It doesn't make it right, but it's actually incredibly common for authors in the KH fandom to openly dislike the canon. This doesn't stop them liking the characters. But a lot of people have got to the sort of point where they're worried what Square are going to do with those characters next. The fact that whatever they do is automatically canon can actually sting.
Roxas is a difficult one because we didn't have much, if any, characterisation for him before Days. I personally was lucky in that Days didn't go against my personal interpretation. Others aren't quite so lucky. Add that to the fact that a lot of people are annoyed that Days was made at all, especially the retcon elements. Add that to the rather repetitive gameplay and you have a lot of negative feelings amongst the fans - even the ones who aren't out for Xion's blood
( ... )
Well, to be honest, I am used to this sort of behaviour, because I'm from the Naruto fandom. And every week, it's the same old song 'this and this happend, the manga is ruined!' it got to the point that there were parody threads and similar popping up(add that to the fact Naruto is one of those manga that isn't flattered by a weekly format).
I guess it's a bit of case of fallen idol for me, as I respected this fic, and the author who wrote it, and had hoped she was above such behaviour...
I think it's more of a feeling that some people have that pandering to the base led to sequelitis it doesn't help that they retcon the whole game from canon afterwards. Leading to people like me wondering what on earth people DO remember from the past year.
I actually thoroughly love all the Kingdom Hearts games, but I think for me personally what factors in is that I really enjoy the gameplay as much as the story. And I think the story is fascinating, really, which is what keeps bringing me back. I bought a PSP years ago solely to play Birth By Sleep when it came out, because I like the franchise. I don't personally have any problems with the story inconsistencies - as you say, they happen, particularly in something like a game, which is such a group effort.
(I'm actually eternally amused that Nomura just...loves Sora that much that Sora is in all of the Kingdom Hearts games somehow. Not that it doesn't make sense from a narrative point of view given, you know, that he's the protagonist of four out of six of them, but it was a bonus in Days.)
I'll admit it here, she's a friend of mine. And I really don't think her 'behaviour' is all that bad. It was a comment in her author's note in a fic that gets published on her journal before it goes up on ffnet. At the end of the day, she's a person too, and idolising her might not have been the best way to go about it. There's also the added issue of whether it's right to view a person's work (film, tv, music, writing) by what they personally do, believe or say.
I hope this doesn't come across as overly defensive or confrontational - she doesn't need me to defend her. I do understand your viewpoint, and that your enjoyment of the fic may have been effected by it. Maybe by the time she manages to get another chapter done, you'll be able to enjoy it again :)
There's also the added issue of whether it's right to view a person's work (film, tv, music, writing) by what they personally do, believe or say.
To be fair, though, I feel that distinctions must be made based on where and how they proclaim these opinions, e.g. not so much about what kinds of opinions they have, but about knowing when to hold their tongue. I don't think the original ranter would have been upset to find a random rant about Roxas on her (the author's) journal; I think it's the fact that it was attached to the fic in an author's note and was even used as an explanation/excuse for delays that makes it a bit harder to swallow.
Please note that my phrasing was 'whether it's right', not that it is right, or indeed wrong. My own personal views over that particular issue are incredibly hypocritical - I believe that an artist's life should be removed when judging their works, but at the same time can't help having a negative gut reaction to anything coming from an artist associated with Scientology.
At the same time, I will ask, how is that different to a film maker putting an opening and opinionated sentiment at the beginning of a film?
I think a lot of writers delayed ongoing fics featuring Axel and Roxas for the release of Days. Then, if the characterisation used in the game didn't sit well with them, I would think that it would be reasonable for them to take a while to decide what to do about that.
Should you take into account that the age of consent in Japan is 14 when observing the ages of the main characters, and the possible subtext they may have? Or shouldn't you, because the world is uses English texts rather then Japanese ones in ingame letters and the like?
On the other hand, if you would take the game without taking Japanese culture in account, XI would become The campgay grimreaper rather then the kabukimono grimreaper.
At the same time, I will ask, how is that different to a film maker putting an opening and opinionated sentiment at the beginning of a film?
Well, that's the thing: I think it's not.
By adding an opinionated sentiment at the beginning of your film just as much as by expressing an opinion in the foreword of your novel, you are inviting people to judge your opinion in conjunction with your work. It is (or it should be, because your readers or viewers are going to take it that way) much more of a conscious decision to put your opinions and your work into immediate relation with each other. People are going to view it much more critically than a throwaway comment in your blog that stands on its own.
Now, in her case, I'm sure that she didn't really mean anything by it and didn't think that it would offend anybody that much, but that's just how people are going to react.
Having said all that, it's still one of the AkuRoku fics out there, and I hope that people can oversee this minor faux-pas.
And at the end of the day it's another person reading it.
But you're right, if you look at the rant, I constructed it so that my anger would be more apparent, rather then writing an essay stating the dry facts. /is a bit of a drama queen when angry.
But that's the purpose of ranting communities, right? By posting my rage here, and having others feedback me, I feel a lot more peaceful and feel I can look at this far more objectively. As such I've been able to send a polite review to her, stating my feelings. And I hope she will think of it next time she's posting something.
Thank you for trying to not take it personally(as she is a friend of yours).
It was pre-established in KH2 that all members of the Organisation had a tombstone. There were only 13 tombstones. Having a fourteenth member retcons this, no matter what magical excuses they drummed up to get around it.
Another protip: retcons are not necessarily and automatically bad for being retcons. But that doesn't change what they are.
Roxas is a difficult one because we didn't have much, if any, characterisation for him before Days. I personally was lucky in that Days didn't go against my personal interpretation. Others aren't quite so lucky. Add that to the fact that a lot of people are annoyed that Days was made at all, especially the retcon elements. Add that to the rather repetitive gameplay and you have a lot of negative feelings amongst the fans - even the ones who aren't out for Xion's blood ( ... )
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And every week, it's the same old song 'this and this happend, the manga is ruined!' it got to the point that there were parody threads and similar popping up(add that to the fact Naruto is one of those manga that isn't flattered by a weekly format).
I guess it's a bit of case of fallen idol for me, as I respected this fic, and the author who wrote it, and had hoped she was above such behaviour...
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WARNING: TVTROPES!
XD
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And now I'm going to link this because I can.
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(I'm actually eternally amused that Nomura just...loves Sora that much that Sora is in all of the Kingdom Hearts games somehow. Not that it doesn't make sense from a narrative point of view given, you know, that he's the protagonist of four out of six of them, but it was a bonus in Days.)
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I hope this doesn't come across as overly defensive or confrontational - she doesn't need me to defend her. I do understand your viewpoint, and that your enjoyment of the fic may have been effected by it. Maybe by the time she manages to get another chapter done, you'll be able to enjoy it again :)
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To be fair, though, I feel that distinctions must be made based on where and how they proclaim these opinions, e.g. not so much about what kinds of opinions they have, but about knowing when to hold their tongue. I don't think the original ranter would have been upset to find a random rant about Roxas on her (the author's) journal; I think it's the fact that it was attached to the fic in an author's note and was even used as an explanation/excuse for delays that makes it a bit harder to swallow.
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At the same time, I will ask, how is that different to a film maker putting an opening and opinionated sentiment at the beginning of a film?
I think a lot of writers delayed ongoing fics featuring Axel and Roxas for the release of Days. Then, if the characterisation used in the game didn't sit well with them, I would think that it would be reasonable for them to take a while to decide what to do about that.
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Should you take into account that the age of consent in Japan is 14 when observing the ages of the main characters, and the possible subtext they may have?
Or shouldn't you, because the world is uses English texts rather then Japanese ones in ingame letters and the like?
On the other hand, if you would take the game without taking Japanese culture in account, XI would become The campgay grimreaper rather then the kabukimono grimreaper.
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Well, that's the thing: I think it's not.
By adding an opinionated sentiment at the beginning of your film just as much as by expressing an opinion in the foreword of your novel, you are inviting people to judge your opinion in conjunction with your work. It is (or it should be, because your readers or viewers are going to take it that way) much more of a conscious decision to put your opinions and your work into immediate relation with each other. People are going to view it much more critically than a throwaway comment in your blog that stands on its own.
Now, in her case, I'm sure that she didn't really mean anything by it and didn't think that it would offend anybody that much, but that's just how people are going to react.
Having said all that, it's still one of the AkuRoku fics out there, and I hope that people can oversee this minor faux-pas.
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But you're right, if you look at the rant, I constructed it so that my anger would be more apparent, rather then writing an essay stating the dry facts. /is a bit of a drama queen when angry.
But that's the purpose of ranting communities, right? By posting my rage here, and having others feedback me, I feel a lot more peaceful and feel I can look at this far more objectively. As such I've been able to send a polite review to her, stating my feelings. And I hope she will think of it next time she's posting something.
Thank you for trying to not take it personally(as she is a friend of yours).
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Please don't enable me becoming a stalker >>
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Another protip: retcons are not necessarily and automatically bad for being retcons. But that doesn't change what they are.
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