Critter Profile: Lintbugs! / Discussion

This is the discussion related to the wiki page Critter Profile: Lintbugs!.

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Author Post

Dr Asteria 26 Apr 2022 06:29

• 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
• Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
• More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.

— U.S. Fire Administration

This cute little article was critted by EmotionalEntropy and Corax S! I hope you think of this every time you see some lint.

Useless pandering

Thanks to Wikipedia, Google Translate, and a San Diego Zoo worksheet from like 2005 or something, I came up with the name "Textimmobesus" for these little creatures's genus. What does it mean?

"Textum" = Fabric
"Immobilis" = unmoving
"Obesus" = large/fat

Then, I just added the name of the fabric at the end for its species!

"Gossipyum" = Cotton
"Lana" = Wool
Polyestera = Polyester
"Sericum" = Silk

Author Page

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Attributions

Filename: lintbugs2.jpg
Name: Conair Fabric Shaver
Author: Emily May
License: CC BY 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/emilysnuffer/33013386591/

Filename: lintbugs1.jpg
Name: Conair Fabric Shaver
Author: Emily May
License: CC BY 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/emilysnuffer/33013391791/in/photostream/

Filename: dryer1.jpg
Name: 19+ YEARS OF DRYER ABUSE
Author: mike troiano
License: CC BY 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mvtroiano/8052504491/

Filename: dryer2.jpg
Name: While I prefer home automation projects..
Author: Lars Plougmann
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/51124570991/

Filename: fire.jpg
Name: HouseFire
Author: Albert Straub
License: CC BY 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albert_straub/16873761888/in/photolist-rH5rx7-DZhTQr-WnyTWy-etzAL-7eKDct-Jc4mkf-FDveNE-2ieuiye-LrMEh-83iA6S-MeGY4j-DBTNix-2ierXRV-2ieuiAy-LrMEY-2ieui2s-2ierXWp-Gmw1n9-2ierXXw-2ieuhYB-2ierXX1-2gFDssz-2gFCQa3-2ieui5J-2ievjFD-2ierYg2-LrMEu-2ievjzB-2ierYc4-LrMEC-5nHsmv-8Uqq1m-f5iUtD-84691h-ANF9k8-AW8BUw-2gFCPo8-2ieui9w-8469Uu-PvQHeY-Q5Ja1Z-7drpcN-4V387m-FnVz9n-EyKQ7H-2iPqDsT-2naRtpo-P8tJco-QJWAL9-5nMXQL

Filename: burnt.jpg
Name: This is what happens when a dryer attempts to recreate the Hindenburg! #dryer #fire #appliance #burn #scorch #scary #siouxfalls #southdakota
Author: Jerry
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
Source Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/78897321@N00/8884349050

Last edited on 13 Jan 2023 20:04 by Dr Asteria Show more

My legit reaction to this be like:

Seraphannim 26 Apr 2022 10:40

Awee, look at the little guys, it's a really creative and cute concept, I love them so muNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

+1
But how dare you

Last edited on 26 Apr 2022 14:04 by stormbreath Show more

OriTiefling 26 Apr 2022 14:09

The base concept here is really cute and creative, but I'm not really sold on the narrative itself. I'm not sure I can believe this happening- if this particular dryer or set of dryers was such a issue, why wasn't someone in specific assigned to making sure it was properly cleaned and emptied? This feels like an extremely reckless thing for a proper organization to have happen, especially one as legitimately competent as WWS. I do understand the message you're trying to send about cleaning dryer vents, but it's falling flat.

My other issue is that it's just too predictable. The second needing to clean the dryer is mentioned we know what's going to happen, and the constant reiteration of that point doesn't do much for that problem. The story as a whole largely winds up being fairly standard WWS fare- introduce cute animal, have them die.

Downvote

Siddartha Alonne 26 Apr 2022 14:13

Unsure. The critter here is a cute little fella and it's quite a funny idea, but I'm not sure I like the narrative, it feels kinda weak. The main point I'm not sold on is the "GUYS THE LAUNDRYROOM" mail, it feels like something one would write on social medias with a photo, rather than a staff member adverting others of danger.

EDIT: Seconding Fabled on the "predictable" issue.

Last edited on 26 Apr 2022 14:15 by Siddartha Alonne Show more

Am I a bad person?

Roufhous 26 Apr 2022 15:53

Is it bad if I made an audible laugh at:

GUYS THE LAUNDRY ROOM

Idk if it was me being raised on shitty YT vids and loving Articles like this, but that image of tragedy and imagining some YTP edits on that made me giggle.

I do hold decorum for the last part about the U.S fire administration.

Good day.

+ 1

MetalRavioli 26 Apr 2022 18:52

WWS commits mass genocide because they forgot to clean the dryer

SynthPanda_ 26 Apr 2022 19:40

Oops Oops Oops

burns down a creature's natural habitat

Superchoco3211 05 Jul 2022 09:55

Darn it fred

LORDXVNV 29 Apr 2022 01:18

Overall this balances out to a novote for me. The idea of the lintbugs is super cute and interesting, but overall I've grown increasingly less fond of the "cute creature" -> "cute creature dies" subgenre of Wilson's formats. This is largely not a problem for many readers, so it's still a valid artistic choice, but I feel it's squandering the premise, to some extent.

Everything dies. This would've been more interesting to me if it was an exploration of an odd form of life instead of a straight line towards death.

Superchoco3211 05 Jul 2022 09:56

Yes I'd like for the cute creatures to live plz

My-Off-Day 04 May 2022 17:17

Unfortunately gonna have to downvote this one.

While the idea is cute, there's nothing in the execution beyond "clean your lint screens" for me. The tidbit about the textile revolution/boom was neat. I do wish there was more exploration into the creatures as creatures, than setup for the burning building.

Noice.

SEC_the acronym 05 May 2022 17:30

Not to bring up the topic of the lint-bug murder, but this was straight fire.

But yeah, the whole reiterated, clean your lint screens thing isn't gonna fly.

What this tale needs is some consequences for the reckless actions. Have a supervisor realistically flip out over the collateral damage and fire someone. Have the 'someone' be anonymous cause no one will fess up, then have the boss make them clean up the mess until someone does.

Everyone complains and blames Richard.

Who's been dead for two years.

Point is try and capitalize on the stupidity of the situation. As for the WWS trope of killing animals. Aren't these people supposed to be taking care of them? Why is everything a death trap. All I hope for is that WWS doesn't become the Anomalous Peta or something throwing turtle mistaken tortoises over bridges.

So for now as much as I liked this, it's a no vote.

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