Many capes are ungodly murderbeasts. Fewer capes have single-handedly saved a city and are working to revolutionize science in general and medicine in particular. She's actually very well-positioned to solve this problem by talking about it, certainly much better than her birdparents were when one of them brokered peace from an interrogation room.
The Youth's Guards corruption and hypocrisy is based on actual corruption found in CPS, most notably in the Kentucky CPS scandal from a few years ago. It's also based on exploitation of child actors in Hollywood.
The decision to intrinsically link the PRT's PR machine and the Wards it self was from the Youth Guards own supposed mission statement. Look closely at what they do for offenses.
In the first offense we see very clearly that the Wards themselves are immediately targeted. The Wards pay is reduced and all forms of management is taken out of the picture. Now of course a $10, 000 fine is laughable. I mean honestly, that's like one bulk purchase of Printer Ink and toner+ paper. They probably run through that in a week. But consider for a moment what this means for a lot of vulnerable Wards. I think it'd be reasonable to assume that the Wards may often be the only refuge for a lot of young Capes who trigger. Abusive or neglectful families (Such as Vista's) or simply not having a family for any reason.
With an order that the Wards grades be kept to a minimal standard that can not be dropped plus the regularity of PR shoots and the like consider for a moment how the Ward can support themselves, especially since so much of their paycheck is locked up in a trust fund. Plus the pressure to remain in the Protectorate into adulthood. The wards are likely the only way for these kids to support themselves.
And the first thing, in the name of "Protecting" them is to strip away their sole means of support. How does that help the Ward?
But what it is is intimidating. The Wards, who are very much children, would be terrified of reporting anything that they feel is effecting them. One "infraction" could ruin their lives. They also don't vanish as well, it just builds and builds. All that pressure being put on a child.
Then there's how much control the Youth Guard has over their lives. Look at what they can do here:
ANYTHING involving the Wards, even tangentially, can be canceled by a Youth Guard Member. Consider for a moment what that might mean. Now, let us move on to the second bit highlighted. The Youth Guard can discipline Wards. Sure they can't order them, but would a Ward disobey orders the Youth Guard suggests the higher ups give? Especially considering what they could do to their life?
There is not a government agency ALIVE that would allow this to exist. Hell, governments have dismantled organisations who've tried to amass this much power. So, why would they have it then?
Why would an advocacy group for protecting Wards be given so much power over their lives that is seemingly only there to punish the Wards if something happens to them?
Well, consider Child Stars, especially the notable horrific cases that have cropped up over the years. Especially the old one's, from the golden age of hollywood. Stars that had their whole lives put on display, analyzed by everyone yet abuse and exploitation happened to these children without a single person bringing it up until years later.
Examine their lives, their struggles and then consider something about the Wards. Isn't it awfully familiar? Aren't the threats used by the Youth Guard awfully similar here?
But wait, this rabbit hole goes so much deeper.
We must take a look at the PR as displayed in Canon and here, where dangerous and utterly ludicrous orders and suggestions were given to underage heroes in potentially lethal situations. All to keep them dancing to a specific tune. Decisions made solely to make them more marketable, more befitting of the relentless financial machine that dictated PRT policy. How could the youth guard exist when the most closely looked at cases are treated in that way? When even when so closely monitored psychopaths like Shadow Stalker can physically assault a 13 year old?
Well, what Wildbow accidentally stumbled into was a terrifying glimpse into the horrors experienced by Child Stars and victims of corrupt CPS organisations. A pity it was wasted on the alter of "escalation" when there could have been a very interesting story there. But got to fight Endbringers and Scion and make hard decisions, right?
Anyways, I would like to direct your attention to now to the before mentioned CPS allegations of corruption and abuse. I would encourage people do their own research into this matter, as it is a wide-spanning issue that can scarcely be covered by one writer on a webforum.
As I was saying, Wildbow had stumbled into the terrifying world many people in our communities are suddenly thrust into. I'm sure we're all aware about how shitty foster homes can be, with sexual and physical abuse and just plain old neglect running rampant. However, there have been allegations (And I stress allegations) that this is encouraged financially. With individuals even able to put in "orders" for the children of one specific family.
Now again, let me make it clear there are good people working in CPS, and social workers working with the system to provide the best possible care for children in need. That we are talking about the worst possible cases.
More importantly, allegations persist that there is a financial reward for how "troubled" the children are, how many mental illnesses they have and what not. This is entirely without a trained psychologist or medical professional seeing them. As such they are also put on medication to help control their mental illnesses that of course serve little more than to keep them drugged up. Parents are slandered as unfit over minor things (such as unwashed dishes or dirty laundry) and often are intimidated into giving their children up.
Now, that isn't to say there isn't people who really deserve to never be allowed near children but this is specifically talking about the worst cases.
So with that in mind we begin to see a trend between all three institutions listed. PR, the Youth Guard and CPS.
The Youth Guard is very much a penal system for the Wards and ONLY the Wards. They specifically dismantle any support structure the Wards might have and punish them and ONLY them. Why would they penalize only the Wards? Well obviously it's to keep them compliant. Punish them when they act out.
How does PR relate to this? Well they have to ensure the Wards actually LISTEN to their suggestions. How much power would a PR person wield if the Ward or the Wards parent could tell them to kindly fuck off when a design or action is suggested? The Youth Guard and it's bizarre hypocrisy in only punishing the Wards makes perfect sense when you consider what it can do to make a Ward more compliant with demands. A stick to beat the children when they get out of line and don't do as they're told.
All under the guise of a charity to protect them.
How does CPS relate to it? Well, the Youth Guard is apparently now the only form of Child Protection for the Wards. They ARE CPS for them. A NGO which is very much For Profit that has control over a government agency on EVERY level. They can deny medical check-ups, therapy. Their powers as stated are so broad they can effect every part of the Wards life even if they aren't technically supposed to affect the civilian life.
How easy would it be to claim that a Wards parents are abusing them? Especially considering the majority of Wards will likely be from less off families considering how trigger events work. A Ward gets the shit beat out of them by a supervillain, spends the day at home.
Oh, an anonymous tip said the War- I mean normal everyday child is being beaten. GASP! They are covered in bruises and they refuse to talk about where they got it.
See? It'd be hilariously easy to take the parents out of the equation. Perhaps the PRT could "protect" the child by keeping them in the same city with the Wards rather than shoving them in a foster home?
Honestly, this would have been a much more interesting story than canon worm. The Hebert's have CPS called on them, Taylor has to fight to uncover the corruption in the system while dealing with supervillains and trauma. I'd read it. But unfortunately that'll never be.
So, how does this all relate back? Well, that was just using the canon system Wildbow accidentally created and examining it logically. What would happen if we were to look at it from a more worldly lens, and try to make it a system that wasn't added in to punish players in a quest.
Well, we must look at the original case and a little Law nicknamed the Coogan Law. Named after Jackie Coogan who according to wikipedia:
Fairly straight forward. Now, in Reed Vs PRT, the originator case of the Youth Guard in this setting quietly set in motion events that overturned the Coogan law. As while the media portrayed it as parents desperately trying to get control of their children from the evul guvenment it was in actually parents trying to control the income of the the Ward. Suffice to say, they won.
Parahuman minors, child employee's and actors. They all suffered because of this as slowly right after right was whittled away. The Villain problem is not only because of "LOL!CAULDRON" and "LOL!SHARDS" but because of their own short-sightedness allowing exploitation to run rampant and the people to buy into every second of it. Rogues and independents stay independent because they don't want to be dragged into that mess. New Wave is aware of this but well, their attempt for accountability died violently as you are aware. That and with Parahuman rogue corporations being faced with regulation after regulation the whole situation is at a tipping point.
The Youth's Guards corruption and hypocrisy is based on actual corruption found in CPS, most notably in the Kentucky CPS scandal from a few years ago. It's also based on exploitation of child actors in Hollywood.
The decision to intrinsically link the PRT's PR machine and the Wards it self was from the Youth Guards own supposed mission statement. Look closely at what they do for offenses.
In the first offense we see very clearly that the Wards themselves are immediately targeted. The Wards pay is reduced and all forms of management is taken out of the picture. Now of course a $10, 000 fine is laughable. I mean honestly, that's like one bulk purchase of Printer Ink and toner+ paper. They probably run through that in a week. But consider for a moment what this means for a lot of vulnerable Wards. I think it'd be reasonable to assume that the Wards may often be the only refuge for a lot of young Capes who trigger. Abusive or neglectful families (Such as Vista's) or simply not having a family for any reason.
With an order that the Wards grades be kept to a minimal standard that can not be dropped plus the regularity of PR shoots and the like consider for a moment how the Ward can support themselves, especially since so much of their paycheck is locked up in a trust fund. Plus the pressure to remain in the Protectorate into adulthood. The wards are likely the only way for these kids to support themselves.
And the first thing, in the name of "Protecting" them is to strip away their sole means of support. How does that help the Ward?
But what it is is intimidating. The Wards, who are very much children, would be terrified of reporting anything that they feel is effecting them. One "infraction" could ruin their lives. They also don't vanish as well, it just builds and builds. All that pressure being put on a child.
Then there's how much control the Youth Guard has over their lives. Look at what they can do here:
ANYTHING involving the Wards, even tangentially, can be canceled by a Youth Guard Member. Consider for a moment what that might mean. Now, let us move on to the second bit highlighted. The Youth Guard can discipline Wards. Sure they can't order them, but would a Ward disobey orders the Youth Guard suggests the higher ups give? Especially considering what they could do to their life?
There is not a government agency ALIVE that would allow this to exist. Hell, governments have dismantled organisations who've tried to amass this much power. So, why would they have it then?
Why would an advocacy group for protecting Wards be given so much power over their lives that is seemingly only there to punish the Wards if something happens to them?
Well, consider Child Stars, especially the notable horrific cases that have cropped up over the years. Especially the old one's, from the golden age of hollywood. Stars that had their whole lives put on display, analyzed by everyone yet abuse and exploitation happened to these children without a single person bringing it up until years later.
Examine their lives, their struggles and then consider something about the Wards. Isn't it awfully familiar? Aren't the threats used by the Youth Guard awfully similar here?
But wait, this rabbit hole goes so much deeper.
We must take a look at the PR as displayed in Canon and here, where dangerous and utterly ludicrous orders and suggestions were given to underage heroes in potentially lethal situations. All to keep them dancing to a specific tune. Decisions made solely to make them more marketable, more befitting of the relentless financial machine that dictated PRT policy. How could the youth guard exist when the most closely looked at cases are treated in that way? When even when so closely monitored psychopaths like Shadow Stalker can physically assault a 13 year old?
Well, what Wildbow accidentally stumbled into was a terrifying glimpse into the horrors experienced by Child Stars and victims of corrupt CPS organisations. A pity it was wasted on the alter of "escalation" when there could have been a very interesting story there. But got to fight Endbringers and Scion and make hard decisions, right?
Anyways, I would like to direct your attention to now to the before mentioned CPS allegations of corruption and abuse. I would encourage people do their own research into this matter, as it is a wide-spanning issue that can scarcely be covered by one writer on a webforum.
As I was saying, Wildbow had stumbled into the terrifying world many people in our communities are suddenly thrust into. I'm sure we're all aware about how shitty foster homes can be, with sexual and physical abuse and just plain old neglect running rampant. However, there have been allegations (And I stress allegations) that this is encouraged financially. With individuals even able to put in "orders" for the children of one specific family.
Now again, let me make it clear there are good people working in CPS, and social workers working with the system to provide the best possible care for children in need. That we are talking about the worst possible cases.
More importantly, allegations persist that there is a financial reward for how "troubled" the children are, how many mental illnesses they have and what not. This is entirely without a trained psychologist or medical professional seeing them. As such they are also put on medication to help control their mental illnesses that of course serve little more than to keep them drugged up. Parents are slandered as unfit over minor things (such as unwashed dishes or dirty laundry) and often are intimidated into giving their children up.
Now, that isn't to say there isn't people who really deserve to never be allowed near children but this is specifically talking about the worst cases.
So with that in mind we begin to see a trend between all three institutions listed. PR, the Youth Guard and CPS.
The Youth Guard is very much a penal system for the Wards and ONLY the Wards. They specifically dismantle any support structure the Wards might have and punish them and ONLY them. Why would they penalize only the Wards? Well obviously it's to keep them compliant. Punish them when they act out.
How does PR relate to this? Well they have to ensure the Wards actually LISTEN to their suggestions. How much power would a PR person wield if the Ward or the Wards parent could tell them to kindly fuck off when a design or action is suggested? The Youth Guard and it's bizarre hypocrisy in only punishing the Wards makes perfect sense when you consider what it can do to make a Ward more compliant with demands. A stick to beat the children when they get out of line and don't do as they're told.
All under the guise of a charity to protect them.
How does CPS relate to it? Well, the Youth Guard is apparently now the only form of Child Protection for the Wards. They ARE CPS for them. A NGO which is very much For Profit that has control over a government agency on EVERY level. They can deny medical check-ups, therapy. Their powers as stated are so broad they can effect every part of the Wards life even if they aren't technically supposed to affect the civilian life.
How easy would it be to claim that a Wards parents are abusing them? Especially considering the majority of Wards will likely be from less off families considering how trigger events work. A Ward gets the shit beat out of them by a supervillain, spends the day at home.
Oh, an anonymous tip said the War- I mean normal everyday child is being beaten. GASP! They are covered in bruises and they refuse to talk about where they got it.
See? It'd be hilariously easy to take the parents out of the equation. Perhaps the PRT could "protect" the child by keeping them in the same city with the Wards rather than shoving them in a foster home?
Honestly, this would have been a much more interesting story than canon worm. The Hebert's have CPS called on them, Taylor has to fight to uncover the corruption in the system while dealing with supervillains and trauma. I'd read it. But unfortunately that'll never be.
So, how does this all relate back? Well, that was just using the canon system Wildbow accidentally created and examining it logically. What would happen if we were to look at it from a more worldly lens, and try to make it a system that wasn't added in to punish players in a quest.
Well, we must look at the original case and a little Law nicknamed the Coogan Law. Named after Jackie Coogan who according to wikipedia:
Fairly straight forward. Now, in Reed Vs PRT, the originator case of the Youth Guard in this setting quietly set in motion events that overturned the Coogan law. As while the media portrayed it as parents desperately trying to get control of their children from the evul guvenment it was in actually parents trying to control the income of the the Ward. Suffice to say, they won.
Parahuman minors, child employee's and actors. They all suffered because of this as slowly right after right was whittled away. The Villain problem is not only because of "LOL!CAULDRON" and "LOL!SHARDS" but because of their own short-sightedness allowing exploitation to run rampant and the people to buy into every second of it. Rogues and independents stay independent because they don't want to be dragged into that mess. New Wave is aware of this but well, their attempt for accountability died violently as you are aware. That and with Parahuman rogue corporations being faced with regulation after regulation the whole situation is at a tipping point.
Really, it's their own fault for allowing what's about to happen to occur.
I have to thank you for that. I'm a Bounty State survivor, and it's hard for most people to understand the sort of things that go on in the more corrupt parts of the CPS.
That will do. If her visor data shows just how bad it is under the Youth Guard, the public will file class action lawsuits. These lawsuots, even if the visor itself cannot be used, will allow the Plaintiff to supponea records for evidence. Yes it may seem like a fishing expedition, but in this case we would be using Worm's corrupt legal system to our advantage. The courts can't afford to look like they aren't taking the lives of the Heroes seriously, meaning the visor will be allowed.
A question for the future. Will there be some time for Samus to get with Beardmaster in the tech labs and hammer out some gear for the others? She is a god damn genius in her own right. She can help design and produce gear for the others.
She just needs to realize not ever one has had a precursor race set up gear stashs for them millions of years in the past.
Well, that was just using the canon system Wildbow accidentally created and examining it logically. What would happen if we were to look at it from a more worldly lens, and try to make it a system that wasn't added in to punish players in a quest.
I'm sorry, but I don't think I get what you mean. Maybe I'm just really tired but the Youth Guard being a creation introduced into PRT Quest in order to make things more difficult for the playerbase is well known?
I'm sorry, but I don't think I get what you mean. Maybe I'm just really tired but the Youth Guard being a creation introduced into PRT Quest in order to make things more difficult for the playerbase is well known?
ImmortalsBlade, thank you for making that post about the similarities between the Youth Guard and CPS organizations. It's a hard topic, but precisely because of that it shouldn't be ignored. Whenever I see a story that goes out its way to point out child abuse as a thing that even exists, I feel like you can generally expect better writing, as the author often has put thought and research into it; not always, but usually it's the case.
Since it's a problem that can't be fixed via superpowers, a 'real' problem, much like Taylor's bullying at the hands of the terrible trio, it's very compelling. That's probably one of the biggest factors that makes Worm so popular - if you couldn't empathize with Taylor's suffering, it's probably not the story for you. But if you can, then you'll be sucked right in.
There's a whole essay's worth of content that could be said on this general topic, on how people continually make Worm quests and fics to try to alleviate or erase the suffering of its characters, really, but I'm not sure I could do it justice, or that this is the right place for it.
Well, I think you must understand that I'm basing it on accusations of corruption of CPS in Kentucky and experiences hit by children in the golden age of Hollywood. I didn't provide many sources for the real world claims I admit but it's hard to find verification as all this happened many years ago.
I did do research on whether or not the Youth Guard made sense, then adapted it for my own purposes to better serve the narrative I am crafting.
If you wish to see the inspiration for where a lot of it came from I suggest reading up on the life of Shirley Temple. I'll also link you some of the video's I found while researching this but I would recommend taking it with a grain of salt.
This isn't a conspiracy theory, it's something based on real events adapted to serve a narrative using what Wildbow provided accidentally as a basis. Especially when if you read what's done it very much makes no sense and contradicts what it's supposed to do.
However I can't verify any of this so feel free to take it with a grain of salt. However I implore you to keep in mind this is adapting a flawed and quickly hashed out system into a more deliberate entity for the purposes of the narrative that is based on real-world issues.
If you still have a problem with it I can't help you, but if it helps make people aware of the issues faced by people stuck in the CPS and child actor systems both for good and ill and made you more aware of this issue than I'll be happy with it.
This isn't a conspiracy theory, it's something based on real events adapted to serve a narrative using what Wildbow provided accidentally as a basis. Especially when if you read what's done it very much makes no sense and contradicts what it's supposed to do.
Excuse me, I misspoke somewhat. It'd be better to say that I was referring to your interpretation of Worm canon. I don't have any comment on the real world events referenced.
Excuse me, I misspoke somewhat. It'd be better to say that I was referring to your interpretation of Worm canon. I don't have any comment on the real world events referenced.
Oh? No no, I think you misunderstand. I'm very aware the Youth Guard didn't exist in the slightest in canon worm. I was referring to what the Youth Guard implies and then warping it around to fit what I'm doing.
Yeah the Youth Guard doesn't exist in the slightest in Worm proper and the whole system I described doesn't fit with it because well... honestly how the PRT works in canon is kinda backwards and contradictory.
I should have given my essay a once over to make sure I explained that.
Oh? No no, I think you misunderstand. I'm very aware the Youth Guard didn't exist in the slightest in canon worm. I was referring to what the Youth Guard implies and then warping it around to fit what I'm doing.
Yeah the Youth Guard doesn't exist in the slightest in Worm proper and the whole system I described doesn't fit with it because well... honestly how the PRT works in canon is kinda backwards and contradictory.
Damnit. This what I get for staying up late shitposting instead of going to sleep. Your interpretation of Wormverse canon, I meant to say. Including PRT Quest.
Damnit. This what I get for staying up late shitposting instead of going to sleep. Your interpretation of Wormverse canon, I meant to say. Including PRT Quest.
Yeah I think I'm just not getting your point as I'm exhausted at the moment, sorry. Honestly PRT Quest and Worm proper are separate entities as far as I'm concerned and stuff said outside the story proper is mostly stuff I don't care about. Here just wait like 6 updates and hopefully what's actually going on will make sense.
Yeah I think I'm just not getting your point as I'm exhausted at the moment, sorry. Honestly PRT Quest and Worm proper are separate entities as far as I'm concerned and stuff said outside the story proper is mostly stuff I don't care about. Here just wait like 6 updates and hopefully what's actually going on will make sense.
EDIT 2:
So based on ImmortalsBlade big post it really sounds like what's going on is a Thing from beyond looks at Earth-Bet, goes "Wow, the humans' stupid decisions will make this easy!" and then proceeds to ensure the current situation will remain indefinitely even while making everything else worse.
"Doctor Vahlen, the patients are here."
"Ah, thank you Dr. Tygan. Let's get them int- Samus, why are you hugging Miss Militia and Dauntless?"
"Stasis."
"Hm?"
"'s for stasis."
"I see. How... long have you been in that position?"
"Since the pickup."
"... I see. Samus, you know we can't fit all three of you, much less you in your armor, in a pod. You'll have to let them go."
" I know that."
"But you do not wish to?"
"No."
I have to thank you for that. I'm a Bounty State survivor, and it's hard for most people to understand the sort of things that go on in the more corrupt parts of the CPS.
So you because you don't like depressing things about depressing people, and thus anything that makes you feed depressed is objectively bad.
Good to know.
EDIT: For those of you who may be confused, our hundred-handed lawncare specialist decided here was the place to post a bile-filled rant about how people on the internet shouldn't upset him because of his mental issues and the quest getting dark, which the QM already posted about on this very page. In other words, a rather narcissistic cry for attention.
He has since deleted his post.
Hopefully he feels better soon and returns to making positive contributions to the quest, like the many he's done in the past.
