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ladybusinessTrigger warning.
I wrote an article in Strange Horizons. Several people had a meltdown and decided to ensure I would avoid them and their work for the next forever, and I sincerely hope it's mutual. Additionally, several authors, editors, and reviewers I used to have a lot of respect for have pretty effectively convinced me that part of SF fandom may not be meant for me, which is fine. Keep it, folks; it's yours!
There's finally started to be some discussion rather than Twitter fury, but of course I spent all weekend gaping at the Twitter fury that wouldn't stop. I watched the community "defend" authors against a pseudonymous, no-name fan (I'm extremely dangerous and hold a lot of social sway—oh wait), watched my own words used mockingly and retweeted by people being kind to my face (really??? dude, I can still see that shit, you're not subtle), and witnessed yet another fap fest over reviews (this was never meant to be about reviews; intent doesn't matter; the author is dead). I was pretty done as soon as I received the first piece of vile commentary where someone offered to put their dick in my mouth because I was being too mouthy, as you do. BUT HEY, SEXISM IS OVER. This is what people who write in any mainstream capacity put up with (besides the sexism stuff; I know about that part)? I'm exhausted and I can't even. What a shitshow.
Strange Horizons is my first mainstream gig. I was always going to go through this. I was prepared! Spoiler: you are never prepared. At the very least, it's been an adventure. My next article is going to be about bunnies. Cute, fluffy, space bunnies. I swear I will find a way to make it work. Niall just started weeping and doesn't know why.
I did want to highlight some awesome things I think came out of this:
1. Fans: You got your fannish preconceptions all over my critic's space — I really, really like this. I disagree with it (our perspectives and how we've experienced the community are so different!), but I like it. :D
2. You Knew This Industry Blogger Wasn’t Going to Keep His Mouth Shut — Justin's opinion, which I admit I wanted from the very beginning. Can I blame him for the original column? It's a little bit his fault, like 5%, but hell, next time, I'm just going to send him an email.
3. Rose Fox's comments in particular on The Book Smugglers post related to this issue, which has a good range of other comments, too (Ana and Thea, I am still so very sorry.).
4. Deloper of the Author — I needed a dictionary for some of this, but it's really fascinating.
5. Authors and Bloggers and Fans, Oh My — Easing my mind that some of my points made it through. Yay. :)
Writing! It's like gambling with your peace of mind. On the plus side, at least you can do it with no pants, which makes up for all the hard parts. Cheers, SF fandom. Cheers.
(ETA)
I wrote an article in Strange Horizons. Several people had a meltdown and decided to ensure I would avoid them and their work for the next forever, and I sincerely hope it's mutual. Additionally, several authors, editors, and reviewers I used to have a lot of respect for have pretty effectively convinced me that part of SF fandom may not be meant for me, which is fine. Keep it, folks; it's yours!
There's finally started to be some discussion rather than Twitter fury, but of course I spent all weekend gaping at the Twitter fury that wouldn't stop. I watched the community "defend" authors against a pseudonymous, no-name fan (I'm extremely dangerous and hold a lot of social sway—oh wait), watched my own words used mockingly and retweeted by people being kind to my face (really??? dude, I can still see that shit, you're not subtle), and witnessed yet another fap fest over reviews (this was never meant to be about reviews; intent doesn't matter; the author is dead). I was pretty done as soon as I received the first piece of vile commentary where someone offered to put their dick in my mouth because I was being too mouthy, as you do. BUT HEY, SEXISM IS OVER. This is what people who write in any mainstream capacity put up with (besides the sexism stuff; I know about that part)? I'm exhausted and I can't even. What a shitshow.
Strange Horizons is my first mainstream gig. I was always going to go through this. I was prepared! Spoiler: you are never prepared. At the very least, it's been an adventure. My next article is going to be about bunnies. Cute, fluffy, space bunnies. I swear I will find a way to make it work. Niall just started weeping and doesn't know why.
I did want to highlight some awesome things I think came out of this:
1. Fans: You got your fannish preconceptions all over my critic's space — I really, really like this. I disagree with it (our perspectives and how we've experienced the community are so different!), but I like it. :D
2. You Knew This Industry Blogger Wasn’t Going to Keep His Mouth Shut — Justin's opinion, which I admit I wanted from the very beginning. Can I blame him for the original column? It's a little bit his fault, like 5%, but hell, next time, I'm just going to send him an email.
3. Rose Fox's comments in particular on The Book Smugglers post related to this issue, which has a good range of other comments, too (Ana and Thea, I am still so very sorry.).
4. Deloper of the Author — I needed a dictionary for some of this, but it's really fascinating.
5. Authors and Bloggers and Fans, Oh My — Easing my mind that some of my points made it through. Yay. :)
Writing! It's like gambling with your peace of mind. On the plus side, at least you can do it with no pants, which makes up for all the hard parts. Cheers, SF fandom. Cheers.
(ETA)
no subject
Date: 2013-09-17 10:57 pm (UTC)Now, a lot of people ARE staying civil. And to be honest, no matter what I think, the genre IS changing (hello, internet) and so is publishing. These are important issues that people are eager to discuss. There are some great points being thrown around that are incredibly thoughtful and insightful. And yes, a lot of these points are making me rethink my initial stance in some ways. That is important. If people are too set in their ways, how is there any progress? That's what I love about discussions. You show me why you feel the way you do. I respond, and your insights invariably impact my response and perceptions of what is happening. It's called the exchange of ideas. Brilliant, really.
But when people start being asshats and stop realizing that you can disagree while doing it in a nice(er) way, then I start getting sick. I've had a lot of terrible email comments, too. Horrible stuff. I feel like screaming, because these really good comments, these thoughtful discussions, the free exchange of ideas that will invariably impact my own perceptions of what is happening, is starting to get buried under so much crap.
Yes, we might disagree, but I tend to disagree with everyone at one time or another. Despite the fact that we come from different perceptions, I recognize that you have a right to your feelings, and I also think that these logical, rational discussions that are happening are very important to the genre, fandom, publishing, etc. There is NO excuse for how some people are treating other people. None. Zip. Period. It's sick. It's wrong. But I am also thankful that people can be adults, too. Much of this has been enlightening, and my opinions have evolved a bit since Sunday, but that's not really important to this post.
Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and tell you that, no matter where you are coming from, I respect you. I recognize your contribution to the genre, and I wish everyone would shut up, sit down, and act like adults.
And I sincerely hope none of this is offensive. That's not my intention.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-17 10:58 pm (UTC)Sorry, I forgot to add that.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-18 07:36 am (UTC)Yes, there are definitely some people being kind and patient when it comes to our different positions. I appreciate all of these people 100%, because this would have been unbearable without them. It honestly feels like this is never going to stop being directed at me/thrown in my face (although I'm happy to let people rant about it in their own networks).
I'm not sure where we stand in regards to each other -- you seem to be one of the bloggers diving into the whole "authors welcome!" pile, and since I never argued that authors were not welcome or should never have a presence in fan spaces, and remain 100% confused on where that gem of a meme came from, it's a little unclear where exactly we disagree. Although I am fine with people disagreeing! I expected people to disagree. I just didn't realize that authors have a such complicated relationship with their authorial identities that my position would make them feel unwelcome from all fan discussions, regardless of whether or not it was about their work. I still don't think that was part of my argument, but concede that intent doesn't matter and the author is dead. ;)
Making that sort of goof is bad in any situation, but it's churned up so much that I'm embarrassed and appalled by some of the reactions, deliberate misreadings, and terrible accusations being lobbed at me by people in the community. I hope everyone calms down soon or something else does something controversial, because I could really use a break. :D
Thank you very much for this, though. It came at the perfect time. ♥
no subject
Date: 2013-09-18 10:55 pm (UTC)Yeah, I think authors are welcome, but I'm also in the camp of, if it's your website, and you pay the bills, you are king/queen of your domain and do whatever the hell you want.
I guess that means that I disagree with everyone? Who knows. All I know is I have some solidarity with you. Stupid bastards and their stupid bastard email. No one deserves this crap. Lets all drink vodka, eat cake, and move the hell on.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-20 02:37 am (UTC)BIRTHDAY CAKE VODKA? I'm on board.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-20 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-20 07:20 am (UTC)