fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3349 ]

[ SECRET POST #3349 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3349 ⌋

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

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[X/1999]

Notes:

Early today, places to go!

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 060 secrets from Secret Submission Post #479.
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm a mod on a private fandom board somewhere and we have a board for bouncing around fanfic ideas and talking about fanfics. Recently there's been a frustrating problem that I'm trying to solve because several people have complained about it.

Basically we've had a problem in the fanfic related boards, that sometimes someone will bounce an idea for a certain crossover or AU or idea for a fanfic, and people who hate it will come in to make sure the person knows how "shitty" it is and how people are tired of it and they shouldn't write it ,etc.

This is getting really aggravating and I'm starting to feel like it's making people not want to discuss their ideas. I've talked about making some kind of rule about discouragement, but some of the people I discussed it with thought it was unfair to "outlaw criticism".

I want to make the fanfiction boards a more welcoming space, and I don't want to come across like a controlling mod. I don't want to outlaw criticism and make it some kind of "only positive nanny state" board, but I want to do something about the pricks who are discouraging writers based on what they want to see or don't want to see.

You are Whispers of Sorrow, and I claim my £5! You nannygoat bastard fucker.

I would have thought one of the Mods at Twisting the Hellmouth, seems more accurate.

Sometimes certain crossovers are just not a good fit and people want to express that. What are the fandoms?

I'm not saying the fandoms. I'm asking about a situation.

Also what seems like a "bad crossover" to one person can be fun for someone else. Because one person considers it a "bad idea" doesn't mean people should be bullied out of writing it.

A fic I consider the best in one of the old fandoms I read came from a cliche plotline. Because someone took the general idea and did it well.

IA. There's a difference between constructive criticism and bashing. Obviously it's difficult to tell where the line is crossed, but certainly you could (after amking a policy statement) ban those who are on the extreme end of things?

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:27 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:44 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:49 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:56 (UTC) - Expand

NAYRT

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 23:07 (UTC) - Expand

SA

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 23:09 (UTC) - Expand

maybe something like comments can't be discouraging, but constructive criticism is allowed or have the author's specify what kind of responses they want? (like criticism wanted/help on plot/or whatever)

Thank you. I think that sounds like a fair compromise. I don't want to outlaw helpful criticism but I don't want people coming in to tells someone an idea is hopeless.

It's not so much "if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all" and more "give criticism to help people and build them up, don't just discourage someone and tear them down".

Honestly I might just make a caveat for idea bouncing threads - "if you can't stand fics like the one being suggested it might be best to avoid the thread unless you have a suggestion to help the author improve."

You just need to let it ride. Keep it from getting personal, keep it cuss word free, keep it racism free, let the subject go. Forums and communities benefit more from light intervention in the long run.

I believe in allowing criticism, but I'm not going to let a bunch of people make people feel bad for their ideas. I don't want people to be afraid to post an idea because they feel like someone will come in to shame them for it.

An idea is not the same as story, which is a combination of ideas and execution and skill. A story can be pulled off poorly while the ideas it's composed of are still perfectly good for someone who wants to do it better.

Well it sounds like you've already made up your mind then, doesn't it. You are going to protect the little snowflake.

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:00 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:03 (UTC) - Expand

DA

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:20 (UTC) - Expand

As long as they critting the idea and not the person I don't see the problem.

Well it's not so much critiquing what's wrong with the idea. It's just "ugh don't write that, i don't want to read it and other people don't either." and that type of shit.

That's not criticism, it't not even helpful.

It's one thing to say "I don't like those kind of fics because they often do this which I feel is OOC / cliche/ or bad writing" and another to just say "don't write that, it's stupid and nobody will like it".

It ain't persnal, they aint swearing or telling to go cut hirself, it is just expressian of theyre own likes. I don't see no probs with it.

DA

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:10 (UTC) - Expand

Re: DA

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:39 (UTC) - Expand

Re: DA

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 23:12 (UTC) - Expand

It seems like people think that I'm against criticism of an idea. That is not what I'm bothered by.

If someone were to say "See the problem with these AUs is I usually see this character doing this thing that is really OOC for them in order for it to work." and suggest a way that would work better, That would be okay, awesome even.

If someone were to say "I feel like this crossover might be kind of hard to make work because" and explain why, that would be okay.

If in general they are giving a constructive reason why they have a problem with the idea, and even better suggesting improvements then there wouldn't be a problem.

But I'm getting a lot of people who don't do this thing, at all. They dismiss the idea because they think it's stupid or they don't like the idea of it and tell the author it shouldn't be written or "keep it to yourself" or whatever.

That's not okay. It's perfectly valid to not like a thing, but don't be a dick to people who do like it, and make them feel bad. Or try to bully to keep it off the internet.

Hopefully this clears that up.

Well as long as they are confining themselves to saying that it is the idea that is bad, not the author that is bad, then there really isn't a problem. That is a bad idea is fine, that is a bad idea and you should feel bad for having it isn't fine. If you try and mod to hard then all that will happen is you'll be issuing a challenge to the trolls and inviting them to rules lawyer you at every turn. It is the internet version of the Streisand Effect.

That all being said, like someone above pointed out, you kinda seem to have made your decision and you are not really seeking advice. You are just seeking reassurance over it. If that is the course you want to go with, well, you are the mod and dealing with the inevitable fallout of modly decisions is one of the things a mod has to take on the chin. I think it is a bad idea, but don't feel bad for having it.

Well ideally I want to see people explain why they would think it's a bad idea rather than just saying "it's bad . Don't do it"

I have a position yes, and I don't really see why it's a bad idea. Literally all I'm asking is for people to be decent to each other. If all your going to do is try to convince someone not to write this thing on the sole basis of "I don't want to see it" then you're not really accomplishing anything.

Maybe i'm just being an old timer to the net but, honestly what is so damned hard about skipping over something you aren't interested in. Or not telling someone they shouldn't write something if you're only reason is "because it's not something I am personally interested in"?

Re: CLAIRFICATION

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-05 22:50 (UTC) - Expand

It's a problem because "YOUR IDEA IS BAAAAAAAAAD" is an expression of opinion, not constructive criticism. That comment x50 is even worse, because it drowns out the people who might want to offer constructive criticism or suggestions.

Re: CLAIRFICATION

(Anonymous) - 2016-03-06 03:16 (UTC) - Expand

Sometimes in order to be a good mod, you're not going to be universally loved. I think making several points are in order:

* if this forum is about encouraging people, you expect any "criticism" to be civil and kind and CONSTRUCTIVE. "Your idea is shitty" is not constructive.

* no dogpiling.

* if criticism starts to derail a thread or meanders away from the aim of a thread, you remind people that they've had their say and it's time to move the discussion back on course, i.e. for people who have suggestions for how a crossover could be done well.

* universal ban on "You shouldn't write this because I think it's bad!"

Thank you.

And I think a "no dogpiling rule" can work well in the other direction too. If someone makes a civil and valid complaint and the supporters jumped on them it would also be against the rules.

Either way I just want everyone to be civil and cool with each other.

Yep. That's why "no dogpiling" is a good rule in general. It calls attention to the fact that regardless of content or who's right or wrong, the very act of comments that all say more or less the same thing gumming up a thread is disruptive and annoying.