from me and could only be targeted at you — it’s the opposite of the generic “you’re stupid” and “you’re ugly” and “you’re gay” that are just, well, lazy.
(I figured out a couple years ago that telling people in e.g. the YouTube comment section that they should stop using “gay” as an insult isn’t likely to have much effect… but telling them that their insult is “lazy” or similarly uninspired might possibly have a greater effect, so I’ve been giving that a try.)
Well, quoting Firefly certainly qualifies as creative insultery. “I aim to misbehave” indeed.
NICE Malcolm Reynolds quote, Dave. You just helped me start the week very nicely.
The kids who aren’t bullies, but just feel they have to cut someone down (one off bullying behavior), often loose steam when your Dad has given you potent Latin names of some slug, squid, or jellyfish. Took the starch right out of their sails if they were insulting me in a group. They loose their steam when they have to ask you, “Wait, what does that mean?”
If you recall, Selkie *did* school Amanda in the proper Sarnothi insultery to be used against Tehk. Sisterly advice indeed.
Just wait until you get large enough to toss galaxies at each other like frisbees. That’s when it gets weird.
And don’t forget a towel!
Adorable!!!
Bwahahahahaha. I like how todd kind of surrenders at that point.
Kudos on Todd, for calling her out but not make a big deal out of it.
Another cool thing, even though the girls have issues with each other, they accepted the “sisters” thing pretty much right away. Especially Amanda – even though I’m not a fan of her credit’s due: she never disputed Selkie being less of a “daughter” to Todd than herself.
If I was going to shake anything I’d shake the multiverse.
In fact it reminds me of the time I played in a multiverse dungeons and dragons campaign. We were playing newly or nearly accended beings. My character used a lyre of destruction, that had been improved into a circular organ/harp to summon a band of demons and instruments to perform a song of destruction. Resulted in destroying an entire reality and the adjacent 12. So thirteen realities just gone completely erased and reformated. But we succeeded in destroying the evil restaurant/bar/tavern.
Aw, such good sisters. 🙂
“I would never backstab you, because I demand a fair fight!”
… And may the gods be kind to any idiot that tries to harm one of them in the other’s presence.
Aww, she’s giving her a warning and a chance to fight back! They really ARE sisters. <3
So I guess “beyond the stars” isn’t the same as “into the black”
Okay, -now- I see a legitimate pair of siblings in Selkie and Amanda.
Now, when all of a sudden Amanda and Selkie inevitably get into a violent punch-up that results in at least two bruised eyes, one concussion and a broken limb; it will be because that’s what siblings do sometimes. It’ll happen maybe a few times a year – perhaps every week on Sunday like clockwork – because that’s what siblings do, especially when one of them (be it from trauma or brain chemistry) is especially short-fused.
And now, I fully expect that when teenagerhood drama starts to cool down, and the pair of them have freedom and control over their own lives (and possibly their own living spaces separate from each other), they’ll actually discover that sisters make really Good Friends.
I mean, that’s the story of my brother and I.
… Shiny.
Beautiful dialogue, Dave:)
Yeah, that sounds about right. On par with the “witty reparte” my sisters and I would get to . 🙂