Proof Levels

[numbuh136]

tako said:

First, proof interpreted from a TV show is tricky. For example, Character A saving Character B from falling off the edge would probably be normal behavior if Character A and Character B are good friends and care about each other like good friends do. However, in the eyes of viewers, if this scene seems stuck in and doesn't advance the plot at all and doesn't develop any character or give new insight into either of the characters, they begin to think, "Why did the maker put this scene in? Are they trying to suggest something, like, say, deeper feelings between these two characters?"

That's what happened between Wally and Kuki in CLOSET when Wally falls and Kuki grabs him. I wondered if there was any need for that...

[numbuheightbitstar]

tako said:

Do people really do that?

We're in the fandom where "Character A helps character B out of a chair" constitutes proof, so it wouldn't surprise me.

Well, I interpreted what you said like this:
"Just because you care about someone doesn't mean you like them romantically. A father saving their child wouldn't be viewed this way."

Followed up by Iguana's:
"Well, judging by the amount of incest, some people would."

I'm saying, "Why would they?" Isn't it normal for a father to show concern for his child?

It is... and that's exactly the point I was making when I used that example.

Isn't it less normal and more attention-grabbing for two unrelated people to show the same amount of concern?

Not in works of fiction, no.

Batman saves people he's not related to all the time, doesn't mean he's in love with all of them. Same goes for James Bond, Son Goku, the entire G.I. Joe team... and yes, even the Kids Next Door.

I'm probably being really annoying.

Not at all.

Also, you and Queety brought about the example of things that happen between two characters that seem to serve no purpose, plot-wise. There's a name for events like that: Flavoring.

Consider this. Suppose there's a scene where Numbuh One is giving an elaborate speech. In the background, Numbuh Three gets bored with the speech and goes to sleep on Numbuh Four's shoulder.

Now, this could be meant as "proof." However, more than likely the only reason this was animated into the background is simply so that something interesting would be going on, because having everyone seem completely into whatever Numbuh One is saying wouldn't be fun at all.

All good entertainment has things like this, that COULD be (or were probably MEANT to be) important, but are essentially meaningless, yet their very presence adds an extra dimension to it which makes the experience more fun, and give fans something else to analyze to death.

"What is the purpose of the Stone with Weird Markings?"
"It's there to look important and confuse adventurers."

[bookmaster]

I think it's all good. I've always wondered why people would consider something as coincidental as Person A catching Person B before B fell to a horrible demise to be "proof" of a relationship. (begin light-hearted playful sarcasm) I mean, it can't be any dumb reason like, say, Person A happened to have been right there while everyone else, like, wasn't. (end playful sarcasm) I really think a lot of this "proof" is simply coincidental circumstance.

Now having said that, I do understand the shipper mindset to some degree. While it may be illogical, it can still be fun to imagine/suppose/stubbornly insist that just because an episode features two characters working together that means they're totally into each other. There's not much sense in that, but too much sense slows down one's imagination anyway, in my opinion. ^_~

I personally do some minor shipping myself, despite the fact that I'm not much of a romantic. I'm more traditional (meaning that I stick with the more common pairings), though I get a kick out of some of the more creative couples people can come up with (I'll admit that some are just weird and give me nightmares).