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I feel like I'm starting to become a lurker in my own journal.
Mostly I haven't been in the mood to post about anything, probably because there isn't much to post about, at least nothing of a happy nature. The last couple of days have been a major trial of my patience and yesterday saw me in a state of depression I haven't been in for quite some time. We lost one of our rabbits and nearly lost one of our dogs, Lavi, via the same way we lost the rabbit (but Lavi's doing fine, now) and then just... other various things that I won't go into since they are many. I think it was me finding out we'd lost one of the rabbits long after the fact we lost her because my mom was hoping I wouldn't find out that really set things off for me. Seriously? It was my favorite rabbit, of course I was going to find out eventually! >:( Then everything else that followed just... added to the aggravation. I really am surprised I didn't explode and have a major public break down, as I have in the past. But I did end up with one heck of a stress headache.
Thankfully most of the sources of aggravation have past and as long as we're careful there shouldn't be anymore. But the key word here is "careful." And, well... let's just say we're still in situation where things could go wrong. Although this close call with Lavi should keep us on our toes for a while.
And next when the state fair comes around, we are getting another rabbit (unless I can find a chinchilla as I really want one).
Merlin is still eating my brain but I've reached that point in fic reading where I've devoured the good stuff, want more and am fighting the temptation to go a-scrounging for anything at all to read, which I swore to myself I would not do with any fandom ever again! I've stuck mainly to recs, other people's favorites, various FF.net communities and the gen filter at AO3 and have done pretty dang good thus far. Any more hunting and that will change and change horribly.
Also, I hate subtext. I'm not a fan of slash or het, but subtext I absolutely despise. I know people have issues with the "no slash" tag but, I have to be honest, I like it, because when I see "no slash" or even at least, "Slash with your goggles on or if you squint" then I know I don't have to worry about those little bits of subtext that make it incredibly difficult to hand-wave away author intent (and also ignore the rather skeevy thoughts character A is having about character B. So much for me thinking it was a friendship story :P). And I apologize for complaining about this but, as I said, I have been pretty aggravated the past couple of days.
Mostly I haven't been in the mood to post about anything, probably because there isn't much to post about, at least nothing of a happy nature. The last couple of days have been a major trial of my patience and yesterday saw me in a state of depression I haven't been in for quite some time. We lost one of our rabbits and nearly lost one of our dogs, Lavi, via the same way we lost the rabbit (but Lavi's doing fine, now) and then just... other various things that I won't go into since they are many. I think it was me finding out we'd lost one of the rabbits long after the fact we lost her because my mom was hoping I wouldn't find out that really set things off for me. Seriously? It was my favorite rabbit, of course I was going to find out eventually! >:( Then everything else that followed just... added to the aggravation. I really am surprised I didn't explode and have a major public break down, as I have in the past. But I did end up with one heck of a stress headache.
Thankfully most of the sources of aggravation have past and as long as we're careful there shouldn't be anymore. But the key word here is "careful." And, well... let's just say we're still in situation where things could go wrong. Although this close call with Lavi should keep us on our toes for a while.
And next when the state fair comes around, we are getting another rabbit (unless I can find a chinchilla as I really want one).
Merlin is still eating my brain but I've reached that point in fic reading where I've devoured the good stuff, want more and am fighting the temptation to go a-scrounging for anything at all to read, which I swore to myself I would not do with any fandom ever again! I've stuck mainly to recs, other people's favorites, various FF.net communities and the gen filter at AO3 and have done pretty dang good thus far. Any more hunting and that will change and change horribly.
Also, I hate subtext. I'm not a fan of slash or het, but subtext I absolutely despise. I know people have issues with the "no slash" tag but, I have to be honest, I like it, because when I see "no slash" or even at least, "Slash with your goggles on or if you squint" then I know I don't have to worry about those little bits of subtext that make it incredibly difficult to hand-wave away author intent (and also ignore the rather skeevy thoughts character A is having about character B. So much for me thinking it was a friendship story :P). And I apologize for complaining about this but, as I said, I have been pretty aggravated the past couple of days.
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 05:04 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 05:18 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 05:15 am (UTC)From:Regarding the fic thing ... as you know, I read various pairings, but I absolutely hate being blindsided by a pairing in a story that's labeled gen. Even if it's a pairing I would normally read! I just don't like the deceptiveness of it, and it gives me mental whiplash to start out with one characterization in mind and then, smack, get deflected into something else. Back in SGA, there were certain authors I stopped reading because of their tendency to sneak stealth!pairings into gen-labeled fic.
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Date: 2012-05-16 05:41 am (UTC)From:I think my mom may have also been trying to avoid an "incident" which may have also been why she didn't tell me. We have family staying with us, and long story short their dogs are the reason we lost the rabbit. Last time something like that happened with another family member and their dog (and our chickens), I didn't handle it very well emotionally (I personally banned the dog from ever coming over ever again).
But, still, my mom isn't usually one to pussy-foot around a matter like that so it was pretty strange.
I just don't like the deceptiveness of it, and it gives me mental whiplash to start out with one characterization in mind and then, smack, get deflected into something else.
Yes! Exactly! Slash or het, I hate being mentally sideswiped like that.
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Date: 2012-05-16 11:20 am (UTC)From:As far as subtext goes, it sounds like the same issue I have with authors pushing their POV into a story. Like, for your example, if somebody's writing a gen story for a canon that they feel is slashy, then they should just write it the way they see it on the screen and let the slashiness shine through to readers who are wont to see it. OTOH, I've seen (not recently, thank goodness) authors writing gen in the same kind of often-seen-as-slashy fandoms go out of their way to squash it: "X and Y hugged but then pulled away because they weren't gay or anything!" *headdesk*
Basically, I just want people to label their stories correctly and then get out of the way of how readers choose to interpret them. :)
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Date: 2012-05-16 09:09 pm (UTC)From:Yeah. I always say it's easier to read slash into something than it is to read gen into something, so it's not like the subtext is really needed. Plus an argument I often make about gen vs slashy subtext-gen is that most gen readers are looking for stories that - if possible (depending on canon) - stay away from pairings, and that includes hinting at pairings. And slash readers aren't going to scour gen fic hoping to stumble on slashy subtext. So why not just make it slash or at the least label it pre-slash, let readers know what they're in for, and make both parties happy?
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Date: 2012-05-16 12:53 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 09:12 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 01:55 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-16 09:12 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-17 04:10 am (UTC)From:*HUGS*
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Date: 2012-05-17 05:03 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-18 03:51 am (UTC)From:I'm so sorry things have been so hard. And most especially about your rabbit. *hugs* I know how hard it is losing a pet (even ones like rodents or birds, which most people just don't seem to believe have real personalities). But wow... she didn't tell you? :(
I very much hope that the stress eases off for you soon, and you're able to really relax.
Gah, oh I so know what you mean about the fanfic, though. It seems like, whether through just happening to stumble upon it or through recommendations, I nearly always find the majority of really, really good fic right when I first get into a fandom. Which just whets my appetite, and leaves me poking around for more, only... in most fandoms, there does tend to be so much do not want out there for me. Heh.
I do just really wish that people would label stories accurately. That tends to get to me SO much. I know there are differing definitions of Gen, but... so often I see things labeled that which are so incredibly far from it. Yes, I do understand not wanting to limit your audience unnecessarily, but really... the people who want pairing aren't going to be put off by your declaring their presence (and in fact may be less likely to read the story, thinking it's not what they'r looking for), while people who don't are only likely to be really annoyed at the bait-and-switch of a story suddenly taking a turn that blindsides them. Just let readers make an informed decision on whether your stories are the type that'll interest them, people, please.:/
no subject
Date: 2012-05-18 07:36 pm (UTC)From:I am feeling a lot better now that most of the sources of aggravation are past. :D Though I'm still missing my rabbit :(
in most fandoms, there does tend to be so much do not want out there for me. Heh.
I know! And the squick factor of some stories can stick with you for days (in one case, even years). It's why I'm trying to be so careful in this fandom and really control my searches as much as possible. It's why I've come to despise subtext so much, because some of it can be pretty bad and I hate being mislead like that.
the people who want pairing aren't going to be put off by your declaring their presence (and in fact may be less likely to read the story, thinking it's not what they'r looking for), while people who don't are only likely to be really annoyed at the bait-and-switch of a story suddenly taking a turn that blindsides them.
Exactly. It would be like labeling a story slash but then giving it some het undertones, or making the story het and giving it slash undertones. I always say that labeling a story isn't a means to warn people about what the story contains, it's also a way to advertise and get your story to those who would most appreciate it.