Don't make me send Gene over there.

[sholio]

What is with people sometimes? So I go over to sga_santa, thinking about signing up and wanting to see who else is signed up, and what do I see but character bashing in the signup at the top of the page, the very first one to catch my eye. What in the world makes someone think a gift exchange is a good place for editorializing about how you don't want to write character x because you'd "rather KILL them" instead? (Caps were theirs, not mine.) Frikkin' asshat.

I was going to post this locked and only on LJ, but you know what? No. Character bashing in your own private journal or ranting how you can't stand such-and-such a character or ship is totally your prerogative. Doing it in a multiship community is nasty and makes a toxic environment for everybody. Every single person in the exchange is specifying certain kinds of fic or certain characters they can't write/don't want to read. The difference is, most of them are doing it politely. The only reason to be a jerk about it is, well ... to be a jerk, basically.

This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/282271.html with comments.

Comments

[trobadora]

Ugh. I dislike public character bashing at the best of times, but there really are few places it's less appropriate than in the context of a fic exchange. :(

[sholio]

I know! And I think that's why I opted to post this unlocked. I don't like character bashing at the best of times, but I'm pretty much resigned to live and let live with it, as long as people keep it out of my space. But, but ... in a gift exchange?! What in the world makes someone think that's appropriate?

[trobadora]

They obviously never considered that whoever got assigned their request might like the thing they're bashing in addition to liking the thing they requested.

If I got assigned something like that I'd bow out. No bloody way.

[sholio]

Yeah, I would hate getting an assignment like that, and I agree with you totally - just because your writer matches on X pairing/character, doesn't mean that she shares your hate for Y pairing/character. How is she going to feel if that's her other favorite? Heck, I just about tore my hair out on my Yuletide signups last year trying to specify that I didn't want a certain pairing in a couple of my fandoms without making it sound like I hated the pairing.

[trobadora]

Yeah, I'm not sure how well I manage, but at least I try.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

UGh. Yeah, that's not exactly the appropriate place to vent such things. What's wrong with a simple, 'I do not prefer character X if you don't mind?'

It's a gift exchange!


On a side note. Can you sign up just to be a pitch hitter?

[sholio]

I'm not sure about the pinch hitter thing. I didn't pinch hit last year, so I don't remember if they send out pinch hits via email or if they post them to the community where anyone can have a grab at them. You could PM the mods and ask!

Regarding the rest of it - yeah. Almost everybody has something in their signups that they don't want, and all you have to do (and all that most people are saying) is "No McKay/Sheppard" or "No het" or "Nothing featuring Woolsey" ... you know, whatever it is that they don't want. There's no reason to turn it into a screed against someone you don't like.

[bluflamingo.livejournal.com]

Wow. I mean, God knows I make it very clear that I don't want any John/Rodney lurking in what's written for me, and actually part of the reason is that I don't really like Rodney, but I'd never put that in an exchange sign-up. And certainly not that I'd rather kill him. Whatever happened to a simple 'no mcshep, I don't like/want to write Rodney?'

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I mean, God knows I make it very clear that I don't want any John/Rodney lurking in what's written for me

No, really? Hadn't noticed. ;) All kidding aside, reading your post was the counter-example of the behaviour Sholio criticises so rightfully: you don't want the McShep, but these elements remain matter-of-fact.

[bluflamingo.livejournal.com]

Phew :) I'm never sure that I don't come across as anti the ship, which I'm not, I just only read it by a few people, and otherwise don't want it. Nothing against it though :)

[sholio]

Yeah, I certainly don't have any problem with people making clear that they adamantly don't want something in their gift fic! If I'm writing for someone, that's the sort of thing I want to know about! But some people seem to lose sight of the fact that their writer might not hold the same views on the character that they do ...

[aelfgyfu_mead]

People need to think before they post. That's pretty awful. I think making your post here public is a good idea. I don't know how many people will see it that way, but I like the statement it makes at the very least. (Plus you do seem to get a good number of readers.)

[sholio]

Plus you do seem to get a good number of readers.

Heh. Disturbingly so, at times. *g*

But yeah, I just hope it'll make people think a little bit.

[leesa_perrie]

I hate character-bashing, especially on something like a fic exchange! Be polite about it if you don't like a character, because there are others who do! I sometimes wonder how they would react if someone bashed a character that they loved? I bet they wouldn't like it!!

I hope the mods say something to the person responsible and ask them to reword their post.

[sholio]

Yeah - I dislike character bashing for exactly the reason you gave. Every character is someone's favorite; why can't we live and let live a little bit?

[amenirdis.livejournal.com]

Word. That is really inappropriate. And it does turn other people off from participating. I sure wouldn't want to get stuck writing for her!

[sholio]

Yeah, it's a definite turn-off. There's nothing wrong with stating your preferences, but it's just kind of nasty to use it as a soapbox to take a swipe at others' preferences while you're at it.

[dreamingoctober.livejournal.com]

It's sad and unfortunate to see someone make such an insensitive post in a holiday exchange that's supposed to be happy and festive. I mean, everyone has characters they don't like, but why is it necessary to be a jerk about it and post something that is very likely to upset people? Why not just throw a bucket of ice water on everyone, too? :(

[sholio]

I know! I think that's what gets to me about this. It's supposed to be fun for everyone; why go taking swipes at other peoples' character and pairing preferences while you're at it?

[penknife.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I understand not wanting a certain pairing, and even (when we're talking about a very popular pairing) going out of your way to make it clear that you don't want it at all, even in the background, but there's no need to bash characters or pairings. It is always safest to assume your request will be assigned to someone who also writes the thing you hate most, and phrase your request accordingly.

[sholio]

It is always safest to assume your request will be assigned to someone who also writes the thing you hate most, and phrase your request accordingly.

Heh, yeah, this. I practically tore my hair out last Yuletide trying to figure out how to word my request, because one of my fandoms was about 90% devoted to a pairing that squicks me horribly, so I had to make clear that I really, really did not want that pairing, while being pretty sure that if I was matched on that fandom, I'd be assigned to a fan of that pairing. But I tried my best, because I didn't want to leave my author hurt and upset!

[cat-77.livejournal.com]

There are so many more polite ways of saying the same thing. So you don't like X? Add that to the "Not" section. No need to bash, just add, "I would prefer no X" and/or maybe "Really not my favorite" if you want to make sure it is not inadvertently added because they person who got you doesn't mind it and thought it made a nice addition to the fic.

[sholio]

Yeah, like I was saying in some of the above comments, I've been there on Yuletide, especially last year - a couple of my fandoms (but especially one of them) had pairings that really, really squick me, that I did not want in my story, but I tried my damnedest to word my request in such a way that I didn't make it sound like there was something wrong with the pairing or people who like it. That's just the polite and decent thing to do, IMHO.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Yup. Lord knows I have my own list of characters that make me froth at the mouth, but not the place for that sort of thing.

(why does the cynic in me assume it was Keller without looking it up?)

[zillah975]

I don't think that's cynical, that's just the voice of experience. I assumed the same thing, because typically when there's character-bashing in SGA fandom, it's Keller-bashing. :(

(It wasn't in this case, but I expect that'll be along soon enough.)

[frith_in_thorns]

(why does the cynic in me assume it was Keller without looking it up?)

Yup, I thought exactly the same thing, and was actually rather surprised to discover that it wasn't.

[siria]

(why does the cynic in me assume it was Keller without looking it up?)

Third cynic here!

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I thought exactly the same thing before I looked at the post.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

A cynic in good company, you are. ;)

[sheron]

I assumed the same, before I saw what it was.

[sholio]

LOL, I think it's hilarious (but telling) how many people chimed in along those lines. :D No, not in this case. Actually, I'm (pleasantly) surprised by the lack of Keller-bashing in the requests this year (though it seems like last year was decent about it, as well).

[estel_angel.livejournal.com]

As the people who have already replied it is simple to put dont like character X in polite tearms without resolting to character bashing, esp in public post.

[sholio]

*nods* Yes, what you said.

[caelith.livejournal.com]

Got to admit, that put me off a lot.

I was seriously considering signing up for the first time, even though I've been in the fandom for years.

Not a good thing for me to see as Rodney's my favourite character.

I can never understand why people feel the need to be so damn hateful.

[sholio]

*hugs* Try not to take it too hard, if possible? There seems to be pretty unanimous consensus 'round these parts that this sort of thing is just not on, and some of the other people in that person's area of the fandom are willing to talk to her (them?) about it. Don't let it put you off the whole exchange - it's fun, and the mods work hard at assigning people to compatible writers! It's frustrating and upsetting, but it's just one person in the exchange. (Having said that, though, I know what you mean; I've withdrawn from communities in the past because of persistent character bashing by some of the members.)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Character bashing boggles me. I get being annoyed with a character, but can't wrap my head around absolutely hating a character that isn't an evil manipulating villain.

Declaring your hate in a public forum is just tactless and makes you look like you're trying to stir up trouble on purpose.

[x-varda-x.livejournal.com]

The post's been amended now :) *hugs Rodney*

[parisntripfan.livejournal.com]

I have never really understood character bashing. At least not the extent that mentioned here. Pointing out a particular characters flaws, sure I do that. But out and out bashing? No, not my thing.

And as you said, posting that in a public forum, where there are undoubtedly fans of said character is just...tacky. Yes, it is OK to not like a popular (or even an unpopular) character. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to write that person. But bashing that character in something like a gift exchange is just wrong.