Bartending live

[noteablekiller]

Who: You
Where: The lobby
When: Day 87

[Codex is on camera, speaking to everyone from the lobby, it's obvious he's arranged chairs and set out glasses to facilitate some bar tending]

Did anyone receive fanmail they'd like to respond to? If so, come down to the lobby and use BARiTONES live, we'll be providing free drinks for anyone responding publicly to their mail.

Think of this as a way to encourage the sort of audience engagement you're interested in. I realize fanmail is often... invasive, but I'm sure most of you have fans you wouldn't mind hearing from again.


[You are free to assume you already got a drink from Codex and are sitting down to address mail, or to top level a comment to Codex and he'll respond!]

Comments

DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

[Erika holds a glass of champagne in one hand, and holds aloft in the other a single piece of fanmail, which reads:

enh go back to hell not moe enough]

Thank you for your input, member of the audience. However, I'm going to have to disagree. I'm demonstrably "moe" enough to be on this show, since I successfully earned my place here to start with. Whether that means that I'm extremely "moe," or that the standards of "moe" for being here are extremely low, who can say...?

[giggles]

Well, I could say my opinion. But, would anyone like to debate it with me?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

[amused, and decides to play along, he does want points]

Since the audience can't exactly comment, I'll take up their argument for them.

Obviously, they are not concerned with the show's standards, but their own. The message is as much for the producers as it is for you; they must want the show runners to know they prefer more 'moe' entertainment.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

[pleased]

The producers will see the message, of course, but it was sent to me. And "go back to hell" is certainly directed at me. The message isn't phrased as a statement of dissatisfaction with the show, it's phrased as an attempt to discourage me into going back where I came from. If that was their goal, even the sort of fans this show has could do a better job of swaying the producers than a personal, petty complaint with absolutely nothing behind it.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

Viewers of the show also know you can't go back to where you've come from, no matter how discouraged, so I think you are looking at it too literally.

At the heart, it's more of a challenge. "Be more moe". Crudely phrased, but a clear indication of what they want, both to you and the show runners. You could try to appeal more, and the producers could keep the fans tastes more in mind when choosing their idols.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

No, your premise is incorrect. I can, literally, go back to hell. I earned my way here from there, and if I fail here I don't doubt I'd be sent back there. My main asset—apart from my intelligence, which of course is less relevant in the idol genre—is my confidence. It's absolutely an attempt to discourage me.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

[lifts his eyebrows, caught off guard by that]

Ah, so you are one those with memories, then...?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Correct. You know others, then...?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

I've heard of several, but none as forthcoming about it.

To stay on topic, though. To the best of your knowledge, is your path of failure here any different from the rest of us? Specifically, can you choose to return to hell, or would you have to just be unappealing enough to be rejected?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

I'm not aware of any option to do that willingly, but there's absolutely no circumstances under which I would, so I haven't asked.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

Then, I don't see how you got here impacts the interpretation of the letter. We all most likely 'go to hell' if we fail, but how does that benefit the sender... unless you suspect it's someone who knows you personally?

Since you obviously would never 'go to hell', the unstated option, that you conform to their desires of you and become more moe, is the true intention of the letter.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

It benefits them by having another idol in my place who may be more to their taste. Surely anyone could see from watching me for a few minutes that their chances are much better with that than with me seeing that letter and conforming to their desires.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

You said yourself that there's absolutely no circumstance under which you'd go back to hell willingly. So... what if the requirements to stay on the show were to be more moe?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

They're not.

Or are you planning on playing the moe angle yourself?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

My fans seem more hopeful that they'll get the chance to watch me cry.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

And if that's the requirement for you to say on the show...? I'd be happy to help with that one.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

I'm not worried about that, just yet. I was only arguing the hypothetical position of someone I've never met, afterall. 'Moe' isn't to my taste, either.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

In that case, regardless of if they were trying to convince me or the producers, I think we can agree that it's a ridiculous request to start with.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

And petulant. Was that the only fanmail you received?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

It was. Well, I haven't been here long. I'm sure I'll receive something more interesting next time.

Do you have any you're planning to respond to, yourself?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

No, I haven't received anything I particularly want to encourage. Maybe next time.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

What sort of things would you encourage?

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

Hmmm... I don't especially need any stuffed animals, either. But I wouldn't mind some fan engagement. Maybe I should ask them to send in their favorite cocktail recipes.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

That seems both boring and overly optimistic, as a request.

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[noteablekiller]

I'm not against hearing suggestions...

Re: DEBATE LIVE

[thinkoutsidethebox]

Hmm.

What do you think they're looking for...? Not the audience. The ones running this. The ones who matter.