Signal Boosting/Bandom Big Bang
I was recently told that Bandom Big Bang is *not* allowing Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fics this year because it is considered a "rare" pairing and thus would have a harder time getting mixers and artists for it. I respectfully disagreed with this comment, and posted the following statement to the Bandom Big Bang community. Note: I am *NOT* trying to start wank, but to disallow a pairing that has a small, but very active presence, in Bandom seems to be the opposite of what Bandom Big Bang is trying to achieve.
This is what I posted.
I was planning on signing up for Bandom Big Bang, but at this point am not going because of your decision not to allow Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fanfics (aka So Damn Skippy Fic). By disallowing a pairing that *was* allowed last year, it seems as though you are only allowing "popular" bands to be written about, and that is not something I can get behind in a fandom. One of the main points of fandom (at least for me) is to celebrate and appreciate diversity within fic, with different pairings, different kinks, different everything, and Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas is part of that. I somehow can't help but feel you wouldn't disallow, say, a fic that featured a Dom/sub relationship because some artists might not feel comfortable drawing that. To disallow a pairing because some people might not be aware of who the main characters are feels just as arbitrary (and, to be honest, ridiculous).
I might say I understood if this was a pairing that doesn't have any history behind it, but Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas *does* have the history behind it and it is a small (but present) section of the Bandom community. When I last checked, there were over 70 different fics with this pairing present on Archive of Our Own. And yes, while last year no Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fics were posted, this was due to extenuating circumstances. The Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas community had previous decided to host a So Damn Skippy Little Bang that had the same posting period. That event is not happening this year.
In conclusion, I ask that you reverse your decision regarding Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fics for Bandom Big Bang. Thank you.
[EDITED TO ADD] I realize you asked people to email you with these types of clarification questions, but I also believe that would make this issue "invisible" to the larger Bandom Big Bang community. I am *not* trying to start something, but I do think disallowing a pairing that was allowed last year, a pairing that has a rather sizable following, is not inclusive, even though that was one of your stated goals of Bandom Big Bang. I understand rare pairings are harder to find mixers/artists for, but that is something I, personally, am willing to risk in order to participate in this challenge, and by default, the larger bandom community.
This is what I posted.
I was planning on signing up for Bandom Big Bang, but at this point am not going because of your decision not to allow Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fanfics (aka So Damn Skippy Fic). By disallowing a pairing that *was* allowed last year, it seems as though you are only allowing "popular" bands to be written about, and that is not something I can get behind in a fandom. One of the main points of fandom (at least for me) is to celebrate and appreciate diversity within fic, with different pairings, different kinks, different everything, and Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas is part of that. I somehow can't help but feel you wouldn't disallow, say, a fic that featured a Dom/sub relationship because some artists might not feel comfortable drawing that. To disallow a pairing because some people might not be aware of who the main characters are feels just as arbitrary (and, to be honest, ridiculous).
I might say I understood if this was a pairing that doesn't have any history behind it, but Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas *does* have the history behind it and it is a small (but present) section of the Bandom community. When I last checked, there were over 70 different fics with this pairing present on Archive of Our Own. And yes, while last year no Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fics were posted, this was due to extenuating circumstances. The Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas community had previous decided to host a So Damn Skippy Little Bang that had the same posting period. That event is not happening this year.
In conclusion, I ask that you reverse your decision regarding Mike Carden/Kevin Jonas fics for Bandom Big Bang. Thank you.
[EDITED TO ADD] I realize you asked people to email you with these types of clarification questions, but I also believe that would make this issue "invisible" to the larger Bandom Big Bang community. I am *not* trying to start something, but I do think disallowing a pairing that was allowed last year, a pairing that has a rather sizable following, is not inclusive, even though that was one of your stated goals of Bandom Big Bang. I understand rare pairings are harder to find mixers/artists for, but that is something I, personally, am willing to risk in order to participate in this challenge, and by default, the larger bandom community.