A Question for Fanfic Readers/Writers

[hermitknut]

Evenin', all.
I would just like to take this opportunity to ask you all a question which has come up in my online life recently:

How does one define character-bashing in a fanfiction?

I would define it as being the portrayal of character x in a strongly negative light without justification or any real depth.
In case you didn't get it from the

Comments

[hermitknut]

See, now this is interesting. Because with some characters I find it really easy to see them done as "bad" and with others I find it quite difficult - for example Ron, that you listed there. I love Ron, and I could argue for quite a while about how awesome he is. Likewise Hermione. But even though reading that list of traits made me wince a little (okay, a lot :P), I wouldn't turn around to you and say you're wrong. That's just one way of looking at the character. And if you wrote a fic based on those two characters like that... hm. In all honesty, I probably wouldn't read it. But than I'd consider that to be the same as not reading a fic because it's got something I find squicky in it... it's all opinion.
And someone else's opinion isn't bashing just because it's one you disagree with. *shrug*
So I do agree - but I can also appreciate how difficult it can be when someone picks out all the bad things about a character that you like (especially if you're annoyingly optimistic like me, and like to pick out all the good things) because you're kind of attached to them. HP is something people have grown up with, as well, so there are more fans who love the characters.
Wow, rambly response. I hope it made sense :/ :D
Hk