Ironically, after all of my bitching about fandom entitlement above, I went on SGA Noticeboard just now and what was the first thing I saw? A sequel to a story written by a different fan. And what's the top thing on Storyfinders? A search for a sequel to a story written by a different fan. *g* I got to thinking about it, and you actually see quite a lot of that in this fandom -- people playing in each other's sandboxes.
I think fandom's mellowed about it a lot since I first got involved. LJ probably contributes to that, because if you see something that you desperately want to use in your own story, it's so EASY to drop a line and say, "Hey, can I borrow [x] from your story for mine?" Even in a big fandom like SGA, it's so interconnected that odds are pretty good you've been involved in discussions with the person before, or seen them crop up on your friends' LJs.
For the record, I haven't got a single problem with asking before taking; it doesn't even seem hypocritical that one might prefer to be asked and feel a little weird if they weren't. The very small handful of times that I've wanted to use something from someone else's story, I've always asked and credited, and I would probably continue to do so even if fannish mores were such that you didn't have to. What I don't get is people who actively object to someone reusing their fan creation and raise a stink about it if it's done without their overt permission. (It's possible that such people are a minority in fandom. Maybe.)
But then, I had some conversations with friends over the weekend about how fanfic reviews that aren't 100% positive and squeeful shouldn't be considered "flames". These were fellow Aussies and I sometimes wonder if we aren't a little more outspoken, both giving and expecting less quarter in the cut and thrust of an argument.
I haven't got a clue if there are cultural factors at work or not. I've always tried to be honest. Periodically I run into posts that rag on fanfics or authors anonymously, and you know, I try my damnedest not to do that. If I'm going to speak up and criticize someone's fic or a post they wrote, I'll mention them by name and offer a link so that people can decide for themselves. It's not that I'm trying to encourage dogpiling or anything; it's just that I get fed up with fandom being like a bunch of high school girls, giggling behind their hands and excusing mocking comments because they didn't identify the person by name, so that makes it okay to say whatever they like. (Of course, I reserve the right to do such complaining behind friendlock because hey, I'm not crazy. *g*)
Re: Rambling and reminiscing... (part 3)
I think fandom's mellowed about it a lot since I first got involved. LJ probably contributes to that, because if you see something that you desperately want to use in your own story, it's so EASY to drop a line and say, "Hey, can I borrow [x] from your story for mine?" Even in a big fandom like SGA, it's so interconnected that odds are pretty good you've been involved in discussions with the person before, or seen them crop up on your friends' LJs.
For the record, I haven't got a single problem with asking before taking; it doesn't even seem hypocritical that one might prefer to be asked and feel a little weird if they weren't. The very small handful of times that I've wanted to use something from someone else's story, I've always asked and credited, and I would probably continue to do so even if fannish mores were such that you didn't have to. What I don't get is people who actively object to someone reusing their fan creation and raise a stink about it if it's done without their overt permission. (It's possible that such people are a minority in fandom. Maybe.)
But then, I had some conversations with friends over the weekend about how fanfic reviews that aren't 100% positive and squeeful shouldn't be considered "flames". These were fellow Aussies and I sometimes wonder if we aren't a little more outspoken, both giving and expecting less quarter in the cut and thrust of an argument.
I haven't got a clue if there are cultural factors at work or not. I've always tried to be honest. Periodically I run into posts that rag on fanfics or authors anonymously, and you know, I try my damnedest not to do that. If I'm going to speak up and criticize someone's fic or a post they wrote, I'll mention them by name and offer a link so that people can decide for themselves. It's not that I'm trying to encourage dogpiling or anything; it's just that I get fed up with fandom being like a bunch of high school girls, giggling behind their hands and excusing mocking comments because they didn't identify the person by name, so that makes it okay to say whatever they like. (Of course, I reserve the right to do such complaining behind friendlock because hey, I'm not crazy. *g*)