elyxer | Are we embracing diversity or dissention?

Current Mood: disappointed
Current Location: My Desk
Current Music: When the Walls Came Tumbling Down -- Def Leppard

Are we embracing diversity or dissention?

It seems that writing fics according to Canon standards is a big thing to some people. While it is quite acceptable and even encouraged to create alternate universes and realities to place Brian and Justin into, the slightest deviation from their television show personas is completely frowned upon. First, I just want to say that I consider myself just as much a fan of the show, the characters, and the actors as anyone else. In no way will I ever try to belittle the work they did or the show they created. I do find it fascinating that so many people seem to find fault or something to bitch about in fics where Brian and Justin don’t act or react exactly as they would on the show.

I think if you compare season five Brian to season one Brian, you’d find that season five Brian was OOC. So, if he can change that much in five years, who is to say how much he’d change in five more? I realize that this is a matter of personal opinion and perception, but I find it quite disturbing that authors as well as their fics are being attacked and made the brunt of jokes because of what they write. I mean it’s horrible to think of Justin getting bashed in the head on a fictional show, but it’s perfectly acceptable to bash RL people with hurtful words.

I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their opinion, however, I do have a problem with people saying things that can only be considered hurtful. A critique is one thing; however, a public bashing is an altogether different story. There are plenty of stories that I don’t like, so I just don’t read them. You will never find a post made by me where I am ridiculing an author or that person’s work for any reason. I think it’s in poor taste.

I thought this fandom was not only about Brian and Justin’s relationship, but about diversity and acceptance. Diversity offers opportunities to learn and celebrate new and different ideas. If there are people in this fandom that can’t seem to overcome certain prejudices, how can we ever expect society to change in any shape, form, or fashion? Personally, I love reading things that are different. I enjoy the opportunity to learn something from someone else’s point of view. I even enjoy debating the differences. I just find myself wondering why some people feel they must be malicious to seem witty, or find enjoyment in the pain of others. This isn’t a schoolyard, and we are supposed to be intelligent adults.

Well, that’s all I have to say. Thanks for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ITA with you 100%. I booted certain individuals off my f-list today for that very reason. It seems to be getting more and more popular to confuse a constructive critique of a fic with attacking an author on a personal level, and you're right, it's not only displaying poor taste, but also a lousy upbringing, shallow morals, ignorance and a whole lot more. Even more so when the slanderer is also a writer of fanfic - shame on them! I'm so sick of hearing what goes in fanfic and what doesn't (preached by individuals who grossly overestimate their popularity, intelligence and influence on others) I could hurl, and I ask myself who the fuck do these ppl doing this think they are? And why are those of us who disagree with these little Neros letting them get away with it?

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I'm glad to see that we agree on somethings...LOL. I hope you have plenty of oreos and duct tape, if not, I'll be sure to send you more! Have a great day, Cookie!
Hugs and Kisses,
Rena

very well said. I write in several different fandoms (QAF being the most recent to capture my attention) and always am intrigued to read when an author takes a wild spin on something. I don't write a lot of AU fics personally, but I love reading them because they make me think. I however, do like to write things that are sometimes questionable to canon, because there are days that my mind goes, yeah that's what the show did, but this IS MY TAKE ON THINGS...screw what Canon would say!

I also hate it when what is supposed to be constructive criticism turns into personal attacks on the author. Its rude, its wrong and honestly, shouldn't happen.

Very well said! Thank you for your opinion. It is nice to see that I'm not alone.

You know what I like to think? Everything that is written by others then the authors of QaF is not Cannon. I mean we all think of the characters in another way then the authors did. For us (the writers) we kind of have to live through what the characters will go through in their stories.
And I have to agree with you on the point with Brian being OOC in the fifth season, but for me it wasn't really OOC Brian just changed, because of the circumstances. So, when you write an AU story you automatically put the characters in different circumstances what will change how the character reacts.

So, to come to the point. For me everything that is written is AU because we're not the authors of QaF.

I never thought of it that way, but you do have a valid point. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

Hugs,
Rena

*sigh* what's happened NOW? I completely agree with you, in fact, I made all those points you said in an argument about OOC fics when bjfic first changed owners and they changed the rules so that you were no longer allowed to post OOC fics on that site. Since a lot of my fics are OOC it really annoyed me that I couldn't post them on that site anymore, especially since I knew that people liked reading them. (That's the beauty of writing for Moonshadow Tribe, you have the freedom to write what you want)

As far as leaving feedback, I have left con crit feedback before, but I've never been mean or rude about it, and I don't do it publicly -- I email them personally so I don't embarrass them or take attention away from their story. In fact, I recently sent an author con crit feedback and she wrote me back saying that she appreciated what I said and wasn't offended at all. There are sometimes stories with EXTREME OOC characters, and personally I am turned off with those stories, but when that is the case, if I'm not liking it, I just stop reading it. I've stopped reading several stories because of that reason. I wouldn't ever tell a person how to write their story, though.

Unfortunately, as long as people post their fics publicly, there's no way to prevent flamers or rude people. This is the internet, and when you post stories for everyone to read, it's expected that not everyone is going to like what you write or agree with how you write the characters.

Funny you should ask what happened now...I was just reading comments on my LJ friends page, came across a couple that were putting down an author and her work. I don't even know her and I have never read a single thing she's written, but I just found the comments to be in poor taste. So, I decided to put my two cents in...LOL.

I agree with you about what happens when posting your fics publicly. Luckily, I have extremely thick skin. Thanks for sharing your opinion.

Don't worry about what anyone else says. You just continue to write your lovely fics and know that for the most part this fandom is very accepting. *HUGS*

I know this fandom is accepting or I wouldn't be a part of it. There always seem to be a few bad apples that try to ruin it for everyone. I do apologize if I came across as dissing the fandom as a whole, because that was never my intention. As for me and my stories, don't worry I am too thick-skinned and stubborn to let petty things stop me from writing the way I want. Thank you for sharing your opinion.

Hugs,
Rena

People who look at storys they do not like and complain are silly. As you said "if they don't like it then don't read it!" There are storys people do not like and that is ok it is there opinion which they are intitled to. But when it comes to peoples feelings get hurt after all the effort the authours went through, then it should NOT be stood for!

Next i would like to say that two very special friends told me, (when i told them i was starting to make a fic) That they need to be your own and whatever you write you must be feeling it. Now if the authors who are writing these fabulous stories are feeling the characters that they are writing about and believe the fics story line, then how do you think they feel when they are getting put down by these ridiculous comments people who think they are bigger than the universe are making.

Finally i would like to say one thing to the people making these nasty comments:

What the Fuck do you think you are doing stealing peoples thunder? How do you think you would feel if it was happining to you?

STOP IT

Thank You Elyxer for bringing this up!
YOur Brill

Thanks for your time.

Howdy princess,
Thank you for your opinion and taking the time to reply.

Hugs,
Rena

Like, yeah!

I think if you compare season five Brian to season one Brian, you’d find that season five Brian was OOC.

Hell! Even Brian in 120 is OOC for Brian in 101...

So true. Thanks for your opinion.

Agree with all you said. :o)
C.

Hey C,

Thanks so much for your opinion. Happy Birthday again...LOL.

Huggles,
Rena

This is only the second time in two days I have visited your journal as I got the link from Leather Bound at MW looking for the Make Me Believe vid. Anyway while I was here I decided to read some of your old posts cause I find your fics intriguing to say the least. This post makes me happy because it is exactly how I feel and have said so many times in diferent forums or LJ's. It is great to see a writer who can see the fun in fanfiction as well as the hypocrisy. After all as you say who is to say what B/J will be like in 5-10 years and even so if someone does an ooc version of either charcter and provides warnings it is their creative right to do so. Just as it was for Picasso to paint pictures of people the way he saw them. You don't have to like it, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one can not tell another what is beauty to them. It is this diversity and therefore acceptance that I loved in QAF so much, so as you say to learn from and discover new things or ideas not punish or ridicule. Well I know that was a very long way of saying I agree, but I feel this kind of comment is not said enough. Imagine away as I love what you create. Gerri.

Hey gerri, welcome to the madness that is my world...LOL. I friended you back, so now you have access to all my posts...not just the public ones like this one. Have a look around and check out my stories.

Yeah, I wrote this because I was tired of reading comments where people were trashing authors about all sorts of things. It's my motto, if I don't like, well I don't say anything. I guess that's the old if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all thing my Mom drummed into my head. Anyway, thanks for commenting and I hope to hear a lot more from you.
Later,
Rena

Thanks and I will definatley come and take alook, can't wait.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are we embracing diversity or dissention?

It's a damn disgrace

Re: It's a damn disgrace

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

ITA

Re: ITA

no subject

no subject

So True

Re: So True

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I Agree!

Re: I Agree!

Re: I Agree!