Rant Post

[sherlockbbc_fic]

Previous (Full) Rant Post

No real directions, but this isn't a place for debate. It's a place for RANTIN' AND RAVIN'.

There is a rule: There is to be no calling out anyone by name in Rants, Chatter, or on the Meme itself. This only produces an atmosphere of animosity and it is no longer tolerated. If you see any names being ranted about, please link

Comments

[anonymous]

So many Americanisms. DID THIS PERSON EVEN TRY!?

[anonymous]

Maybe not? Not sure I blame them. I'm almost over the whole Britpicking thing, myself.

[anonymous]

Because who cares if that's how people live. If it happens outside of the US it doesn't fucking matter anyway.

[anonymous]

nayrt

I kind of agree with the above comment, but not because "if it happens outside of the US it doesn't fucking matter anyway." I have read profic recently, set in the US but with British spellings throughout, British slang, the whole works. And it WAS jarring to me, definitely. It took longer to get into the story, and I got snapped back out every once in a while because of it. But...I think the author has every right to spell things they want to spell them, use the phrases they want to use.

I don't blame readers who get angry about it, whether it's Americanisms in UK-set fic or the other way around, but I guess I just feel like it's the author's story and if they don't care about getting it right, especially when it's fanfic and supposed to be fun, that's their prerogative. If the story is otherwise good, I'll stick with it. If not, I'll move on.

[anonymous]

I don't think this is exactly what you meant by "Especially when it's fanfic and it's supposed to be fun", but I hate this idea that just because it's fanfiction, it means people can just forget characterisation, setting and the basic rules of creative writing

[anonymous]

then most of the fanfiction churned out would be shit, and it would be unenjoyable to read.

Hee! You must be new.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_Law

[anonymous]

Not new at all, actually.

[anonymous]

I get frustrated about mistakes in fic, too - I rant about it a lot in my journal, to the point that I'm surprised people don't defriend me, and I think the cult of nice is the worst fucking thing in fandom (pro writing, too - actually, it's even more annoying there because most people ARE paying for the privilege of reading) - but I guess I just feel like there should be a balance to it, on both the authors' part and the readers'. Like the OP, I'd love for "anyways" to never show up again in any fic I ever read, and for Sherlock to never say Band-aid again, unless he happened to be visiting the US or something. But an author doing those things, knowingly or unknowingly, to me it's not some huge betrayal to the readers, the characters, or the English language

[anonymous]

. But...I think the author has every right to spell things they want to spell them, use the phrases they want to use.

da

Personally, i hate that post-modern 'there's no right way' attitude. There are good ways of doing things and they're good for a reason - in this case the reasons are readibility, faithfulness to and respect for the source material and authenticity. There is no point in using the source material in any way, other than a properly labelled AU, unless you respect it. Having Sherlock use dollars, say 'a couple things' or refuse to go to hospital because he doesn't have the money is just insulting to the reader and programme.

[anonymous]

There is no point in using the source material in any way, other than a properly labelled AU, unless you respect it

BAHAHAHA. Excuse me, I'm too busy reading my double-penetration vampire wingfic omegaverse to listen to you drone on about authenticity and respecting the source material. Did you actually have to find a lemon to suck on to enable you to type that?

Fun: look it up.

[anonymous]

nayrt
I see your point, but if Britpicking isn't your thing, why not write an AU set in the US? People talked about the latter (even before there was word about Elementary), but I never actually saw anyone try.

[anonymous]

Probably because they don't want to.

[anonymous]

There's a difference between intentionally deviating from the source material and losing readers because your spelling keep throwing them out of the story.

At least with double-penetration vampire wingfic omegaverse it's labelled and you know what you're getting.

You sound like a bad, lazy writer.

[anonymous]

I'm not a writer at all.

And you sound like a dull, pedantic loser. With bad breath.

[anonymous]

If correct, alternate spellings "throw you out of a fic", you're an idiot.

[anonymous]

(not the OP