fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #790 ]

⌈ Secret Post #790 ⌋

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

101.

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102.

[BSG]

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103.

[The Land Before Time]

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104.

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105.

[Stranger Than Fiction]

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106.

[Sonny with a Chance]

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107.

[Psychonauts]

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108.

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109.

[Kaya]

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110.

[Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie]

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111.

[Skins]

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112.

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113.

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114.

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115.

[Role Models]

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116.

[Heroes]

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117.

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118.

[David Cook, Highlander]

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119.

[Usagi Drop, Yotsuba, Aishiteruze Baby, and Clannad]

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120.

[SGA]

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121.

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122.

[21 Jump Street]

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123.

[The CollegeHumor Show]

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124.

[Metalocalypse]

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125.

[Make Me a Supermodel, The Prince of Tennis]

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126.

[rocknrolla]

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127.

[American Idol/Nick "Norman Gentle" Mitchell]

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128.

[BSG]

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129.

[Slayers]

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130.

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131.

[Gundam 00]

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132.

[Bones]

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133.

[Chuck]

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134.

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135.

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136.

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137.

[Slayers]

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138.

[Legend Of Galactic Heroes]

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139.

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140.

[Lolita]

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141.

[ushio okazaki]

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142.

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143.

[the minami family / hayate the combat butler]

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144.

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145.

[The Phantom]

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146.

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147.

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148.

[Ben Miller (Primeval)]

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149.

[Death Note]

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150.

[Harlem Beat wa Yoake made]

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151.

[Hard Candy]

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152.

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153.

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154.

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 68 secrets from Secret Submission Post #113.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 1 2 3 4 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 1 2 3 4 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's not that you "owe" them so much as it's unkind to benefit from their work and not take the time to leave even a brief acknowledgment when you're done.

'Benefit' from their work? Most fanfic is mediocre, at best. When I leave feedback, 99% of the time, it's just to acknowledge the author's effort and encourage them - I always try to find something nice to say, but believe me, I'm not benefiting from their work, lol. See, I feel like I'm the one doing them a favor by reading and reviewing their fic, and as my time is valuable too, a quick 'thank you' is simply good manners.

Here is the thing: I'm assuming that most people read fanfiction because they derive some pleasure from it. If a story entertained me then it's provided a service. And as an author myself, I'm aware that even mediocre fanfiction takes a lot of time and effort to write. So if I enjoyed a story, I feel like the least I can do is tell that person, so that they can have the pleasure of feeling that their effort was worthwhile.

It's true that a lot of fanfiction is poorly written, and if I read a story I don't like I don't feel like I need to leave a comment on it, unless that person is a friend of mine or I have some other reason to encourage them. But I certainly don't agree that a reader is doing the author a favor. You could maybe characterize it as an egalitarian relationship? Maybe?

I'm assuming that most people read fanfiction because they derive some pleasure from it.

Ah, see, I often read someone's fic and leave feedback because they're new to either a comm I'm a member of, or to my flist and I like to encourage and welcome new authors (and almost all of these people do say 'thanks' for the feedback.) Just because someone's fic isn't good now doesn't mean that they won't get better with time and practice. But for many of them, at this stage in their writing 'career', sometimes their readers are doing them a favor. I can't think of a way to say that without sounding, I don't know, harsh or rude (or as the commenter below said, 'bitchy'), but believe me - in the comments I leave for new authors, I never try to make them feel like I'm 'doing them a favor'. If that's disingenuous, maybe the solution is for me to stop trying to encourage new authors, and stop leaving feedback.

I mod a fanfic community and try to respond to everything that gets posted there, whether I like it or not, because...well, like you said, it IS important to foster a sense of community and encourage new authors. In those cases, yes, I suppose in a way I am doing them a bit of a favor, but I don't mind -- they're doing ME a favor by helping to keep my community active!

I don't think it's at all disingenuous to be encouraging for the sake of the larger community and the fostering of new talent. But usually when I'm reading fic it's because I genuinely want to, and in those cases I very much feel like I'm in the author's debt for having written a great story. <3

Side note: I think I only feel disingenuous for leaving comments on so-so fic when...well, to be honest, when I'm reading that fic BECAUSE it's laughably bad. I have a few badfics I follow for "the lulz" as they say, and I derive a HUGE amount of enjoyment from reading them, but I cannot in any way say that they are objectively good, and I would feel like a bit of a dick for leaving encouraging comments just so I can have new chapters to laugh at.

Finally, just to be absolutely clear: I agree that it is polite to thank people for comments!

You seem like a bitch.

Really? How is taking the time to encourage new authors by reading their stories and finding nice things to say bitchy? And saying here (without naming any specific authors' names so that no one is embarrassed or gets their feelings hurt), that most of what I read is just not very good, is bitchy? Or maybe I seem bitchy just because I think it's common courtesy to say 'thank you' when someone takes the time to leave you feedback? If so, then yes. I'm definitely a bitch.

For the record! I don't think you seem like a bitch, and it's sounding like a lot of what's going on here is a difference in reading habits, not a substantial difference in opinions on internet etiquette.

Sorry someone was a jerk to you in my comment thread, anon! I always feel partly responsible for that sort of thing. :/

Sorry. As stated, it was more of a misreading. I've had a bad day, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I realize that, over the internet, my appology doesn't seem to mean much and my mood should never be an excuse for my attitude, but I am sincere.

When I read your statement, it seemed as though you were saying that you read fanfiction that does not please you just because... because it's there. I know people that do this. It seems increadably rude to read a fanfic you didn't enjoy just so that you can comment and get your jollies from the writer's "thank you."

I do agree that it's polite to say thank you and all, but, I just don't find it nessasary is all. And the response on this page that it's some terrible insult not to reply back is shocking to me.

I was amazed after getting an account at deviant art that people were thanking me for commenting and favoriting their works. They showed me something I enjoyed, why were they thanking ME?

I don't know if I'll ever be able to understand the way these things work.

My appologies. It was wrong of me to judge.

[ SECRET POST #790 ]

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