Re: Rin's Path discussion *spoilers*
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:09 pm
She was born with heavily deformed arms and soon after her birth, they where amputated . But I also forgot where in the VN that is stated.
It's not in the game itself, but is stated in her bio on the Katawa Shoujo website:gRaViJa wrote:She was born with heavily deformed arms and soon after her birth, they where amputated . But I also forgot where in the VN that is stated.
Since Rin’s arms are tiny stumps due to a severe birth defect and subsequent surgery, she uses her feet and occasionally her mouth to do everything
Hey, no problem. It actually took me quite a while to... feel okay about Rin's route, even the good ending. At first, I felt a little like you did: frustrated at Rin, frustrated at Hisao, frustrated at the resolution of their story, etc. I think Rin's route contains some uncomfortable truths that you have to come to terms with before you can actually enjoy the story for what it is, and I'm always happy to help other people reach that enjoyment. People that don't like or don't understand Rin's route make me sadDullfinn wrote: After reading all (yes, honestly) posts above, I feel a bit better about Rin's path, though. I'd especially like to thank Mirrormn for all the analysis offered
1. Rin paints to express herself, in particular to capture a Rin-mental-snapshot on canvas to help her remember past-Rin when she looks at it. Having other people understand her by looking at the paintings is a secondary reason; actually more of a hope than a reason.Dullfinn wrote:Still, I have some unanswered questions. Like, what was the talk about Rin's need to "break" herself? It comes up strongly in the masturbation scene, yet I don't understand the connection. It is as if it's implied that it is her first time masturbating? I mean, really?
It's not conclusive, but I'm pretty sure she at least delays it. It's most likely something Nomiya suggested, and he's angry with her for the time being, and it's not something she'll actively persue until she has to (e.g. post-graduation plans and no good alternatives).Also, is it only on her "neutral end" that she decides to go to the fancy art-school?
I agree; I don't think she's autistic. I disagree that it's silly to think so; she has some of the symptoms, and autism has quite a spectrum to it.On a sidenote, I found all your discussion about Rin having Asperger's syndrome quite funny, and - well - retarted, too. Given that aspies have trouble recognizing facial expressions (unlike Rin, who is puzzled about Hisao's apparent perpetual sad face) and don't tend to be very artistic or creative (this latter part is mainly my own experiences, so you can take it with a grain of salt, as it were) I think it's clear she isn't autistic.
It's really not that hard to believe. She doesn't have any arms, yknow; masturbation would be quite difficult. Many non-disabled girls don't start masturbating until later in life in the first place.Dullfinn wrote:Still, I have some unanswered questions. Like, what was the talk about Rin's need to "break" herself? It comes up strongly in the masturbation scene, yet I don't understand the connection. It is as if it's implied that it is her first time masturbating? I mean, really?
I understand your point - and in fact, when the first more explicit masturbation picture came scrolling up, I though Rin had cut-marks (scars) on her body. But it turned out they were just droplets of sweat, or something, heh.Dawnstorm wrote:Rin needs to feel herself again, and she can't in that static atelier. Masturbation is practically the only non-damaging path left. The next step is self-mutilation. Orgasm might work. Pain, too. See?
...I'm still not buying this. I mean, thanks for your thoughts, both of you, but the fact is, there's lots of devices one can stick to walls or the floor, and even devices that are specifically designed to be sat on, so it doesn't really make sense that Rin would have trouble masturbating, in some way. After all, in the story it is given that she can dress herself and maintain some level of personal hygiene, too. (And I definitely disagree on how old girls tend to be when they start experimenting sexually, be it by themselves or with a partner.)Mirrormn wrote:It's really not that hard to believe. She doesn't have any arms, yknow; masturbation would be quite difficult. Many non-disabled girls don't start masturbating until later in life in the first place.
I'm honestly not sure about Rin's masturbatory history, and to be honest I don't think it's that important. I don't think it needs to be a "new" experience to make sense in the context.Dullfinn wrote:...I'm still not buying this. I mean, thanks for your thoughts, both of you, but the fact is, there's lots of devices one can stick to walls or the floor, and even devices that are specifically designed to be sat on, so it doesn't really make sense that Rin would have trouble masturbating, in some way. After all, in the story it is given that she can dress herself and maintain some level of personal hygiene, too. (And I definitely disagree on how old girls tend to be when they start experimenting sexually, be it by themselves or with a partner.)
Heh, I can see why you have problems with Rin's route. It's vital characterisation that he surprises her in a very embarrassing situation. The way she reacts is utterly Rinny. One of the main aspects of Rin is the vast difference between that flat exterior and utterly chaotic emotional cauldron she has inside. She's so busy sorting her feelings that she forgets to feel them. Unless she goes with the flow. She reminds him that she asked him not to come by again, and then adapts to changed circumstances. It looks like it's no big deal for Rin, but I think that's deceptive. Part of the scene's purpose is to show how much she implicitly trusts Hisao. Remember that she - reportedly - kicked Emi when she tried to hug her. Rin not trying to evade an embarrassing situation is a big deal.I think my main gripe about the scene is that Hisao just seems to bumble in there, surprising Rin. It would make more sense (or be more powerful) if Rin had invited Hisao beforehand, with something special in mind - or perhaps the complete opposite: asking him to help her from the get-go, kind of out-of-the-blue, since he happened to be there already. Now it's more in the line of "hey, since you caught me like this, would you mind finishing me off, because I don't really have any other use for you right now".
I half agree with you, here (more details in this thread), but I think you might underestimate the impact meeting Hisao has had on her. (On the topic of suicide, I think I'm - on balance - more optimistic than Mirrormn - definitely more optimistic in the neutral end, but slightly more pessimistic in the good end - confirm in the other link.)There's also one other thing I'm not "buying": In my previous post, I didn't touch the subject of suicide, deciding it wasn't very important. But after checking out the "bad end" again, I'd image Hisao being far more likely to commit suicide, than Rin! I mean, she's always led an abnormal life, but to Hisao his condition is still something new. If he gets angry and bitter about the (relatively small amount of) time he wasted with Rin, he's definitely going to face bigger problems, and probably projects (or relationships) that end up being even more wasteful, in the future. Can he take it? Rin, on the other hand, would probably just keep living day-to-day the way she's always done, without much of a hitch. So, while there was the story about Nomiya and Sae's old friend, who killed himself, I don't think it matters much, because in the real world, lost of people kill themselves every day - yet it doesn't mean that someone wholly different would also do it, even if faced with similar problems and circumstances. That's why I don't really get why some claim that Rin would kill herself (in any of the scenarios presented in the game).
In order to get a spectrum diagnosis, someone has to match a certain number of criteria. (but not all of them) That means that person 1 who exhibits telltale marks A, B, C and F and person 2 who exhibits telltale marks C, D, E and G have a similar diagnosis despite sharing nearly none of the symptoms. Some people on the spectrum can recognize facial expressions just fine and most of them can clearly see the difference between a smiling face and a sad face. Also, there's plenty of artists on the spectrum...the eye for (or obsession with) detail can help sometimes. I've also met several kids on the spectrum who were creative in other ways. Unfortunately, several of the most creative ones were also the ones who dropped out of school and spent most of the day either lying in bed or playing World of Warcraft.On a sidenote, I found all your discussion about Rin having Asperger's syndrome quite funny, and - well - retarted, too. Given that aspies have trouble recognizing facial expressions (unlike Rin, who is puzzled about Hisao's apparent perpetual sad face) and don't tend to be very artistic or creative (this latter part is mainly my own experiences, so you can take it with a grain of salt, as it were) I think it's clear she isn't autistic.
Truth. But still, Dullfinn, I think you're overestimating the prevalence of female masturbation; only about 60% of American females have masturbated by the age of 18 (source). Part of the reason for this is because it's difficult for girls who still live with their parents to acquire such "devices" as you mention. Although, given Rin's personality, I guess she would be much less likely than most girls to let embarrassment prevent her from asking her parents for a sex toy...Dawnstorm wrote:I'm honestly not sure about Rin's masturbatory history, and to be honest I don't think it's that important. I don't think it needs to be a "new" experience to make sense in the context.Dullfinn wrote:...I'm still not buying this. I mean, thanks for your thoughts, both of you, but the fact is, there's lots of devices one can stick to walls or the floor, and even devices that are specifically designed to be sat on, so it doesn't really make sense that Rin would have trouble masturbating, in some way. After all, in the story it is given that she can dress herself and maintain some level of personal hygiene, too. (And I definitely disagree on how old girls tend to be when they start experimenting sexually, be it by themselves or with a partner.)
To backtrack on this explanation a little bit, you first have to understand that Rin legitimately doesn't want Hisao there in the first place. Not because she doesn't enjoy his company, or even because she thinks he'll be a distraction, but because she doesn't want him to be caught up in her self-destructive spiral - perhaps because she doesn't want him to see her broken and desperate, perhaps because she thinks she'll be a bad influence on him (the ultimatum to stay away from the atelier does, after all, occur immediately after they experiment with smoking together), or perhaps because she's afraid her focus on painting and inspiration will at some point cause her to treat Hisao in a way that is damaging to their relationship (keep that in mind, as it will be important later).Dawnstorm wrote:Heh, I can see why you have problems with Rin's route. It's vital characterisation that he surprises her in a very embarrassing situation. The way she reacts is utterly Rinny. One of the main aspects of Rin is the vast difference between that flat exterior and utterly chaotic emotional cauldron she has inside. She's so busy sorting her feelings that she forgets to feel them. Unless she goes with the flow. She reminds him that she asked him not to come by again, and then adapts to changed circumstances. It looks like it's no big deal for Rin, but I think that's deceptive. Part of the scene's purpose is to show how much she implicitly trusts Hisao. Remember that she - reportedly - kicked Emi when she tried to hug her. Rin not trying to evade an embarrassing situation is a big deal.Dullfinn wrote:I think my main gripe about the scene is that Hisao just seems to bumble in there, surprising Rin. It would make more sense (or be more powerful) if Rin had invited Hisao beforehand, with something special in mind - or perhaps the complete opposite: asking him to help her from the get-go, kind of out-of-the-blue, since he happened to be there already. Now it's more in the line of "hey, since you caught me like this, would you mind finishing me off, because I don't really have any other use for you right now".
What you suggest gives Rin a level of planning she's simply not capable of in that situation. She's already overwhelmed with the situation, and planning anything is hard for her, even when she's comfortable.
I'm not that pessimistic about Rin in the neutral route, really. In a realistic sense, I kind of agree with Dullfinn: just because two people with similar personalities are presented with similar circumstances does not mean they will necessarily react in the same way, especially when the reaction is something so drastic as suicide. When I argue for, or speculate about, the implication of Rin's suicide after the events of the neutral ending, I'm thinking more in the context of what I believe Aura was trying to tell us through his writing than what I believe Rin would do if she were a real person.Dawnstorm wrote:I half agree with you, here (more details in this thread), but I think you might underestimate the impact meeting Hisao has had on her. (On the topic of suicide, I think I'm - on balance - more optimistic than Mirrormn - definitely more optimistic in the neutral end, but slightly more pessimistic in the good end - confirm in the other link.)Dullfinn wrote:There's also one other thing I'm not "buying": In my previous post, I didn't touch the subject of suicide, deciding it wasn't very important. But after checking out the "bad end" again, I'd image Hisao being far more likely to commit suicide, than Rin! I mean, she's always led an abnormal life, but to Hisao his condition is still something new. If he gets angry and bitter about the (relatively small amount of) time he wasted with Rin, he's definitely going to face bigger problems, and probably projects (or relationships) that end up being even more wasteful, in the future. Can he take it? Rin, on the other hand, would probably just keep living day-to-day the way she's always done, without much of a hitch. So, while there was the story about Nomiya and Sae's old friend, who killed himself, I don't think it matters much, because in the real world, lost of people kill themselves every day - yet it doesn't mean that someone wholly different would also do it, even if faced with similar problems and circumstances. That's why I don't really get why some claim that Rin would kill herself (in any of the scenarios presented in the game).
Absolutely. To be more specific: the scene you mention, Dullfinn, in which Nomiya and Sae recount the tale of their "old friend", actually differs slightly but significantly based on your conversation choice. Each choice gives you the same story told from a different perspective, and when you take both perspectives together, the implication of Rin's potential suicide becomes a lot clearer.Dawnstorm wrote:On a side note, "old friend" suggests that you haven't gotten around to read some of the text in Rin's route. It's easy to get a library 100 % for Rin and still miss a lot of information, because many scenes contain alternate text for the many choices (some of which won't even show up, unless you made certain choices in other scenes). The Rin route has definitely the most complex information management system of them all.
I interpreted that line to mean the first time she did it with a partner, not her first time masturbating.Mirrormn wrote:Also, after she climaxes, Rin comments to Hisao: "I am tired. It feels strange. Like I lost something. I mean something else than my marital purity." Which implies that it was her first time.
I think it's absolutely vital, because...Dawnstorm wrote:I'm honestly not sure about Rin's masturbatory history, and to be honest I don't think it's that important. I don't think it needs to be a "new" experience to make sense in the context.
...as I wrote originally, the wording really DOES imply it was her first time. Now, this confuses me a lot. On the other hand, it would make the experience unique - which lends to it, perhaps, being helpful for her quest to get inspired, and definitely brings her and Hisao closer together, at least physically - yet, on the other hand, I find that implication highly improbable. But then again, I'm not sure where the story is supposed to take place: in realistic, modern-day Japan? Or some wacky anime universe? (Sorry if I'm dragging on this subject, it's just that sexual health is something I read about frequently. For example, I have statistics that show that only 24% of 18-year-old finnish girls are virgins anymore. Quite the contrast, eh?)Mirrormn wrote:after she climaxes, Rin comments to Hisao: "I am tired. It feels strange. Like I lost something. I mean something else than my marital purity." Which implies that it was her first time.
Really? That sucks... I think the game should be WAY more clear about stuff like that. I wonder if it's just bad design, or something that would have required more tinkering with the engine? (I find the flowcharts somewhat confusing. They should be, at the very least, built-in, if not also more explicit...)Dawnstorm wrote:On a side note, "old friend" suggests that you haven't gotten around to read some of the text in Rin's route. It's easy to get a library 100 % for Rin and still miss a lot of information, because many scenes contain alternate text for the many choices (some of which won't even show up, unless you made certain choices in other scenes).
I hope I didn't offend anyone with my comments, since they were just my opinions, based on my own experiences. It's easy to spot the most extreme cases, so those are also the ones that immediately come to mind, when talking about the subject. And I've met creative aspies, too - but they are usually computer programmers, not abtract artists, heh.Guest Poster wrote:Also, there's plenty of artists on the spectrum...the eye for (or obsession with) detail can help sometimes. I've also met several kids on the spectrum who were creative in other ways. Unfortunately, several of the most creative ones were also the ones who dropped out of school and spent most of the day either lying in bed or playing World of Warcraft.
I don't see how 24% would translate to "highly improbable", especially considering Rin's disability, which would presumptively mark her as a statistical outlier.Dullfinn wrote:...as I wrote originally, the wording really DOES imply it was her first time. Now, this confuses me a lot. On the other hand, it would make the experience unique - which lends to it, perhaps, being helpful for her quest to get inspired, and definitely brings her and Hisao closer together, at least physically - yet, on the other hand, I find that implication highly improbable.
...
For example, I have statistics that show that only 24% of 18-year-old finnish girls are virgins anymore. Quite the contrast, eh?
Don't worry a bit about it. That's basically all we do on this forum: endlessly drag out debate on tiny minutiae!Dullfinn wrote:Sorry if I'm dragging on this subject, it's just that sexual health is something I read about frequently.
Well, the contrast was to your statistics. And yes, Rin is a special case - especially because she's fictional! But I don't have a hard time imagining scenarios... how about a cucumber lodged between sofa cushions? (I suppose it comes down to how she views or feels about sexuality. And that - like pretty much everything else about her - is a mystery to me.)Mirrormn wrote:I don't see how 24% would translate to "highly improbable", especially considering Rin's disability, which would presumptively mark her as a statistical outlier.