Fandom Wank Uncut

[kat_lair]

Issue 1: SGA and McShep

*seethes*

So, I know people have complained about this before but... *grinds teeth*  THERE IS MORE TO SGA SLASH THAN MCKAY/SHEPPARD!!!!

I know it, you know it (you're on my Flist, so I feel secure in saying that), and I'm sure some other people know it too (and good for them, come friend me please if you fit this category). What has really annoyed me over the last week is how some people seem to take it for completely granted that if a SGA fic is slash, it's automatically McShep, because, apparently other pairings don't exist. Or if they do, they don't particularly matter. 

Now, I'm not really opposed to McShep per se - I've read and enjoyed many a fine fic with that pairing. It's the monopoly of the pairing, and the superiority complex portrayed by some of the McShep devotees, that really annoys me. This isn't meant to slag of everyone who thinks of them as their OTP, I know most of the fandom is open-minded and tolerant and at least tries not to ram their pairing down other people's throats if it's not wanted. But then there are some who, unintentionally and without malice I'm sure (I hope), just disregard everything else.

Here are some examples I've actually encountered: (I won't go naming names or linking pages, least this descends into a flame war when all I want to do is have a little self-indulged session of fandom masturbation)

• People apparently unable to enjoy McKay/Hewlett kissing pictures from SGA and elsewhere without whining someone to photoshop Sheppard/Flanigan's head in place of whoever his partner is.
  


• Award nominations places listing two categories for slash: McShep and Other and when you go to the Other page, there is no further indication as to which of the myriad "Other" pairings the story concentrates on (because, maybe it doesn't matter).


• Posts at various fic-finder communities that don't list the pairing in the request, leaving it to the reader to somehow deduce from the text that yes, this might be a McShep story they are searching, like somehow that should be an obvious and unquestioned fact. Alternatively (and this pisses me even more), people put something like "pairing: mcshep - well, d'uh, what else :-) lol".

What else? Well, I don't know? How about McKay/Beckett, Mckay/Zelenka, Sheppard/Beckett, Sheppard/Dex, Sheppard/Zelenka, McKay/Dex, Lorne/Parrish, Lorne/McKay, Lorne/Sheppard etc. Not to mention all the other combinations. Or the delicious femme-slash SGA also offers.

ARGH! Broaden your horizons people, you're missing out.

Right, now that I got that out of my system...

***

You thought I was going to shut up, didn't you? Fat chance...

Issue 2: Writers not answering feedback

The second grievance is a more general one. Lately, I've discovered I have little tolerance for writers who don't answer their feedback. I'm not taking anything personally, this is regardless of whether I myself have left a comment or not.

Seeing a story with unanswered comments is really pushing some buttons. It just seems so... callous? Unappreciative? I know there are extenuating circumstances, like if there are six pages of comments, perhaps the writer simply doesn't have the time (but, dude, if I ever got six pages of comments on something, I would make the time) or if the story is on a comm or on a journal that is on hiatus the writer may not have even noticed.

(Let me just point out that the below is not a dig towards any particular story or author, just general observations)

Sometimes I read a "big" story by a BNF. A fic that has been recced everywhere, been read by most and pretty much uniformally adored. And sometimes those stories are really good and deserve the fame and glory heaped on them. And then I click on the comments page, only to see page after page of positive feedback and none of it answered. Or worst, only the select few, by the writer's bestest friends, answered. Suddenly, my willingness to leave a comment drops significantly. Does the writer even read them? Well, yes, the probably do, BUT HOW CAN I KNOW? Perhaps they don't care. Perhaps they feel they are such a big star in fandom already that they don't need to bother answering "fan mail".  Perhaps they secretly laugh at me for fan-girling on their story. Why would they want to know about me or what I thought or... And that is the point I usually slink away silently, desperately clutching my own modest Flist and my little comms to my bosom like a security blanket.

If I send fan mail to a big published author/actor/celebrity, I wouldn't really even expect a reply. But if I give feedback on an on-line community to someone who, just like me, writes this stuff for fun and self-development? I'm sorry, but I do at least expect a polite "thank you". Maybe that's petty and unreasonable of me but that's how I feel.

I am, however, more than willing to discuss this (and McShep-monopoly of SGA) with others. What do you think? Am I over reacting? Please, let me know your opinions. All comments will be answered...

Comments

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear on the McShep monopoly. I feel like, well... It's a bit strange, this fandom, in the sense that usually you get "pairing wars" but with this fandom, it's more like the McSheppers just shush everyone else. Like it's all fingers-in-ears-and-lalalala-very-loudly if someone dares to mention other pairings. If you know what I mean. ...I might not be entirely coherect today. The point is, I don't think I would dislike the pairing half as much as I do if the McSheppers weren't trying to sell it as the one and only pairing. Because no, it most definitely is not of course. Though, I don't know which is the worse option, the pairing wars or the shoving your head in the sand. (And also? That award nomination thing? I think I know what you're talking about and I can tell you, when I saw that... For chrissakes. *shakes head*)

As for the unanswered comments thing... As a feedbacker, yes, I would like some sort of response, even a "Hi. Thanks.", for my feedback just so I'd know that they'd gotten it. As a writer, though, I must admit to sometimes leaving comments unanswered. It's not because I don't appreciate each and every comment, but merely because sometimes (as I am notoriously bad at answering to comments) I just never get around to it. That or, well, I feel really stupid answering to every comment with "Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it" (I am lame and can never think of anything else to say, even though I am grinning my face off) and I think that people might find it even more unappreciating because they'd think that it was just some sort of automatic response.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I totally get what you mean by fingers-in-ears-and-lalalala-very-loudly - that's exactly it! Like, somehow the hardcore McSheppers can't even understand where any other pairings would come from. Nor do they want to. I tend to be a McKay/Beckett or McKay/Zelenka kinda girl, but I can seen where the McShep appeal comes from, I can see the dynamic and chemistry and whatnot on the screen if I want to. The thing is I can see it between other pairings as well. (Except most het pairings. For some reasons SGA het, with the exception of Ronon/Teyla, just leaves me cold. This is not a slash vs. het thing as I quite enjoy het pairings in some other fandoms.)

(And also? That award nomination thing? I think I know what you're talking about and I can tell you, when I saw that... For chrissakes. *shakes head*) yeah, and to think I was sort of excited about it beforehand...

***

thanks for giving me your opinions on the feedback issue.

"Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it" (I am lame and can never think of anything else to say, even though I am grinning my face off) But see, this here is a perfect response, when in doubt just copy-paste that in :-)

But I understand what you mean about finding different ways of saying "Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it", it can be a puzzler at times... However, I still think that it's better than nothing.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

but I can seen where the McShep appeal comes from,

Oh, precisely. I don't think I could ever believe the pairing, but at least I can acknowledge where the McSheppers are coming from. And that's because - not to sound self-satisfied or pompous or anything - at least I bother to consider other options beyond my usual point of focus. I don't think that this point of view - yours and mine - is uncommon amongst fans, it's just that for some reason, this fandom has developed this kind of culture of blinding itself. It's weird. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.

***

Yeah, I do suppose it is better than nothing, but, see, I'm worried that people will see it as me just off-handedly and not-caringly throwing it in there, like a Pavlov's bell kind of thing - you ring your bell and I drool without thinking at all. Yes, I know, I'm overthinking. :)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

for some reason, this fandom has developed this kind of culture of blinding itself. McShep blinders? See, now I'm picturing a a bunch of McShep fangirls running around a race course with blinders, neighing and tossing their manes... Aaaand now my brain burns.

***

And yes, yes you are overthinking :)

[wliberation.livejournal.com]

...and eerily, the kind of blinders that race horses wear was exactly the sort of thing I had in mind when I was typing up that comment. :P

Oh, thank hells.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

*sniggers* you know this picture is permanently in my brain now... Someone should draw it, definitely. I would but I'm really crap at that sort of thing.

[dark-cygnet.livejournal.com]

Can I just say a big ol WORD! I agree with everything you've said in this post. If i get more time later, i will try and come back to this and reply in more depth.

As for the BNFs or whomever, even if there isn't indidual thanking, a post or comment just in general would be nice.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

*high-fives you* Thanks for leaving a comment, would love to read your in-depth thoughts if you have time, as I'm sure they are brillian and witty and insightful!

Yes, I agree, a general thank-you comment would be a great thing, if it is for some reason impossible to answer each individual comment.

[moth1.livejournal.com]

Actually, published authors usually respond very gratefully to fanmail.

Sometimes I want to give feedback and the author has disappeared - presumably if I find a story on an archive the author may since have changed their ISP - which is sad!

As you know,I'm not solely or even mainly SGA oriented,whether as a reader or as a writer. (Moths flutter and flit). I enjoy good fics in any fandom where I have a passing aquaintance with the canon, and even in some where I don't! But I had noticed the McShep tendency!

At Connotations last year we referred to SGA as 'the new shiny' - I wonder if current patterns within the fandom will change when it is overtaken.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Actually, published authors usually respond very gratefully to fanmail. I'll bow to your superior wisdom on this one, having never actually sent any fanmail myself...

I'm probably most active in SGA but passively consume fic (and try to write it) in several other fandoms as well. Nowhere else have I seen this kind of exclusion of other pairings from the mainstream fandom. It's puzzling.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

There's obviously only one OTP in Starsky and Hutch or in The Man from Uncle, partly because they aren't ensemble casts. Even The Professionals isn't always Doyle/Bodie. And SG1 has always been much more varied. But I seem to read lots of McBeckett and some Rodney/Zelenka so it gets written. Why don't the authors kick up a fuss?

I speak as one whose only contribution has been penguins who were actually McShep but could have been any two penguins ...

A lot of very popular authors (Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman etc) have websites where they encourage fans to communicate with them. I lurk on their sites and on Kelley Armstrong's and Manda Scott's. I write to Chaz Brenchley, and he's very welcoming. Piers Anthony actually asks fans to contribute ideas for future books.

I think maybe an inability to respond to fans is a sign of some kind of insecurity - like your friend here who doesn't want to upset her fans with a 'stock' reply. I like to get a reply just so I know the feedback arrived.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I've read fanfic on all of those "older" fandoms and I agree. They weren't exactly ensemble shows so the range was limited, but if memory serves I've seen a couple of Hutch/Huggy fics and I know there's plenty of Cowley/Bodie fic out there. And all of them spawned a lot of Gen.

Yes, McBeck and McKay/Zelenka gets written (as do all of those other pairings I mentioned) but I think a lot of the authors experience a degree of frustration because it doesn't get read. Well, it does, just nowhere near the amount as McShep does. If I post a SGA story with McKay/Beckett or McKay/Zelenka pairing I can pretty much name the ten or so people who are most likely to read and comment, anything beyond that is a pleasant surprise. I don't mean to sound petty and this isn't really even about my fic as such. It's just that I've read some quite average McShep stories with page after page of comments while some really high quality fic with less popular pairings have a handful (and mostly by people I know/recognise).

I like to think the authors who write the less popular pairings are kicking up a fuss, a sort of a quiet revolution, writing fic and posting it. Somewhere there must be a sort of a tipping point where the sheer exposure to other pairings will make someone new take a chance on it.

***

I find what you say about published authors and feedback really great. I'm positively surprised and concede my assumptions as being totally wrong (it's not often that being wrong is this cool :)

However, I think that this just makes my point even more. If popular published authors who probably receive tons of fanmail find the time to answer it...

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I have read a great deal of below average McShep! I think that's what irritates me most - the asumption that ifyou keep to the 'shiny' pairing it's OK to write drivel. Though Jack/Daniel in SG1 spawns a lot of that, too!

For reasons unknown (to me), the fandoms based on British shows (LoM, Dr Who, Spooks)seem to have far more variation in pairings and better than average writing.

I fell in love with Tarot (Pros) and adored her 'Of tethered goats and tigers' which has delicious mock hints of Doyle/Cowley.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I think that's what irritates me most - the asumption that if you keep to the 'shiny' pairing it's OK to write drivel. omg yes! and yet, somehow, it gets feedbacked because "John and Rodney are soooo in love blah blah"

All of those brit fandoms are also relatively smaller. Maybe it's a case of quality over quantity? Maybe the writing talent is somehow concentrated?

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

No real idea - just tossing out thoughts - do British fandoms attract more of the older/more experienced writers? A lot of the people who squee without thought turn out to be young/new. Unlike you and I and our friends who squee very thoughtfully, of course. It's possible that SGA is a tad unbalanced in this respect.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

hmm... maybe? And I have a feeling (backed by absolutely no empirical data) that the McKay/Beckett and McKay/Zelenka sections of SGA tend to be older than the McShep hardcore... or at maybe it just seems like that.

And yes, I believe my own squeeing to a highly dignified and intellectual affair. I mean just because i want to bite Rodney's hip bones until they're pink and slick doesn't mean I'm shallow, right? Right? *drools*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Well, personally, I fell in love with Ford from day one ...

And I do, of course, know older writers who write McShep but I have noticed that writers who are brilliant in other fandoms tend to go downhill in SGA if they choose John/Rodney. Maybe it's a little known effect of the stargates or some law passed by the ancients.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I assume you know mice1900 plus website and ongoing McBeck?

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know about Moments Sacred and Profane, great series that!

[bloodrebel333.livejournal.com]

I've heard that published writers/artists/musicians who aren't famous enough to get hundreds of letters a week actually do make time to answer their fanmail.

I think not replying to someone who made the time to read and reply on your story is ungrateful and shallow. It's not cool. Even more if it's actual feedback/CC - come on! Someone took the time to think about your story and find out what they did/didn't like and wrote it down for you just to help you improve. That's amazing. How can you not appreciate that? It deserves an answer.

I admit I don't always reply on each comment made on my LJ - sometimes there's just no answer, sometimes it's just a general note from the reader and sometimes I plan to do it later and then forget. But I read each and every one of them. And I love getting comments, because most of the time I'm not even sure if anyone reads my entries. I tend to believe that they all just scroll past, so it's extra nice to find out you're not just being "tolerated" (and for the rest ignored) by your flist.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Having sent no fanmail myself I shall take your word for it. I think that is pretty great but at the same time just strengthens my position about fanfic writers who don't anser feedback.

I know what you say about answering concrit, that is even more important. If someone leaves concrit on a piece I'm impressed and grateful that they took the time to relly think and examine my writing. And one of the reasons I write fanfic is to generally improve so thatis an amazing help. Of course I answer, why would I not? More to the point, leaving concrit is a risk from the feedbackers pov as well, not many do it out of fear of hurting the author's feelings or insulting them. I think that's why it is also important to answer concrit, to let them know that I appreciate the effort and even in cases when I don't agree I can respect other people's opinion and understand where they are coming from.

And re: your LJ entries. I don't often comment but nine times out of ten I will read them. I find your posts always really interesting and insightful, especially as our interests/activities both in- and outside LJ are like *tries to think of a metaphor that would work* two overlapping spheres. Does that make sense? Like, there are similarities but then the scopes sometimes go in different directions. I am not explaining myself well at all. But! I find your entries really refreshing and often informative!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Someone just alerted me to this and I thought of you.

http://geeknut.skyblog.com/

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

heh. am slightly disturbed by nutella (which is disgusting) but yay for acknowledging mcbeck!

let me repay: your icon is appropriate because I just saw the most awesome LoM fanvid. go download now. I am still shaking. (violence and nudity warning though, but so so so cool)

here's the ling: http://absolut3destiny.livejournal.com/164966.html

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Have bookmarked - will watch later when husband is out.
Wouldn't like to spoil LoM for the poor thing.
My actor neighbour says Stockport is full of the filming - crew, actors, etc. for the next season.
And one of the extras (who died early on) hitched a lift back from paragliding with my husband.
I feel as if the show belongs to us somehow!!

[ihavecake.livejournal.com]

I'm actually very very surprised there isn't more McKay/Beckett out there. It seems like something that would really get picked up on, ditto Shep/Dex, but it just gets passed over in favour of McShep. I also find it highly amusing that almost all slash pairings include McKay. Snark is officially hot!
And don't get me started on comments. It doesn't take that much effort, y'know? If someone's taken the time to offer feedback at least say thanks. Fnyar.

Anyway, don't know if you're an X-Files fan, but I'm reccing this out to everyone I can... Yes, it's McShep, but it's so much more http://strangefrontier.livejournal.com/251107.html. And she always replies :)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

There is some totally fantastic McBeck out there and in some ways it seems the quality has over-ridden quantity for that pairing - Crossroads listing is totally the place to start if you want to check out that pairing and beckett_mckay and if you want I can give you a couple of recs... Don't mind me, I'm just pimping 'my' website (I'm one of the admins for McBeck and McZelenka lists on Crossroads) and 'my' pet pairings...

I have read some seriously hot Dex/Sheppard stories and there's some quality Zelenka/Sheppard ones as well, again check the Crossorads listings, though I don't know when the rare pairings list has been updated last as I don't admin for that.

And I agree with you about the comments. I make an effor to answer all the comments, and 'thank you' is really the bare minimum - I mean come on, someone is taking time to comment on your writing, that's awesome.

Also, thank you for the rec. X-files was my first fandom love and I totally shipped Mulder and Scully like a deranged fangirl... Like I indicated, I don't mind the mcshep pairing and have no objections to mcshep fic as such, just the blind monopoly it seems to be enjoying. so, in short, I will defintely be checking this story out.

[ihavecake.livejournal.com]

I'm not really a McBeck fan, I just thought there would be more.

I've added you, btw, cos I like ya. Hope you don't mind :)

If you add me back you can find my new R&R fic ;) *bribebribebribe*

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

hey, no probs. I have no urge to ram my paring down your throat _{unlike some other otp'ers that shall not me named}

And no probs #2, will friend you back. I like ya too! and more R&R is a glorous thing! *is bribed*