When bad flames spark good reviews...
May. 30th, 2003 08:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mandolinI must be on crack making this post so soon before the PC gets packed up, but I had to throw this out.
I've started to wonder about the common sense of people who flame fanfic writers PUBLICLY. You'd think that their intent is to demoralize, to make the author feel bad, to keep others from reading their story.
But if that's so, wow, they're idiots, because 9 times out of 10 it has the opposite effect.
Examples:
1) A while back,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
janedavitt posted an incredibly infantile and idiotic review she got for a story that showed no indication that the reviewer had read the fic, but was just getting back at Jane for a critical (but not that harsh) review of a nonsensical Buffy fic. The result? Even more people, myself included, read the story. And several people reviewed to contradict the moron and heap Jane with praise. As revenge, the flame fell flat.
2) A fanfic writer posted a fic in the PR section of FF.net a while back that had a lot of flaws, and another reviewer rather harshly took her to task for them. (There were some SERIOUS flaws.) Immediately, her readers went on the defensive, throwing out praise to counteract the critical review. I cut it short by posting a more diplomatic review which pointed out that there was a LOT of character development inherent in the premise that she really could have tapped into. (The author, bless her heart, pulled the story and reposted with a completely revised and much better version a week later, taking both our reviews into account.)
3) Checking out Neko-P's awesome Electric Interest, which hasn't been updated for a few weeks due to finals, I came across the following review:
I don't get it. If you're not going to ever update, why write? You really are making me angry by not updating. You're making this good story go to waste.
I was absolutely LIVID. I wanted to find this person and slap them for their callousness and idiocy. This is NOT what you want to write if you really want to SEE more of a story, moron! This is the sort of thing that DISCOURAGES an author! However, it was an anonymous review, I had exhausted both of my signed reviews, so I couldn't say anything. Instead, I sent the author a long e-mail to let her know that not all her readers were that immature (in fact, I'm sure many shared my desire to smack "Angry" upside the head). It made her very happy.
Anyway, am I the only one who sees this trend? Why do people bother with public flames et al, if the reaction is usually the OPPOSITE of what they intend? Sigh.
Comments would be appreciated. I am amazed by the idiots.
Okay, NOW I'm going to get breakfast.
I've started to wonder about the common sense of people who flame fanfic writers PUBLICLY. You'd think that their intent is to demoralize, to make the author feel bad, to keep others from reading their story.
But if that's so, wow, they're idiots, because 9 times out of 10 it has the opposite effect.
Examples:
1) A while back,
janedavitt posted an incredibly infantile and idiotic review she got for a story that showed no indication that the reviewer had read the fic, but was just getting back at Jane for a critical (but not that harsh) review of a nonsensical Buffy fic. The result? Even more people, myself included, read the story. And several people reviewed to contradict the moron and heap Jane with praise. As revenge, the flame fell flat.2) A fanfic writer posted a fic in the PR section of FF.net a while back that had a lot of flaws, and another reviewer rather harshly took her to task for them. (There were some SERIOUS flaws.) Immediately, her readers went on the defensive, throwing out praise to counteract the critical review. I cut it short by posting a more diplomatic review which pointed out that there was a LOT of character development inherent in the premise that she really could have tapped into. (The author, bless her heart, pulled the story and reposted with a completely revised and much better version a week later, taking both our reviews into account.)
3) Checking out Neko-P's awesome Electric Interest, which hasn't been updated for a few weeks due to finals, I came across the following review:
I don't get it. If you're not going to ever update, why write? You really are making me angry by not updating. You're making this good story go to waste.
I was absolutely LIVID. I wanted to find this person and slap them for their callousness and idiocy. This is NOT what you want to write if you really want to SEE more of a story, moron! This is the sort of thing that DISCOURAGES an author! However, it was an anonymous review, I had exhausted both of my signed reviews, so I couldn't say anything. Instead, I sent the author a long e-mail to let her know that not all her readers were that immature (in fact, I'm sure many shared my desire to smack "Angry" upside the head). It made her very happy.
Anyway, am I the only one who sees this trend? Why do people bother with public flames et al, if the reaction is usually the OPPOSITE of what they intend? Sigh.
Comments would be appreciated. I am amazed by the idiots.
Okay, NOW I'm going to get breakfast.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
concur
Date: 2003-05-30 08:03 pm (UTC)While it's true that some authors leave fans hanging for very long time, I don't think cursing them or being an asshole is gonna help them write any faster *duh*
I've been waiting for updates on another furuba fanfic for over 7 months but my wait is almost over ^O^
it's hard to find good furuba fanfic so when i find one i love i get a bit obsessed lol but i'm not gonna turn into "angry" type and write shit cuz i know how it is to bee swamped with real life stuff and not have time for your hobbies.
anyways that's all.
ja
no subject
Date: 2003-05-31 05:24 pm (UTC)Throughout school, teachers and students always loved my writing and encouraged me to be an English Major, though I was too disturbed to take their advice. Mother? English major and teacher, heh heh.
Writing is Art. When a reviewer rants and raves, for good or worse, reviewers readers read the written material ranted and raved about... WITH RELISH!
Further, one can't liken a writer to a house painter "if you're not going to update why write?". You can push the painter to finish the house but creativity comes from emotion and depth of feeling... pushing the project merely stultifies and or distorts the emotion and depth of feeling of a writer.
And fanfic flamers... should fly their foolish flaming fannies with friendlier fuels for fanfic's phenomenal sake. lol.