Re: XX Questions, Game LXXI
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 2:03 pm
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But doesn't the answer 'yes' to the questions 'dead?' imply that the character was real and has died? In a sense, all fictional characters are not alive, strictly speaking. But are they dead? Generations of real characters from the future aren't alive yet. Does that mean that they are already dead, or dead 'still'? I remember we had this discussion aeons ago, and I'm just too lazy to try to dig it out.
As far as I know, this is how it works:Szpoti wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:16 pmBut doesn't the answer 'yes' to the questions 'dead?' imply that the character was real and has died? In a sense, all fictional characters are not alive, strictly speaking. But are they dead? Generations of real characters from the future aren't alive yet. Does that mean that they are already dead, or dead 'still'? I remember we had this discussion aeons ago, and I'm just too lazy to try to dig it out.
Totally agree and yes, he is called "Biggus Dickus" in English...Kakarroto wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 4:20 pmAs far as I know, this is how it works:Szpoti wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:16 pmBut doesn't the answer 'yes' to the questions 'dead?' imply that the character was real and has died? In a sense, all fictional characters are not alive, strictly speaking. But are they dead? Generations of real characters from the future aren't alive yet. Does that mean that they are already dead, or dead 'still'? I remember we had this discussion aeons ago, and I'm just too lazy to try to dig it out.
A character in a story is as long alive as the story doesn't inform us that they died. The only time where this isn't true is if it is a story of a character that has lived in our world and is dead here (like a story about Julius Cesar, Cleopatra, Abraham Lincoln, the rabbit I got for my 10th birthday from grandma).
But Schwanzus Longus is still alive as long as Monty Python don't make a sequel to the life of Brian where they state that he does die (although I think he is known under a different name in the english version).
Let me bring up an example that may illustrate that this approach leads to paradoxes:Hamish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 4:26 pmTotally agree and yes, he is called "Biggus Dickus" in English...Kakarroto wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 4:20 pmAs far as I know, this is how it works:Szpoti wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 3:16 pm
But doesn't the answer 'yes' to the questions 'dead?' imply that the character was real and has died? In a sense, all fictional characters are not alive, strictly speaking. But are they dead? Generations of real characters from the future aren't alive yet. Does that mean that they are already dead, or dead 'still'? I remember we had this discussion aeons ago, and I'm just too lazy to try to dig it out.
A character in a story is as long alive as the story doesn't inform us that they died. The only time where this isn't true is if it is a story of a character that has lived in our world and is dead here (like a story about Julius Cesar, Cleopatra, Abraham Lincoln, the rabbit I got for my 10th birthday from grandma).
But Schwanzus Longus is still alive as long as Monty Python don't make a sequel to the life of Brian where they state that he does die (although I think he is known under a different name in the english version).
Awww
In this example, Napoleon is mostly known for his contribution in history, the fictional character only for the story. It is clear that everyone would scream foul if Napoleon would be declared as 'alive'; if we the fictional character were to be declared dead, we have no date of death, no cause of death, no maximum age, etc.Szpoti wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 6:10 pmLet me bring up an example that may illustrate that this approach leads to paradoxes:Hamish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 4:26 pmTotally agree and yes, he is called "Biggus Dickus" in English...Kakarroto wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2022 4:20 pm
As far as I know, this is how it works:
A character in a story is as long alive as the story doesn't inform us that they died. The only time where this isn't true is if it is a story of a character that has lived in our world and is dead here (like a story about Julius Cesar, Cleopatra, Abraham Lincoln, the rabbit I got for my 10th birthday from grandma).
But Schwanzus Longus is still alive as long as Monty Python don't make a sequel to the life of Brian where they state that he does die (although I think he is known under a different name in the english version).
A fictional story features a historical figure (be it Napoleon) along with a fictional character. According to the story itself, both make it to the end. But Napoleon would be regarded as dead, and the fictional character alive?
This is precisely the reason why I think that talking about Schoediger's state of a fictional character is irrelevant.
With this, I fully agree. We don't want to hijack this particular game to try to narrow our divide. I'd propose that from now on the first question asked be related to the character's status, real or fictional.