At 10:08 AM 5/14/1997 -0700, Wing wrote:

On Tue, 13 May 1997, ROBERT   MORRISON wrote:

<*>Recently, I started to read a fanfic (not naming names) which I gave 
<*>up on after one chapter because the author chose to have the Ranma 
<*>characters talking as though they came from South Central LA. While 
<*>the Ranma cast *does* swear, I just can't handle this kind of thing. 
<*>It just isn't appropriate.

*smiles* I agree that profanity is usually not... appropriate. However, there
have been productions which it adds a certain... edge to the movie. Case in
point, "Pulp fiction" and "TrainSpotting". Trainspotting had profanity
everyother word for some characters.. but I loved it not despite it, but
because of it. I intend to have a web page written in a similar language
style. ;)

Also, apart from edge, it can be used for characterization.  What if you 
want to portray a character as vulgar and ineffective this time?  Or what if 
you use it for contrast (see the two different ways Ukyou speaks at the end 
of "Ukkyo in the Box").

<bit about c&c and the umm.. reply snipped>

<*>I ask you, is this kind of thing neccessary?

Hmm.. yes and no. In a sense, C&C, even the most polite, ~can~ have a tendency
to seem overbearing, exertive, and/or even hostile. It isn't so much how you
say it, but what is percieved to be have said. There might have been strong
reasons for the addition of certain elements. Or perhaps the writer was just
in a bad mood. *shrugs*

The polite response is, "Thank you for the suggestions, but I've decided to 
leave this part as it is."  If you're rejecting a *lot* of someone's C&C, 
also "I'd like to use more of your suggestions, but I'm afraid it might 
change the story to the point where it's more your story than mine."

"p.s. Fuck you" is *never* necessary.

On another note, sometimes, people do get fired up and well... polite c&c or
note, there will be much gnashing of teeth. ;)

I probably know which author you're talking about.  Many of his stories have 
a lot of swearing, even when there seems to be no attempted change in 
characterization.  There's even swearing in some of his author's notes.  If 
we're talking about the same person, perhaps this is his everyday manner 
instead of just something he types when he's fired up?

<*>Folks, we are fanfiction writers. We do what we do in a public forum, 
<*>and we do it so that people can tell us what they think of our 
<*>fanfics. If someone has something to say about your fanfic, and you 
<*>can't do them the common courtesy of dealing with their concerns in a 
<*>constructive manner, such as perhaps citing a REASON why you chose to 
<*>do something in your fanfic, then what does that say to the rest of 
<*>the Net community?

Umm.. just as in real life, there are worse communities... much worse. :)
Being a community, we have to expect and take in stride, bumps we encounter...
we can't all be in good moods, we aren't angels, we aren't perfect. We are
human beings... unless there are AI's online... but we are mainly normal

And sometimes the AI's are the worst.  Apparently some grad students 
recently made an AI designed to simulate an obnoxious Usenetter in order to 
study flame war patterns....

<*>Folks, think carefully when people send you C&C. They're only trying 
<*>to be helpful, usually. 
<*>OK, I'll shut up now. Sumimasen.

Please don't apologize.. we're all entitled to our opinions.. even if it might
be unpopular, as in the case of the person's response or this email to that
person. :)

Learn to live with it. ;)

And.. have a nice day. ^_^ 

Wing. [ May the sun shine in your part of the world.. and warm a heart. ]