Random thoughts, again.
Okay, so I have been away for a while. I've been reading a lot of BtVS fanfic, and Buffy/Giles is my OTP. I've never had one before, it's weird. And other comepletely random thoughts.
There is a wank going on right now about warnings on fics. Here's my two cents. When I look at a specific story, I use the genre, pairing, fandom, rating, summary, and warnings to decide if I want to read it or not. Warnings are a useful tool for readers. Moreover, there are people out there with triggers(which cause someone who has suffered a terrible trauma to re-live that trauma). We should be considerate. I know there is no way to warn for every trigger, but there are some things which are common triggers that affect a lot of people. Warn for them. Hell, most of these common triggers are crimes and are not spoken of in polite society. Why anybody thinks it's okay to surprise people with them in a fic they are reading for entertainment and escape is beyond me.
Another thing: living with a survivor for thirty years has taught me that I cannot understand her pain. I am privileged not to have endured that kind of trauma. I am grateful for that. It is called a privilege when it should be a right. No one should have to endure that kind of pain, but, the truth is we live in a crappy world, and horrible things happen. It is up to us as decent human beings to show compassion. If we cannot prevent the horrible things happening, we shoould at least deal with the fallout in a humane fashion.
There is a wank going on right now about warnings on fics. Here's my two cents. When I look at a specific story, I use the genre, pairing, fandom, rating, summary, and warnings to decide if I want to read it or not. Warnings are a useful tool for readers. Moreover, there are people out there with triggers(which cause someone who has suffered a terrible trauma to re-live that trauma). We should be considerate. I know there is no way to warn for every trigger, but there are some things which are common triggers that affect a lot of people. Warn for them. Hell, most of these common triggers are crimes and are not spoken of in polite society. Why anybody thinks it's okay to surprise people with them in a fic they are reading for entertainment and escape is beyond me.
Another thing: living with a survivor for thirty years has taught me that I cannot understand her pain. I am privileged not to have endured that kind of trauma. I am grateful for that. It is called a privilege when it should be a right. No one should have to endure that kind of pain, but, the truth is we live in a crappy world, and horrible things happen. It is up to us as decent human beings to show compassion. If we cannot prevent the horrible things happening, we shoould at least deal with the fallout in a humane fashion.