A Response to Shoklok's App

[Frost]

"Clarity and simplicity are the antidotes to complexity and uncertainty." – Gen. George Casey

Clarification #1: Yes, I'm aware of what I'm doing. I don't know if it's been done before, but that doesn't matter; what matters now is the here and now, and as the author of the app in question, I feel I have all the answers to questions spoken and unspoken (or implied).

Clarification #2: I feel it my moral obligation to be able to answer questions of morality (or lack thereof) in anything I write, not only for my integrity, but the integrity of all our readers, writers, admin and general fans of Redwall.

Most of you remember the app for Siler that I wrote for the last contest. That was a dark one, and I'll openly admit he had an edge to him and was harsher than most things I'd written up to that point. I had the skeleton of that app written a few contests before (back when some of us did Mossmire), and fleshed him out and put him up for consideration. He garnered a lot of attention, and I felt Airan did the right thing in tagging the post with an "Adult" or "Mature" tag. I don't regret writing him, nor did I harbor any bad feelings to anyone who was offended by the post. It was a shove into the dark corners of our furry world, but I felt (most) of us were mature enough to handle it as adults.

Now it's time for a new contest, one centered around a war between rival tribes in a foreign land we've never seen before. New shores, new creatures, new opportunities...we're building new worlds, hopefully *better* worlds, but new worlds and new situations nonetheless. Six applicants will have their hand at this tale, and I think it's fantastic. I drew up a character and wrote the app, and Shoklok entered the fray.

I'll admit, I didn't anticipate any reaction like Siler's app. I wrote Shoklok as a good beast, for he is in my mind. His intentions are pure and wholesome despite horrific conditions, however misguided they might appear at the time. He comes from a dark, violent world where creatures kill and steal and fight for survival. The 'civilized' lifestyle of abbey beasts seem far distant to these tribal beasts. I wrote him as a bright spot in a dark lake, a savior rather than a murderer and vulgar. I saw our setting as a quasi post-apocalpyse/pre-millenial setting (the 'Dark Ages' of Redwall, if you will).

When I read some of the reviews and comments, I realized I needed to clarify my characterization and actions that Shoklok does with his 'Twigs'. First and foremost, I do not and would never condone child abuse. Despite it existing in reality and fiction, I don't see how it merits or lends credibility to any Redwall (or tangent) story, and would never use it as a device for shock value and more clicks. It's not a plot device; any abuse is a tragedy. I speak as a father of several children, and I regret making any reader think I would condone or consider abuse of any sort appropriate. Second, Shoklok is not creating a cult or 'brainwashing' any of the younglings under his care. Despite his being their 'leader,' he's building a family of sorts that's diverse based on their species, age, and history, yet unified in their respect for each other and the strength they get from each other as a group rather than separates.

I wrote the line where Shoklok realizes he could bite the head off of the kit Bae only to show that despite the scary exterior and power that the snapper has, he's not using it to cause harm. He's not even thinking of hurting the child; this was my (the author's) exposition to show the meekness (power under control) that Shoklok exerts, and hopefully is passing on to his wards. Isn't that what everyone wants for their kids, nieces, nephews, siblings, grandchildren?

Bae...yeah, subconsciously that was a throw-back to 'Once Upon a Time,' but I also like how the name sounds. In a phonetic sense, it fit, and I liked it; that's all.

Now, I understand where you, the reader, are coming from. All you have to go off of is the written word, and I gave you around 800. No clarification, not explanation, no disclaimer. That comes with the story, right? And yet, there needs to be a level of trust between the writer and the reader, and I feel some might have lost that. The "worst-first" mentality is a terrible scourge, and a reality of our world regardless; yet, we can't let that define our group or our art.

There's a knee-jerk reaction to want to attack, and a knee-jerk reaction from admins to want to defend. What we need is to know the writers listen to the audience, and can meter their writing based on feedback. How do we do that? Most of that comes in the story, not in the application; that's where the audience and the writers find how to mesh their ideas of the world together. Remember, "building better worlds." We need to trust each other: trust that the readers will give a certain leeway to the writers to define/explain/build the world, and trust that the writers won't pull a fast one over the readers for the sake of exploiting, upsetting, or angering them (thus holding emotional control over them).

I didn't ask Vin to write his post, and I appreciate what he was doing. Critique and challenge can be a fine line to walk. However, I did ask if I could clarify to the judges my thoughts on the sore points many readers were pointing out on Shoklok. I'm not upset or offended if you didn't like him; please walk on him! This is a contest, and I wanted to win (or at least finish top 3). I need thick skin to be in this contest, and you need to be free to express your thoughts. But I need you to know: I do not condone child abuse or cultist tendencies. I also don't want anyone to feel silenced because they don't like something in an app.

It's all about the approach, and we have to remember the person on the other side of the monitor. We need to *listen* to each other, discuss what we like and don't like, and figure out if our disagreements can be worked out, or if something needs to give. If it needs to give, can I be the first one to compromise, or do I have to hold the hill to my own destruction? Be open, be honest, be thoughtful, be respectful. Don't shut someone down because it was too loud/harsh/mean/cruel. Give them a chance to explain, and then consider what they've said.

I like Shoklok, and I'm proud of my app. Please reach out to me if you're troubled by what you read, and let's discuss. If I need to back out because I've revealed myself (that sounds terrible, too), please consider this my official resignation. BUT! Let's not be afraid to push ourselves and write something bold, daring, creative, and new. It's scary and uncertain, but all creation is. My one regret is if I upset any of you; that wasn't my intention, and I wouldn't put any writing above any friendships, in person or digital.

My name is Frost, and I wrote Shoklok.