I agree completely. Granted, there are stories that I think are OOC and have the kind of characterization that just doesn't make sense, but not everything that doesn't follow the most popular ideas is bad.
There's this fantastic story at the kink meme in which the author decided to explore the characters from a somewhat different angle than usual, and people started questioning the author's choices in the comments to the point that it moved way past normal feedback and got absolutely ridiculous. I found it really disheartening because I felt that this story had so much more depth than the vast majority of the stories I've read about those characters.
Not only that, some completely miss the whole concept/plot of the writer's story. Have you ever had people ask you "Is [Character G] going to be in this story?" or "Is this about [insert event]?" even though you already established it's not about Character G nor [insert event]?
Depends of the situation : if there's too much OOC-ness and if the author didn't put a warning in his description, he's expected to got remarks such as "X character should be like this". And of course, there's the "back" button for people who won't bother digging further.
But the examples you've mentionned, yeah. Those are annoying as they're sterotypes of the characters and really shadow the potential of their true nature. No, Italy doesn't talk about "pasta" everytime ! No, Romania isn't a vampire (and wow, he's not even one in canon) ! No, Russia isn't a rapetruck ! And to be honest, this is the kind of stuff I avoid because of how cliché it is.
Point is I hate when people are locking characters into stereotypical memes and attitudes, and I hate when people are doing the opposite of their character. And when they try to impose their views, it baffles me to no end. Fanfiction shouldn't have any limitation (and because it doesn't have any, I should watch out sometimes. .__.)
Oops, I should've brought up OCC-ness. You're right if you didn't have any warning whatsoever, of course you're going to get comments like that. Then the writer has the option to whether fix it or not.
But the problem is...OCC-ness...what I've experienced...greatly various from person to person.
One would say Romano quarreling with Northern Italy would be okay, since that's what siblings do, but then someone else might say it wouldn't be okay and label it as OCC since they can't picture 'Northern Italy yelling back'.
Nah, it's fine. I think Italy would eventually get mad for good at his brother if the concerned would push him too far. Italy is easygoing, not stupid/masochistic... Telling others Italy can't yell at someone is the same as Romano who can't calm down. =/ I'm a "Let writers write" type, so I don't feel easy when I post a critic of the fic because I don't know if the author is opened to them or not. I couldn't tell someone Germany was a bit overacting in a fic because Italy "betrayed" him. OTL
'I don't feel easy when I post a critic of the fic because I don't know if the author is opened to them or not.'
Yeah that's a trouble too. :I Some authors are a little...dramatic when it comes to reviews/feedback. Either your 'TEH BEST REVIWER EVAZ' or 'YOUR A TROLL/FLAMER GO AWAY'.
....Honestly, if France is being disinterested in sex, something is wrong. Same with S. Italy being completely nice and understanding for no real reason. Those are parts of the characters' canon personalities, completely ignoring them, or doing the opposite, is pretty OOC. Unless, of course, the point of the fic is "before France became a pervert", or "a circumstance in which Romano is less of a jerk" and the idea is to explore when they may act different. Leaving those traits out or doing the opposite without precedent is bad writing IMO
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'Those are parts of the characters' canon personalities, completely ignoring them, or doing the opposite, is pretty OOC.'
Yes they are, but it's like people expect France to be all 'always thinks with his dick all the time' or 'OHOHOHOHO *Molests everyone*' and 'Southern Italy bitches non-stop to Spain and generally never cracks a smile'.
But you make a good point, leaving out what's already been established is pretty...odd.
'It's lucky not many people care about Nyotalia and I don't write it all that often or else I'd probably get crap for using Elise as femGermany's human name instead of Louise.'
Elise? Louise? either way it's still fem!Germany - why people get uptight over the names still boggles my mind.
Okay, we're talking about two separate things here and I actually agree with you. It's obnoxious when fics take a canon trait and make it the only thing of note about the character, or they over-exaggerate it. Fics where all France does is think with his dick or all Romano does is make a jerk of himself are just as irritating (unless of course they're only making a minor appearance or something and there's no calling for them to do a lot). There's also the matter of over-exaggerating a certain canon trait way past its prominence in canon. Russia being obsessed with sunflowers or Hungary never using anything but a frying pan as a weapon and constantly assaulting people with it are common examples of this. I hate that sort of nonsense, but I hate "oh this canon trait is stupid, I will take it out of my fic entirely or even do the reverse, look how much better than the canon my fic is!", too, and both happen
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'I hate that sort of nonsense, but I hate "oh this canon trait is stupid, I will take it out of my fic entirely or even do the reverse, look how much better than the canon my fic is!", too, and both happen.'
People actually think it's going to make their story better? Wow that's some...clever thinking. :S Sorry for misunderstanding your previous comment.
Oh my god yesssss. Idk, I'm kind of the opposite of most people in this fandom I've noticed. If it's not with my weird crack pairings (I ship World/World), the fact I read m/m, m/f and f/f pairings or the fact that I'm okay with incest pairs, gender-bends etc, it's that I actively seek these types of stories you've mentioned - where characters are portrayed differently. I crave for it! I don't understand the appeal of reading the same thing over and over and over, honestly...
People just need to be more open-minded in general, I think. All this random hate because ohmigod, how dare they write Germancest eww!, or what the hell why is Spain angry at Romano?! or even Belarus/Belgium? Pffft, Male!Belarus/Male!Belgium is WAY better! ... fdghjkjl;'lkjh I just
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It's sad, but it's because of this general reaction that's put me off one-sided bends (like Fem!England/America, or the one that's to blame for this: Male!Belarus/Russia) almost completely. It just gets under my skin when people say the bent pairing is "better", or worse; the bent character is "better". Wow, way to totally discredit the character completely there, you ignorant ass. And really, I'm not saying they don't do it, but I haven't personally seen a single yuri shipper do this. And you'd think the yaoi fanatics would be to blame for this horrible mindset, but surprisingly I've been more het shippers do this...
I agree. It's perfectly okay to mention a character is OOC if the entire fic is done and they are obviously OOC throughout the whole thing. But complaining because the characterization is different from what you usually see? I don't get it. I get bored reading the same feelings and same characterizations every time, and I would hate to see silliness thrown into a serious fic. I like writers who go deeper than the same old-same old, personally.
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There's this fantastic story at the kink meme in which the author decided to explore the characters from a somewhat different angle than usual, and people started questioning the author's choices in the comments to the point that it moved way past normal feedback and got absolutely ridiculous. I found it really disheartening because I felt that this story had so much more depth than the vast majority of the stories I've read about those characters.
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Very true, and I should also say not following the 'popular' ideas doesn't make you any better too. :S
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But the examples you've mentionned, yeah. Those are annoying as they're sterotypes of the characters and really shadow the potential of their true nature. No, Italy doesn't talk about "pasta" everytime ! No, Romania isn't a vampire (and wow, he's not even one in canon) ! No, Russia isn't a rapetruck ! And to be honest, this is the kind of stuff I avoid because of how cliché it is.
Point is I hate when people are locking characters into stereotypical memes and attitudes, and I hate when people are doing the opposite of their character. And when they try to impose their views, it baffles me to no end. Fanfiction shouldn't have any limitation (and because it doesn't have any, I should watch out sometimes. .__.)
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But the problem is...OCC-ness...what I've experienced...greatly various from person to person.
One would say Romano quarreling with Northern Italy would be okay, since that's what siblings do, but then someone else might say it wouldn't be okay and label it as OCC since they can't picture 'Northern Italy yelling back'.
Oh God I hope I didn't lose you.
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Yeah that's a trouble too. :I Some authors are a little...dramatic when it comes to reviews/feedback. Either your 'TEH BEST REVIWER EVAZ' or 'YOUR A TROLL/FLAMER GO AWAY'.
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Yes they are, but it's like people expect France to be all 'always thinks with his dick all the time' or 'OHOHOHOHO *Molests everyone*' and 'Southern Italy bitches non-stop to Spain and generally never cracks a smile'.
But you make a good point, leaving out what's already been established is pretty...odd.
'It's lucky not many people care about Nyotalia and I don't write it all that often or else I'd probably get crap for using Elise as femGermany's human name instead of Louise.'
Elise? Louise? either way it's still fem!Germany - why people get uptight over the names still boggles my mind.
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People actually think it's going to make their story better? Wow that's some...clever thinking. :S Sorry for misunderstanding your previous comment.
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People just need to be more open-minded in general, I think. All this random hate because ohmigod, how dare they write Germancest eww!, or what the hell why is Spain angry at Romano?! or even Belarus/Belgium? Pffft, Male!Belarus/Male!Belgium is WAY better! ... fdghjkjl;'lkjh I just ( ... )
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Because vaginas touching are fucking NASTY!1!! But two penises getting it on...TTLY HWAT SEXAY!one11!! FAPFAPFAP
What the actual Hell.
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And really, I'm not saying they don't do it, but I haven't personally seen a single yuri shipper do this. And you'd think the yaoi fanatics would be to blame for this horrible mindset, but surprisingly I've been more het shippers do this...
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