Fanfiction.net . . .
I was wondering how long it would be before you forced me into a rant!!!! (=>o<=)
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi . . . I wonder . . . is there anyone else out there as annoyed with Fanfiction.net as I am? I believe the problem started when the site maintainers, in their false sense of bringing “quality” to the site, decided to ban NC-17 stories. Their great plan was not so great however, for all they managed to do was drive out some of the best authors and stories to ever grace the world wide web. The “M” rating is still there (although many people not used to the site would probably never find the stories with this rating as you must implement the “filter” feature in order to see them) but it just . . . doesn’t . . . *WORK.* I myself use this rating on my stories posted there in the hopes that only “mature” readers will bother to read it. However, I have so very foolishly forgotten that since the NC-17 ban and their promotion of “morality” *snicker*, the entire site is now overflowing with close-minded, immature, Mary-Sueing, and intolerant reviewers. Sadly they do not realize this. More specifically, they do not realize that they are immature. And I, therefore, have to put up with them.
Now don’t get me wrong, there *are* still some really great authors and reviewers left on the site, they are, in fact the only reason that I’ll be continuing to post there. Recently, I’ve been receiving both annoying reviews and emails from commentors from this site. Now, normally a nasty comment every now and then wouldn’t get me so riled up, but this person just so happened to ruin one of my happiest moods that I had been in for some time. Ironically, the comment had nothing to do with downing slash or anything but rather accusing me of a writing blunder that I most certainly was not guilty of. Their review was as such:
“Very nice chapter, I don't like the slang you are using. It makes me concentrate on the slang, not the story. The 'ya's' and the 'wots' are online language, not language for a story.”
. . . I, of course, set out to enlighten this 13 year old girl (as it turned out to be). My response was:
"Thanks for sharing your opinion on my story "Change." I, personally, happen to enjoy literature that incorporates "slang" into a characters speech, it's what gives characters, "character." Many authors use this technique (and no, it most certainly is not "online language", it's simply writing as one speaks. If the entire *story* were written that way, then I would have to agree with you. But, as I'm sure you saw, the whole story is not.) such as George Benard Shaw in his novel "Pygmalion." (you really should read it if you haven't already, it's quite brilliant.)
Anywho, I'll be continuing to use this "slang" as it's considered by many a great author to be appropriate for a story and I just happen to like that style. I've never cared for the strict "by the book" kind of writing, it's been done and done and *done.* I appreciate you trying to help, and goodness knows that there are writers who genuinely need to be told to stop using "online language," but I'm not one of them. I'm aware of what I'm doing, and I'm doing it for a reason. I do hope that you'll continue to read the future chapters of this story, despite my style of writing. But everyone is entitled to like what they like of course and if you can't like this, *shrugs* then thanks for at least reading the first six chapters . . . it was greatly appreciated. *bows and exits*"
Is it petty of me to be posting this? Hell yeah, but I wouldn’t be posting this here at all if Fanfiction.net would actually allow me to respond publically to this person , It’s hardly fair that only their comment will be seen by other readers. Listen, I don’t want to seem “mean” here, but quite frankly, I do *NOT* want to have to explain again the ins and outs of writing to someone who hasn’t even finished junior high school yet. I should also say that I don’t blame the girl at all (well maybe just a tweensy- wittle bit since I detest preachy people in general (telling me what does and does not belong in a story, come *on*)). I instead blame Fanfiction.net for doing away with the wonderful rating system of “R” and “NC-17," they were far better deterrents than “M” . . . I mean how intimidating does “mature” sound compared to “restricted” or the dearly departed “nudity content, 17+?” Of course I absolutely abhor having to rate my own stuff but the other system just made much more sense to me.
I also want to make it clear that I have nothing against young kids or younger people in general. I only have a problem with young kids and teens who try to tell me what to do, when in fact, they have no idea what they’re talking about. I have an even bigger problem with the website that has created such an environment.
~-SKC-~
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi . . . I wonder . . . is there anyone else out there as annoyed with Fanfiction.net as I am? I believe the problem started when the site maintainers, in their false sense of bringing “quality” to the site, decided to ban NC-17 stories. Their great plan was not so great however, for all they managed to do was drive out some of the best authors and stories to ever grace the world wide web. The “M” rating is still there (although many people not used to the site would probably never find the stories with this rating as you must implement the “filter” feature in order to see them) but it just . . . doesn’t . . . *WORK.* I myself use this rating on my stories posted there in the hopes that only “mature” readers will bother to read it. However, I have so very foolishly forgotten that since the NC-17 ban and their promotion of “morality” *snicker*, the entire site is now overflowing with close-minded, immature, Mary-Sueing, and intolerant reviewers. Sadly they do not realize this. More specifically, they do not realize that they are immature. And I, therefore, have to put up with them.
Now don’t get me wrong, there *are* still some really great authors and reviewers left on the site, they are, in fact the only reason that I’ll be continuing to post there. Recently, I’ve been receiving both annoying reviews and emails from commentors from this site. Now, normally a nasty comment every now and then wouldn’t get me so riled up, but this person just so happened to ruin one of my happiest moods that I had been in for some time. Ironically, the comment had nothing to do with downing slash or anything but rather accusing me of a writing blunder that I most certainly was not guilty of. Their review was as such:
“Very nice chapter, I don't like the slang you are using. It makes me concentrate on the slang, not the story. The 'ya's' and the 'wots' are online language, not language for a story.”
. . . I, of course, set out to enlighten this 13 year old girl (as it turned out to be). My response was:
"Thanks for sharing your opinion on my story "Change." I, personally, happen to enjoy literature that incorporates "slang" into a characters speech, it's what gives characters, "character." Many authors use this technique (and no, it most certainly is not "online language", it's simply writing as one speaks. If the entire *story* were written that way, then I would have to agree with you. But, as I'm sure you saw, the whole story is not.) such as George Benard Shaw in his novel "Pygmalion." (you really should read it if you haven't already, it's quite brilliant.)
Anywho, I'll be continuing to use this "slang" as it's considered by many a great author to be appropriate for a story and I just happen to like that style. I've never cared for the strict "by the book" kind of writing, it's been done and done and *done.* I appreciate you trying to help, and goodness knows that there are writers who genuinely need to be told to stop using "online language," but I'm not one of them. I'm aware of what I'm doing, and I'm doing it for a reason. I do hope that you'll continue to read the future chapters of this story, despite my style of writing. But everyone is entitled to like what they like of course and if you can't like this, *shrugs* then thanks for at least reading the first six chapters . . . it was greatly appreciated. *bows and exits*"
Is it petty of me to be posting this? Hell yeah, but I wouldn’t be posting this here at all if Fanfiction.net would actually allow me to respond publically to this person , It’s hardly fair that only their comment will be seen by other readers. Listen, I don’t want to seem “mean” here, but quite frankly, I do *NOT* want to have to explain again the ins and outs of writing to someone who hasn’t even finished junior high school yet. I should also say that I don’t blame the girl at all (well maybe just a tweensy- wittle bit since I detest preachy people in general (telling me what does and does not belong in a story, come *on*)). I instead blame Fanfiction.net for doing away with the wonderful rating system of “R” and “NC-17," they were far better deterrents than “M” . . . I mean how intimidating does “mature” sound compared to “restricted” or the dearly departed “nudity content, 17+?” Of course I absolutely abhor having to rate my own stuff but the other system just made much more sense to me.
I also want to make it clear that I have nothing against young kids or younger people in general. I only have a problem with young kids and teens who try to tell me what to do, when in fact, they have no idea what they’re talking about. I have an even bigger problem with the website that has created such an environment.
~-SKC-~