[ SECRET POST #2033 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2033 ⌋

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

01.


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02.
[Mortal Kombat]


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03.


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04.


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05.
[The Young and the Restless]


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06.


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07.
[Firefly, Joss Whedon; Sherlock BBC, Steven Moffat]


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08. http://i.imgur.com/Je2qV.png
[not really porny but implied underage sexual stuff; photomanip; snape/hermione]


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09.


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10.


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11.


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12.


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[ ----- SPOILERY SECRETS AHEAD ----- ]












13. [SPOILER WARNING for Pokemon Black/White]



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14. [SPOILER WARNING for Kurau: Phantom Memory]



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[ ----- TRIGGERY SECRETS AHEAD ----- ]













15. [WARNING for rape]



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16. [WARNING for suicide]



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17. [WARNING for incest]

[Kono Naka ni Hikari, Imouto ga Iru!]


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18. [WARNING for animal death/abuse?]

[Eden Lake]


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 000 secrets from Secret Submission Post #290.
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

[(Anonymous)]

You did a disservice to yourself by agreeing to be your friend's "advisor in writing," whatever that means, and telling her "great! keep on writing!" while being secretly disgusted and creeped out by her fic (and, I suspect, rapidly losing respect for her) is a disservice to her too. Tell her forthrightly that it's not working for you and bow out--and if you want to, tell her that it's because you know she would never listen to the advice you really want to give. But really, you don't owe her an explanation. Just say you don't think it can work, and leave it at that.

[(Anonymous)]

I wish I could do that, but my friend is so dramatic. If I say no without a good reason, she'll take it personally and will threaten to leave the fandom/stop writing or accuse me of not wanting to be friends with her anymore.

[insanenoodlyguy]

Are you that hard up for friends you need a drama queen like this?

[(Anonymous)]

I guess I have bigger tolerance to drama than some people. Everyone has their flaws and one of hers is being a drama queen.

[insanenoodlyguy]

Well, we care for who we care for. But you might actually need to stop being her beta for the sake of the friendship if it's going to be like this.

[(Anonymous)]

You want honesty? AFAICS you do not come across as tolerant but as spineless and an enabler.

So she has a hissy fit, she stops writing, she leaves the fandom. From what you have written about her fic and her attitude, I can't see a problem.

It sounds as if she *should* stop writing such awful rubbish; if she leaves the fandom that's her decision, not your responsibility. Same as if she cuts off the friendship. Her choice. You don't need to be insulting to her personally, just say "your fics have these deep problems, you don't seem to be listening (give detailed, objective examples in both cases), I can't advise you if you don't take advice on board, I'd like to stop now, thanks."

Why do people have a problem with this stuff?

[(Anonymous)]

You aren't responsible for that, though. "I've decided that I would rather not do this" is a good enough reason, though "To be absolutely blunt, your fic skeeves me out, for reasons I've already brought up with you" is fine too. Let the chips fall where they may. If she thinks you don't want to be friends with her anymore--well, you can tell her "I like you just fine, it's your fic I don't enjoy." If she threatens to leave the fandom or stop writing--well, that's too bad for her.

You are responsible for not being cruel and hurtful. You're not responsible for the unjustified conclusions she jumps to, or for her histrionics.

[eaten_by_bears]

Replying to second this.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm honestly surprised you would still want to be friends with this person after everything you have said. Her romantic views are skewed in such an unhealthy way and if she wouldn't want to be your friend anymore just because her fics aren't your thing, well that's not much of a friend to begin with.

[(Anonymous)]

What I'm reading is that your friendship with this person is predicated on dishonesty and emotional hostage-taking. "I have to lie to her or she'll be upset and won't be my friend."

You're already uncomfortable with this situation, and I can guarantee you it's only going to get worse.

If you really want to get out of beta-reading her fics, tell her straight up that you're uncomfortable with several elements in her stories and that affects your ability to give valid criticism. If you want to let her down easy, tell her that you'll continue to look over her stuff for SPAG errors, but she needs to find a different beta for content & continuity, etc.

Approach it from a "squick" viewpoint rather than an "omg your fics suck!" standpoint. Would you would give an mpreg fic to a beta who's squicked by mpreg & expect more than a cursory "here's what I can tell you about the parts I actually read" review? Assuming you could get her to review it at all? Tell her that rape just plain squicks you out, that it makes you uncomfortable to read her stories, and that she deserves a beta who can give her real feedback. If she throws a tantrum and puts up a fuss about it, stand firm. Also, ask yourself (and her, for that matter) if a real friend would make you read something you found objectionable.

I've had betas who had to bow out reading my fic because I went in a darker direction than they were comfortable with, and we're still friends. Not beta-reading for someone doesn't have to be the end of a friendship.

[(Anonymous)]

Actually, it'd be pretty shitty of her to drop it without an obligation. I'm not saying she shouldn't do it, but she should tell her friend why - for multiple reasons.

[(Anonymous)]

No, really not. When you give people reasons why you don't want to do a thing, they usually argue and whine at you endlessly and try to wear you down. "I've decided that I would prefer not to do this" is enough of a reason.