[FFML] [Ranma] [Alt] Death And Rebirth

[Brian Randall]

While this is a welcome reminder (posting in member capacity; this is
not an official mod statement) I think it's also important to remember
that this is Fox we're talking about [pause for laughter].

Seriously, though, the content of Slacker's post is quite relevant in
my mind.  While the list should welcome traffic, and we want to
encourage people to post and comment, posting the same thing three
times without revising it (especially after receiving helpful
commentary!) is not really helping anyone.  If anything, Fox's
inability (or perhaps just refusal?) to utilize any of the genuine
commentary he's received over the years makes it clear that it's
probably a waste of time to bother helping.  If it would have helped,
it would have helped years ago, and it obviously doesn't.  At least,
it certainly /hasn't/.

Therefore, why don't we look for a middle ground.  Instead of
complaining about Slacker maligning poor Fox [pause for laughter], why
don't we do something more productive?  Generate the type of traffic
we would like new members to see when they join.

To that end, if you think someone else is doing it wrong, why don't
you try your hand at doing it right?  Why not try providing the very
positive commentary you think is lacking?  I agree that we need more
positive commentary.  But I also think it would be wasted on Fox.
Historically, it hasn't helped.

Now, having commented on this as a list member, I'm pretty much unable
to act in a moderator capacity here.  But that's by choice on my part
-- this isn't the kind of thing that should require a moderator, even
if I am wandering off topic.  So ... being as polite as I can ... put
your money where your mouth is.  The list IS its membership.  If you
want to see positive changes, let's start working together to make
them.  [Wait for applause, wince at cricket noises -- clear throat
loudly and wince again at P.A. feedback.]  Anyway.  I've wasted enough
of everyone's time with this one -- let's get to making our list what
we want it to be.

...and having said that, I just moved house this weekend, so my own
time to comment is limited.  But I will try!  I hope some of you do,
as well.

On 7/6/07, Zac Wendler <flashfyre5 at msn.com> wrote:
> Right, I'm stepping in here.
>
> People- this FFML is just starting back up.  As the admins have noted,
> things are a little bit shaky, both on the hardware end of things and on the
> headcount end of things.  Writers are posting their stuff, trying to get
> this whole thing kickstarted.
>
> Twice in the past week, I've seen really brutal eviscerations of a writer's
> work posted to the FFML at large.  My reply to this contains one of those
> two; I won't embarrass the other individual, but you know who you are.  I
> hope that, with this posting, I might help to reduce the frequency of this
> practice on the new FFML.
>
> As reviewers, we must take responsibility for our comments and take great
> care that we do not engage in ad hominem attacks on the writers that supply
> us with material to comment upon.  Every time someone goes out of their way
> to beat down a writer, someone else may well be reading that and thinking to
> themselves "If this is how that look at things, I'm not so sure I want to
> post my stuff here.  Maybe I'll go to fanfiction.net."  Or another fanfic
> archive.  Or they may not post their writing at all.
>
> Be responsible readers and reviewers.  Stick to the text that is sent to us
> for consideration.  If the fic is too short for what happens in it, say
> that.  If it's too long and drags, say that.  If the characters are OOC, say
> that.  If there's a damn spaceship flying around in the middle of a Samurai
> Champloo fic, point out that it's inappropriate.  Never attack the writer
> themselves.  When you do that, we lose writers AND reviewers.  I've been on
> this list for as long as I can remember, and I'd really rather that it not
> die again.
>
> Please be polite.  We may not be able to find out who you are, but your
> actions have repercussions.
>
>    ~Flash

-- 
Brian Randall
--
I write fanfiction. Too much of it. You can read it here, thanks to a
kind grant from the Larry F foundation:
http://www.florestica.com/brandall/
--
Together. Allegiance or death. BIGFIRE!
--
Haiku of my lament:

Forgive my spelling,
my U.S. education,
is the source of blame.