Tag: OP

Idk if anyone’s gonna engage me on this but I want to think it out loud anyways.

Just… as a continuation of an earlier tag commentary thought train, what is the difference between training, teaching, and manipulation?

Because I was thinking “well isn’t teaching an animal to trust you so they’ll do what you ask just manipulating them?” and like, kind of? But I guess it depends on what you’re asking them to do, why you’re training them to do it, and how you’re training them.

For example, if I’m training my dog to have basic manners in a public space, that’s not for my personal satisfaction but rather for the sake of the dog as a member of society. And generally the best methods to teach dogs are ones that involve building their confidence in you as someone to look towards for directions. Building their trust in you. Ideally the dog will participate because engaging with you brings good things for them.

But like, what about training animals to do things where the animal gets no particular benefit from it other than maybe a treat and some enrichment (arguably, and depending on the case of course)? Not like at a zoo, where they have to train animals to perform certain actions for the purpose of health checks and such. And I don’t know enough about the details of cetacean captivity and welfare to use that as an example of anything.

You’ve got four basic training methods:

  1. Positive reinforcement: A desirable stimulus is applied when a “good” behavior happens, making that behavior more likely to reoccur. (This one is most often recommended for dog training, and probably most other kinds of training. Subject performs behavior when prompted in order to earn a good reward.)
  2. Positive punishment: An undesirable stimulus is applied when a “bad” behavior happens, making that behavior less likely to reoccur (Subject stops doing behavior to avoid unpleasant stimulus. Ex. The intention people have when using shock collars.)
  3. Negative reinforcement: An unpleasant stimulus is applied. When subject performs the desired behavior, the unpleasant stimulus is removed. Behavior more likely to reoccur. (Ex. applying pressure with a choke chain, releasing pressure when dog complies – not my favorite example, but the best one I can currently think of)
  4. Negative punishment: A desired stimulus or object is removed when the subject performs an unwanted behavior. Behavior less likely to reoccur. (Ex. Ignoring a child who interrupts; turning away from a dog that jumps up when greeting. I suppose would also include things like removal of rights after an arrest.)

I’m not sure where I was going with all this, but I guess how do you differentiate between training and manipulating? Is it just the deceit and dishonest intentions that make something manipulation? Would that make it manipulative to earn a stray’s trust so you can catch them and take them to the vet (something that, while in the animal’s best interest, is very much NOT what the animal was trusting from you)? Why is teaching an animal that humans = food = good so they’ll be more cooperative not manipulative? I don’t personally think it is, but I cant explain why it isn’t.

I actually don’t have Pokémon in my dreams very often but a few nights ago there was a Banette that ran on all fours like an ape and it was mildly terrifying. And like, it was bookin’ it.

But I can’t stop thinking about it because tbh with those proportions that’s the only way it really could run.

I don’t understand why any cats like me. At least half my interactions with my roommate’s cat is mild harassment (like poking him or trying to spook him, nothing cruel or painful of course, just messing with him), calling his name loudly and randomly and meowing at him when he doesn’t answer, that kind of thing. And yet he frickin’ loves me. I pet him in ways you’re taught to never pet a cat and the whole time he purrs like a motorboat. It probably helps that he’s a breed with that kind of temperament, but still.

All I’ve done with campus cat is give him food and sit and hang out by buildings with him, and now he’ll rub up on me and come trotting over when I find him each night, and follow me to wherever I decide I’m going to sit. And after he eats he’ll groom himself and sometimes “nap” a bit. I know it’s probably just because I’m the food lady and I give him actual cat food, but I like to think he genuinely enjoys my company because he feels secure around me. As of today I’ve known this cat for two weeks.

Not sure who else to ask about this, so I’ll just throw it out there.

Does anyone have advice on what to do with a stray cat who decided I’m its friend now?

It lives on campus and hangs out in the same general area every evening, and sometimes people feed it chicken from their lunches and such. I’ve been taking it cat food for like ten days now and mostly I’ll just sit and hang out with it. If I get its attention from a ways away, it runs over, and then we go sit by a building while it eats. Now it asks for petting after finishing the food. One night it followed me all the way to my car, and if I go to another building it follows me. When I need to leave I’ve been going inside a building and leaving out the other side so it won’t follow me, because I genuinely think this cat might try to go across the street with me.

I had a cat growing up, and my roommate currently has a cat, so it’s not like I’m clueless on how to care for one. But I’m definitely a dog person. I like cats, but I don’t think I would go out and pick one to adopt, you know? I want to help this one, and it’s very sweet, but I don’t know if I’m the right person, I guess. I don’t understand cats as well as dogs and I wouldn’t want to unfairly end up expecting that kind of a relationship out of it, if that makes sense. Although this does seem like the kind of cat I could harness train and take on walks through the woods.

I haven’t adopted an animal on my own before and the idea of committing to a cat that I’d have for at least the next decade kind of scares me. I’ve thought maybe I’ll foster it after we take it to the vet to be fixed (because at the very least I’d like to do that). But what if it doesn’t work out as an apartment cat? What if my roommate’s cat can’t stand it? I can’t just dump it on campus again, can I? Is it better to just continue on as I’m doing things? Having a cat will limit where I can live for the rest of the time I have one. Plus there’s all the expenses. I’m literally the only other Bio grad student here right now that doesn’t have at least one cat, so none of them can take it in. I’ve asked.

Any advice? Is this something I could discuss with the vet? There’s a shelter in town that I’m pretty sure is no-kill but it’s not the greatest and I just want to do what’s best for the little thing.

I actually took time to sit and just draw a bit today and yesterday because it’s been a long time. It was nice. Tried to minimize my use of the eraser.

A bobcat and a coyote from the university’s vertebrate collection.

I started Pikmin 2 again and I hadn’t thought about it before but why the hell are the creatures only worth a handful of Pokos at best? Does Hocotate not value discovery? Like “Hey, here’s multiple specimens of a previously undocumented species from another planet.” “Cool, I’ll give you five bucks for one.”

Here’s a Banette/Shuppet headcanon dump hoo boy

*cracks knuckles* I’ve been meaning to do this for over a year now and finally got around to writing it all out in a way that’s hopefully coherent enough.

Seriously though, I love applying behavioral ecology to Pokémon, so if anyone ever wants to talk that shit, hit me up.

I’m putting this under a read more, ‘cause it got long af.

First off, I don’t think of Ghost-type Pokémon as being actual ghosts, but rather as creatures with ghost-like qualities and abilities. Even for ones the Pokédex says originate from human spirits, bottom line is they’ve now taken the form of a  Pokémon and I still wouldn’t call them “dead”. (Like, poltergeists are “ghosts”, but they’re supposedly just manifestations of energy rather than spirits of dead people.) This also explains why certain Pokémon gain Ghost as a secondary type after evolving (although I think Froslass and now Alolan Marowak are the only ones that do that?). They didn’t die – it’s just a typing like any other.

Shuppet and Banette are regarded as pests in urban areas when their numbers are high. Shuppet usually search for food on their own but return to a group for sleeping. They tend to prefer more densely populated areas. When they evolve into Banette, they’ll disperse from the group and live on their own.

Shuppet aren’t particularly harmful, but they’re annoying and will swarm wherever lots of negative emotions are present. They also don’t mind being out and about during the day, although evening and early morning is when they’re most active (is that crepuscular? idk lol). As stated by the Pokédex, they sleep in groups under eaves or ledges on buildings. Because of that, they sometimes end up in people’s attics.

Both Shuppet and Banette are attracted to objects with strong emotional values attached to them, and Banette will hoard things they like. Shuppet eat regular food like any other Pokémon, but they also “feed” on negative emotions, which contributes energy toward evolving. Banette no longer feed on emotions (at least not in the same way), but they are still sensitive to them and tend to be easily influenced by the emotions of others.

Shuppet evolve by joining themselves with a doll. In-game, I feel like the way they should evolve is by leveling up with a held item. I mean, Poké Dolls were introduced in Gen III (even though I think they’re a FRLG item, not a RSE item, but still). I’m aware that type of evolution wasn’t introduced until Gen IV, but in retrospect it would’ve been cool. They did have some weird evo methods like Shedinja in Gen III.

I like the idea of an old-style downtown area (like, w/residences on top of stores, lots of narrow side roads/alleys, that kind of thing) where the local Shuppet are a kind of annoying but accepted part of owning a business there, so it’s common for people to set/hang old dolls outside to keep them from getting into places they shouldn’t be. Maybe there’s an old woman who runs a general store and at the end of each day she likes feeding them the leftover baked goods.

Banette are scavengers and will make a mess of people’s trash. It doesn’t have to be actual food to be edible. They don’t have to eat every day, because when they do find food they’ll eat at lot at one time. If food is hard to find, they can and will find a way into people’s houses. 

Basically I imagine Banette as paranormal raccoons. And while writing this I realized Shuppet are kinda like bats.

Dumpsters and trash cans are a nice food source but they aren’t the best choice for shelter. Garbage trucks are large, loud predators that eat all your shit and cannot be fought. Also, fun fact, most garbage trucks have trash compactors in them. Extra Danger™ points.

I kind of like the idea that they can’t just phase through objects like a literal ghost since they’re attached to a physical form, but that it doesn’t really matter because they can get into most things regardless. Plus, imagine living in a world where every Ghost-type Pokémon is essentially impossible to keep out of your house because they can just. Walk right in. There’s already bugs over three feet tall and like at least fifty-two ways to get poisoned or maimed by wildlife less than a block from your house. I feel like pet doors literally could not exist.

(On a tangent, what if Gengar could move through shadows, as they do, but not through solid objects like walls? So like, then they could go under doors no problem, or travel through air vents or something, etc. That’s essentially what Shadow Sneak is. Maybe Shuppet/Banette can do that too. Which I guess still means they can all just go right into your house but ¯_(ツ)_/¯) 

Now for Pokédex entries

Going with the idea that the Pokédex is a collection of truths, half-truths, misconceptions, and urban legends, here’s my take on some of the different entries:

I’ll start with the big one. And I may be of a minority opinion on this one.

  • Dex entry: “A doll that became a Pokémon over its grudge from being junked. It seeks the child that disowned it.” (DPPt, BW, B2W2, X, and other variations of the same general statement)

Combination of half-truths, misconception, and possibly urban legend. There’s gotta be both a regular old Shuppet and a doll involved in that transaction. The doll doesn’t have to be thrown out, but that makes it more accessible, and the older/more worn out it is the more emotional energy it’ll have (think along the lines of paranormal trigger objects and the “stone tape” idea, I guess). It doesn’t matter if that energy is positive or negative, but as Shuppet are generally attracted to negative emotions, those seem to be more enticing. I would think the “quality” of the doll could influence their personality to an extent.

Banette have no reason to seek out the person who threw the doll away. However, most people don’t appreciate being haunted by something that tears up their trash every night, which can lead to conflicts. Honestly, if not interpreting this entry literally, it kind of sounds like someone with a guilty conscience experienced a series of coincidences. Imagine you just threw an old doll out, felt kind of bad about it, and not long after that your shit outside starts getting dug through, torn up, and scattered all over on a nightly basis. Alternatively, if a Shuppet ended up getting into your attic, and found an old doll you’d stored up there and forgotten about, there you go. (To be fair, if a Pokémon that wasn’t mine crawled out of my attic in the middle of the night, I don’t care what it is, I would lose my shit.) Assuming it didn’t end up there on accident, a Banette that ends up in your house is more likely hungry than vengeful. Being caught will probably be enough to scare it off.

Banette ARE prone to holding grudges when they feel they’ve been personally wronged by someone, so this one can end up being a self-perpetuating misconception if they’re treated poorly.

  • Dex entry: “If it opens its mouth, its cursed energy escapes.” (FR, LG, Y)

Misconception; they can open their mouths just fine, but generally prefer not to unless eating or using certain moves. If they spoke/in games where Pokemon do speak, it’d be like someone talking through clenched teeth.

  • Dex entry: “Banette generates energy for laying strong curses by sticking pins into its own body.” (Ruby, OR)

Edgy af. I kinda like it. That’s essentially how the move Curse works, anyways, so I guess I’ll call this one a truth.

  • Dex entry: “Some say that treating it well will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy.”

I would think most living things would be satisfied by being treated well. But you can’t just like… un-Pokémon it. Although I suppose making a Banette happy might make it cuddlier, so I guess if you really stretch it you could call this one a half-truth.

  • Dex entry: “They are said to live in garbage dumps…” (Emerald); “It is seen in dark alleys.” (HGSS)

Truth. Free food.

What are Banette made of?

I’m… still not 100% on this one. I’ve mentioned before that Banette’s gotta be more than just fluff if we go off the fact that it’s like 26 lbs or something. Plus it canonically eats normal food. Since Shuppet have no arm/legs, then perhaps the arms, legs, and tail (and head-tail?) are “stuffed”, with some sort of skeletal equivalent, while the head and body are primarily organic. That makes fixing/replacing limbs relatively easy. They’re Ghost types, so maybe they don’t even need actual nerves and shit to move their arms and legs. 

And ooh, actually, that would make Banette a literal puppet. Let’s go with that then. That sounds good.

Most Ghost-type Pokémon (and object-based Pokémon, too) get really weird when you start thinking about them as much a living creature as any other Pokémon rather than some non-physical entity. At least half of them float. Some have no mouth but can still eat food somehow. Dusknoir’s entire frickin’ body except for its head is a mouth. Drifloon is a balloon. Chandelure is a LAMP. I could go on, but I won’t right now. 

Basically, Ghost Pokémon are weird.