Comments | tf_afts: The Rules, by Starscream

konora in tf_afts

The Rules, by Starscream

May 18, 2011 11:47

This fic is a bit old, published last year, but a friend stumbled across it and was... helpful enough to pass it along. There's so much morally and technically wrong with this...

( Cut for a lot of triggering things, but mostly non-con. )

wtf fangirls?, bad fangirl no biscuit!, fic, nsfw, starscream, fanfic

Comments 21

ultharkitty May 18 2011, 16:23:27 UTC

There seems to have been a rash of fics lately that are uncomfortable reading on this level. Or maybe it's just that I've noticed them for a change *shrugs*

konora May 19 2011, 14:17:14 UTC

Nah, I think you're right. I've noticed it too. I mean, non-con has always been a fandom staple no matter which fandom, but I think the most fic for TF being written is based out of the kink meme... and, well, a lot of the prompts are for non-con. Happens. I don't have a problem with it generally, except in cases like these where it's portrayed as somehow alright.

ultharkitty May 19 2011, 14:36:17 UTC

Sorry, my comment wasn't worded as well as it could have been! I don't have a problem with it either as long as the subject is dealt with well - hell, I read and write enough of it.

Sadly, thought, there seem to be so many fics where issues of consent are handled in a glib or dismissive way (just like in mainstream culture D: ). I've come across a lot recently where the author seems to think that sexual abuse is acceptable or even funny, or the victim deserves it. It's those that make uncomfortable reading to me.

konora May 19 2011, 14:40:21 UTC

Ugh, yeah. I know what you mean. Thankfully though, this author seems to understand what was problematic about the fic now, so that's hopeful at least. I don't know about the rest of the authors out there...

evvj May 18 2011, 16:25:24 UTC

... holy shit. I just read the first chapter, and I am properly horrified. Does the author actually understand the difference between Autobot and Decepticon? Because if the situations were reversed, I'd be totally okay with reading about Decepticons doing this to an Autobot; that would actually be in character. This? I can't bring myself to read the rest of it.

konora May 19 2011, 14:18:17 UTC

I thought that too! If this was Shattered Glass Ratchet, this would be spot-on. But regular, G1 Ratchet? wtf?

joules_burn May 18 2011, 16:55:13 UTC

My biggest problem is that it doesn't admit to what it is. If it was some necessary evil, they could at least act horrified about it. Or something.

Screamer deserves a lot of what he gets, yeah, but dayum. I've read plenty of rapefic. None of them were as dismissively callous as this while absolutely refusing to admit that anything was wrong.

Ratchet wasn't cruel? He seemed to be taking great pleasure in breaking down, objectifying another being and throwing them like a chew toy to the dogs.

niyazi_a May 18 2011, 18:12:04 UTC

I know Vivienne Grainger. She reviews my stuff pretty regularly and honestly, she is a pretty decent person, very articulate and really open to discussion. I'm glad she responded with her usual class and character.

I've read a few of her other stories and I have to agree that this is pretty atypical of her stuff.

konora May 19 2011, 14:22:25 UTC

I think she's reviewed some of my stuff as well. Her name is pretty familiar, anyway. I took a look at her other fics and was pretty relieved it was atypical, yeah. At least she acknowledges that it was, and regrets writing it that way. So I have no ill feelings toward her, just this fic in particular. Which is kind of a refreshing change, really. XD Normally it's everything about the author that's offensive...

jungiangarden May 19 2011, 01:03:31 UTC

If she believes it's so awful, why does she leave it up? Serious question, it's clear she knows it's bad.

diamondunicorn May 19 2011, 03:20:33 UTC

Probably because people do enjoy it, despite the problems with it, or maybe to personally remind herself that she can do better. I have stories that I don't think are that good compared to my newer work, but I still keep them around for the sake of readers and because it's good for anyone to look back on their work and see what they did right and wrong with it.

jungiangarden May 19 2011, 03:30:14 UTC

Yeah, but there's bad (because you were young) and bad (because it's ridiculously problematic).

konora May 19 2011, 14:28:14 UTC

Ehh, honestly, if she warned for it a little more descriptively in both the summary and the story body (author's notes at the beginning, at least), I wouldn't have as much of a problem with it. It'd still be godawful fic, but it'd be warned for, and the reader would be told up-front that this is not cute, funny, etc. She should probably change the genre too.

But I don't like taking stories down for any reason, so I might be biased. :P

Thread 5