*sigh*

[potentiality_26]

Trying to figure out how to reply to a rude comment is the worst.

I keep telling myself to take the high road and find a way to be gracious because I get how they might have thought they were being helpful, but the thing is that I've been getting more and more pissed off about people complaining about fanfiction that isn't perfect and I just want to let it out at someone, and since this person is such a big fan of unsolicited advice, maybe they deserve it.

I still haven't decided what to reply (I'm leaning toward biting my tongue and not saying anything despite my mood since "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all" is what I think they should adopt), but I have Opinions and I need to share them.



Honestly, I don't care if a fanfiction writer can't form basic sentences, there is never any excuse for making remarks about the quality of their work unless they have asked for constructive criticism, and even then comments should be limited to things that the commenter gives them the means to fix.  Not everyone can get a beta.  Not everyone has the skills to express the story that they have in their minds in perfect prose.  And you know what?  They shouldn't have to.  Writing fanfiction is something that people do for their own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others for free.  They don't have access to the resources of a published writer and readers shouldn't expect a published-quality product.  Sure, plenty of fanfic is that good, but readers do not have some innate right to beautifully written fanfiction.  If you don't like something, stop reading it.  And whether you finish it or not, take a second to decide if someone who gets nothing in return for their work but the occasional nice comment really needs to know that you didn't think it was flawless.


Ah well.  Now I have to decide what to actually say.
 

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I would take that right there:

Honestly, I don't care if a fanfiction writer can't form basic sentences, there is never any excuse for making remarks about the quality of their work unless they have asked for constructive criticism, and even then comments should be limited to things that the commenter gives them the means to fix. Not everyone can get a beta. Not everyone has the skills to express the story that they have in their minds in perfect prose. And you know what? They shouldn't have to. Writing fanfiction is something that people do for their own enjoyment and the enjoyment of others for free. They don't have access to the resources of a published writer and readers shouldn't expect a published-quality product. Sure, plenty of fanfic is that good, but readers do not have some innate right to beautifully written fanfiction. If you don't like something, stop reading it. And whether you finish it or not, take a second to decide if someone who gets nothing in return for their work but the occasional nice comment really needs to know that you didn't think it was flawless.

and leave it in a reply. Because that? That is perfect.

UGH. I just...can't with some people. CAN'T

*HUGS YOU HARD*

Or you can write them a story. Just for them. I did that. It was FUN. *CACKLES*

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

*squishes you*

Don't think I'm not tempted. Another person saying something really nice to me has improved my mood considerably, but I'm still stuck on what a horrible habit this is for someone to get into. I was just reading a piece about fandom back in the early 2000s and thinking how nice it is that it's less acceptable than it used to be to leave these kinds of comments, but... yep, people still do it and, frankly, I think they ought to be called out on it.

I may sleep on it. I hate doing things in the heat of the moment.

(I still think it's so cool that you did that, but I'm not sure I have the energy for it)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I had to calm down myself before replying. But the fic came a couple of hours later, when my sense of humor returned. Not everyone's thing - but should you ever need to do it, I highly recommend it! :D

*HUGS*

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

:)

*hugs*

[verdande-mi.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree with a_phoenixdragon! What you wrote is very well put and so very true.

If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all - I will never understand why so many people seem to find this difficult. Just because you can and want to say something, does not mean you should!

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't understand why some people have so much trouble with it either. It shouldn't be that hard for people to remember that there's another person on the other side of whatever they just read and keep their mouths shut.

[fredbassett]

I couldn't agree more!

Rude, arrogant arseholes like that should have to face being told the reality of what their comments mean to people.

I think you've expressed it really well here. It might make them think about what they say before they do it to someone else.

But I could also entirely understand if you decided just to walk away from it without confrontation. As you say, we do this for free and for fun.

[potentiality-26.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and yeah- the main reason I'm thinking about letting them have it at all is because I'm kind of hoping it would stop them from doing this to someone with even thinner skin than mine.

But as easy as it is to get me riled up, you're right that it sometimes seems easier to just avoid confrontation. I'm not in fandom to fight people.

I just wish everyone played by the same rules.