I don't normally read LiveJournal, but...

[rj_anderson]

I received a piece of feedback this morning beginning with the words: I don't read [this particular subgenre] in fanfiction, I really don't, and then going on to repeat the same sentiment in a different way, before adding some words of slightly bemused, I-still-can't-believe-I-enjoyed-this praise

Comments

[chresimos]

I was a bit befuddled by that post about people giving that kind of feedback, that appeared a while ago. I would take that kind of feedback as a very high compliment! It's not hard to convince a person who loves a character/pairing/scenario to like yours (although, depends on the pickiness of the person, I guess)...but actually being able to overcome another person's preconceived prejudices? Means you got something good. :D

[rj_anderson]

*admires the pretty ASH icon*

I am so with your evil world-conquest plan. Have some cake.

[erinbow]

:::also signs up to be Lisa's flunky in world-domination plan:::

[jessanndi]

I think I came under that style of reviewer when I first read your work. And I agree it's the overcoming pre conceived ideas and prejudices. The Darcy Proposal.

[rj_anderson]

Did you really? Well, you can see I hold a deep and bitter grudge, because I don't remember that at all. :)

And I can see that I am going to spend my whole afternoon chuckling over the icons people are using for these comments.

[rj_anderson]

Hear, hear! *applauds* Especially about the stupidity of random OFC hatred, a subject long dear to my ranty li'l heart. But at the same time I do have some sympathy for people who have a really hard time getting past their reservations regarding certain pairings, plot elements and subgenres.

I mean, just speaking for myself, if an author I've read before and whose work I love suddenly decides to write Grey Lady/Peeves then there's a good chance I'll at least give it a try, however much the prospect alarms me. But if I just came across it on an archive somewhere? Not likely. And if it's NC-17 Grey Lady/Peeves/Mimbulus Mimbletonia/Firenze, then it may be brilliantly written but I'll never know it, because I'm just not going there

[lydaclunas]

NC-17 Grey Lady/Peeves/Mimbulus Mimbletonia/Firenze

I stay away from stuff like that, as a rule -- but for that one I might make an exception out of irresistible curiosity. ;)

[lydaclunas]

I'm in the ship of good writing meets good story. That's my one true pairing.

Y'know, someone needs to make an icon out of that. If I hadn't just spent 2 hours making this Dumbledore icon, I'd do it. :)

[profshallowness]

As other people have pointed out, this type of feedback isn't inherently offensive, and it's better to take it as a compliment, it just depends on the way it's couched (and you make a good point about whether there have been other attacks on the particular subgenre.) What's interesting is that the reader feels the need to put in that as context for their feedback. I can't recall if I've ever felt the need to start fb in that way, but I have spent a lot of time wondering if I want to tell an author how I came to find their work seeing as I'm writing this e-mail, post, well, cold?