Intermission - Curious

[kriadydragon]

For the record, this is not a complaint.

I came across a story (no, not another with explicit details) that had something happen of the kind of thing I don't like. Nothing detailed or anything, and in fact was easily ignored. But it still bugged me as I tend to be rather sensitive about such things. It's part of a series, and like most series - whether TV or book - that has something happen I don't like - I'll just ignore it, pretend it's not part of the rest of the series, and move on. Which is easy enough to do so long as that one part is never brought up again.

But it got me thinking - do others have that problem? Have you come across something in a fic that either tainted the story for you, the series, or just bugged you for a while? I'm not talking about genres or if the writing was bad or the characterization was off or details too explicit. I'm talking smaller things. For example, for me (if you haven't already figured out) I don't like sexual stuff and have even stopped reading stories when coming to a paragraph that reads "so-and-so woke up next to a naked so-and-so". A lot of it involves me seeing the show and characters a certain way, and wanting to keep that view as much as possible while reading fic. I know that's not always possible since we all see things our own way, but some writer's views tend to be something I just can't grasp or accept, making the story a lot less enjoyable. Sometimes I can ignore it, but it still bothers me for a bit.

Other times it's stuff that I feel isn't in keeping with the spirit of the show, but more like a writer playing out a fantasy using someone else's characters. Again, I'm not talking about slash, romance, or AUs. Well, maybe AUs that stick close to the show. Maybe the characters are being too raunchy, there's too much sex or mention of sex, the characters are too dark, the story is too dark (I've actually been guilty of that myself according to some), one character is coming across as too much of a jerk, the other as stupid. Did a particular story or stories make you hate a character for a while or just get annoyed with them?

I know this isn't a fixable matter since we've all probably written something that had something happen others didn't like. I was just wondering since it isn't just a fanfic thing. There have been episodes of TV shows that I've had to pretend don't exist so as not to let it ruin my personal view of the whole show. I'm also being curious if there are particular things that - doesn't necessarily turn you off the story - but doesn't make it quite as enjoyable to read. Maybe something you felt the story could have done without. Or stuff, no matter how small, that made you hit the back button fast.

Comments

[lauriel01.livejournal.com]

Yup. Yup. *raises hand* Excessive intrigue and conspiracy are a real turn off for me. I loved the X-Files in the beginning, but towards the middle of it's run there was just an overload of conspiracy, and it just left me cold towards the show. I actually love thrillers, intrigue and mysteries, but when it's overdone with no answers in sight, well, it's just not my cup of tea.

Another thing that will turn me off a show is if someone does something completely random with no meaning given for the action, just because it suits the story. I confess, this happens more in fanfiction than in tv, but movies are rife with it. A move that has absolutely no logic behind it at all, and is left unexplained - for example, a character who is a family man in a movie, plain and ordinary person, who has stated that they've never fired a gun in their life, but once the bad guys start coming around they suddenly pick up a gun and start chasing them rather than call the police. Note- I'm not talking explanable or justified actions here, but those that defy logic, and not to mention characterisation.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

That's why I stopped watching X-files. I liked it for the supernatural stuff, not the "the government is out to get us stuff." When it went Gov't conspiracy, I wandered away to other shows.

Your second point intrigues me. As A writer who hopes to be published, I try to pay attention to people's complaints concerning stories and/or movies in order to avoid the pet-peeves in my own books. I have a friend and fellow writer who said, when it comes to a main character, you should have them planned out front to back - their past life, who their parents are, talents, etc. even if you don't mention it all in the story. That way, when something comes up (like your example) you can have something prepared that explains it (although it should be mentioned at the beggining of the story or else it will become a red herring.)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I'll agree about the excessive conspiracy stuff on X-Files - Drove me away from the show but I came back when they went back to paranormal stuff.

Yes, there are shows I ignore - like the very last Enterprise when they killed Trip. DID NOT HAPPEN. FIngers in ears. Lalalalala.... Hate how they end Treks.

Anyway, as to fanfic... I can't think of any specific examples, but while I adore Shep whump, it sometimes gets antsy if it goes on too long, or worse, they give him such incredible injuries that, I'm sorry, he'd be scarred up left and right and probably sent back to Earth (unless they happen to find a Gou'ald sarcophagus lying around).

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

My pet-peeve kind of goes along the same vein as yours. Ten pages of excessive shep-whump with wounds that should have killed him, followed by rather poorly constructed comfort scenes in which Sheppard is pordded mercilessly until his demons are purged. I hate the forced healing crap, where they make him open up rather than leave themselves open for him to come to them. It doesn't sit right considering Sheppard is supposed to be this closed-off individual. In truth, I think all the forced purging would drive him off more than help him, make him resentful toward his friends. but that's just my opinion.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Now if SGA had a sarcophagus in which to put the battered Sheppard back together again, then we could go a bit more wild with injuries, but I have this quibble with realistic injuries that sometimes gets sorely whumped itself by some fantastical stuff he goes through... Of course, this pet peeve runs through most fandoms, but in SG1, you could nearly draw and quarter an SG1 team member and put 'em back together with alien technology ;)

[bratfarrar]

Oh yes, definitely. In pretty much all media. TV, movies (for example, Matrix has no sequels for me), music, books - I have a whole bunch of books that sounded great, but turned out to be very much not what I was looking for. Or to have too much of one thing or another. In those cases I generally just read the last 20 or so pages and then make sure not to pick it up again.

Usually it's something like the characters not being engaging, the story being too formulaic (that is, completely plot-driven instead of partially character-driven), an unimaginative writing style, excessive sex or romance. . . . I definitely have a little list. ^_^

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I only saw the first Matrix movie. But, yeah, I've heard not so good things about the sequels.

I have that problem with books. It looks good, I buy it, then wish I hadn't. I've got a lot of books I need to dump off at used bookstores. I've discovered that a lot of fantasies nowadays are more centered on political intrigue than a good old fashioned adventure of the Middle Earth/Narnia variety. It drives me crazy. I'm so picky about what I read I barely buy any books now unless I can find out all I can about it (a friend pointed me to the Dresden Files, for which I was glad being in desperate need of something to read at the time.)

I've also come across books that made me wonder how the crap this person even got published.

[bratfarrar]

a friend pointed me to the Dresden Files, for which I was glad being in desperate need of something to read at the time.

Apparently I need to try rereading those - the first time I couldn't really get into them, but it seems like everyone I know really likes them.

I've also come across books that made me wonder how the crap this person even got published.

Oh yeah. I'm not going to name any names, but yes. And sometimes they're bestsellers, which I find utterly baffling. And a bit worrying.

I have that problem with books. It looks good, I buy it, then wish I hadn't.

I had that problem for a while. Now I only buy books by certain authors who have proved themselves trustworthy. Or books that I've already read.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, absolutely! I've got loads of 'buttons' that writers unwittingly push, which is bothersome as a community moderator who feels obligated to read all stories posted to the community even when they press every single one of my 'buttons'.

I try to be aware of when something is just a personal sore spot, verses the writer (of the fanfic or the novel or the show) actually doing anything wrong, and moderate my reaction accordingly. But, of course, some of my buttons are more sensitive than others. Some, I can just ignore and enjoy the rest of the story. Others, I stop reading the story, but I'll read the writer's next story (or watch the next episode). A few will stop me in my tracks thoroughly enough that I'll never read the writer again or watch a show again.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I try to be careful of that myself - is my reaction just me being sensitive, or frustration because the writer had done something unecessary that they could have done without? I've read stories where the squick scene was actually intrical to the plot and chracter development, and stories where the scene didn't make a difference and could have been left out.

A lot of my frustration stems from the latter - people putting unecessary stuff into a story because they think it's amusing or they just wanted a porn scene.

And the details *shudders* Do they really need that kind of detail? It's just so nauseating. But some writers do have the decency to omit the details, allowing the reader to ignore the squick scene if they wish. But it still tends to taint the story for me since it can't be ignored one-hundred percent. There are some stories that, though good, I have come to avoid because of a squick scene that I'd rather not run into again.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I try to be aware of when something is just a personal sore spot, verses the writer (of the fanfic or the novel or the show) actually doing anything wrong, and moderate my reaction accordingly.

I knew I was going somewhere with that thought, then lost it... (Not awake yet, sorry.) Where that was going was that I try to be aware when I'm reacting to particularly sensitive buttons in deciding not read a writer or story, or watch something, so that when a writer or story is otherwise terrific, I'll can recommend it/them to others even if I won't read it/them myself.

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Ohhh... There are so many shows that do that to me. Sometimes a show will surprise me and it won't be so bad. I believe it's what drove me to write fan fic. I watch a lota lot of tv, and I read a lot of books. People make wrong turns, and there are times when writers use themselves as MaryJanes and you can tell. I rarely stop reading a fic, but there are some that just ruined the characters because they were so OOC.

Forgive me: rant/
My biggest pet peeve genres are babyfics (ok, so why are almost all babies born to the hot male character girls? And why do all het/romance lead to babies. Jeez. Discuss..), mpregs (I admit to reading a few, only because it was well-written, or the author is very good. i.e., Incubator, by Titan5 and Shattered Dreams, by Mystic), and really bad slash (I admit to being new to reading that, some are fine, which I read. But there are a lot that I forward to people who like that raunchy stuff. Ick. I'm a prude sometimes.) /rant.

I love the dark stuff. Emotional h/c exists in my bad place. Angst and melancholy are my two moods (you should see some of the stuff I've written when I'm there... Wait. No one will see those!)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Hey, be proud to be a Prude. It's good to have limits and squicks since things can be taken to levels that can cause serious problems.

I've never read an Mpreg fic (except Incubator). Shattered Dreams, where is that one? Unless it's slash or sexual then never mind. I'm trying to avoid such stories all together.

I love the dark stuff, too, but only if there's some kind of resolve. Doesn't have to be major, just enough to know that the characters will be all right or, at least, live. I hate the "Sheppard the homicidal killer" crap, though. Right up there with the Kirk stupidity. He killed a whole bunch of Genii, therefore he must be a killer. I think it's unfair to the loyal, save-everyone side of his character when peole write stories like that.

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Shattered Dreams isn't exactly slashy or sexual. Definitely not graphic (compared to what I've already seen). But if your level of slashy tolerance is pretty low, it may not be for you. It's short and a bit sad. If you're interested, here's the link. If you avoid chapter 2, I think you'll be fine.

http://www.wraithbait.com/viewstory.php?sid=11900&warning=12

That slash stuff can mess with your head, seriously! And no, Sheppard is not a cold-blooded killer, but I've seen a lot of cold and distant John fics. In the first season, people thought Sheppard was not human. I really wanted to know what show they were watching.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my slash tolerance only extends to preslash that can be easily ignored. I like the boys straight, I don't care how cute or nice the slash story is.

Cold-blooded killer John is very popular but most always take it too far, completely ingoring his "leave no man behind" attitude. I can see it plausible if, say, maybe his team was hurt or killed and he went on a vengeful rampage, but other than that it comes across - to me - as a kind of character bashing.

[wildcat88.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you. I was reading a really fabulous fic the other day that took a left turn. It was such a wonderful story up to that point. And it wasn't so much that the turn it took was bad, it just hit one of my sensitive areas.

I'm a big believer in warnings. If it's a death fic, SAY SO. If it's slash or het, SAY SO even if it isn't graphic.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Amen to all of it. I've come across so many stories that start good but get tainted by scenes that are sore spots for me. Some have warnings that I foolishly ignored, others didn't. It's the ones without warnings that really tick me off, though not as bad as a story being labeled Gen only to have it end in slash or romance.

Warnings should be a common courtesy since we all don't like the same things. Kodiak Bear Country is a good example of someone who gives great warnings. She just doesn't say - there's sex scenes in this fic, she lets a reader know what to expect, what they're getting into when they read, helping the reader to decide if they want to read it or not.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

Okay i know everyone will say i am just a bitter anti
but i can't read stories with keller or sam in them, i just find the rhythm is just off for me

maybe the new series/season will pick up the feel and it will be good for those still watching. but i tried to read those stories for the shep whump and tried to ignore the parts i didn't like but i couldn't do it... everything just seemed... funny, off i don't know, and yes its probably just me.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of the same way, actually. I always feel that until the fourth season starts, people need to lay off having Keller and Sam in the stories and stick with Carson until the new season begins. It's just too wierd and tends to throw people (like you and me) off. Plus we have yet to really see Keller's character, so for all we know she's being written wrong.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

well i won't watch season 4 but i really do hope it gets sorted out for those who do ((hugs))

right now it just seems....weird

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Well everyone's about covered stuff about fics that go way too dark without a light at the end of the table..baby fic was mentioned, I find it awful and cliched.

Let's see how about Sheppard overly being 'mean' to Rodney--thats just poor writing or understanding of their dynamic.

I really hate badly written whump as in John get bashed in the head with something, then he's up and about with no problems the very next chapter...or shot in chest or and recovered in say under a week.

Excessive whump that is to the point of beyond cruel turns me off, yes torture scenes have their place, no issue there, but cut off his fingers or something just as nasty..no thank you.

My other quip is the whump that never ends. Whumped..complication, followed by another and another and THEN an infection. I love medical whump ..love it, but when it every freaking complication in the book, dragging it out..not interested.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Mean Shep - crap I hate those stories. Nothing but John bashing. I'm not a McKay fan but even I refrain from making him as big a jerk as the McKay fans try to make Sheppard. I think I discussed this with someone else and we agreed that the majority of authors of such fic are probably in highschool.

I hate it when people write a story with means to whump Sheppard in a unique way and don't use it. Instead, they go with cliche whump they rush through, skpping infirmary scenes and angst and going straight to the healing. I hate wasted whump.

I did something that could be considered an excessive whump story and felt bad about it afterwards. Poor John. But I didn't do it for the sake of whump but for the comfort and team moments after.

I think worse than the whump that is dragged out is whump that is dragged out, then skipping to the infirmary scene with John half-healed and everyone cheery and laughing. The quick-resolve ending that's only a page long after everything John's been through. I like whump for the comfort and angst scenes after, not for the sake of whump alone, and endings like that are such a jip.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I sooo agree..I can be prety ticked off if I've read a well written ansgt-fest, full of detail, great plot, whump for for many chapters, then left with a recovery wrapped up in the end....and I'm left with this WTF feeling...all hurt..no comfort?

*growl*