mini revelation

[timepiececlock]

I've had a miniature semi-revelation.

I don't like Spander fic.

I kinda knew this before, and then I kinda convinced myself otherwise. I've read an assortment now (especially ficlets), by fic writing ladies that I adore and envy for their talent, but I just can't get excited by anything on the subject.

I think it might have to do with the fact that Xander, though cute, was always my least favorite Scooby character on BTVS, and I've never been that excited about him in the first place, except those time when he gets the good lines, and when it involves Anya. Other than that... nothin'.

I feel weirdly... liberated. Here I've been trying to latch onto Spander fic as everyone else seemed to, and deep down knowing it just wasn't working for me, but trying to get into it anyway.

Now that I know I actually don't like reading it, and can't imagine that it would ever happen whatsoever, I feel... reaffirmed.

You all keep writing it, because you're great. I'm just not going to read it.

Comments

[leslina.livejournal.com]

I feel weirdly... liberated. Here I've been trying to latch onto Spander fic as everyone else seemed to, and deep down knowing it just wasn't working for me, but trying to get into it anyway.

You shouldn't have tried to force yourself to do it in the first place. I don't care how good a writer and friend a person is to me. If a topic/pairing doesn't appeal to me or is off putting -- I would never force myself to like it for the sake of friendship. We all have our quirks and are entitled to them. True friendships can get past these kinds of things. My friends know what I like and what I don't like and they respect that as I respect their differing creative ideas so we don't force one another into needless pressure. Not that there's anything wrong with jumping the bandwagon now and again -- but I think you have to have at least some remote appeal to what the wagon's offering if you're going to jump on -- otherwise, stay off.

Glad you came to your realization and were honest about it.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

-- I would never force myself to like it for the sake of friendship.

It wasn't that-- it's not a pressure thing. It's a "I gotta find something to do" thing, and "that's what a lot of people seem to be doing so I'll check it out." I've always felt that anything you do online is self-imposed and self-chosen, the internet is too ephemeral a place to blame your actions of others.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

I've always felt that anything you do online is self-imposed and self-chosen, the internet is too ephemeral a place to blame your actions of others.

I don't see it that way. Internet "culture" is not unlike any other strata or sub culture of society. I regard my net friends in much the same way as I regard friends from school, work etc

Pressures to "jump" onto a fad or "check something out" are no different online as they are offline.

The way I view this Spander phase is no different from urban kids adopting du rags as the latest fashion accessory -- a couple of writers from a particular sub culture of fandom on the web wanted to experiment with something different and it went from a "whim thing" to a fad thing.

It's just how human dynamics work. Blame has nothing to do with it.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Pressures to "jump" onto a fad or "check something out" are no different online as they are offline.

I guess that really comes down to how much you invest in it. In most ways I regard my online friends the same as I do friends I know from school or otherwise. I talk to them the same way I do my other friends, with the same level of respect and expectation of respect. In some ways, though, I disagree, because I don't really think you can be 'pressured' into doing anything. I don't buy it-- any time there's something you don't feel like doing, you can just choose to close the window or ignore the email. It's not like you sit next the people every day and have to feel peer pressure.

[leslina.livejournal.com]

because I don't really think you can be 'pressured' into doing anything. I don't buy it-- any time there's something you don't feel like doing, you can just choose to close the window or ignore the email. It's not like you sit next the people every day and have to feel peer pressure.

Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I do believe in free will but there's no denying the power of influence, persuasion, seduction, peer pressure, call it what you will. It's all the same and it's real and it exists in various incarnations.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

we can agree to disaggree. :)