Plural Wiki: Wondershocked

[lb_lee]

This one was 98% done right before the move.  Now it's finally done!  Please see glossary of terms for explanation of various words. ^_^

Wondershocked

Wondershock/Wondershocked, AKA myprotagonist (and possibly delatia), made a paper/website on soulbonders/fictionkin called "Enchanted Subcultures" that led to a lot of plurals being put on Encyclopedia Dramatica, and the subsequent lockdown of the Livejournal soulbonding community.  They also hoped to make a movie based on the infamous "FF7 House." Despite claiming to be singlet, they stated themselves to be plural themselves in private IM conversations, and may have also controlled a completely separate plural sockpuppet account.

Quick Details

Time Active: November 2007-September 2008 (in plural space anyway)
Location Active: Livejournal, wondershock.net

 

Enchanted Subcultures

On December 4, 2007, Wondershocked made their first presentation of Enchanted Subcultures (2007, December 15), a college paper built on the thesis that soulbonders and fictionkin (which Wondershocked refer to purely by their outdated name, "otakukin") prefer Japanese media as their sources because of how Japanese culture treats commodities (2008, January 1a).

On December 12, Wondershocked IMed LB Lee, introducing themselves as "there are only two of us - me (I'm Kira) and Tag [...] We go by Silent Duet" (Lee, 2019 April 18, paragraph 4 under the "Lockdown" subheader).  Kira announced their intention to make the paper, neglecting to mention that said paper had already been presented.  Not realizing this, LB cooperated, though they said, "we're more a multiple system, only one soulbond in residence right now. If that works for you, then we're all yours" (ibid).  Nevertheless, Wondershocked represented them as primarily a soulbonder.

On December 15th, Wondershocked created the Enchanted Subcultures website.  On December 17th, they publicly announced both paper and website on the Livejournal comms, soulbonding (soulbonding, 2013 May 9) and from_fiction (Wondershocked, 2007 December 19a).  The comments on from_fiction are mostly neutral, though only accessible on mobile.  The most critical comment comes from flyboy_fox, who notes, "I appreciate the effort you've made to remain unbiased [...] but I don't feel you've really made a huge attempt to understand what these phenomenae are. [...] That an entire page is devoted almost exclusively to one specific 'kin's experience [...] created the impression that you've based your assumptions almost entirely on a very small sample" (ibid).

Soulbonding is less amicable.  The first post's comments are lost due to archive purge, but apparently things got heated enough that within the day, myprotagonist returned to post (after numerous edits) "I’ve looked into the legal and ethical issues surrounding the matter, and I see no reason to do anything more than remove usernames, so that is what I’ll do. Hopefully this will alleviate anyone's concerns" (Wondershocked, 2007 December 19b).  That second post is deleted sometime between 2009 (soulbonding 2009 August 17th) and 2013 (May 9), but the angry comments remain for anyone to read.

Meanwhile, on their own website, Wondershocked mocked soulbonders' naivete in thinking their publicly posted words could not be cited: "It’s 2008; I figured that most people knew that if you don’t want someone reading what you wrote (and possibly responding to it! oh noes!), don’t post it on the freakin’ internet. [...] (FWIW, the ~soulbonding community seemed to figure this out, but a little late – if you visit it now, all posts since the date of this site’s launch are private and can only be read by members.)" (2008 January).

In response to Enchanted Subcultures, the soulbonding comm was locked; no public posts were made after that date.  But, as Wondershocked themself noted, it was too late.  Enchanted Subcultures became a reference on Encyclopedia Dramatica.

 

Lifestyles of the Animated

In September 2008, Wondershocked announces a casting call: "Lifestyles of the Animated would likely be the first full-length film produced by Student Filmmakers’ Guild to be based, at least in part, upon actual events. [...] if you’ve ever wanted to be filmed shouting 'Crystal Spirit Power activate!' whilst waving your hands around, this is the film for you" (2008 September 5).

Though Wondershocked doesn't say outright in remaining public sources, it is clear that the movie is based on the infamous "FF7 House," a fictionkin/soulbonding cult based around said fandom.  The movie's title is a reference to Lifestyles of the Magical and Animated, a webpage sneering at "otakukin" and multiples with fictive members (Unknown, 2003 November 22), which is named and linked on the FF7 House warning web page (Unknown, n.d.).

The plot summary makes is even more clear.  The protagonist's roommates "believe themselves to be [...] characters from their favorite 'magical girl' anime series, Crystal Spirit Guardian. Not only that, but they think that [...] the three guardians have been reincarnated in the 'real' world in order to continue their fight against the ever-present 'forces of darkness,' [...] As her first semester progresses, Erica is further indoctrinated into a world of reincarnated anime characters and metaphysical mayhem [...] culminating in a raw and frightening conclusion, wherein their shiny escapist veneer is forever shattered, forcing all three girls to cope with the realities of the world" (2008 September 5).

Others notice the resemblance.  Hoyvinglavin64 remarks, "myprotagonist [...] seems to be making quick progress with a film loosely based on the FF7 cult. [...] Supposedly it's gotten a little bit of press/controversy online" (2008, September 9).  However, the movie vanishes, presumably never made or completed.

Encyclopedia Dramatica

Encyclopedia Dramatica had been discussing infiltrating fictionkin LJ comms since 2006 (March 3), but Enchanted Subcultures gave them a boost.  Or perhaps conversely, it was ED that inspired Wondershocked--ED's Otakukin page around the time Wondershocked started research focuses on Overlord Mordax, Sephirothslave, and DemonSushi's FF7 cult page (Encyclopedia Dramatica, 2007 October 12), possibly inspiring Wondershocked's initial forays--they interviewed both Mordax and Sephirothslave (2008 January 1b), and hoped to make a movie about the FF7 House (2008 September 5).

Between December 18 and December 29, 2007 (so, within two to four weeks of the paper's initial posting), ED becomes aware of Enchanted Subcultures, and cites it when they create a subsection on their page for Sephirothslave (2007 December 29, Section 8 "Amanda"). "The creator of the site wondershock is no doubt a glutton for punishment. [...] Has Sephirothslave acquired an admirer? Is the author making a pathetic effort to stroke her ego in hopes of getting tail? It's hard to say, but at the very least the page is full of Sephirothslave and Otakukin related lulz" (ibid).

By August 26, 2008, ED had created a soulbonding page with a section labeled "The Very Latest Soulboning [sic] Wank," which covered Enchanted Subcultures and the complaints from the soulbonding comm.  A final ED statement on the matter reads, "Some argue that Wondercock [sic] himself must have a huge soulboner [sic], as this would explain his interest in their crap.  Still other believe he did it for the lulz. [...]" (Encyclopedia Dramatica, 2008 August 26, final paragraph in "the Very Latest Soulboning Wank" section).

Whatever Wondershocked's intention, they and Encyclopedia Dramatica did seem to inspire and inform each other.  ED's soulbonding, "Otakukin", and Sephirothslave pages all cited and drew from Enchanted Subcultures; soulbonding comm commenters who protested Enchanted Subcultures ended up mocked for it on ED.

Delatia

Delatia was allegedly Wondershocked (hoyvinglavin64, 2008 September 9), but the allegation has not been corroborated.

On January 14, 2008, less than a month after Enchanted Subcultures went live, an account by name of delatia posted on from_fiction: "this is our first livejournal. I live with Jaime and Miranda and they share this journal but really I am the one who joined this community. My name is Kimura Emiko [...] I guess I am fictionkin or medikin [sic] or what[ever] it is called right now." Emi claims to be from Battle Royale (ibid) and having a difficult time coming to terms with her history and identity.  The community welcomes her at the time.

In May, Delatia's activity ramps up.  They create an IM, Delatia Girls (2008 May 18) and fictionkin website called Unearthly: A Site for Wandering Souls, which is lost (2008 May 25). "I really want to meet other ota [fictionkin], even if they aren't from the exact same world," she writes (2008 May 18).

Meanwhile, Emi's headmate Jaime posts in the LJ comm empaths, writing, "I have been an empath for as long as I can remember. [...] I have a particular specialty of empathic communication with other dimensions. I also have become close with several wandering souls and while I love them their emotions are very sttrong [sic] and their past lives were very traumatic. Now I can't focus in class like I should because sometimes its so overwhelming" (2008 May 28).  The community responds with warm and advice.

Delatia also posts on the LJ multiplicity comm, claiming to be a non-trauma-based multiple: "I am naturally a very strong empath and seer, and [...] It has been part of my destiny that my body has become a home for two wandering souls, my dear sisters who are always with me. Some people call them soulbonds" (2008 May 29).

Though the context is all locked or lost, apparently eventually it's uncovered that delatia is Wondershocked.  hoyvinglavin64 makes a reference to, "myprotagonist (AKA the creator of the whole Delatia persona/drama)" (2008, September 9).  Unfortunately, hoyvinglavin64's account has been deleted and enough time has passed that when asked, they could not give any details (private communication between LB Lee and hoyvinglavin64, 2019/01/26).  However, hoyvinglavin64 was mutual friends with myprotagonist on Livejournal in 2011 (hoyvinglavin64, 2011 August 18), implying they knew each other decently well perhaps around this time.

Delatia disappears from the comms not long after that.  Was Delatia Wondershocked?  It's impossible to tell, with all the accounts deleted.  However, Delatia and Wondershocked were both active on from_fiction (Wondershocked 2007 December 17; delatia 2008 January 14) and multiplicity (Wondershocked 2008 August 21; delatia 2008 May 29), at around the same time.

Was Wondershocked Plural?

Even if Delatia is ignored, Wondershocked said very different things about their plurality (or lack thereof) depending on their audience.  In summary:

December 12th, 2007, IMing with LB Lee: "there are only two of us - me (I'm Kira) and Tag. [...] we're not really 'bonds, ourselves. [...] We go by Silent Duet" (Lee, 2019 April 18, paragraph 4 under the "Lockdown" subheader)

December 15th: "don’t ask me if I’m an otakukin or a soulbonder, because I’m not." (Bottom of the page, under the 'One More Thing...' subheading.)

August 21st, 2008: "I am not a multiple [but] have experienced voice-hearing and more severe hallucinations." Also asked, "how does this multiplicity thing work for you guys? I know more than I ever really needed or wanted to about soulbonding."

Be they multiple, soulbonder, some other form of plural, singlet, or a plain ED troll is likely never to be known.

Citations

delatia. (2008, January 14).  Hi im new [Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://from-fiction.livejournal.com/96086.html

delatia. (2008, May 18).  A Memory [Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://from-fiction.livejournal.com/99020.html

delatia. (2008, May 25).  Hi there. ^.^ I have made a website with my own personal reflections... [Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://from-fiction.livejournal.com/99177.html

delatia. (2008 May 28). Hi all [Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://empaths.livejournal.com/410742.html

delatia. (2008 May 29). Strong Emotions and Conflict [locked Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://multiplicity-archives.dreamwidth.org/709350.html

Encyclopedia Dramatica. (2006 March 3).  Talk:Otakin [wiki page]. http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Talk:Otakin Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://web.archive.org/web/20100426004714/http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Talk:Otakin

Encyclopedia Dramatica. (2007 October 12).  Otakukin [wiki page]. http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Otakukin Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://web.archive.org/web/20071012055957/http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Otakukin

Encyclopedia Dramatica. (2007, December 29). Sephirothslave [wiki page]. http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Sephirothslave#Fanart Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://web.archive.org/web/20071229012539/http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Sephirothslave#Fanart

Encyclopedia Dramatica. (2008 August 26). Soulbonding [wiki page]. http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Soulbonding Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://web.archive.org/web/20080826105532/http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Soulbonding

hoyvinglavin64. (2008, September 9).  It Seem I'm Beat For The Record of 'First Otakukin Movie' [Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://from-fiction.livejournal.com/104999.html

hoyvinglavin64. (2011, August 18). Livejournal Profile. https://hoyvinglavin64.livejournal.com/profile Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://web.archive.org/web/20110818021851/https://hoyvinglavin64.livejournal.com/profile

Lee. (2019, April 18). Pluralwiki: Soulbonding (the Livejournal community) [blog post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://lb-lee.dreamwidth.org/1020269.html

soulbonding. (2009, January 1). Profile [Livejournal Page]. http://community.livejournal.com/soulbonding/profile Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/03/15 from https://web.archive.org/web/20090101072848/http://community.livejournal.com:80/soulbonding/profile

soulbonding. (2009, August 17). A Bonding of Souls. https://soulbonding.livejournal.com/ Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/18 from https://web.archive.org/web/20090817093541/http://community.livejournal.com/soulbonding

soulbonding. (2013, May 9).  A Bonding of Souls. https://soulbonding.livejournal.com/ Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/18 from https://web.archive.org/web/20130509070728/https://soulbonding.livejournal.com/

Unknown. (n.d.) A Public Warning: Documentation of "FF7 House" [web page].  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from http://www.demon-sushi.com/warning/index2.html

Unknown. (2003 November 22). Lifestyles of the Magical and Animated [web page]. http://www.sixsixfive.com/658.html Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://web.archive.org/web/20070611081833/http://www.sixsixfive.com/658.html

Wondershocked. (2007, December 15). Welcome! [blog post]. http://enchant.wondershock.net/ Internet Archive. Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://web.archive.org/web/20130128033904/http://enchant.wondershock.net/

Wondershocked [myprotagonist]. (2007, December 19a). The Website [Livejournal post]. Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://from-fiction.livejournal.com/93435.html

Wondershocked [myprotagonist]. (2007, December 19b). No subject. [Livejournal post]. http://community.livejournal.com/soulbonding/304335.html Internet Archive. Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://web.archive.org/web/20090103174446/http://community.livejournal.com/soulbonding/304335.html

Wondershocked. (2008, January). Backlash [web page] http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=20 Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://web.archive.org/web/20120228053223/http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=20

Wondershocked. (2008, January 1a). Japan [web page] http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=7 Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://web.archive.org/web/20080101101710/http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=7

Wondershocked. (2008, January 1b). Otakukin [web page] http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=5 Internet Archive.  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from  https://web.archive.org/web/20080101101705/http://enchant.wondershock.net/?page_id=5

Wondershocked [myprotagonist]. (2008 August 21). Curiousity [locked Livejournal post].  Retrieved 2019/04/29 from https://multiplicity-archives.dreamwidth.org/745127.

Wondershocked [myprotagonist]. (2008 September 5).  Lifestyles of the Animated!!! (Casting Call) [Livejournal post, copies and archived on Dreamwidth].  Retrieved 2019/04/30 from https://earlhamites.livejournal.com/402133.html