...

[Emerald Apple @AI_EmeraldApple]

Yesterday, this was probably one of the strangest interactions I had with any content creator on the internet. Now I really like Asmongold, but this take has always been his consistent L. What started as a post critical of his take ended up with a "debate" on X, nitpicking details like sample sizes and whether the hentai was opposite-sex or that it was "real research" vs literature reviews.

He ends up ignoring or dismissing studies as not relevant or insufficient, doubling down on his gut instinct that attraction patterns to fictional child-like features must overlap with real world pedophilic ones.

Same emotional shortcut moral panickers have always used... "Violent games make kids violent." "Rap music causes gang crime"... same with D&D/satanic panic, comic books, heavy metal, etc., that was common between 1980 to the 2000's

He ignores all the data from the national crime statistics from Japan or the Czech Republic, how Otaku culture is emeshed with loli tropes... or that Japan is lolicon central, and yet has one of the lowest CSA rates.

The separation of fiction and reality is clearly segmented for healthy adults, and they compartmentalize it just fine. That's why video game violence or horror movie splatter fests don't ever translate into real-world violence.

The studies that do find correlations with offenders suffer from massive selection bias, where they test convicted pedophiles who already consume real-world illegal materials. These studies don't predict the behavior of the non-offending consumer base. Same line of reasoning as saying most school shooters played first-person shooter games, and then trying to generalize FPS games as problematic.

The reason why I talk about this so much, despite hardly interacting with lolicon content myself, is that the same "intuition" has greased the slippery slope of censorship, creating the regulatory mess we have today with video games and media as a whole. That WHOLE RED TAPE allowed the injection of woke, DEI, and other kinds of garbage, as the people regulating them tend to be the exact karenocracy being run by middle-aged foids that Asmongold is always critical of.

It's just totally disappointing as I expected him actually to look into the data, but instead defaulted into "gut level intuition mode" that so many moral satanic panicers fell into.

[MR. OBVIOUS @ObviousRises]

yeah this is the issue I do have with asmon, all of his informed takes are very good (personal experience, WoW, mmos etc.) but his uniformed takes are easily 50/50 and largely "muh feels" rather than facts/data and reality.

That's the problem with the world.

Too many people confuse the way they feel with what is real, too many people only see the way they *want* the world to be rather than what it is, so much liberal delusion boils down to this—I *want* to be equal (but humans aren't equal) I think women *ought* to have 100% autonomy (does it even need explanation) everyone *ought* to be "rich" or at least—not poor, the problem is this is idealism and idealism doesn't necessarily reflect the real world. Its like when liberals say tax the rich, its not going to bring more revenue (in fact it usually leads to less) on the other they'll bash someone like Trump for "tax breaks for the rich" then utterly ignore that tax revenue actually *increased* because companies were incentivized to move to America/create jobs etc. This basic economics, and is one of the reason Democrats are a joke, why liberals are incompetent: there are consequences for "idealistic" non-practical and economically illiterate these kinds of lefty/liberal/democrat policies are.

This subject at least is very simple—art and fiction is protected under the First Amendment and Expression, it is a Free Speech issue, it is an anti-censorship issue, we can never ever give an inch, because look the UK, look at these "online safety acts for muh kids" look at getting arrested for anime merchandise, look at skyrim video game mods having police steal your laptop, look at gen-zers catfishing 20 year olds then beating them up and calling them PDFs for meeting up with a fake 19 yo. This is how retarded antis and tourists are, much less "normies."

Our world is burning to the ground—because people cannot stop putting their feelings—before Truth.

And that's why the world burns.

[Espiritu @OtakuEspiritu]

I love how Asmongold makes the first tweet in this thread, saying "Please provide the data you're referencing," but then makes the most "feelings" post with no data to back it up other than "Just a trend I came up with in my head."

Again, Asmongold wants to bitch and cry about bad faith points, but then does the very same thing."Oh, you like Hestia from DanMachi? Oh, so you want to fuck kids in real life then..."

That's how I read your tweet.

For a guy who claims he uses common sense all the time, I actually wish you would use some common sense for once.

I'm just disappointed in you.

[... @NamelessXNobody]

@MommaOcco Another line has been crossed.

[... @NamelessXNobody]

@Comrade_Del Didn't know a Vtuber wiki even existed, so, umm congratulations on the hidden trophy unlock?

[Kaguya’s Top Gal @hayasaka_aryan]

This has been Hasan Piker’s worst week:

-Subpoenaed by the federal government
-Banned from the UK
-The candidates he brought on his stream lost their election
-Sex pest allegations come out

Please keep it coming

[Comrade Del ☢️🥃 Gasmask Mothman @Comrade_Del]

Alright, I'll just say it out in the most simplistic terms than even an idiot will understand (they will pretend they still don't understand because they need to be angry over something).

People have been following the story of Kratos for twenty one years. 21 YEARS. Let that sink in for a moment. An entire goddamn generation grew up with Kratos in one form or another, either aware that he was the God of War guy or as fans of the series. Is it REALLY that surprising that people are attached to the character and they're upset over seeing him being pretty much sidelined in the lastest game of his own two-decades spanning series???

It's basically like Toei announcing a new Dragon Ball Super season... but it'll follow the adventures of Spopovich after the events of the Buu saga.

[NeroTsumi 🪄🍮 @KuroSekaiAnime]

Santa Monica studios actually got rage baited by dominos pizza lol

[Comrade Del ☢️🥃 Gasmask Mothman @Comrade_Del]

From all the conversations I've had about this topic someone always brings up the dumbest question: but what about the riggers 😭?

What about them? Where in this relationship that I factually described is there any risk for the riggers? They got paid, for their credit and they'll keep getting paid because they are effectively holding the client's brand and IP hostage. They can raise the prices and the client will have no choice but to pay it, no matter how absurd these prices are, or have their brand crippled.

The fact that some riggers are more than happy to sell the cmo3 file completely destroys the made up narrative that these files are priceless because you can get it from some of them for 50 bucks.

If your workflow or whatever other buzzword is applicable is so valuable and important... the fact that its up for sale means that your workflow is actually not that important... or you're full of shit and just want more money for something that should be delivered by default.

And yes, it SHOULD be delivered by default. The file allows the Vtuber to engage in the modification and control of their own brand and IP. It is DIRECTLY tied to it.

What they are doing is essentially coercion. They are basically forcing you to be a repeat customer by withholding what is basically a crucial component from you that would allow you to pick and choose how you will service your model and considering they make you pay extra to get it? That starts to border on extortion.

I'm not big on the legality but the cmo3 file would count as a crucial maintenance component, as you quite literally cannot do anything with the model without it should anything go wrong, and withholding something like that isn't exactly legal last I checked.

How many Vtubers are out there completely unaware that they are absolutely fucked without that file? How many of them don't even know about it? That's the main defense of the riggers: "You should've known better".

Nevermind the fact that most riggers don't even mention the file on their price pages or whether you can purchase it or not. Nor do they tell their clients about them. Why would they? An uninformed customer is easier to entrap than an informed one.

Not even the soulless corporations that are driven by pure greed and profit are as blatant about it as these fellas.

[Comrade Del ☢️🥃 Gasmask Mothman @Comrade_Del]

When it comes to rigging and the cmo3 file discussions far too many people just don't understand what the issue is... or they just pretend to be mentally challenge. Hard to tell at this point.

So I will give you the simplest explanation on why people are pissed about it.

To a rigger, a Vtuber model is just a product they sell. A luxury item. A file. That's all it is. A product/service that they sell.

To a Vtuber? It is their de facto IDENTITY. It is their BRAND. That is how they present themselves, how they are recognized and how they are remembered. For a lot of Vtubers their entire livelihood is built on it and depends on it. Its not just a "product" for them.

Riggers and artists very purposefully use reductive language to diminish the sheer importance of what a model is for a Vtuber. Or they generally just don't care. Hard to tell.

So in simple terms, this is what's happening:

You get your identity and brand, but the ability to actually control it and modify it entirely controlled by a third party who is effectively locking you into a one-sided exclusivity deal with them. If you actually want to have the ability to modify and control your brand and identity, you have to pay a ransom to this third party... if they even let you, at which point it becomes a hostage situation that you generally can't do a thing about.

And at all times during this arrangement you are beholden to the whims of the third party, who at any moment can just cut you off over any reason they want and effectively cut off your ability to maintain and support your own brand altogether, forcing you to spend additional thousands of dollars on remaking everything and putting yourself into exactly the same situation with a different third party.

You don't get to have any control over your own fucking brand without consulting a third fucking party.

Maybe this will explain why people are a little annoyed about this subject and what sort of exploitative and predatory arrangement that this is.

[Punished Mizutamari @MizusPuddle]

They mean Kevin. Who is still one of the most popular riggers in the community.

He was "canceled" by other riggers, not actual clients.

The only reason he was even remotely in trouble at all is we didn't realize at the time live2D files saved data for every single model unless you directly purged it. He's the reason we know about this security flaw which wasn't well known prior.

Also have to clarify they didn't try to cancel him for reusing the rig, Nanoless tried to cancel him for daring to edit her artwork to make it fit his workflow. Yes, that Nanoless who is currently canceled for not obeying her own NDAs and lying about her clients to try and ruin their reputation.

[Punished Mizutamari @MizusPuddle]

Pippa, please. I cannot defend this.

Also Gura might have very technically came after, but Gura was literally dwarfing Melody within the first hour of her first stream.

[... @NamelessXNobody]

@Comrade_Del Not even going to touch that one...
This has been such an migraine inducing topic.

[Comrade Del ☢️🥃 Gasmask Mothman @Comrade_Del]

Holy scummy exploitation batman!

[Punished Mizutamari @MizusPuddle]

Artists.
Run your ideas by like 5 people who normally buy things in your space before you just start doing them because Jesus, you're making yourselves look downright evil.

Refusing to give your clients the cmo3 file unless they pay 5x more or charging them storage fees for you to keep it makes Mr.Krabs look like a charity.

[⚙️Sparky's Tech Corner⚙️ @SparkysTech]

Ok this is fucking stupid.

“When you buy software, you do not own the developer tools used to make it.”

This is not software, its a file made with software that anyone can make or edit that anyone has access too.

“When you buy a car, you do not own the factory that built it.”

Its not a factory, its the product your getting, you cant keep a person from working on their own car that bought it, also the rigger doesn’t own the factory.

“When you buy art, you do not own the brushes I used to paint it.”

You can buy brushes for a $1 at Walmarts, this whole analogy is fucking retarded.

[Paws 🥐🐺 @pawsvtuber]

The amount of entitled people commenting on this to justify their actions baffles me.

Personally, I think what everyone should take from this post is that the MAJORITY of customers have no idea about your technology or words and you should properly disclose it and make it clear what it means, without the client having to pull your tongue or learn the hard way.

MAJORITY of riggers also do not properly disclose that they do not give out the editable file (even if you want to pay for it). The amount of tech words I had to go through to educate myself after being burned by my first rigger was overwhelming. I had to sit down with a friend who works in the industry and ask pointers for every word mentioned.

My first rigger was unable to edit my model for updates. I had to completely give up the model. I was told to go find someone else for what I want done. But they wouldn't sell the file, so what they told me was "Go pay 2k$+ again if you want to update your model". It felt terrible as a client to be told that. This is me paraphrasing, they didn't say it rudely. But that was the message. Oh and this was after waiting over 8 months and receiving a broken model after the update. My time will never be properly compensated for this.

My second rigger had a 5 year+ history in the industry. Worked with corporations. Part of several studios. Reliable, right? She vanished. Took thousands from her clients and studio, left people and projects behind. She was also one of the riggers refusing to sell the file. She said if she ever stops rigging, she'd give the files to the clients. She didn't do that of course. She just took the money and logged off. The cost of legally pursuing her is too big, with no guarantee to get anything back. So she got away with doing this. My own rig cost was ~ 5k$. I was fortunate that she ran away before my project started, so I avoided having to deal with the bank on top. But again, months of waiting and planning, having to find someone else. Not to mention the broken trust.

I personally turned to 3D because the industry standard isn't to rip off the client, take them hostage and act as a paranoid person. It's to cooperate, work together on making the model and project a success.

I refuse to work with this industry standard where you hold the client hostage and withhold files out of fear of abuse. I refuse to give my hard earned money to people who look at me like I'm a criminal because I want a safety net. I am sick and tired of waiting months for a 5 minute update to my model.

People should have a right to improve, fix or change what they paid for.

TLDR:
Do as you wish as a rigger, just make it clear to the client
As a client, I will never work again with someone who doesn't provide the file.

[Punished Mizutamari @MizusPuddle]

A great example of twitter artists not knowing what they're talking about is one of the big arguments they keep using is "you're not buying the specific piece, you're buying a service."

Ok, so you've admitted, publicly, that you are doing what's called "Work Made for Hire."

This means you do not own the copyright AT ALL, the person who hired you does.

If you guys had even an ounce of professionalism, you'd know not to admit that.

[Grummz @Grummz]

The UK just banned Hasan Piker from entering the country.

[宝丼 コミティア156東7M10b @TreasureBooru]

PONG!!!