Chris Posted January 13, 2018 Important If True 45: Wax house, baby. In the first Important If True recorded in the new year, we put our fresh reality through its paces. Kick the tires a bit. Ask the questions that really matter in 2018. Questions like: Is the saxophone cool, or is it too real to be cool? If your coworker starts wearing puka shell necklaces as self-flagellating conversion therapy, is he still a bro? And if you become trapped in a fictitious world of your own design, will a Wikipedia editor ask for a citation? Only one thing’s for sure: it’s a wax house, baby—we all just live in it. Discussed: 2018, Nick's Halloween Dreams, the unappreciated coolness of saxophones, psychic neural infiltration, explicit dream roasting, the Wikipedia page for the 2005 film "House of Wax", the internet sabotage long game, "Wax House, Baby", shared fictitious realities, Agloe, New York, Snakes on a Plane, the fractal-like world of online ersatz cheap brand creation and marketing, becoming an accidental bro, Pavlovian anti-bro enforcement methods, climbing out of your bro-hole with a ladder made of bones, rare Domino's Pizza Rolex watch, Nutcracker barfees, horrible barfing Nutcracker toy Send us your questions at questions@importantiftrue.com. If you enjoyed this and would like to subscribe to an ad-free feed, please consider supporting Idle Thumbs by backing our Patreon. Chris' Endorsement: Getting a huge hard drive (like this massive 3TB drive I bought) for way cheaper than you'd think, and putting all your crap on it while experiencing a nostalgia trip Jake's Endorsement: Wizard Jam, the semiannual Idle Thumbs community game jam. Check out The Garfing Garfo because it is strange and surprising, and The World Begins With You because it is beautiful Nick's Endorsement: "HQ Trivia is a Harbinger of Dystopia", Ian Bogost's deep dive into the strange trivia game HQ; and "If You Run This Profile, We're Fire Our Host", a completely unhinged interview with the CEO of HQ Trivia Sponsored by: Quip electric toothbrushes with $10 off your first brush head refill Listen on the Episode Page Listen on Soundcloud Listen in iTunes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ke51n Posted January 13, 2018 Wax house baybeeee. also, thx jake Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cengared Posted January 13, 2018 Now I'm just thinking that the Wax House is the BDSM version of the Love Shack (baby). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadpan Posted January 13, 2018 I usually listen to episodes on Youtube, and when I opened this one I was dismayed to see how far the normalization of Nick's telepresence has progressed. In the last few episodes, Nick's old microphone and pop filter were still on the table, but pushed to the side to give a clear view of the newly-installed Nick screen (on which you can see the microphone Nick is talking to in Canada). That seemed perfectly natural to me, the transition to long-distance podcasting went relatively smooth and it makes sense to keep the three mic setup in case you have a guest in the studio or whatever. However, when I clicked on this episode, I was shocked to discover that Nick's old microphone was now positioned directly in front of the screen, as if the screen itself was talking into it. This is a small change, but it makes a big difference conceptually: up until now, you cleared up space to show video footage of your human third host joining you live from Canada. Now, however, the video station has itself become the third host and it is but one small step for Nick's face on screen to be replaced by a simulated recreation, or something even more sinister. Don't let your guard down Thumbs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Posted January 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Deadpan said: I usually listen to episodes on Youtube, and when I opened this one I was dismayed to see how far the normalization of Nick's telepresence has progressed. In the last few episodes, Nick's old microphone and pop filter were still on the table, but pushed to the side to give a clear view of the newly-installed Nick screen (on which you can see the microphone Nick is talking to in Canada). That seemed perfectly natural to me, the transition to long-distance podcasting went relatively smooth and it makes sense to keep the three mic setup in case you have a guest in the studio or whatever. However, when I clicked on this episode, I was shocked to discover that Nick's old microphone was now positioned directly in front of the screen, as if the screen itself was talking into it. This is a small change, but it makes a big difference conceptually: up until now, you cleared up space to show video footage of your human third host joining you live from Canada. Now, however, the video station has itself become the third host and it is but one small step for Nick's face on screen to be replaced by a simulated recreation, or something even more sinister. Don't let your guard down Thumbs. I’m with you, but the people demanded this. Ever since nick went remote, people have asked why he doesn’t have a microphone and “it’s on the screen!” didn’t satisfy them. Maybe this abomination will. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyir Posted January 14, 2018 I think I like wax house baby better than stay spicy. I hope it's here to stay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deadpan Posted January 14, 2018 10 hours ago, Jake said: I’m with you, but the people demanded this. Ever since nick went remote, people have asked why he doesn’t have a microphone and “it’s on the screen!” didn’t satisfy them. Maybe this abomination will. People are too quick to look at a pile of tech and say "I wuv you, wobot!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WallyIsTheOne Posted January 14, 2018 Somebody on the wikipedia page of House of Wax already corrected everything, actually citing this episode. I've never felt so much (relatively) unfunded hatred towards a wikipedia editor person... Strictly no fun allowed I guess :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyir Posted January 14, 2018 Someone, somewhere, has committed a most heinous treachery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nappi Posted January 14, 2018 I'm impressed by how effective the reader's plot to erase an alternative title, they did not like, was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Problem Machine Posted January 14, 2018 Surely if this hoax was successful enough to permanently change the film's online presence it is significant enough to still be mentioned in its wikipedia article. Surely this is the most actually noteworthy thing about the film. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plasticflesh Posted January 14, 2018 23 hours ago, Jake said: I’m with you, but the people demanded this. Ever since nick went remote, people have asked why he doesn’t have a microphone and “it’s on the screen!” didn’t satisfy them. Maybe this abomination will. I have looked into the 2025 Important If True episode 388 for January 2025, and found this image of a more advance robot Nick Breckon: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WallyIsTheOne Posted January 14, 2018 2 hours ago, Deadpan said: 'vandalism' Yeah these guys take themselves wayy too seriously :S Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Posted January 15, 2018 That’s just the official term I think. It’s always been called that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainFish Posted January 15, 2018 12 hours ago, Jake said: That’s just the official term I think. It’s always been called that. Are you sure? I seem to remember the term being "Defaced Article, Baby." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Professor Video Games Posted January 15, 2018 I went through the House of Wax edit history and it looks like the original update didn't have a citation for "Wax House, Baby" at all, but three months later it's added with the comment "adding cite i missed during the article overhaul" which, I don't know why, but I find even more hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clonefreak1 Posted January 15, 2018 Someone now needs to be the guardian of "Wax House, Baby." Changing the wiki edit back at random intervals. Not that I would do anything like that, it just sounds exhausting... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salacious Snake Posted January 15, 2018 30 minutes ago, Clonefreak1 said: Someone now needs to be the guardian of "Wax House, Baby." Changing the wiki edit back at random intervals. Not that I would do anything like that, it just sounds exhausting... Sadly, repeated alterations like that would lead to the page being locked down, which is no fun for anyone. At least the edit history sticks around, which paired with this podcast makes for a good historical record. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crunchnoisy Posted January 15, 2018 As I listened to this episode, suddenly slid into place with an audible click, like that Nintendo Switch *snap* sound... Chris: "... sitting here next to Robot Nick..." robot nick... oh my god.... CLICK I'm sure I'm the last one to realize this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon Posted January 15, 2018 I approve of this sort of Wiki-sabotage. Several years ago a friend and I, both fans of Paul McCartney, became aware of this music video for his 1986 single 'Press', from the album Press To Play. We amused ourselves by imagining that Macca super-fans would make a special pilgrimage to the London Underground stations seen in the video (despite the song being a largely forgotten piece of his unloved mid-80s output) and edited the Wikipedia articles for Piccadilly Circus tube station and the single itself, to reflect this fictional subculture. All credit to my friend for the brilliant, totally standards-trolling turn of phrase here (link to the version of the page from August 2013). Sadly, the Wikipedia vigilantes struck and the edits did not last long - but long enough for the misinformation to filter down to a few blogs and, most excitingly, the official Transport for London website! Our absolute nonsense eventually surfaced here in a blurb for Art on the Underground: https://art.tfl.gov.uk/labyrinth/artwork/piccadilly-circus/ We are still hoping McCartney himself will somehow end up acknowledging the phenomenon in a interview, maybe when the album gets reissued. Wax House, Baby! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kilanash Posted January 15, 2018 The domain: waxhouse.baby is available. Just leaving this here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plasticflesh Posted January 15, 2018 4 hours ago, Crunchnoisy said: As I listened to this episode, suddenly slid into place with an audible click, like that Nintendo Switch *snap* sound... Chris: "... sitting here next to Robot Nick..." robot nick... oh my god.... CLICK I'm sure I'm the last one to realize this. This is very good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SL128 Posted January 16, 2018 Now that Nick's identity as a saxxer is revealed, I am now requesting that he video call into someone's Far Cry 2 stream and improvise a soundtrack! Also, how loud are Quips? I have an electric toothbrush that I don't use because it's 79 decibels and extremely distressing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feelthedarkness Posted January 16, 2018 If there is ever a Thumbscon I hope Cool Nick Breckon is a popular cosplay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
