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

[hackthis_archive]

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.

Comments

[sirona-gs.livejournal.com]

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]

Indeed!! \o/


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

[jenparakeet.livejournal.com]

These should be are the 44 Commandments of Fandom. I wanna link this like crazy, if you don't mind?

[passionofmind.livejournal.com]

Fandom, you're doing it right.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Help yourself :)

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I love the Friday rec lists. Sometimes I feel like Friday is just too far off. I'm glad you are enjoying them.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I can say that that one time it was on purpose. The other fifty times not so much so.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I think there's a balance to be found with recommedations. If you think someone will like something and they're just unaware it exists that's rather different than just relentless poking them after they've declined.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got'em.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I was telling somebody else though that there's a difference from poking somebody because there's something you think they'll like and they don't know about it, vs. refusing to take repeated "no"'s for the fuck off that they are.

You are always free to tell me to fuck off.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

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

I do not subscribe to that at all. I am just as grateful for "I liked this a lot" as a I am for any sort of "This shit was the bomb and let me tell you why." Sometimes all I can say is that "I liked this or I found it charming" but you know, everybody likes to feel appreciated.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Like I said I have yet to meet anybody who is like "aw, I had too much feedback" or "this feedback was too effusive or extensive." Never met such a person ever. Just do you.

[snarkaddict.livejournal.com]

♥

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

I have never not loved something that you have harrassed me into watching. So please continue to harrass :)

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Okay, just checking :)

[snackbreak.livejournal.com]

You speak truth