But Meg, what are your thoughts on yaoi?
I'd skip this if you are not involved in BBT fandom, because otherwise, you are going to be very lost. (But if you'd like catching up, I'd look to Fandom_Wank for an attempt at explanation.)
It seems a little silly to pretend like I haven't seen the latest stuff to go up at spanon. Because I have. I'm not really going to comment on their content, beyond one point I'd really like to make.
I was unaware that making friends via fandom was considered forming a clique.
Seriously.
Yes, I have have a group of friends that I have formed via eljay, twitter, and tumblr thanks to BBT. I would not say we are exclusive, or that our primary goal is to "run fandom" by any stretch. We honestly enjoy talking to one another. Yes, one of my best friends in this fandom also happens to be a mod. I don't think that should affect our friendship. Maybe some people think differently, but I'm about 99% sure I don't get any special treatment. In fact, I usually take care not to overstep my boundaries. I frequently cleared posts before I posted them (that weren't creative-works based), including all of the help_haiti posts and the media post for the People's Choice Awards.
I think that this group of friends does happen to have a high percentage of writers. (Like 100% actually.) We discuss writing, we beta for each other, we tend to come up with ridiculous random plots together. bbt_gravitation was an obvious product of this, as were some of the other communities I help mod. We don't want to "run fandom." Our primary goal is to widen up our options, to provide archives and places to post fic that might not otherwise have a home. I certainly wouldn't say any of the other comms I mod to have the span or influence of Paradox. I don't think we're stepping on any toes. We are active in the fandom, and want to see it thrive. There aren't any sinister motives. But mostly, we talk about life in general, which does include our fandom interests, of course, but plenty of other stuff as well. If you follow fujiidom and I on twitter, well, you know exactly what I mean. (And I apologize now.) I think every single one of us that would be considered a "clique member" is approachable, friendly, and generally willing to talk via LJ comments, PMs, twitter, etc.
(I keep saying they. Don't think I speak for all of us. This is purely from my point of view, JSYK.)
I think there has been some really positive stuff to come from spanon. And granted, I am maybe biased, since really, I have received very little negative commentary. (And to stop any rumors before they start: I have not been asked to mod Paradox. I do not know if anyone will ask me to mod Paradox. I certainly have ideas about the community, but I think I can execute them just as well as an involved member as a mod. I'm uncertain what my response would be if I did get asked, as I would want to make sure I could commit my time and energy to a level that Paradox deserves, and between work, the puppy, a semblance of a normal life, and writing commitments, I'm not sure I would be able to. So that's the scoop on that.)
I think we've realized we all need to be a little more proactive about reviewing/commenting on fic when we read it. I know I have been slacking lately. I always make an attempt to leave meaningful comments for the fics I read and enjoy, although I know not everyone has the time - and that's fine. I like to pick out the things I like to let the author know what worked for me, whether it's dialogue, or plot, or just a particular line that struck me. I know that -- as a writer -- I appreciate every comment I get, whether it's just a smiley face or a \o/ or if it's a manifesto. My goal for myself after reading some of the comments at the meme is to focus on my feedback, particularly on art! I've really been terrible in that department, especially with the great artists we have, like irrel, renisanz, and znuese.
I think those of us who have been around Paradox a little longer are going to be a little more aware of how we interact with newer members. I was distancing myself from the community due to the general tone, not even two weeks ago. I think there was a pattern of behavior to ship aggressively, to disregard or outright scorn the opinions of those considered "multi-shippers" or even those who just want Sheldon and Penny to be friends. I'd like to think now that we're all going to be a little more aware of our actions and words, not just avoiding comments that are homophobic, racist, sexist, etc. There's a place for us all here, including those that ship as an OTP, that multiship, that still actively like Leonard!
I know that there are those in the fandom who find the very idea of an anonymeme horrifying. I've been in fandom for over a decade, and it's nothing I haven't seen before. I was a part of a community that actually had one every weekend, no joke. But I think when there is a definitive presence in a community, and a mod is included (and a mod with a pervasive public presence as well), it's natural that people are going to be afraid to speak up. I made a comment in that original post I made about Bill Prady's tweet in response to arabian about the responsibilities of a mod, especially one for a community as large as Paradox. Here's the link.
I think that as soon as one is put in a mod position, esp. where you have a regular feature with regular readers, and even your own tags for the breakdowns and the video clips, you automatically become a "name" whether you want to or not. This also means, as a mod, you have a certain responsibility to represent the community, as a whole, as well as its members, especially the active ones.
As much as it can be awkward to think of oneself as a BNF, I think it's something you need to acknowledge that you have a certain segment of this comm that looks to you as a model of acceptable behavior. It's heightened that extra step when you're a mod.
Here's something I'll fess up to. I knew exactly what had caused the Bill Prady tweet when I made that entry. And the reason why -- even in that comment I just linked to! -- I did not say that is because I was intimidated of what I would start. I didn't want to specifically call out arabian, because, whatever her reason, it happened and I did not want to point fingers. It was not unexpected behavior. It certainly fit in with her general M.O., which, over the past four months or so, consistently embarrassed me as a fan of the show in general, but particularly as a Sheldon/Penny fan. When I showed up at Paradox, I think there was a bit of a different vibe, but all of this was just... lurking, under the surface. It's not pretty to have to resort to an anonymeme, but it gets the job done. And for an anonymeme, you guys, this one is ridiculous nice overall. There are always going to be asshats, there will always be trolls - but I'd say overall the tone of the conversation has been driving us to build a better community (and not one that will die by the summer).
There's nothing at the anonymeme I wouldn't have posted as myself, especially knowing the general sentiment that is now apparent. And I have made posts there unanon as well, clearly breaking the unstated but blatantly obvious rules. I'd like to thank everyone that left me some love, and to those anons that wanted to talk to me - I said it at the meme, but it bears repeating. Speak up. I'm a busy kid, but I try to find some time in every day to send emails or PMs or whatever. It might take a day or two, but I'll get to you.
So of course, this is long-winded as fuck, because it's me, but thanks to those who read it all. I welcome discussion, thoughts, criticism, you name it. I think we can use this entire thing to our advantage, move on, and continue rocking on with our bad selves. See you at the discussion post? Wil Wheaton ftw :)
It seems a little silly to pretend like I haven't seen the latest stuff to go up at spanon. Because I have. I'm not really going to comment on their content, beyond one point I'd really like to make.
I was unaware that making friends via fandom was considered forming a clique.
Seriously.
Yes, I have have a group of friends that I have formed via eljay, twitter, and tumblr thanks to BBT. I would not say we are exclusive, or that our primary goal is to "run fandom" by any stretch. We honestly enjoy talking to one another. Yes, one of my best friends in this fandom also happens to be a mod. I don't think that should affect our friendship. Maybe some people think differently, but I'm about 99% sure I don't get any special treatment. In fact, I usually take care not to overstep my boundaries. I frequently cleared posts before I posted them (that weren't creative-works based), including all of the help_haiti posts and the media post for the People's Choice Awards.
I think that this group of friends does happen to have a high percentage of writers. (Like 100% actually.) We discuss writing, we beta for each other, we tend to come up with ridiculous random plots together. bbt_gravitation was an obvious product of this, as were some of the other communities I help mod. We don't want to "run fandom." Our primary goal is to widen up our options, to provide archives and places to post fic that might not otherwise have a home. I certainly wouldn't say any of the other comms I mod to have the span or influence of Paradox. I don't think we're stepping on any toes. We are active in the fandom, and want to see it thrive. There aren't any sinister motives. But mostly, we talk about life in general, which does include our fandom interests, of course, but plenty of other stuff as well. If you follow fujiidom and I on twitter, well, you know exactly what I mean. (And I apologize now.) I think every single one of us that would be considered a "clique member" is approachable, friendly, and generally willing to talk via LJ comments, PMs, twitter, etc.
(I keep saying they. Don't think I speak for all of us. This is purely from my point of view, JSYK.)
I think there has been some really positive stuff to come from spanon. And granted, I am maybe biased, since really, I have received very little negative commentary. (And to stop any rumors before they start: I have not been asked to mod Paradox. I do not know if anyone will ask me to mod Paradox. I certainly have ideas about the community, but I think I can execute them just as well as an involved member as a mod. I'm uncertain what my response would be if I did get asked, as I would want to make sure I could commit my time and energy to a level that Paradox deserves, and between work, the puppy, a semblance of a normal life, and writing commitments, I'm not sure I would be able to. So that's the scoop on that.)
I think we've realized we all need to be a little more proactive about reviewing/commenting on fic when we read it. I know I have been slacking lately. I always make an attempt to leave meaningful comments for the fics I read and enjoy, although I know not everyone has the time - and that's fine. I like to pick out the things I like to let the author know what worked for me, whether it's dialogue, or plot, or just a particular line that struck me. I know that -- as a writer -- I appreciate every comment I get, whether it's just a smiley face or a \o/ or if it's a manifesto. My goal for myself after reading some of the comments at the meme is to focus on my feedback, particularly on art! I've really been terrible in that department, especially with the great artists we have, like irrel, renisanz, and znuese.
I think those of us who have been around Paradox a little longer are going to be a little more aware of how we interact with newer members. I was distancing myself from the community due to the general tone, not even two weeks ago. I think there was a pattern of behavior to ship aggressively, to disregard or outright scorn the opinions of those considered "multi-shippers" or even those who just want Sheldon and Penny to be friends. I'd like to think now that we're all going to be a little more aware of our actions and words, not just avoiding comments that are homophobic, racist, sexist, etc. There's a place for us all here, including those that ship as an OTP, that multiship, that still actively like Leonard!
I know that there are those in the fandom who find the very idea of an anonymeme horrifying. I've been in fandom for over a decade, and it's nothing I haven't seen before. I was a part of a community that actually had one every weekend, no joke. But I think when there is a definitive presence in a community, and a mod is included (and a mod with a pervasive public presence as well), it's natural that people are going to be afraid to speak up. I made a comment in that original post I made about Bill Prady's tweet in response to arabian about the responsibilities of a mod, especially one for a community as large as Paradox. Here's the link.
I think that as soon as one is put in a mod position, esp. where you have a regular feature with regular readers, and even your own tags for the breakdowns and the video clips, you automatically become a "name" whether you want to or not. This also means, as a mod, you have a certain responsibility to represent the community, as a whole, as well as its members, especially the active ones.
As much as it can be awkward to think of oneself as a BNF, I think it's something you need to acknowledge that you have a certain segment of this comm that looks to you as a model of acceptable behavior. It's heightened that extra step when you're a mod.
Here's something I'll fess up to. I knew exactly what had caused the Bill Prady tweet when I made that entry. And the reason why -- even in that comment I just linked to! -- I did not say that is because I was intimidated of what I would start. I didn't want to specifically call out arabian, because, whatever her reason, it happened and I did not want to point fingers. It was not unexpected behavior. It certainly fit in with her general M.O., which, over the past four months or so, consistently embarrassed me as a fan of the show in general, but particularly as a Sheldon/Penny fan. When I showed up at Paradox, I think there was a bit of a different vibe, but all of this was just... lurking, under the surface. It's not pretty to have to resort to an anonymeme, but it gets the job done. And for an anonymeme, you guys, this one is ridiculous nice overall. There are always going to be asshats, there will always be trolls - but I'd say overall the tone of the conversation has been driving us to build a better community (and not one that will die by the summer).
There's nothing at the anonymeme I wouldn't have posted as myself, especially knowing the general sentiment that is now apparent. And I have made posts there unanon as well, clearly breaking the unstated but blatantly obvious rules. I'd like to thank everyone that left me some love, and to those anons that wanted to talk to me - I said it at the meme, but it bears repeating. Speak up. I'm a busy kid, but I try to find some time in every day to send emails or PMs or whatever. It might take a day or two, but I'll get to you.
So of course, this is long-winded as fuck, because it's me, but thanks to those who read it all. I welcome discussion, thoughts, criticism, you name it. I think we can use this entire thing to our advantage, move on, and continue rocking on with our bad selves. See you at the discussion post? Wil Wheaton ftw :)