The root of the problem.

Just recently, we've seen a lot of dissatisfaction from theorists regarding the lack of interesting discussions on this board. Some of us have tried to explain it philosophically, others (like myself) have tried to change the manner in which we theorise to bring back that interest.

The root of the problem can be explained in one word: consensus. Every theorist on this board has reached more or less the same conclusion regarding the timeline. If no definite conclusion can be reached, then an open-ended conclusion is reached instead. In short, the goal of theorising has reached a level where there is nothing more constructive to be said.

If you want to see some variety, the only decent option now is to change the goal of theorising. One popular alternative at the moment is to develop a preferred timeline, rather than understanding a true timeline. However, the way that this is often achieved is by picking and choosing which evidence is relevant, and this can cause a break down in discussion, because opponents cannot assert their views with evidence.

So with regards to working with a consistent use of evidence, I leave with you the question of what the new goal of theorising should be. As a personal example, I think we can afford to look at character development and the importance it plays in the timeline. Other options I leave to you.

I don't think anyone should yet abandon the quest for the true timeline. Things have temporarily dried up in the theorizing department but now that Nintendo has openly made a declaration of the split timeline, then all we must do is wait for more games to come out and then we will place them.

As soon as the next Zelda game (Phantom Hourglass) comes out then the board will erupt again with more theories and possible connections. So, yes, the timeline community has reached a stalemate but it can be broken by the introduction of new games to the series.

Originally Posted by Cloaked Mystery

I don't think anyone should yet abandon the quest for the true timeline. Things have temporarily dried up in the theorizing department but now that Nintendo has openly made a declaration of the split timeline, then all we must do is wait for more games to come out and then we will place them.

As soon as the next Zelda game (Phantom Hourglass) comes out then the board will erupt again with more theories and possible connections. So, yes, the timeline community has reached a stalemate but it can be broken by the introduction of new games to the series.

Can we not discuss something new until Phantom Hourglass comes out? And what if Phantom Hourglass doesn't reveal anything new?

Originally Posted by Raian

Can we not discuss something new until Phantom Hourglass comes out?

As you said already...

In short, the goal of theorising has reached a level where there is nothing more constructive to be said.

There isn't anything new.

Originally Posted by Raian

And what if Phantom Hourglass doesn't reveal anything new?

Name one Zelda game that hasn't brought up some timeline related element.

Originally Posted by Cloaked Mystery

There isn't anything new.

Character development? Life after Death? These things don't have anything to do with one particular timeline, but they do help us understand the Zelda timeline in general.

Name one Zelda game that hasn't brought up some timeline related element.

You mean a game that has not brought anything new to the timeline (other than its existence)? Link's Awakening.

I think the root of the problem are developer statements. They've given us too much information, and the split being confirmed was just the icing on the cake. After Blue Swamp, the theorizing community practically died. As I said in my Bombers notebook, I think that we should just screw developer statements and create timelines from nothing but in-game evidence. That's what people used to do, and that's when things were best.

Hrm. But if we were to say "screw it" to the developer statements, wouldn't that just start another split vs linear war?

Originally Posted by Prince Dodongo

Hrm. But if we were to say "screw it" to the developer statements, wouldn't that just start another split vs linear war?

Not if everyone was mature. But then again, one of those would definately liven things up .

Lolz, don't forget the only reasonable conclusion of a pre-Blue Swamp split Linear battle was a compromised decision to leave it in the hands of the developers (and gamble on either a Reduction to the Absurd or a poor interpretation of the Aonuma tWW quotes)...

IMO, Raiain is correct. The true prolbem is that the community has accepted a general view of theory epistemology. We all gather all knowledge and form our ideas in similar ways, and even when our methods differ we have full respect ful the alternate possibility.
We've acheived the maximum ammount of knowledge this view can give us and so, if we wish to continue discussion, we need to explore new feilds and new view points.

Originally Posted by Prince Dodongo

Hrm. But if we were to say "screw it" to the developer statements, wouldn't that just start another split vs linear war?

lol Count me in.
As Sentient said we need something to liven things up around here.
(yawn)
But the developers most assuredly haven't given us enough information.
If they had then we wouldn't even need to debate anymore.

I'm actually making a thread as to FSA coming in the child timeline but that's what I'm getting into the Bombers with.

Soon there will be no timeline left. Only theories about the SW and whatnot.

Hrm. But if we were to say "screw it" to the developer statements, wouldn't that just start another split vs linear war?

I would normally say that to anyone who says the split exists but what a developer says goes PD. The reason I ignore so many statements is because ...

1. They're outdated
2. I can prove them wrong
3. Developers usually have no idea what they're talking about.
ect.

The split was a complete official stance.

At any rate I hope you guys will veiw my article about FSA in the child timeline.

Sentient, what you suggest will most likely go the way of my "Arrogant Timeline Topic". You are asking people to debate from a perspective that they don't truly support. Would you yourself be the first to break the UWM and create an all-new timeline that ignores developer quotes?

If we are to keep searching for "the truth", we need to stop looking at what has already been concluded and start looking at what hasn't been discussed. I have provided topic ideas, and it would be nice if others had their own ideas.

Do you mean just looking at other aspects to make a timeline?

So do you mean we should be looking at character development, art styles, geography, hylian text and languages, music, technology, equipment, names of locations, symbolism, goddess worshiping, structures, the different races, clothing, towns and castles, the royal family, the state of the triforce etc. etc.

Haven't these all be done before?

Originally Posted by Cloaked Mystery

Do you mean just looking at other aspects to make a timeline?

I mean looking at other aspects to develop the same timeline.

So do you mean we should be looking at character development, art styles, geography, hylian text and languages, music, technology, equipment, names of locations, symbolism, goddess worshiping, structures, the different races, clothing, towns and castles, the royal family, the state of the triforce etc. etc.

Haven't these all be done before?

Not in an in-depth structure, they haven't. Try connecting those topics together and you might discover something interesting, like I found with the development of the Ganon character from examining the Light Arrows.

Originally Posted by Raian

Not in an in-depth structure, they haven't. Try connecting those topics together and you might discover something interesting, like I found with the development of the Ganon character from examining the Light Arrows.

And I do hope you'll be posting your findings.
I suppose we might as well all move onto the next chapter in theorizing...
At least until PH comes out of course lol.

Are there others that I forgot to mention?

Originally Posted by Cloaked Mystery

And I do hope you'll be posting your findings.
I suppose we might as well all move onto the next chapter in theorizing...
At least until PH comes out of course lol.

Are there others that I forgot to mention?

Put it like this.

We have looked at everything so far as evidence of timeline placement. Now it's time just to understand how things work in general. For example, are the Heroes reborn in soul or in character? You don't need a timeline placement to discuss that question.

One thing that no one has discussed since Blue Swamp is the sequence of events in Twilight Princess. There are a lot of questions to be asked, and my "Disproving the Divine Prank myth" is no longer completely acceptable in answering some of them. That could be a good start, and I have a Twilight section of the video that could be discussed, but I have to finish it, which will take some time.

I am all for ignoring developer quotes, I had the exact same idea. We can use them as basis but they are secondary to in-game evidence.