*hugs and laughs* I'm OLD. I have a lot of practice at this shit, and I still get it wrong.
Icon: I want one that says Old Fandom Hag with one or more of the gorgeous older women of TV: Amanda, Mary, Kyra, you know the ones I Tumblr about all the time. XD
And one that says "It's Okay to Not Like Things, But Don't Be a Dick About the Things You Don't Like."
Well, I think that when we write and post something on the internet, we have exposed ourselves to criticism and people have a right to say, "I don't like this or that." On the other hand, I don't think it is constructive criticism to tell someone that you don't like the entire premise of the fic
( ... )
I think the problem comes in when it's really not so cut and dried. Usually, what we see isn't the "I hate that fic of yours, it's really bad, you shouldn't have written it!" which most everyone would agree is rude to say in public. But the "I hate it when people do this! They shouldn't do it!" with the fingerpointing more implicit, and it not pointing to anyone specific OPENLY, but behind the scenes, it VERY clearly points to a specific person/fic.
So, on the one hand, the criticizing fan is making an attempt to be general. But on the other hand, they're really smacking someone specific.
Which, considering I'm making a general argument and smacking individuals is somewhat specious anyway. I suppose I justify it on the grounds that I'm generally spanking bad behavior not "bad" fic? Idek. It's making my head hurt trying to be fair.
ETA: OMG, also, crap, to be so clear, I actually think the fic that was being spanked is beautiful.
True, and I think that to be fair, when it is a certain fic that sparked the statement, there does need to be a link to the fic. And I think the terminology still stands. Instead of "I hate when people do this, they shouldn't do it." It needs to be "I don't like this portrayal because I feel
( ... )
I think you and I are, as so often in years past, coming from the same place. I agree, the line has to do with tone, to some extent, which is why I unpacked the tone argument at the end of the post. The problem really is that we're several generations of the tone-deaf. Incivility is rife and rampant.
It's interesting, because if you point it out to people, a lot of times you get: Adam Lambert, Johnny Weir and Lady Gaga don't watch their tone. But actually, they do. They're not politically correct, but often enough, they're the classiest, most civil people on the block.
/ramble
I just find it interesting and difficult in text to always find the line, so I was calling attention to it, mostly in case I'd stepped across it and someone wanted to discuss with me about it.
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Icon: I want one that says Old Fandom Hag with one or more of the gorgeous older women of TV: Amanda, Mary, Kyra, you know the ones I Tumblr about all the time. XD
And one that says "It's Okay to Not Like Things, But Don't Be a Dick About the Things You Don't Like."
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So, on the one hand, the criticizing fan is making an attempt to be general. But on the other hand, they're really smacking someone specific.
Which, considering I'm making a general argument and smacking individuals is somewhat specious anyway. I suppose I justify it on the grounds that I'm generally spanking bad behavior not "bad" fic? Idek. It's making my head hurt trying to be fair.
ETA: OMG, also, crap, to be so clear, I actually think the fic that was being spanked is beautiful.
Reply
Reply
It's interesting, because if you point it out to people, a lot of times you get: Adam Lambert, Johnny Weir and Lady Gaga don't watch their tone. But actually, they do. They're not politically correct, but often enough, they're the classiest, most civil people on the block.
/ramble
I just find it interesting and difficult in text to always find the line, so I was calling attention to it, mostly in case I'd stepped across it and someone wanted to discuss with me about it.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
I love new fandom friends!
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