(no subject)

[turps]

A stomp around the estate, getting an apology over text and reading a few chapters of a terrible fic I have on the go have washed away that bad mood, which I'm so glad about. I hate being all annoyed and pissy.

So, lets celebrate with a meme gacked from a load of people.

Ask Me My Fandom Opinion

How it works:

Ask me one fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom/lj stuff/fic writing/etc. in general.

Just one question, please, but it can (and perhaps should) have sub-parts.

That's it. It can be as normal or odd as you like.

I know I don't talk about them as often, but I do play in many fandoms. So go ahead, ask away. Don't make me look like a loser with no replies.

Comments

[strippedhalo.livejournal.com]

1.
a) Which of your fandoms do you really wish had more (or maybe just better) people writing in it?
b) In your fandoms with lots of writers, which pairing(s) do you wish more (or maybe just better) people were writing?

[silveryscrape.livejournal.com]

Do you think pop fandom has been taken over by a Cult of Nice?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I want to latch onto you now and give you a big old hug. I always worry no one will ask anything *g*

(a)I'm saying popslash for this. More for the more people, not better, because I stand by my belief that popslash has amazing writers. I'm in awe of loads of writers in the fandom, and that's so cool. Scary too when you write yourself. But I do wish there was more. The fandom isn't small really, but I look at fandoms like Supernatural and SGA and drool over the thought of multiple stories posted day after day. I missed that in popslash and I imagine it must have been wonderful.

(b) This is predictable, and purely selfish, but I'm going to say trickc. Again, there's people who write the pairing wonderfully, but often I find mtself reading stereotypical Chris!crackmonkey JC!kitty stories and they drive me insane. I think it's lazy writing and does a disservice to the people they're trying to portray. I'd love to read a long meaty plotty trickc story. Something I can get my teeth into.

Of course, it then comes back to people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and all that.

Thanks for the questions, you really made me think.

[silveryscrape.livejournal.com]

I'd love to read a long meaty plotty trickc story.

God, yes.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Even though you write more RPS than FPS and the answer should be obvious, I still wonder; do you think it's easier to write RPS or FPS? Do you struggle more when you write the former? Or is it the same to you?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Interesting question.

My initial reaction is to say no. But that's because I think it's never wrong to be nice to people. I believe that anyone that wants to write, should write, and should be able to post without fear of ridicule.

The problem is, that can go too far. Personally I know that I've become a better writer because I have people around me that tell me the truth. They could have played nice, shook those pom poms, but they didn't. They pointed out every writing mistake I made, and because of that I've improved.

Thing is, what's right for me isn't right for everyone, and there's a difference between asking for crit and having it heaped on you unexpectedly. That's why I think crit should take place in private. Or places where you especially ask for it, like the reading room comm.

I know popslash isn't always a happy happy joy joy place. I know stories get rubbished and people bitched about, that's the nature of fandom. Last time I admitted this I was defriended, but I hold my hands up to bitching on AIM and in mail. I have people I trust and will listen to me rant and that's good. Because when it comes down to it, I'd never do anything like that in public.

If that means I've joined the cult of nice, well, so be it. I don't get why anyone would want to hurt another person's feelings. But I also know I walk that line of being hypercritical at times.

In an ideal world I want this fandom to feel safe, for people to post something without worrying it'll be torn to shreds. But also for an option when the nice gloves come off when you need that harsh look, for someone to say, you'll be so much better if....

I honestly don't know if I've answered your question. I know I'll be thinking more on it this afternoon.

Thanks for asking.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I'd love an epic trickc story. Thing is, I say that and don't deliver myself. But man, the want is so there.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

This meme is really making me think.

Personally I find it just as easy writing RPS as FPS. Both have their own canon, it's just rps tends to stretch on and ever evolve.

I suppose it depends on how you look at things too. See, for me when I write Nslash I'm not writing the actual Chris Kirkpatrick or Lance Bass. I'm writing something based on them. I'm taking what I've seen on screen, in interviews etc and that evolves into the characterisation of them that lives in my head. My slash Chris is a step to the side of the real Chris. Same name, description, actions, but it's not him. Not totally. I don't know what he does in his own home, I can guess, put together clues and make my own conclusions, but I don't know for sure. Which surely is close to what we do for FPS.

I really can't see that much difference between Blair saying that he travelled a lot when he was a kid, and Chris saying he slept in his car. We take those statements and build on them. Use them how we wish in stories.

I guess for me, the only way it's easier is how much I emerge myself in a fandom. For a long time it's been popslash, and therefore the writing for that comes easier. But when I was deep in TS, the stories for that fandom came just as easy.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

glad you were able to blow the cobwebs away [and that you got an apology]

I know you post to at least one, but, really, what is the point of a locked fiction community? What makes people set them up that way? Post to them? [I genuinely do not understand - fic's to be read, isnt it?]

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I imagine we would have both said sorry if he hadn't had to go to work. As it was he had to leave when we were both angry and that's never good.

Fic is to be read, and I don't get locking a community either. I do post to one, though didn't actually realise it was automatically locked until I'd posted many times, which shows how observant I am. Hopefully the mods of the comm will read this and reply, because I'd like to know too.

Actually, I have a horrible feeling I may have linked to a locked post over there, which is inexcusable. I'm going to check that out once I've posted this.

Moving away from that specific comm. I suspect some comms are locked because the mods want to retain some illusion of hosting exclusive content that people have to join to see. More comm members equals popularity I suppose.

I do understand that some people post stories under a lock due to past bad experiences, and while I think it's a shame, I also think everyone should feel secure posting their stories, and if that means a lock, so be it.

So, in conclusion. I posted under a lock because I didn't realise, which is the worst excuse ever I know.

[rikes]

Do you think there are active popslash communities elsewhere outside "our" LJ community (by which I mean people within 10 degrees of separation from us or something), or is everybody connected to the lj popslashers? (Compare with: Is there life outside earth?)

It's entirely possible that I'm not making much sense.

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

Why JC? What is it that you find fascinating about him?

The reason I'm asking is that I've come to realise that while I think JC's decorative to look at, as a character in stories I find even Justin (who I don't find decorative at all :-) more interesting. What is it that I'm missing?

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Do you think there's a reason why the popslash fandom works more thorugh individual journals while some communities simply dry up and end up abandoned?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I think there is, but not as big or connected as ours is. I belong to some yahoo groups, I tend to forget about them until every now and then a story is posted. It pops up in my email, and I read and wonder that it's by someone I don't know.

I always assume that 'we're' the popslash fandom, and by we I mean me, the popslashers on my flist, and the popslashers on their flists. Then someone will post to popstoryfinders and I'm all, wtf?! Who's that? As I tend to assume that I know the whole fandom, even if it's just by name. Yes, I'm just that egotistical.

I can get your outside earth refrence. Like, we're the central hub, but there's groups out there, small planets maybe, who write and talk to each other. Then every now and then they communicate to earth via yahoo groups, sending stories that remind us they're there.

I assume they're happy in their isolation. It's not that difficult to become part of the popslash community. There's always someone there to welcome you in. So I guess those other fans are happy chatting in their small groups, not needing the connection that LJ provides.

And I hope that makes sense as an answer :)

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I agree with every word you've said here. Mostly the part about not understanding why it's okay to hurt someone's feelings, especially in a place that should be safe and fun. But there has to be private time, too, to say what you really think.

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

And do *you* think that's a good thing or a bad thing?

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good thing we don't know what Chris does in his own home, and sometimes I wish there were less clues. :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You guys ask some cool questions.

Okay, JC.

Does, because Chris loves him and they're going to live happily ever after count? No? Okay then.

First, I'll admit that my JC love came about because of Chris. Chris is... well, you know how I feel about him. At first when I watched footage no one existed but Chris, but then I widened my gaze and realised those other four guys were cool too.

I think the problem you may have with JC in stories is he tends to be written stereotypically a lot of times. Sleepy, vague, rambling, bendy, very sexual and on and on. Which is fine, I won't say that can't be him because those stereotypes evolved from things he said or did, but at the same time. If I'd mentioned I like to sleep maybe twice, or said because yes once, and that defined me as a character from them on in, I'd be so pissed.

JC fascinates me because he's so changeable and I think he's pretty deep. He plays the industry game like the pro he is yet at the same time is willing to push for what he wants. He works really hard and seems determined to achieve his goals however he can. It's the way he makes videos like ADDIDAS, the salad tossing and sex references, and he knows people will be talking about it, yet does it anyway. The way he throws himself into performing, that he really does love the music.

The way he signs his name JC Chasez when he only needs that C once. That he's there for his friends when they need him. The way he hangs with his brother and tones down his show when his mom is watching. I really think he has a deep affection for all the other guys. Warning, tin hat ahead, but pictures like the ones from Challenge, where Chris is sitting all grumpy and JC is bending behind him, pointing something out. It makes my heart all glowy, because I think they're not as close as they were but there's something there, a bond that won't snap.

It's how he has this huge silly laugh, yet laughs without holding anything back. How he gets pissed off when he thinks people are messing around when they should be recording. That he wears what he likes and be damned what other people think. I don't care what anyone says, he rocked the porn stache because he wore that outfit like he loved it.

He's just, JC, and I think he's amazing.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You and me both! I could totally do without that picture you linked to, him and the woman of giant breasts.

I'll stick to imagining him sitting watching Dog *g*

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

And you know, I'm sure he does that, too. I like to think of him sitting in front of his computer, and watching TV at the same time, just like the rest of us.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it seems trying to be nice is a bad thing. Which I don't get at all. Fandom is supposed to be fun, and there's nothing fun about bumping into your name in a hate meme.

There's people attached to those names on the screens, and I always try to remember that. Saying that though, I'm no saint and I do get pissed off, or read something that makes me think, wtf?! Those times I go to people I know will listen, and speak my mind without fear of hurting people.

Still, it's an unsteady line to walk at times.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Me too! The vision I have in my head is him watching tv while picking through his top whatever in MySpace. There may be wild parties and naked hoochie girls, but there's also time spent messing online. Yep, just like us.

Is this the time to admit I get a thrill when I see he's online on MySpace at the same time as me? Yes, I'm just that sad.

[hakeer.livejournal.com]

I think you just brought my JC love back. ♥

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of it is due to the mods of the coms. You can't force people to post but you can encourage, and the comms need that encouragement. For example, I'm a member of a lot of the Chris comms, but I don't post there. I tend to forget I'm even a member until I look at my user info.

A more specific example. The trickc day comm was a success last year, this year the mods seem to have pretty much moved on so the day was almost forgotten. Which is a shame as it prompted some good stuff last year. By contrast, the JuC day comm is still going strong, because it has people who work at keeping it going. Challenges and swaps, all that stuff.

There's plenty of posting in popslash, but people need to stop visiting each other at 'home' and go gather at a public space. Sadly I'm not sure how to achieve that.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

YAY! That's great.

JC deserves lots of love :)