How can I get readers to not become fixated on minor characters?

Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Ryan Elder, Sep 11, 2016.

  1. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    I think you mean to tell me that I am not understanding what they meant. Is that what you mean?
     
  2. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Yep. How about Fred?
     
  3. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    Well Fred seems to not understand that chocolate has nothing to with concepts of a health spa, from what I gather.
     
  4. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Has Fred been told that chocolate cake is healthy?
     
  5. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    No.
     
  6. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Right!

    What makes you say that he hasn't?
     
  7. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    hasn't been told that cake is healthy? Well he was not told that at any times accept by the nutritionalists he says he has talked to.
     
  8. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Why does he think that he was told that?
     
  9. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    Cause the nutritionalists told him so, he says.
     
  10. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Incorrect.
     
  11. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    Okay thanks. What did I not understand then?
     
  12. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Read the post. Try to understand what the characters are saying. Guess.

    I'll be back later.
     
  13. Historical Science

    Historical Science Contributor Contributor

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    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    Well as I understand it, either if what the nutritionalist told Fred is true, then either the nutritionalist is lying or is in correct, and the fact that the nutritionlist told him that, does not make it so.

    I get that people are saying that I am failing to understand the police and lawyers are telling me, but hardly any specific distinctions have been pointed out in the direct quote I posted, and I think that if we actually talked about the how and why, rather than the who and the what only, it would help, if I am not being too out of line by saying that.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2016
  15. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    Hint, in case it wasn't obvious: Jane is the nutritionist.
     
  16. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Hmm. It's great fun starting to read a thread at the end, rather than the beginning ...and then following the trail backwards from Fred and Jane eating chocolate cake in a spa to preventing readers from getting fixated on minor characters. I now need to take a pill. A strong one.
     
  17. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    I suggest a pill consisting of kale and chocolate in a ratio of 1:99 respectively. That way you can be sure to maximize the health benefits.
     
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  18. Ryan Elder

    Ryan Elder Banned

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    Okay so you are saying that I am misunderstanding what the police and lawyers from this analogy then?
     
  19. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Will the chocolate make me fat(ter?) We have kale in the garden, so this should be a skoosh. NOW ...where did I put my pill roller...?
     
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  20. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    By nature, kale is healthy. So, no, chocolate will not increase weight.

    ETA: A veterinarian friend of mine said that some animals require medication to treat depression.

    With that information, you should be able to maintain one sprig of kale to every pound of chocolate and lose upwards of ten pounds per week.
     
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  21. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I'll need a lot of pills.
     
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  22. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    This is an excellent business endeavor. Chocolate to lose weight? Worldwide phenomenon. We'll just employ a certain person to circularly evade all questions regarding the legitimacy. Quoted emails, from graphic designers, carpenters, painters, landscapers. All of which (I'm told by a humanities teacher) hold high regard in dietary matters.
     
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  23. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    You've lost me. :twisted:
     
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  24. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    The key point is not that what the cops and lawyers (if they exist, as its a bit strange that they've covered the exact points we raise before we raised them - unless the cops and lawyers are sat with you as we speak) are telling you is wrong but that its irrelevant to the scenario you are writing

    e.g
    yes they are correct that if the cops witnessed a crime and if they were on the premises of the victim they rescued then fruit of the poisonous tree would not apply. (Hell even if the premises belonged to the perpetrator there wouldnt be a problem if they had good reason to enter) However that is irrelevant to a scenario where the blood in is an act and the "victim" is actually a gang member. because in that case a) a crime hasn't been committed , and b) they are on the premises owned by someone hostile to the police without a good reason... classic FoPT

    Likewise the lawyer who told you that a crime can be indicted (and indeed prosecuted) based on the testimony of police officers and evidence without testimony from the victim was indeed correct (as he said that is how homicide investigation works, the victim being dead) was entirely correct - but this is irrelevant to a scenario in which no crime has been committed

    I'd suggest going back to your police sources and asking them how often people are prosecuted for pretending to commit a crime - i'm confident that when they've stopped laughing at such a silly question they'll point out that prosecutions only happen when the law is broken.
     
  25. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    As to fred and his cake the facts are incontrovertible

    Chocolate comes from beans , beans are a vegetable
    eggs are healthy
    Flour comes from wheat - also a vegetable
    sugar comes from beat or cane - vegetables again
    Butter is from Milk and we all know that milk helps you grow strong.

    Ergo chocolate cake is fantastically good for you and we should all eat as much as possible :D
     
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