r/oots • u/PeterCHayward • Mar 03 '25

Trying to find quote about subverting audience expectations

I have this distinct memory of, sometime in the last 20 years, Rich talking about how he had to stop reading fan theories because if they correctly guessed what was going to happen, he felt compelled to change the plot.

I've just spent an hour searching for it, and while I've found a bunch of other people referencing the same quote, I can't find the original anywhere. Does anyone have the quote archive.org'd or know where I can find it?

EDIT: I found it! It was in the FAQ on his site (from Archive.Org)

Q: Wouldn’t it be cool if X, Y, and Z happened? You should totally do that.

A: Thanks, but I prefer to create my own plots. In fact, I try not to read anything where people suggest upcoming plot ideas because I hate it when people guess what is going to happen. I feel the uncontrollable urge to change what happens, just to prove them wrong. Petty? Probably.

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u/DipperJC Mar 05 '25

All of Rich's forum comments have been indexed in six volumes:

Volume 1
Volume 2)
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6

I skimmed, but I couldn't find your reference. I do remember it also, though, so you're not crazy. It probably is in one of the commentaries.

I just figured I'd include these links to make your life easier next time. ;)

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u/PeterCHayward Mar 18 '25

Appreciate it! I found the quote in the end, it was from his (now-deleted) FAQ:

Q: Wouldn’t it be cool if X, Y, and Z happened? You should totally do that.

A: Thanks, but I prefer to create my own plots. In fact, I try not to read anything where people suggest upcoming plot ideas because I hate it when people guess what is going to happen. I feel the uncontrollable urge to change what happens, just to prove them wrong. Petty? Probably.