#flame wars

[frayed-wind]

do you ever see someone ship something that isn't harmful per se but you just Don't Get It? when it happens to me, I always have to take a deep breath and scroll past. more people should learn to scroll past or block or mute rather than engage in flame wars.

[m-accost]

It remains immensely funny to me how much of early modern literature seems to have comprised what were essentially flame-wars

[itsthenerdwonder]

@fantastic-nonsense was talking about their ranking, so I made one for me. I’m not married to most of this, but it’s accurate to me. I wonder how much hate I’m going to get?

[delcat177]

there is something seriously mentally wrong with you. either that you're a really good lolcow troll and i can't decide which reality i'd like to live in more

Well, I was severely abused for thirteen years and have ongoing issues with trauma from that, which is why I cope in my writing, so I guess it’s the first one! My therapist attests as much. Thanks for understanding!

[delcat177]

lol you're 33 still reading and fervently defending weird ass fanfic. online. publicly.... get well soon

8,(

[delcat177]

Fandom dads be like "it's ok for people to write CSA and traumatic things any way they want as long as they say it's for coping reasons bc as long as it's for coping there's NO way it could be bad to post it or share it. No way."

I said nothing about posting, sharing, or CSA, but cool beans putting words in my mouth

[wangxianficrecs]

I’m a fanfic writer from way back in the day - I used to post on LiveJournal, if that’s any indication. This series has made me want to take the plunge and get back into writing (I have some fairy tale AU ideas) - but I’ve seen some very scary things about decent people and good writers being bullied out of the fandom. How dangerous is it? And any tips for avoiding bringing out the fandom’s darker side?

Oh, I would ABSOLUTELY write for the fandom.  There’s so much creativity here, and new things all the time, and it’s a wonderful pool to play in.  (And fairy tale au’s are some of my favorite things!)

Having said that, there ARE some darker corners.  My impression (based on... more or less nothing) is that the writers who are bailing out are either young (er, compared to my middle-aged ass) or new, and maybe haven’t been in the trenches of a fandom wank war before.

There are ways to protect yourself if you’re unsure of your reception:

You can post under Anon to start with.  I have seen several cases of authors doing that and then de-Anon’ing (is that a word?) a couple weeks later.

Moderate your comments.  That’s probably just good practice in this fandom.  If someone makes a comment that seems to be an opening salvo, then delete that sucker before it ever sees the light of day.

Decide in advance whether you want criticism.  Much of the wank seems to be centered around differing opinions on cultural sensitivity and research (or the lack thereof).  That is enlightening for some authors, and suffocating to others.  State in your A.N. whether you do or do not solicit feedback or concrit.

Stay off Twitter?  I don’t know, but most of the flame war is happening over there, so I hear, and it sounds pretty toxic.

I hope you write!  Obviously, I adore this fandom, and the body of work delights and enthralls me.  The fact that it’s new and growing means that creativity and productivity are at a peak, and it’s wonderful, both for creators and consumers.  Just be aware of how thick or thin your skin may be and take appropriate precautions.  And remember that for every salty corncob in the comments, there will be twenty more who will support and defend you.

[thingsyoucantgiveupforlent]

You can give up flame wars for lent

Or at least starting them. Does this post date me? Ehh I’m sure it’s fine.