What makes Gordon Freeman such a great character?

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Rob-Belmont

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#1 Rob-Belmont
Member since 2009 • 1350 Posts

Serious question. Why do some people adore him? He's a boring blank canvas, a whole load of nothing.

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Skittles_McGee

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#2 Skittles_McGee
Member since 2008 • 9136 Posts
He epitomizes the silent protagonist simply by being whatever the player wants him to be. His motivation and personality are as deep as the imagination of the player, essentially. People like that, it makes him easier to relate to, thinking of him as an alternate self.
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ImSwordMan

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#3 ImSwordMan
Member since 2004 • 2273 Posts

He has a crowbar...A crowbar!

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Silent-Hal

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#4 Silent-Hal
Member since 2007 • 9795 Posts
Nothing really. He is essentially a non-entity.
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JonChaoZ

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#5 JonChaoZ
Member since 2009 • 297 Posts

I see the purpose of the character, but him winning that stupid contest GS had a while back was a bit to much.

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t3hTwinky

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#6 t3hTwinky
Member since 2005 • 3701 Posts

Crowbar.

Very crowbar.

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Wikipedian

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#7 Wikipedian
Member since 2007 • 1100 Posts

Why is it that Crono, Samus or Link are considered great characters? It's the silence that makes them awesome

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SwagSurf

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#8 SwagSurf
Member since 2009 • 3022 Posts

http://www.techimo.com/photo/data/509/truth.png

He killed Master Chief :P

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DJ_Lae

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#9 DJ_Lae
Member since 2002 • 42748 Posts

He's geeky, devoid of personality, and mute - very easy for gamers to slip into his shoes and experience the games as Gordon Freeman.

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Yandere

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#10 Yandere
Member since 2009 • 9878 Posts

Why is it that Crono, Samus or Link are considered great characters? It's the silence that makes them awesome

Wikipedian

Yes, because character design is out of fashion, who needs a thought provoking protagonist anymore?

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Moo-Moo-Milk

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#11 Moo-Moo-Milk
Member since 2005 • 1007 Posts

His porno-like facial hair.

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Saturos3091

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#12 Saturos3091
Member since 2005 • 14937 Posts

He's such a great character in that he's not a character at all; his greatness stims from those who believe they can put any sort of personal attachment or motive in his place since he himself is essentially a very basic template. It doesn't usually work out that way most of the time since the games are so linear...

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Silent-Hal

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#13 Silent-Hal
Member since 2007 • 9795 Posts

Yes, because character design is out of fashion, who needs a thought provoking protagonist anymore?Yandere

Yeah, who needs good character development these days when you can just imagine them yourself? >_>

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_Cubit_

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#14 _Cubit_
Member since 2008 • 159 Posts

Why is it that Crono, Samus or Link are considered great characters? It's the silence that makes them awesome

Wikipedian
the difference between link and Freeman though is that even though link doesnt talk he is able to show emotion, something you cant see with freeman. both cool characters in their own right of course, but in my opinion freeman isnt that great compared to link and many other video game characters.
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Dystopian-X

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#15 Dystopian-X
Member since 2008 • 8998 Posts
Nothing really. He is essentially a non-entity. Silent-Hal
Yeah I agree. I like the premise of The Freeman myself but not as a character. To me most silent characters are terrible.
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DragonfireXZ95

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#16 DragonfireXZ95
Member since 2005 • 26649 Posts

[QUOTE="Yandere"]Yes, because character design is out of fashion, who needs a thought provoking protagonist anymore?Silent-Hal

Yeah, who needs good character development these days when you can just imagine them yourself? >_>

Gotta love that. ;)
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Kandlegoat

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#17 Kandlegoat
Member since 2009 • 3147 Posts

mysterious

not to mention he's a nerdy scientist MIT major..in other words a more human character that gamers can relate to opposed to the generic knuckle-dragging meatbag space-marines/soldiers seen in most other FPS games.

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DJ_Lae

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#18 DJ_Lae
Member since 2002 • 42748 Posts
Actually, in a way Gordon Freeman has a lot in common with Bella from the Twilight books - they both have no personality and are (in essence) shells for the reader or gamer to insert themselves and live out their fantasies in their shoes. Except instead of fondling Edward you bludgeon enemies in the face with a crowbar. Now I feel filthy.
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lordreaven

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#19 lordreaven
Member since 2005 • 7239 Posts

I see the purpose of the character, but him winning that stupid contest GS had a while back was a bit to much.

JonChaoZ
None of the other characters had PhD's in Physics. That makes a big difference.
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Kandlegoat

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#20 Kandlegoat
Member since 2009 • 3147 Posts

Actually, in a way Gordon Freeman has a lot in common with Bella from the Twilight books - they both have no personality and are (in essence) shells for the reader or gamer to insert themselves and live out their fantasies in their shoes. Except instead of fondling Edward you bludgeon enemies in the face with a crowbar. Now I feel filthy.DJ_Lae

I wouldnt know anything about that..I like good vampire fiction like Dracula or Let the right one in

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chikenfriedrice

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#21 chikenfriedrice
Member since 2006 • 13561 Posts

he was great in the Shawshank Redemption

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lordreaven

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#22 lordreaven
Member since 2005 • 7239 Posts
Actually, in a way Gordon Freeman has a lot in common with Bella from the Twilight books - they both have no personality and are (in essence) shells for the reader or gamer to insert themselves and live out their fantasies in their shoes. Except instead of fondling Edward you bludgeon enemies in the face with a crowbar. Now I feel filthy.DJ_Lae
you spoke love with that message....................*sigh* i can't what for my new graphics card to beat that game with only a crowbar.
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TurboGuru

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#23 TurboGuru
Member since 2006 • 192 Posts
Nothing really. He is essentially a non-entity. Silent-Hal
THANK YOU!! the title of this thread is a complete joke and is one of the reasons why I could never quite get into half-life. I prefer the characters to talk....especially when they are being talked to and asked questions.... if the character is a mute then he really shouldn't have an external identity defined.....I mean this more in terms of facial features as opposed to a character with a full face helmet.
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Dark5tar1

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#24 Dark5tar1
Member since 2006 • 1127 Posts

BEcause he's one of the greatest heroes ever made especially made by Valve.

Can samus, link, or Mario, or even Kratos kill headcrabs? No way.

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DragonfireXZ95

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#25 DragonfireXZ95
Member since 2005 • 26649 Posts
[QUOTE="Silent-Hal"]Nothing really. He is essentially a non-entity. TurboGuru
THANK YOU!! the title of this thread is a complete joke and is one of the reasons why I could never quite get into half-life. I prefer the characters to talk....especially when they are being talked to and asked questions.... if the character is a mute then he really shouldn't have an external identity defined.....I mean this more in terms of facial features as opposed to a character with a full face helmet.

I'd rather have a character like that then have one that is annoying, devoid of character(bland) or stupid, example: Most first person shooters. :P
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Vesica_Prime

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#26 Vesica_Prime
Member since 2009 • 7062 Posts

Are people still BAAAAAAAAWING about the competition? Get over it honestly, the GFNW movement failed. Gordon Freeman won the competition over Mario, Link etc.

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Dark5tar1

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#27 Dark5tar1
Member since 2006 • 1127 Posts

Are people still BAAAAAAAAWING about the competition? Get over it honestly, the GFNW movement failed. Gordon Freeman won the competition over Mario, Link etc.

Vesica_Prime

TY!!

Everyone knew Freeman was gonna win, after all Half Life was a awesome game and was a rare FPS with a great story

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Arach666

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#28 Arach666
Member since 2009 • 23286 Posts
Methinks some people are still upset about the contest...
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Kandlegoat

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#29 Kandlegoat
Member since 2009 • 3147 Posts

[QUOTE="TurboGuru"][QUOTE="Silent-Hal"]Nothing really. He is essentially a non-entity. DragonfireXZ95
THANK YOU!! the title of this thread is a complete joke and is one of the reasons why I could never quite get into half-life. I prefer the characters to talk....especially when they are being talked to and asked questions.... if the character is a mute then he really shouldn't have an external identity defined.....I mean this more in terms of facial features as opposed to a character with a full face helmet.

I'd rather have a character like that then have one that is annoying, devoid of character(bland) or stupid, example: Most first person shooters. :P

i'm sure this logic don't apply to "deep, thought provoking" Characters like Marcus Fenix or Sev from killzone 2 eh? ;)

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MUSH_IS_PWNs

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#30 MUSH_IS_PWNs
Member since 2009 • 1213 Posts
Actually, in a way Gordon Freeman has a lot in common with Bella from the Twilight books - they both have no personality and are (in essence) shells for the reader or gamer to insert themselves and live out their fantasies in their shoes. Except instead of fondling Edward you bludgeon enemies in the face with a crowbar. Now I feel filthy.DJ_Lae
I Laughed but that was actually a pretty good example.
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Parasomniac

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#31 Parasomniac
Member since 2007 • 2723 Posts
He looks like a geek and is highly trained in science, but is really a killing machine who mainly does grunt work such as pushing a cart or flipping a switch.
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malikmmm

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#32 malikmmm
Member since 2003 • 2235 Posts
he is a Theoretical physics.
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ImOldGreg

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#33 ImOldGreg
Member since 2007 • 2357 Posts
A specticled action hero with a degree in quantum displacment physics. Plus he's got a nice serving of arm candy hanging off his arm in Aylx Vance. Seriously it's the combination of immersion his ''concept'' weaves for the player and the way the universe and all it's beautifully coloured characters react to his presence and by extension the player's. :)
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mo0ksi

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#34 mo0ksi
Member since 2007 • 12337 Posts
He's not much of a character on paper. All he has is a background. So imagine.
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deactivated-5c8e4e07d5510

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#35 deactivated-5c8e4e07d5510
Member since 2007 • 17401 Posts

He's whatever the player wants him to be.

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htekemerald

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#36 htekemerald
Member since 2004 • 7325 Posts

He is a character from valve. Thats all PC fanboys need to like him.

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InsaneBasura

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#37 InsaneBasura
Member since 2005 • 12591 Posts
There is no character, so he can't be a bad one.
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Yandere

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#38 Yandere
Member since 2009 • 9878 Posts

He's whatever the player wants him to be.

Guppy507

So the characters I have in WRPGs are great characters right? How about platformers?

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Skittles_McGee

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#39 Skittles_McGee
Member since 2008 • 9136 Posts

[QUOTE="Guppy507"]

He's whatever the player wants him to be.

Yandere

So the characters I have in WRPGs are great characters right? How about platformers?

They can be to you, sure. Why wouldn't they?
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DarkGamer007

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#40 DarkGamer007
Member since 2008 • 6033 Posts

BEcause he's one of the greatest heroes ever made especially made by Valve.

Can samus, link, or Mario, or even Kratos kill headcrabs? No way.

Dark5tar1

Master Chief kills headcrabs in his sleep.

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Yandere

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#41 Yandere
Member since 2009 • 9878 Posts

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Guppy507"]

He's whatever the player wants him to be.

Skittles_McGee

So the characters I have in WRPGs are great characters right? How about platformers?

They can be to you, sure. Why wouldn't they?

Because he isn't created, a character can't be great if he isn't created.

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InsaneBasura

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#42 InsaneBasura
Member since 2005 • 12591 Posts
[QUOTE="TurboGuru"][QUOTE="Silent-Hal"] THANK YOU!! the title of this thread is a complete joke and is one of the reasons why I could never quite get into half-life. I prefer the characters to talk....especially when they are being talked to and asked questions.... if the character is a mute then he really shouldn't have an external identity defined.....I mean this more in terms of facial features as opposed to a character with a full face helmet.

That is kind of weird that Valve made a face and name for him. Wonder why that ended up happening. [QUOTE="DragonfireXZ95"] I'd rather have a character like that then have one that is annoying, devoid of character(bland) or stupid, example: Most first person shooters. :P

This would be a Half-Life 2 character though.
he is a Theoretical physics.malikmmm
and doesnt afraid of anything.
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789shadow

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#43 789shadow
Member since 2006 • 20195 Posts

Nothing. He is a name and a face.

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Skittles_McGee

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#44 Skittles_McGee
Member since 2008 • 9136 Posts

[QUOTE="Skittles_McGee"][QUOTE="Yandere"]

So the characters I have in WRPGs are great characters right? How about platformers?

Yandere

They can be to you, sure. Why wouldn't they?

Because he isn't created, a character can't be great if he isn't created.

So anything you imagine them as never happened, you never actually imagined that, it was all lie? :|
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DarkGamer007

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#45 DarkGamer007
Member since 2008 • 6033 Posts

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Skittles_McGee"] They can be to you, sure. Why wouldn't they?Skittles_McGee

Because he isn't created, a character can't be great if he isn't created.

So anything you imagine them as never happened, you never actually imagined that, it was all lie? :|

Yep, just like the cake.

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Yandere

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#46 Yandere
Member since 2009 • 9878 Posts

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Skittles_McGee"] They can be to you, sure. Why wouldn't they?Skittles_McGee

Because he isn't created, a character can't be great if he isn't created.

So anything you imagine them as never happened, you never actually imagined that, it was all lie? :|

It's what YOU imagine them as, not what they are, it's idiotic to think I can draw a character and think he has the deepest personality in the world when I never actually created it.

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Skittles_McGee

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#47 Skittles_McGee
Member since 2008 • 9136 Posts

[QUOTE="Skittles_McGee"][QUOTE="Yandere"]

Because he isn't created, a character can't be great if he isn't created.

Yandere

So anything you imagine them as never happened, you never actually imagined that, it was all lie? :|

It's what YOU imagine them as, not what they are, it's idiotic to think I can draw a character and think he has the deepest personality in the world when I never actually created it.

But you did create it, there's no need for it to take physical form. And thats just the thing, there's no pre-defined "what Freeman is", so he is what you want. Whats wrong with liking a character you've created?
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Yandere

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#48 Yandere
Member since 2009 • 9878 Posts

[QUOTE="Yandere"]

[QUOTE="Skittles_McGee"] So anything you imagine them as never happened, you never actually imagined that, it was all lie? :|Skittles_McGee

It's what YOU imagine them as, not what they are, it's idiotic to think I can draw a character and think he has the deepest personality in the world when I never actually created it.

But you did create it, there's no need for it to take physical form. And thats just the thing, there's no pre-defined "what Freeman is", so he is what you want. Whats wrong with liking a character you've created?

You can't say the character that Valve created is good though, THEY created Gordan Freeman, YOU didn't. Anything you think of is not set in stone, it isn't at all associated with the character, so saying "Gordan Freeman is a good character because I think he's a crack whore born to take over Europe" is not good enough to call him a good character.

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InsaneBasura

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#49 InsaneBasura
Member since 2005 • 12591 Posts

He's whatever the player wants him to be.

Guppy507
He's a theoretical doctor with glasses and a beardface called Gordon Freeman. You just try and imagine that away. The purpose of Dr. Freeman isn't at all for the player to make the character up, it's to allow the player to react to whatevz is going on without the color commentary and whatnot. YOU are the main character! At least that's the idea. I'm not a fan of this idea. Don't really think it works when you're just an observer. The one-way communication breaks things. You're still an actual person in the game's physical space. That the other characters just sort of talk around you and ignore you is just weird. Works much better in games like Dragon Age where you get to have some input and influence proceedings.
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Silverbond

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#50 Silverbond
Member since 2008 • 16130 Posts

There is no character, so he can't be a bad one.InsaneBasura

Can't be a good one either.