hackthis_archive ([personal profile] hackthis_archive) wrote2010-08-31 06:48 pm

Things Wot I Have Learned From Fandom: A List from a BOFQ

Things Wot I Have Learned From Fandom:
A List Made Up on the Fly By Somebody Who's Been Doing This Shit Way Too Long



1. Everyone is someone else's fan.

2. That story that you hate. Somebody else loves it to death.

3. That story you love. Somebody else hates it to no end.

4. You are not that good.

5. You are not that bad.

6. You can thank Eric Clapton's dad for #4 & #5

7. If you spend all your time and love and adoration poring over a story it will not be as well received as the story you wrote in two hours.

8. Fandoms change, fans do not.

9. That person you hate will always show up in your fandom. (Dammit)

10. Those people you love, you will have to drag kicking and screaming into your fandom. (But it's worth it.)

11. Do not let the person you loathe drive you out of the fandom you love. (Easier said than done).

12. There is nothing wrong with using cliches.

13. Just don't use them all at the same time.

14. Fanon is not canon.

15. No, it's not.

16. Fandom tropes are not a bible. Do not feel obligated to follow them.

17. If you don't like'em, fuck'em.

18. If they don't like you, fuck'em

19. Get a beta.

20. No really, get a beta. Get a couple if you can.

21. Your story will always have at least error. (At least mine do).

22. You will make friends.

23. You will lose friends.

24. Sometimes this will happen at the exact same time. (That's just how it goes)

25. You are not always right.

26. You are not always wrong.

27. Be careful what you say. It will come back to you.

28. Be careful who you say it to. That will come back to you too.

29. Nobody likes everybody.

30. Nobody is loved by everybody.

31. Sometimes you are going to want to say something. Get up and walk away. No. Do it now. If it's still eating you in an hour or six, then say something.

32. Say something. Anything.

33. Everybody loves feedback. Everybody. I have never met anybody who said, "Damn, I got too much feedback."

34. Think about what you say. There's no reason to be an asshole. Unless someone else is an asshole first. Wait, no. Just don't be an asshole.

35. If someone says "no," that means "no." It does not mean let me harass you about it because I am special snowflake and I should have what I want and if I keep bothering you maybe you'll give it to me.

36. Maybe we're all special snowflakes, but guess what? Fandom is a big fucking blizzard.

37. HAVE SOME MOTHERFUCKING MANNERS.

38. Treat people the way you wish to be treated.

39. Treat people the way you wish to be treated.

40. If you don't like it, stop bitching about it and make your own.

41. See #37.

42. Have fun. It's not that serious. No, really, it's not.

43. When in doubt, read #1-#42.


ETA: Notice those numbers shifting on you? That's because I keep adding things. Make that #44: You are always going to be fucking with your posts. Just accept that.

[identity profile] alethialia.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, pookie, are people being assholes again? ::pets::

GREAT list.

[identity profile] wordsalone.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
Preach.

[identity profile] robjlea.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
This is wonderful, thank you for you time and sharing it.

[identity profile] clairful.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
*MWAH* PERFECTION!

[identity profile] eppic.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
I SEE THAT JENSEN ICON. THE LOSERS, FUCK YEAH.
ext_40638: katy perry (Default)

Things Wot I Have Learned From Fandom: A List from a BOFQ

[identity profile] xmarisolx.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
Bravo!
ext_236295: (Default)

[identity profile] maurheti.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
All of this: so much yes. So much.

[identity profile] romanticalgirl.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 01:54 am (UTC)(link)


You are the smartestestest.

[identity profile] mahaliem.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
What a great list!

[identity profile] thorne-scratch.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Man, I want this embroidered on a wall-hanging.

[identity profile] idiosyncratic.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, this.

And omg, #9 is 100% f'n true!!! I swear, there is one person who I really can not stand, and she pops up in every fandom I'm in about 2-3 weeks after I do. It's creepy.

(And I'm giggling like mad over #36, just sayin'. *g*)

[identity profile] aniay.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
am a lurker but if you don't mind i'll borrow aqnd repost on my own lj ^^

[identity profile] ilovetakahana.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
A-fucking-men.

[identity profile] sparky77.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
10. Those people you love, you will have drag kicking and screaming into your fandom. (But it's worth it.)


Why do I feel like this somehow might in some way apply to me?

[identity profile] cyclonedancer.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Sage advice. Now if people would only follow it.

[identity profile] xnitelite.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
We should ALL memorize this list.

I'm partial to nos. 7, 8, 9, 12, 21 and especially 37.

[identity profile] luci0logy.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely.

I always left feedback, even if it was just 'great fic', but then I came across a post with 2 BFFs moaning about how lazy some commentors were and feedback like 'great fic' was pretty much worthless. 0.0

Myself, I struggle with authors who do not answer feedback after the first 10 or more comments, but that's my pet peeve and we've all got them.

Nngh

[identity profile] amsuhl.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
You're wrong, hackthis. You are that good.

[identity profile] missdunham.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 09:00 am (UTC)(link)
I love this :D

[identity profile] anie-chan.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 10:14 am (UTC)(link)
Oh YES! THAT'S ALL TRUE!

[identity profile] ohfreckle.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Amen to infinity!

[identity profile] sirona-gs.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
This should be a manifesto to be posted on every fandom's profile.

For me, it's #42 all the way.

I always struggle with worry that I come across too heavy when leaving feedback -- sometimes I just really do love a story that much and i just want the author to know that reading their story made my life better. I worry that I might come across as a bit of a stalker. Fact of the matter is, everyone has insecurities. As long as we all abide by #37, we'll be okay.
aurora: (Default)

[personal profile] aurora 2010-09-01 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Indeed!! \o/


(That person you hate will always show up in your fandom. (Dammit)
Sad but oh-so-very true. :()

[identity profile] jenparakeet.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
These should be are the 44 Commandments of Fandom. I wanna link this like crazy, if you don't mind?

[identity profile] passionofmind.livejournal.com 2010-09-01 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Fandom, you're doing it right.

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