fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #4538 ]

[ SECRET POST #4538 ]

⌈ Secret Post #4538 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 35 secrets from Secret Submission Post #650.
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.

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01. https://i.imgur.com/p5OdaYz.png

I don't get how those two things are related. Is the person responding different fomr the person complaining?

"is telling someone to shut up different than them whining about not having a thing"????

OP is addressing the people who are complaining about people who complain about not having fic for their pairing

I believe

Agree that telling people to "shut up" isn't constructive. I know it can be a little annoying reading people lamenting something isn't popular, but surely we've all been there at least once in our fannish experiences? It is quite disheartening when you're struck with an idea, search for it and don't see any content.

I generally try to encourage people to write/draw it themselves but I do realise even that isn't great. Not everyone can write or draw or even if they can they're not confident to expose themselves to the rest of fandom. With that in mind I get why it's frustrating when you can't find anything and the problem with "write it yourself" is that sometimes you're the only person writing it, and it's just nice to have a bit more variety? It's also nice to feel like you have other people to talk to regarding a rare pair or whatever.

Couldn't the same thing be said to the people complaining in the first place? Is complaining not cranky or toxic behavior? If fandom isn't giving you what you want, maybe get off the internet and try a new hobby?

I feel like it depends on the scale, personally, since as anon above said, I'm sure there's been something all of us wish there was more of at one point or another.

Saying in your own blog or twitter, or whatever, "I do wish there was more x or y." is different to me than crashing into z/q fandom spaces all, "WHY ARE YOU NOT CREATING CONTENT ABOUT X AND Y!!"

Sure, phrasing and context matter. OP's example was "there's no fic for my pairing/ship/fandom," so that's the phrasing I'm referring to as complaining.

If you're complaining that there's literally nothing for you in fandom... but you're telling other people they're cranky and need to get off the internet... um, well I'm just wondering how much self-awareness you have, I guess?

one is aggression aimed at a person, one is aggression (if it can be called that) aimed at nothing. it's not the same thing

+100000

How are people not grasping the distinction?

...no? Someone who's complaining about lack of fic isn't directing any toxicity towards another person. Someone who's telling someone else to shut up IS directing toxicity at another person. How on earth is this not obvious?

Does this mean no fic exists *at all*, or is this actually "There's no fic for my pairing/ship/fandom that caters to my taste?" In my experience it's almost always the second meaning. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already writing in the pairing/ship/fandom and fans complain there's nothing to read. Especially when those fans don't even leave a hint that they've read what's already there.

It's not that I have to take a break. It's that fans sometimes have to get off their ass and do something about it. They can write the fic themselves if they don't like what's available. Or, they can encourage those already writing in those pairings/ships/fandoms. Show support for what's already there first, then ask if a writer might want to tackle something you want to see. It might work.

This opinion is really easy to flip back on the other group of fans. It's ironic that the secret is complaining about... people complaining...about other people complaining.

What is irritating is when these same fans that rant about not having content that caters to their own individual preferences refuse to even try to make it themselves. Fandom is built on creativity; you can't just take and take and not give back. No, you do NOT have to be skilled or talented, contrary to what some of these fans cry as a response. Some of the most innovative content is produced by decidedly not-so-professional writers and artists.

Fandom is built on creativity; you can't just take and take and not give back.

But giving back doesn't have to be writing fic. It could be leaving positive comments on what is already out there. Or promoting discussion. Or other things that are fandom but not writing fic/making art.

I dislike when "write it yourself" is the standard response. Because that doesn't work for some people and there are other things.

This opinion is really easy to flip back on the other group of fans.
Except as someone pointed out above, it isn't the same thing. Someone venting that there is nothing in their fandom is venting to the void about a thing. Someone telling that person to shut up is directly attacking a person. They are not the same.

"But giving back doesn't have to be writing fic. It could be leaving positive comments on what is already out there. Or promoting discussion. Or other things that are fandom but not writing fic/making art."

Which would be fair if everyone did that. Which everyone does not, as evident by low comment counts on most fics, regardless of fandom.

(no subject)

(Anonymous) - 2019-06-10 06:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

(Anonymous) - 2019-06-10 15:21 (UTC) - Expand

I wrote my own fic for a pairing I liked when I couldn't find one. And it's too fucking hot out.

This is what I did too. And then what do you know, suddenly other people started writing for the pairing too. I guess they were all just waiting for someone else to go first?

Same. Wrote a fic a couple months back for a nonexistant pairing and now it's one of the most popular ships for the fandom on AO3, having accumulated a bunch more fics by other writers. It just takes one person to get the ball rolling.

+1. "Write it yourself" sounds annoying because I don't want to write X, I want to read X...but sometimes you have to put in a bit of effort attracting people to the thing you want!

Agreed.

I much prefer telling the people whining about a lack of fic for their faves to commission that fic. The ensuing tantrums are much more entertaining.

You sound like a real peach.

DA

I still get tempted to do the exact same thing and then sit back and pop popcorn.

...sometimes I give in.
...bonus points if I tell my "victim" that modifying stock photography for meme purposes is still a thing, and quite possibly they could do it for free, in order to generate interest in said future commissioned fic.

The subsequent online flailing is quite a sight to see...

I think taking a break and going outside for some light and fresh air is a lot better than randomly showing up in some author's inbox with your "great idea" for a fic with your rare pair that caters to your specific tastes as if that author is your personal kinkmeme. :\ But maybe I just feel that way because I get all the whackadoos hankering for political RPF where Sarah Palin gets spanked with a Bible.

This is usually where I reply with 'write it yourself.'

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