Audience’s Rights Reform #6: No trolling/bullying on the part of creators
Writers and game designers have been known to bully their audiences. This is unacceptable and must be eliminated. Artistic expression is a privilege, and bullies don’t deserve any privileges. All existing examples of trolling should be edited — not on a mere “alternate version” basis, but on a total replacement basis. Trolling has been allowed far too long, by which I mean, for a nonzero length of time.
The greater message: Creators can’t just do whatever they want! When it comes to fiction, artistic freedom is an abusable and loseable privilege, not the human right it pretends to be. I cannot emphasize this enough.
Example A: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, as well as their remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, one of the four in-game trades is a Medicham for a Haunter. Caspar, the Haunter received, is holding an Everstone which prevents it from evolving into Gengar. Because trading to evolve is a core mechanic of the series, the Everstone sabotages the player’s expectation. This is a clear example of trolling on the part of Nintendo. The games should be mass-recalled and patched so that the Haunter evolves when traded.
Example B: Paper Mario 64
In the original Paper Mario game, Bowser’s third Guard Door is infamous for his bait-and-switch boss battle. The cutscene sets up for a rematch against the Koopa Brothers, a classic early-game boss fight, only for it to be changed at the last minute to a fight against Jr. Troopa — the game’s sixth and final battle against this recurring mini-boss. By this point in the story, Jr. Troopa has overstayed his welcome. Said swap is a blatant example of trolling; millions of commenters on various websites have expressed their displeasure about the bait-and-switch.
Even though this final fight against Jr. Troopa holds a high degree of nostalgia value in my heart, I’m fighting to get it edited on a total replacement basis because I fundamentally disagree with trolling. How’s that for a selfless sense of justice?
Example C: The Simpsons S21E19 “The Squirt and the Whale”
Another form of narrative trolling, arguably the most frustrating of all, is when a story strongly implies a happy ending, only to replace it with a sad one. A clear example is The Simpsons S21E19 “The Squirt and the Whale”, in which Lisa’s efforts to save a beached whale named Bluella appear to succeed: Bluella is shown being airlifted to safety and released into the ocean. But then the episode abruptly reveals that this was only a dream, and that Bluella died during the night.
This bait-and-switch ending appears to have been designed solely to frustrate and sadden viewers. This episode should be edited to follow through on the implied hopeful ending. Implying a happy ending should be a binding contract, no exceptions.
Example D: Battletoads
Not all creative bullying comes from setting up one expectation and replacing it with another. Some is simply a matter of frustrating the player, reader, or viewer in ways that have no meaningful artistic purpose. Battletoads (1991) is known for its exceptionally difficult Turbo Tunnel level. This isn’t a case of playful challenge; it’s an intentionally punishing design that goes far beyond the skill curve of the average player. This form of trolling is just as unacceptable as deceptive storytelling, and should also be subject to removal or correction.
Important clarification: Bait-and-switch does not necessarily equal bullying
It’s important to note that a bait-and-switch is not always a negative change. Sometimes, an unexpected twist is preferable to what was implied. For instance, in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, the player spends most of the game preparing to fight Skull Kid, only for the final challenge to be a surreal battle against Majora’s Mask itself. This is an example of a positive bait-and-switch, in that it heightens the drama, expands the stories, and is enjoyed by players. The difference is intent and reception. If the switch pleases the audience, it’s a valid storytelling tool. If it exists to annoy or upset the audience, it’s bullying.