Wasserbienchen In reply to Gavnersworld [2022-02-19 09:22:47 +0000 UTC]

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Wasserbienchen In reply to GwynSkyfeather [2018-02-20 20:13:53 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I am a vegan, and have been for almost 10 years. IBAW was actually quite influenced by those kinds of arguments, as I felt the games did not address the arguments properly.

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GwynSkyfeather In reply to Wasserbienchen [2018-02-20 21:14:57 +0000 UTC]

That's cool! I'm also a vegan and active in animal rescue.

"I felt the games did not address the arguments properly."
True. But you also have to consider that in the canon Pokémon universe, it is very rare that Pokémon actually suffer at the hands of humans. I also don't feel as if their freedom is taken away. It is stated in B/W that a Pokéball "can't catch a Pokémon's heart" and that they could leave their humans if they didn't want to be with them. So, Pokéballs don't brainwash Pokémon as they do in your universe, even though they definitely tame them.
And Pokémon obviously battle very willingly. Plus, they are able to disobey their trainers if they don't respect them.

So canon-N was wrong with most of his ideas, though his intentions were good.
Still, there is no true equality between people and Pokémon. It's always wrong to view another living being as property, no matter how well you treat her or him. I agree: It's a pity that this issue isn't addressed in B/W.

I still love the Pokémon world deeply and it's still much better than our real world. I tell you, I can relate to this comic page of yours so much, it really hits home. 
I sometimes feel like life doesn't have a real meaning for me as long as there's so much suffering in the world. I mean... while I'm sitting comfortably at my PC, writing this message, countless animals are abused and brutally killed by our fellow humans. This knowledge can hurt so much.

Right now I'm writing a German Pokémon fanfic set the canon Pokémon universe. It's a classic, positive story about friendship and adventure most of the time, but will also address some serious issues.

I really like your darker take on the Pokémon universe. If Pokémon were real, it probably would be like this.
The quality of your dialogues is amazing. "In Black and White" is deep, philosophic, entertaining and super suspenseful at the same time - not many authors can manage that balance. Your characters are so realistic and your N is so relatable. I enjoy your artstyle, too. Again, I'm amazed by the Pokémon fandom's great creativity. Thank you for creating such a good comic. I'm gonna start reading "Greyscale", too.

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Wasserbienchen In reply to GwynSkyfeather [2018-02-20 22:00:37 +0000 UTC]

(:

For me, what counts as "canon" is not really relevant. Pokemon is a game, it's pixels, not real people or animals. In game, I don't feel bad for holding a pokemon hostage, letting it call hundreds of allies, all of which I slaughter, in the hope of getting a slightly different coloured pokemon. I just had an issue with the fact that pokemon was trying to address the "moral" argument, when everything in game does not support even the having of the argument. For example, what they say about friendship etc. is clearly not true for the player. "You need a connection for mega evolution to work" has no meaning when I can catch a pokemon and immediately have it mega evolve. The repetition that a pokemon really likes you has no meaning when you bred and released hundreds and hundreds of pokemon, or when you just keep a pokemon in your party as an HM slave. Or when you catch pokemon just to leave them in the box forever.

Point being: In-game mechanics are game mechanics. What pokemon characters SAY about you is so often clearly not true that their statements hold no real value. And that's my main critique - there's no reason to believe what these characters say, and it creates a disconnect to me when people talk about how my pokemon adore me, when I literally could just catch a pokemon two seconds before going into that dialogue.

In any case - I'm glad you can relate. Sorry for ranting; I don't think everyone needs to believe this or that anyone's opinion is invalid, it's just... my take and my gripe with the series' constant need to seemingly justify something that imho needs no justification.

I hope you continue to enjoy my work!

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GwynSkyfeather In reply to Wasserbienchen [2018-02-21 05:39:59 +0000 UTC]

In my opinion, the possibilities the player has don't really matter for the worldbuilding as they're not part of the actual story. You could just make your character run in circles all day long or just dump unconscious Pokémon in the wild (you can release fainted Pokémon). It still wouldn't make these things the normal stuff to do for people of the Pokémon world.
I think the actual worldbuilding in the games - the story and the dialogues - shows a believable harmony between Pokémon and people. But it's a flawed harmony as people still don't consider Pokémon true equals. They love them and treat them like friends, but believe they can "own" them. Just like with many real people and their "pets".

But of course we can have different opinions on this matter and I'm not trying to convince you.

"I hope you continue to enjoy my work!"
I'm sure I will!

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Wasserbienchen In reply to Tsuki222 [2017-08-08 13:00:56 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you!

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Wasserbienchen In reply to Quilltaz [2017-08-08 13:01:14 +0000 UTC]

Hi Quill, long time no see.
Thank you very much for the birthday wishes.

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Wasserbienchen In reply to jamesgunner123 [2017-08-08 13:01:20 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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Wasserbienchen In reply to twilightlinkjh [2017-08-08 13:00:49 +0000 UTC]

Sorry for the late reply - thank you very much! <3

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twilightlinkjh In reply to Wasserbienchen [2017-08-08 13:35:36 +0000 UTC]

Aww of course~

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Wasserbienchen In reply to Gecko-Comics [2015-08-08 19:42:55 +0000 UTC]

thank youuu

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Wasserbienchen In reply to DominoMastadon [2015-08-08 19:43:02 +0000 UTC]

thanks!

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DominoMastadon In reply to Wasserbienchen [2015-08-09 00:45:08 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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Wasserbienchen In reply to Tenshineko01 [2015-08-08 19:43:08 +0000 UTC]

thank you!

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Wasserbienchen In reply to Amadoodles [2015-08-08 19:45:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you <3

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