Talk:Tiana Takahashi

I intend to add the IRM function to this page. The existing Tlopps fan interpretation will be moved unchanged to a randomly-numbered IRM page.

I also propose to add a second interpretation, summarised as: Takahashi (she/her) is a former BMX cyclist, now motorcycle enthusiast; she lives for the open road and prefers to make her own way between series; she is older and wiser but still likes to live dangerously once in a while. The article specifically mentions her as having been close to former Lift player Özlem Suttner.

The full text of the proposed article is at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E5XEHlbUdZllV6VVujvYvINWZqBJ5uadIYWfVsNLGd4/edit?usp=sharing

The Lift have an in-progress new IRM of Tiana as an aging former BMX biker. It's going to be proposed on the wiki soon, we hope. With that in mind, this IRM is mentioned on the new proposal for Özlem: "Suttner instantly connected with former BMX biker Tiana Takahashi, developing a teasing friendship. [...] Upon joining blaseball, both Suttner and Takahashi took on the position of Left Ranger on the field. The two of them proceeded to spend more time talking and holding hands than fielding. The two went for frequent bike rides together."

The concept for Tiana is a Tlopps TCG Fanatic who did not know blaseball real until starting on the team. The page will include a section about her background and near misses with realizing blaseball is real, a section about the Tlopps card game and her relationship to it, and section about her other nerdy hobbies.

Heyo! Interested third party here. Myself and some other Asian-American fans had some questions, mostly surrounding whether you guys intend on expanding on her last name, including but not limited to:

• where she was born

• who her parents are

• what her other hobbies are

• whether they include things beyond "nerdy things"

• any communities she belongs to or participates in

One major concern is that from this brief summary her only character trait seems to be "nerdy" and, having a Japanese last name, we'd like some more clarification so we know that y'all are steering away from the often-harmful and frankly overplayed "nerdy Asian" stereotype.

We are also especially concerned about whether her parents are both from Philadelphia, or whether she herself is an immigrant. One particular concern we have is that this reads very much like an Asian person being obsessed with a facet of Western culture--especially one based on a very American pastime (despite being popular in Japan)--and that now that she's in Blaseball she gets to learn what it's "really about", which plays into a lot of gross tropes.

If you'd like help, clarification, or resources for researching Asian-American players, please reach out! Thanks :)

(If you're looking for information about Japanese folks in Philadelphia specifically, you may find this link helpful: https://japanphilly.org/ or for Pennsylvania more broadly: https://www.japansocietypa.org/)

I'll bring these concerns to the pies, they are well founded. As of now the main info on her background is that she grew up in New Jersey. The vibe we are attempting to bring with her is the young nerdy girl that a lot of us were or knew, rather than the nerdy asian stereotype think lots of colorful accessories, plays tabletop games, full of passion for her specific interests. It was admittedly a lot of projection from people, which has worked for the pies in creating relatable and loveable charecters in the past. Though you are right that it could run into stereotypes. Her communities include the larger Tlopps ball fanbase and her interactions with other teammates like being former classmates with Yusef Puddles and running the Pies TTRPG. As far her not knowing what blaseball was, it was meant more to reference how hard it has been for pies to recruit her from the shadows (it took four seasons), rather than implying she needed education of any sort or looking down on her for not knowing. The main line about her adapting to them game would be her remarking on how being part of a bloodsport is odd, but she enjoys the skateboard tricks. We also don't focus largely on the background of of our other players, so I worry that having more focus on hers may be counteractive. I hope that assuages some of your concerns but we can keep talking on this.

If you would like you can come by pies chat to discuss this, or @ the pies reps/wiki liasons for the full loresheet with more info including the proposed wiki info

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gLdykyw_kgMa9bV7C9cQdSdWsdF755srSgNtOHyirUg/edit Here is the new loresheet from which the wiki page will be developed.