Sunday, November 3, 2002||Archive?

For those who haven't been around several fandoms for long, the rant will probably not make much sense.

There was a time when people came together to enjoy their fandom in groups. You didn't have to be someone, you simply had to be 'there', and they would listen to you. You didn't have to 'produce' anything of great significance to be recognized as a human being.

Nowadays, this has changed, and I for one think it has changed for the worse. There are writers/artists in fandoms who could produce the greatest crap on earth and still everyone would cheer. I don't know whether this is out of habit or out of fear that said artist/writer would then weather up a storm and rally up all their friends to go hunt down that one person who dared to speak their mind on that oh so crappy piece of fanfiction or fanart said artist/writer just produced.

Furthermore, and that really makes me want to collectively smack people upside the head, the notion has sprung up that someone who does not write or draw should not have the right to criticize.

Excuze me while I laugh my ass off.

If that were the case, no one should be allowed to send feedback, either. If you don't have the skills needed to write a decent piece of fanfiction, then you surely don't have the skill to recognize a decent piece of fanfiction. You were born blind, mute and deaf, unable to see beauty for what it is. That, folks, is what I read out of the words of authors who bitch and moan if someone sends them constructive criticism while not being a writer. Why in the world do people ask for constructive criticism if they can't bear to stand up for their errors and do something about them? I don't have to have studied English or art to look at something and go 'Ew.'.

There are fandoms which are by now vicious enough to tear an author to shreds if he or she dares to write in present tense because it is considered an outdated writing element. This is something that simply amuses me and drives me up the wall at the same time. To each their own, and what the HELL do you care how I write my stuff? You either like it or you don't. Constructive criticism is not telling someone to write in another tense. Constructive criticism is notifying the author if he or she suddenly changes tense in the middle of the story, or oversees a plothole, or writes Johnny while his name is really Jim. Telling someone to write in another tense is trying to shape the story into something you want it to be, and that's not how it works. If you want things to be exactly how you want them, go talk to your mirror.

Then, fame. I admit it's nice being known. At the same time, I couldn't care less. I'm sorry if I'm stepping on any toes now, but what do I care what someone from the other side of the planet thinks about me, especially in an environment as short-lived as a fandom? I couldn't care less about what my bloody neighbor thinks about me. I don't live or die because you do or don't like me. Yet, there are people who think they are someone because they are wellknown or liked in a fandom. Being liked or known does not make you someone worth knowing, especially not if you automatically assume that everyone who doesn't know or likes you will go to hell because *gasp* they don't recognize you for God's gift to mankind. Get a grip on yourself. Stop making a fool of yourself. No one likes being told they're an asshole because they haven't read that piece of Jimmy screwing Tom into the mattress you wrote. That's the best way to lose friends, fast. Conceit does not make up for a lack of character.

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Sunday, November 3, 2002||Archive?

Decided to come back to Pitas for a while. I do like LJ, yet the fact remains that their blog templates are not very customable if you can't afford a paid account. And while I could afford a paid account, I do not own a credit card. I love layouting too much to just stick with the rather plain one I have here right now.

So, back here, for a while at least.

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