If...

[bellatrys]

all you can do in response to specific criticisms, is to invoke Authority - be it of official credentials, or age, or popular acclaim, be it on one's own behalf or on the behalf of others being criticized - and never once to actually address the specific criticisms made, then you're not going to get very far with me

Comments

[anna_wing]

Having one's character, work and values impugned on the internet by some nobody is absolutely normal, for anyone with any name-recognition at all. She had the choices of addressing your criticism civilly, thus getting points for gentlemanly (sic) behaviour, or even uncivilly, thus possibly at least getting points for creative invective, or best of all (and in my experience the preferable path in most circumstances not involving libel or credible threats of violence) not responded at all.

In some ways it was reminiscent of Jo Walton's mini-meltdown on the Making Light website some months ago, in which she stated that

(i) having fanfic written about her books was like being raped;

(ii)if it happened there would be no more Jo Walton books Ever;

(iii)the whole sub-thread (a fan had very politely and respectfully asked her if there was any kind of fanfic of her books that might be acceptable) had distressed her so much that she had been unable to write for the past two days and she was Leaving The Discussion.

Tsk.

Missed that

[bellatrys]

(ii)if it happened there would be no more Jo Walton books Ever;(i) having fanfic written about her books was like being raped;

Kind of rich coming from someone who writes Arthurian fanfic herself.

Who's Jo Walton?

[deiseach]

No, that's a serious question. If she's threatening to never again write any books, the threat would be more damning if I knew there were books by her in the first place, never mind ever having read any of them.

Big fish, small pond. Other ponds out there, y'know.

Re: Who's Jo Walton?

[lyorn]

She did a very nice take on Goldilocks and the three bear in Viking style on her LJ. Won't link, though.

[lyorn]

I read that one, too. Five bucks into the drama queen box, IMO. OTOH, if she wants to have hysterics on the internet, that's none of my problems. It does, however, make me even less inclined to respect any authors wishes in regard to how they want their books read. And I doubt that I will write a review.