Without the third comment in the screenshot telling us it’s a two-sentence horror fanfic, would you have been absolutely certain this screenshot was about a two-sentence horror fanfic?
Yes. I got the horror vibe from the first comment and didn’t need to have it spelled out. Slyly looking at the elementary school obviously implies he’s going too eat one or more kids to become a real boy.
sure, but if you use sly you can get the joke without the unnecessary context.
The actual reason is probably the word’s association with foxes. “sly fox sneaking into henhouse” is I believe the visual metaphor they were going for.
Then I guess it’s not an improvement, but a different way of presenting it.
Using sly suggests furtive intent. My alternative was intended as a matter-of-fact approach.
The former looks to sneak as if to not get caught, the latter pursues openly as if only a natural course.
On the contrary. Knowing it’s a two-sentence horror fanfic provides the unsaid context.
If you have to tell me your two sentence horror story is a horror story, it’s not a horror story.
Kinda like you can’t tell people a joke is funny when they don’t laugh.
Without the third comment in the screenshot telling us it’s a two-sentence horror fanfic, would you have been absolutely certain this screenshot was about a two-sentence horror fanfic?
Yes. I got the horror vibe from the first comment and didn’t need to have it spelled out. Slyly looking at the elementary school obviously implies he’s going too eat one or more kids to become a real boy.
This is classic ‘show, don’t tell’ writing.
Then i guess you are part of the intended audience.
sure, but if you use sly you can get the joke without the unnecessary context.
The actual reason is probably the word’s association with foxes. “sly fox sneaking into henhouse” is I believe the visual metaphor they were going for.
Then I guess it’s not an improvement, but a different way of presenting it.
Using sly suggests furtive intent. My alternative was intended as a matter-of-fact approach. The former looks to sneak as if to not get caught, the latter pursues openly as if only a natural course.
Put the pipe down bud