Very small rant

[leethet]

Because it's entirely likely that I'm just cranky (although I've felt like this in other similar circumstances). In visiting the latest  crack_vanrec, which, yes, was cute, this?

I do believe that was every slash fic in a nutshell right there. *wipes hands* yup.

Like I said, maybe I'm just cranky, because as a rule I'm not bothered by mild humor at the expense of my writing (and others'), but it's sure not very pleasant to hear that all our hard work can be summed up so cheaply. I always figured the journey, and reaching the expected destination, were why readers were there in the first place. I could be wrong on that - it could be just me.

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I suspect sometimes people's jokes are not as funny as they think they are. This is one of those times, I'd say.

But WE know the truth, don't we?!

[leethet.livejournal.com]

We do, really, and I do feel like they didn't mean it to sound so dismissive of the efforts of a lot of excellent writers - but it did come across like that. When I think of some of the really brilliant, moving work I've read, it irks me to see it brought dowwn to a few panels and "that's every slash fic." I think I'm just whiny, because I really do doubt they meant it so seriously.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I assumed this was a case of a slasher mocking because she loved, rather than someone sneering at "cliches". Aside from anything else, if she was going to claim seriously that she'd summed up EVERY slash fic, her cartoon would have to be a lot longer ;-) But then I'm not a slasher, so I can afford to be insensitive.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I feel sure you're right and that I am overreacting. But I hate to see anyone reduce something that I know for a fact has a number of excellent (professional quality) writers in it to a few panels and a snarky remark. It seems unfair. And I know I'm making too much of a passing joke, but I wanted to rant about the point.

Since you're not a slasher, though (not that I think you're being insensitive at all), there're lots of folks who think all fanfic is simplistic crap, whether slash or gen. So there's equal-opportunity insulters out there. :-)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

there're lots of folks who think all fanfic is simplistic crap

Oh, I know! There's my husband, for one ;-) But I think it hurts more if it's someone who should know better. Folks who dismiss ALL fanfic can be blithely ignored as obvious ignoramuses.

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Oh honey, I thought that cartoon had all the subtle wit of (insert name of your favorite unsubtle witless comic -- I can't think of any because I never pay attention to them).

[leethet.livejournal.com]

You know, I hate to be, even momentarily, one of those people so dim or so full of myself that I can't take a joke at the expense of "my" genre, as it were, but I just found myself thinking "if it's all so shallow and obvious and predictable, it's remarkable anyone reads it, and pardon us for spending countless hours trying to write well in what is, let's face it, genre fiction." Sigh. I mean, it really wasn't even the comic (they are, as you observe, rarely subtle, and this one was cute); it was more the tag line. And I do suppose, as azdak says above, that it was a joke spoken by someone who actually does read and love the genre. I guess I just don't like to see the hard work the many good writers do treated as if it were the lamest of crapfic, simply because we do generally end up at the same destination. It seems so dismissive, like "all slash is simplistic crap."

I think I'm just cranky. :-)

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Well, the cartoonist's response to my post over there (q.v.) reminded me of why I bailed out of UNCLE when I did. I'm afraid there's too much defensive superciliousness in that fandom -- although, happily, there are some spectacular exceptions, which is why I keep in touch now and then. But I'm afraid their worst never fails to bring out the worst in me. Life's too short for that.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

See, and now I'm actually irritated, so I had to go comment over there. I know it'll result in "why don't you have a sense of humor," completely overlooking that the artist was fairly rude and dismissive of your comments and that one person's joke is another person's insult ... adding fuel to a fire I'm really not that interested in stoking, but sometimes I can't stay silent.

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

A very nice comment that was. I wonder why this person doesn't see that "I do believe that was every slash fic in a nutshell right there. *wipes hands* yup" doesn't constitute accusing every slash fic of the cliché illustrated by her parody. I mean, prima facie, and all that.

*wipes hands*

Gaahh.

[sensine.livejournal.com]

Oh now you had me very curious! *whispers* which rec was it? o_o

[leethet.livejournal.com]

The plushie-comic one (it's one or two back from the most recent). It was cute, but, yeah, I admit I thought that dismissive little line of text underneath was rather uncalled for.

[sensine.livejournal.com]

The plushie-comic one Ah! I remember that one; I thought the drawings were cute, I even commented, but wasn't alert enough to notice the line.
Now, when I went back there, I can see what you mean.
That aside, her other comment was awful!

(And I haven't quite figured out what tone Snape has in this icon *g*)