Flip-Flop of God: Difference between revisions

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Most of the time, the [[Word of God]] knows exactly what it's talking about. It's consistent. It's, well, [[Canon]].

But sometimes, the [[Word of God]] can't quite make up its mind what to say. Maybe the writer hasn't decided what the right answer is, or [[Bellisario's Maxim|the audience asked him a question he didn't think he'd have to answer at all]]. Maybe he actually changed his mind sometime after he gave the original answer. Sometimes, it's simply that the creator is a [[Lying Creator]]. Or the "creator" is actually a series of ghost writers as in some franchise series and [[Depending on the Writer]] don't do a great job of keeping the character consistent. Either way, a Flip Flop Of God is when the [[Word of God]] contradicts itself somehow. The fundamental unreliability this ~~reveals -- any~~ author, at any time, might commit this ~~trope -- can~~ be considered an argument in favor of the [[Death of the Author]].

But sometimes, the [[Word of God]] can't quite make up its mind what to say. Maybe the writer hasn't decided what the right answer is, or [[Bellisario's Maxim|the audience asked him a question he didn't think he'd have to answer at all]]. Maybe he actually changed his mind sometime after he gave the original answer. Sometimes, it's simply that the creator is a [[Lying Creator]]. Or the "creator" is actually a series of ghost writers as in some franchise series and [[Depending on the Writer]] don't do a great job of keeping the character consistent. Either way, a Flip Flop Of God is when the [[Word of God]] contradicts itself somehow. The fundamental unreliability this reveals—any author, at any time, might commit this trope—can be considered an argument in favor of the [[Death of the Author]].

Different from [[Retcon]], because [[Retcon~~|Retcons~~]] are changes to something that happens in the story, instead of the [[Word of God]]. When the author refuses to outright answer a question, it's a [[Shrug of God]]. Also different from a [[Sword and Sandal|flip-flop]] ''worn'' by an [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|in-universe god]], or a [[Lotus Eater Machine|god that's]] [[The Matrix|made of]] [[wikipedia:Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flops.]]

Different from [[Retcon]], because [[Retcon]]s are changes to something that happens in the story, instead of the [[Word of God]]. When the author refuses to outright answer a question, it's a [[Shrug of God]]. Also different from a [[Sword and Sandal|flip-flop]] ''worn'' by an [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|in-universe god]], or a [[Lotus Eater Machine|god that's]] [[The Matrix|made of]] [[wikipedia:Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flops.]]

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** In an interview she did with Pottercast, Rowling and the interviewers became confused regarding Hannah Abbott's blood status - she had always assumed her to be Muggle Born, but had written that a family member of hers was buried in a wizard cemetery. Her final decision: "Oh, let's just split the difference and call her half-blood."

* [[Anne McCaffrey]] can't seem to make up her mind about, well, ''anything'' related to ''[[Dragonriders of Pern]]''. For instance, whether measurements given for the dragons are in feet (really the only feasible size, but a bit small for the early descriptions) or meters (an outright ridiculous figure). Or whether greens are infertile from firestone or genetics (at one point she actually said both in ''the same sentence'').

** Her son's even worse for the [[Ass Pull~~|Ass Pulls~~]] he's committed and then changed his mind about.

** Her son's even worse for the [[Ass Pull]]s he's committed and then changed his mind about.

* Whether or not William Gibson's Sprawl is a dystopia seems to depend on what the general outlook on the future seems to be in the SF Community. When ''[[Neuromancer]]'' first came out in [[The Eighties]], Gibson was adamant that The Sprawl was a dystopia with all the problems of modern urban environments turned up to eleven. Now, twenty years later, Gibson's claiming the exact opposite while simultaneously trying to cosy up to younger, more optimistic writers.

* [[Bret Easton Ellis]], the author of ''[[American Psycho]],'' can't ever decide if Patrick Bateman was a [[Serial Killer]] or of his killing spree was made up in his twisted mind. In the novel it's intentionally left ambiguous.

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* If the writers for ''[[Power Rangers]]'' ever claim that a certain series takes place either [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]] or in an [[Alternate Continuity]], expect a [[Reunion Show]] to later shove it back into the present-day main universe (''Lost Galaxy'' and ''Ninja Storm'' got this, though ''SPD'' has been able to keep its 2025 setting so far; team-ups feature [[Time Travel]].) ''RPM'' is so recent it just hasn't happened ''yet''.

** RPM now explicitly takes place in another dimension (pretty much the only explanation for Samurai ''not'' being in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and featuring someone from ''Morphin'.'')

** There's also Jonathon Tzachor's constant flip-flop over the state of the series' continuity. Initially, it was one whole universe except ''RPM''. Then, he decided that none of the Disney-era series happened (''Ninja Storm'' through ''RPM''). ''Then'', he decided that season happened in different continuities, which makes ''Mighty Morphin'' season 3 and ''Turbo's'' endings [[Downer Ending~~|Downer Endings~~]]!

** There's also Jonathon Tzachor's constant flip-flop over the state of the series' continuity. Initially, it was one whole universe except ''RPM''. Then, he decided that none of the Disney-era series happened (''Ninja Storm'' through ''RPM''). ''Then'', he decided that season happened in different continuities, which makes ''Mighty Morphin'' season 3 and ''Turbo's'' endings [[Downer Ending]]s!

* One of the house rules for ''[[Quantum Leap]]'', according to creator Donald Bellisario, was that Sam would never leap into a real person. For the first four seasons, he didn't; we only saw "[[Historical In-Joke|kisses with history]]". But the rule was suddenly dropped for Season 5, which opened with Sam leaping into [[Who Shot JFK?|Lee Harvey Oswald]] (a story Bellisario particularly wanted to tell as a counterpunch to Oliver Stone's ''JFK''), and continued with a host of others: Marilyn Monroe's chauffeur, Dr. Ruth, and even [[Elvis Presley|the King himself]].

** This was [[Executive Meddling]] at work, per Usenet posts made at the time from someone with connections to the production staff. The only way Bellisario could get Season 5 made was by giving the network execs the stories they wanted, which involved Sam leaping into real people.

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* ''[[Exalted]]''. It doesn't help that the editor, despite having worked on every book of the Second Edition, does not seem to be aware of what the books contained. At one point, Official Errata contained two contradictory answers as to whether Immaculate Monk Dynasts got the Enlightened Charms in addition to their 5 Immaculate Martial Arts Charms or not. Both answers were later removed, leaving it completely up to the ST.

** Not to mention all the various contradictions (Zeal, anyone?) that spring up if you read all the Charms that were published since the game's release. Sure, the game evolved, changed a bit and everything that goes with it, but it went too far in many aspects, so much so that many of the original statements about the setting are simply incorrect by the "new" standards...

*** For instance, in the First Edition corebook, it's pretty much treated as fact that the Solars ruled over a Golden Age that was only ended due to a possible horrible future coming from it, with the tales about how horrible the Solars were being latter-day fabrications to discredit them. Later books establish that the Solars were arguably ''worse'' than the Dragonblooded ~~claim -- although~~ even now, some of the claims against the "anathema" are still outright lies. The Second Edition corebook has codified this darkening of the First Age to the core premise.

*** For instance, in the First Edition corebook, it's pretty much treated as fact that the Solars ruled over a Golden Age that was only ended due to a possible horrible future coming from it, with the tales about how horrible the Solars were being latter-day fabrications to discredit them. Later books establish that the Solars were arguably ''worse'' than the Dragonblooded claim—although even now, some of the claims against the "anathema" are still outright lies. The Second Edition corebook has codified this darkening of the First Age to the core premise.

*** Errata for ''Dreams of the First Age'' replaced Zeal with an entirely different charm, banishing that particular issue.

** The Nameless (and place-changing) lair of Ma-Ha Suchi.

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** One preview for ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' explicitly pointed out the pronunciation as "Tee-dus." ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' has it Tee-dus, but ''Kingdom Hearts 2'' has it Tie-dus.

*** One can blame that on Wakka's strange accent.

** ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' solidified things by going with Tee-dus, which corresponds with the Japanese pronunciation. Except where a few characters call him by Tie-dus. ~~[[Flip-Flop of God|~~Arggggh.]]

** ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' solidified things by going with Tee-dus, which corresponds with the Japanese pronunciation. Except where a few characters call him by Tie-dus. Arggggh.

** James Arnold Taylor, Tidus's voice actor, has always pronounced his name as "Tee-dus" in interviews and on his website. Not quite [[Word of God]] but if his own voice actor doesn't know...

*** Also, pre [[Kingdom Hearts II|Kingdom Hearts 2]] Nomura said that Namine has no connection to Kairi whatsoever {{spoiler|just because she screwed around with Sora's memories and replaced Kairi with herself}}. Come endgame of 2, she turns out to be {{spoiler|Kairi's nobody, albeit a special kind of nobody born from Kairi's heart leaving Sora's body}}. [[Lying Creator|Damn you Nomura!]]

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*** Since Roxy is a literal [[Palette Swap]] of Poison, she was ignored outside of one [[All in The Manual]] moment by Capcom of USA, declaring the she was a cisgender female who "always looked up to Poison although she doesn't really dig the cross-dressing thing."

* [http://www.capcomdigital.com/blog/2008/09/05/inafunesan_answers_your_questions According to Kejii Inafune,] ''[[Mega Man and Bass]]'' exists parallel to ''[[Mega Man 9]]''. However, in the ending of ''9'', Rush projects nine images of Wily doing the exact same actions in different games, and one of them unmistakably takes place in the final boss room in the former.

* Nintendo's released contradictory statements (most [[~~Egregious|egregiously~~]], the fluff is at odds between ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Melee'' and ''Brawl'') on whether [[Sweet Polly Oliver|Sheik]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' is, ahem, [[Gender Bender|"complete"]].

* Nintendo's released contradictory statements (most [[egregious]]ly, the fluff is at odds between ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Melee'' and ''Brawl'') on whether [[Sweet Polly Oliver|Sheik]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]]'' is, ahem, [[Gender Bender|"complete"]].

** Same with Birdo (most common consensus is that she's pre-op though lately they've began implying she's post-op).

* The hair color of [[Big Bad|Golbez]] in ''[[Final Fantasy IV]].'' He [[Tin Tyrant|never takes off his fancy, face-and-head-obscuring helmet]] for the entirety of the game, but given that he's a blood relative of {{spoiler|Cecil and Fusoya, white-haired Lunarians both}}, most fans assumed [[White-Haired Pretty Boy|white hair]] for him as well. Then comes the DS remake, which, mostly in flashbacks, confirms that he has brown hair {{spoiler|like his father}}. Then, just as fandom is getting used to that, they release ''[[Final Fantasy IV: The After Years]]'', and he's got white hair. One wonders what the inevitable sequel to ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' will do with him...

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* Due to Ellis being an [[Unreliable Narrator]], the existence of Keith in [[Left 4 Dead 2]] has been of much debate. Valve tried to invoke this trope by saying that "Keith isn’t imaginary, except, well, it is a video game, so it’s all imaginary."

* This trope is the reason why ''[[Touhou]]'' has such massive, intricate [[Fanon]], as when series creator ZUN isn't being [[Shrug of God|deliberately obtuse]] he changes his mind at the drop of his [[Nice Hat]]. For just [[Rule of Three|three]] examples, he can barely keep the characters' eye and hair colors from changing between games, has stated both "''Touhou'' series" and "''Touhou'' is not a series" on different occasions, and reports on whether or not youkai have stopped eating people are wildly contradictory (one states it never happens, one states it is a constant concern for the human inhabitants of Gensoukyou and another states it is only a concern for those ''outside'' of Gensoukyou).

* In one of the first outside resources for ''[[Wild Arms]]'', ''The Filgaia Chronicle'', it was stated that the Filgaia in the first two games and the anime was the same place, just with ''very'' large time gaps between works and repeated disasters masking the links. Later resources have instead suggested that each ''Wild ARMS'' related work has used a different world that shares the name Filgaia. Some of them dovetail nicely in to each other, but others are hard to reconcile... and some have some of ~~each -- for~~ instance, ''Wild ARMS 4'' follows nicely from the original or its remake ''Alter Code F''... except that Guardians work differently in it than any other game in the series, including the original and its remake; in others, they're spirits of the planet, but in 4, they're a sort of special type of ARM. At this point, it's basically anyone's guess what's going on with Filgaia in the various games.

* In one of the first outside resources for ''[[Wild Arms]]'', ''The Filgaia Chronicle'', it was stated that the Filgaia in the first two games and the anime was the same place, just with ''very'' large time gaps between works and repeated disasters masking the links. Later resources have instead suggested that each ''Wild ARMS'' related work has used a different world that shares the name Filgaia. Some of them dovetail nicely in to each other, but others are hard to reconcile... and some have some of each—for instance, ''Wild ARMS 4'' follows nicely from the original or its remake ''Alter Code F''... except that Guardians work differently in it than any other game in the series, including the original and its remake; in others, they're spirits of the planet, but in 4, they're a sort of special type of ARM. At this point, it's basically anyone's guess what's going on with Filgaia in the various games.

* ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' constantly flip flops on whether Wario and Waluigi are brothers are not.

* ''[[Portal 2]]'' has accumulated several of these, largely due to the creators claiming not to have had a grand narrative in mind while creating the game and therefore not having answers when put on the spot by eager fans.

** The actual location of the Aperture Science facility. Prior to ''Portal 2'', they said it was in a Michigan salt mine, but the game itself specifically places the mine in Cleveland. Much of Aperture's backstory and that of its founder, Cave Johnson, is similarly [[~~Retcon|retconned~~]] by the game from previous material, with Valve metaphorically shrugging its shoulders as to which story is true.

** The actual location of the Aperture Science facility. Prior to ''Portal 2'', they said it was in a Michigan salt mine, but the game itself specifically places the mine in Cleveland. Much of Aperture's backstory and that of its founder, Cave Johnson, is similarly [[retcon]]ned by the game from previous material, with Valve metaphorically shrugging its shoulders as to which story is true.

** The ending leaves ambiguous the question of whether GLaDOS actually {{spoiler|deletes Caroline's personality}}, is merely lying about it, or even thought she had but was mistaken. Leaving aside the fact that GLaDOS is an [[Unreliable Narrator]], the creators have waffled on the matter in various interviews, going from claiming that she was telling the truth to that she only might have been.

** Whether Cave Johnson is still alive, [[Brain Uploading|Brain Uploaded]] or otherwise. Again, they've given vague or contradictory answers when asked the question in interviews.