[ SECRET POST #2819 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2819 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 054 secrets from Secret Submission Post #403.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

02. http://i.imgur.com/gtqjXE1.jpg

[visp]

True, but the thing about Neil Gaiman is that he answers most questions with little stories, and for that, I don't care what stupid things people ask him, because I get more stories.

[(Anonymous)]

I like his stories, too. But he did recently reblog something to remind people he gets hundreds of asks, and that he's more likely to reply to ones that aren't questions he's answered before* that can be Googled. I respect that, because damn people, do your homework.


* Where do you get your ideas? What do I do if I want to be a writer? Etc.

[(Anonymous)]

Wow he gives good advice. When my Dad passed away I took his death certificate and autopsy and went to see my doctor and he explained everything to me. Never be afraid to ask the professionals.

[spacebabie]

I never knew he did that. Well I seen his cat anthro form on Arthur did that, but didn't know he did that in Real Life. That raises my opinion of him.

[nayance]

I always got the feeling that when people ask questions like that, there's at least some element of just wanting to say something to the person you admire. I've been guilty for it in the past; from others, I've heard that getting questions that are obviously just an excuse to talk to someone is a rather normal thing.

Not that it makes it any better, of course; I still find it annoying as balls, and I haven't a clue how others can deal with it.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, yes and no, at least for this specific example. I mean, the question wasn't looking to have the research done for them, it was about how to go about doing the research -- by asking an expert -- without looking like a crazy person.

[dancing_clown]

I don't think you understood the question if you think an appropriate response would have been to "just google it." And clearly this person is trying to do their own research.

[(Anonymous)]

They could've googled "human body decomposition", "how to delay decomposition", "embalming process" or "coroner [city, state]" for starters. Gaiman's reply is interesting, but it's going to be of limited use if this person's family doctor hasn't been a county prosecutor or worked as a coroner/pathologist (and most family doctors won't necessarily have that background) or isn't inclined to provide free consultation to the curious.

[a_potato]

The question is more about how to approach a real life person when doing research, though. Getting feedback from someone who's actually had to do that can be a lot more beneficial than turning to google.

[dancing_clown]

Yeah. Google can't tell you what the experience of working with rotting flesh is like in the same way that an actual person who's done it can. Pro writers? Talk to people. Sorry if that bursts the bubbles of any socially anxious introverts looking for a career that never makes them interact with the world.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes. But it depends on what you want to ask that person about. If it's procedural and about techniques, then you can find the answers to that online. If it's personal stuff, then Gaiman's advice will still be of limited use because the writer will be asking someone geographically closer to them, presumably, and the circumstances will be different. Plenty of professionals would be happy to answer questions from Neil Gaiman, writer/journalist. Fewer professionals are going to want to answer questions from tumblruser1989.

[(Anonymous)]

No matter what people might think of his writing, Gaiman is really sweet about answering questions people ask. A lot of them are questions people could've Googled on their own, and some of them are clearly from people who just want to get a personal reply from Neil Gaiman. Which is kind of sweet, but come on, guys. He knows interesting stuff because he made an effort to read and research interesting stuff. That's not a Neil Gaiman superpower, anyone can do it.

[raspberryrain]

That is a really good answer. I think he chose to answer that because it gave him something interesting to write.

[(Anonymous)]

They should have messaged a less shitty author.

[(Anonymous)]

Don't cut yourself on that edge.

[(Anonymous)]

I think that question was actually a pretty good one, one that I haven't seen him asked before. But he does get a lot of asks that he's already answered elsewhere, and he is so consistently kind about it.

[(Anonymous)]

I do better with research and figuring things out by engaging in a dialogue, even if it's just through text. It's an actual thing, and others are like this.

[(Anonymous)]

That's cool. I'd be annoyed if someone pestered me with questions they could've found in a book or online just because they do better "engaging in a dialogue", though.

[(Anonymous)]

Then... Apparently it's not cool...

[(Anonymous)]

No. It's fine if one method works well for an individual. It's not so cool if the individual expects everyone to accommodate them when the individual is the one asking a favor, i.e. for help with research. For example, it's cool if someone likes peanut butter. I don't like peanut butter, but I don't care if other people love it. But it's not cool for someone to knock on my door and demand that I eat some because peanut butter is a cheap protein source that works for them.

[(Anonymous)]

Then it's not cool.

I'm sorry my learning techniques aren't convenient for you. But, hey, those of us who don't learn like you should sit down and shut up and just PRETEND to learn like you.

[(Anonymous)]

I'll think you'll find that learning from books is also learning, even if it's not your preferred approach.

[arcadiaego]

Do people ask you for advice on a regular basis?

[arcadiaego]

In fairness in this instance maybe the OP was worried they would get arrested. I'm sure Gaiman gets a lot of queries he never answers because the answer is 'google it'.