I'm sorry, I guess I missed something

[essbeejay]

But since when did "original pairings" come to mean "better stories?"

I make an effort to avoid being overly negative on this lj (God knows there's enough of that already), so I'm probably going to regret saying all this shit later, but is that seriously a prerequisite for a good story these days? An "original pairing?" That's interesting, because I thought there might be other qualifying factors, like a strong narrative, or a nicely paced plot, or, hm, maybe well-developed characters, perhaps?

This isn't just an issue I have with fandom. This is an issue I have with any film, any book, any TV show that goes out and says, "I'm gong to do something different and original!" and then winds up sucking because you dumbass writer/director/producer-type decided that so long as you had an "original" concept, you didn't need to focus on any other aspect of the film/book/show that might actually make it palatable and worth my time.

Originality is an excellent thing, don't get me wrong, but it is not the sole basis on which you can (or should) judge the value of a creative work, especially when it comes to anything involving writing.

Of course, what makes something "better" is subjective. But to be that dismissive and arrogant about it? Frankly, I find it pretty fucking aggravating. And pretentious. Get off your high horse and just do as you do. I don't have a problem with which characters you want sucking each other's faces, so maybe you should quit copping an attitude about the rest of us.

W/E, just W/E, you guys. I'm having the painters in soon, so I'm allowed to be moody >8C

Comments

[shiegra.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I feel like it's immature of me, but I get seriously irritated sometimes when people announce 'oh, I don't like canon pairings.' Just 'canon.' No other explanation or reason. And, of course, the whole 'original/different/edgy' is ~kewl~ thing going on. And people who tell me 'I don't like this or that because it's popular.' How does that even make sense? Ugh ugh ugh. Form a damn opinion of your own.

I remember being completely baffled by people posting pairing fics to a community or another and feeling the need to add in, "I know [this other pairing] is popular here." Yes? And? So? It's self-pitying comment mongering, in that case, (I was especially disinclined to be sympathetic because the pairing they were writing for was the canon one, and it was creepy and sexist) and just ugh. Liking a different pairing does not make you a special snowflake, it does not give you any edge, it is not any better than popular and/or canon pairings.

[xjabooo.livejournal.com]

We generally have the same opinion. And I think these people are what you call "hipsters."

And I don't get why people flame other people's fics just because they don't like the pairing it's about. (Mind you, it's almost always about the pairing.) I get bashing for incredibly mind-fucking, eye-bleeding repulsive grammar/spelling disability/massive plotholes. But just the pairing? Ugh.

I just feel bad for whoever they're flaming because it's them who have personal opinion, not the flamers. And for me, having personal opinion (and fighting for it) is very, very awesome.

[ms-mercurial.livejournal.com]

AGREE AGREE AGREE
Especially because it gives some of us a bad name...A friend once remarked to me that "oh, you don't like canon right" and I was like NOOO THAT IS WRONG D:
Just because some of the pairings I like a lot aren't canon doesn't mean I dislike canon - it just means I see more potential for the characters in those relationships than I do in their canon counterparts. And I can like both at once, too...XD

People who don't like something because it's popular baffle me entirely. I mean, so what? It means you'll have more people to discuss it with, which can't suck that much.

[xjabooo.livejournal.com]

People who don't like something because it's popular baffle me entirely. I mean, so what? It means you'll have more people to discuss it with, which can't suck that much.

You get my point!

[essbeejay.livejournal.com]

"I know [this other pairing] is popular here." Yes? And? So? It's self-pitying comment mongering...

Oh Jesus Christ yes. Just post your fic and let it speak for itself. At least then you might be able to get me to read a bit of it before I figure out whether it's worth my time.

[xjabooo.livejournal.com]

Speaking of fics being worthy of someone's time, I hate summaries that go, (a)"im not so gud at writing summerys bt plz jst read d fic i promis its gud!!" Or those that have good summaries, but go, (b) "NO FLAMES!!" because honestly:

(a) NO ONE WILL READ YOUR FIC IF YOU TYPE LIKE THAT. THAT'S MURDER TO THE EYES.
and (b) If I'm a reader, and I don't like the fic, I'll flame. I don't care what your summary says.

I do appreciate pardons, though. Like, (c) "[insert summary here]. Sorry, I'm not good with summaries. :P" or warnings like, (d) "[insert summary here]. WARNING: Sexual innuendo and references to rape." because:

(c) the fic still has a chance with me. If it looks like it has good spelling, etc., then I might just actually read it.
and (d) now I know what to expect. I hate it when the summaries don't have enough warning.

I guess this is unrelated, but I'm just throwing it out there. :]

[crystallinearmy.livejournal.com]

Were you reading my mind or something? 0.o Because that's exactly how I feel.

I also hate it when people start proofreading/revising their stories after they post it, and rewrite their summaries, "Lol, just fixing some mistakes I found. No new content." ~pulls hair out in frustration~

Also, if they put in a "CHAPTER [number] NOW UP!" SHFIOJDSOFIDJ Ugh. I know you updated your story! Otherwise, it wouldn't have magically popped up on the front page of PpG fanfics! :O *GASP* OMGZ NO WAYZZ!!1!!!ONE!!!1!!!2!!!ELEVEN!!!