Fandom rant (for those who read my last story)

[diaphenia]

I posted this story on this website, and someone anonymously asked me, and I quote: 


Hi, would it be possible to make it a bit clearer that this isn't just a Leslie/Ben story? Thanks!

Which, ok, I get it. It's a surprise that this is a story where Leslie and Ben don't get together, but it fits the qualifications of the community, which is that it concerns their romantic relationship- nowhere does it say that they have to get together and stay together in order to qualify. 

And I get that some people don't want to read about them being romantically involved with other people, and I'd certainly never say that's not a valid expression of your feelings. We all have to draw our own lines, and if that's your line, Anon, great! I fully support your line. If you only want to read certain types of fic, that is completely your right. I'm not going to thrust something else on you. 

But... in the description for the story, I mention that it's about an A/L/B threesome. So.... it's not just a Leslie/Ben story. Because Ann's there too. And if both of them are interested in other people throughout the piece but they still are interested in each other and yet don't get together anyway, that's sometimes how it goes. In fic, and in life. 

And I'm not going to give that away in the description, because that's the ending, and I want the ending to be a surprise. Because it's the ending. And I'd like to think that one of the things I did with that story was played with expectations-- people who have read me before generally expect a certain type of fic from me; funny, or at least trying to be, light, with no real villains, heterosexual. And this isn't that. 

And it might be that this anonymous commenter doesn't have an lj, or they do and they don't want me to get mad at them. Which is fair; this might be someone I know and like who wants to be on good terms. Which, if you are, Anon, I promise I'll still like you. But I'm not going to change it. It's really easy to throw off a two second anonymous comment.

You know what's difficult? Writing a story.

And this one was harder than most, because I have to assert some non-heterosexuality on characters we have no canon reason to believe aren't being given a heteronormative narrative. And because it's dark, and I'm not a dark person, generally, though February was a hard month for me. And because  I put a lot of myself into, more than usual. Also, I have been working on it, on and off, for a month. 

Which makes this two second anonymous comment all the more annoying. 

Comments

[craponaspatula.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, now I get what your text was all about. I had no idea what you were referring to. But obviously I found the comment unnecessary as well. :)

[stillscape.livejournal.com]

People can't read, in general. Is the problem. I mean, granted, I knew you were writing a non-canon pairing to begin with, but the summary does clearly state that Ann is involved.

I will get you some blinky green lights if you like. There must be some in the junk room somewhere. They might be from the 1970s. But I'm sure they exist.

[sullen-aquarian.livejournal.com]

I love the word heteronormative. It's the result of being educated at a super liberal college.

But when you look at Parks--yes, there are no major gay/lesbian/bi characters on the show, and April--who once had the most transgressive relationship on the show--is now part of the show's only two marriages. Yet this is a show that has had several scenes at a gay bar, that had a male character confess to having had gay thoughts, that shows a physically affectionate relationship between two female friends. While Parks is, like you said, largely heteronormative, it offers enough leeway that seeing slash pairings or threesomes is not absurd.

[whimsical-irony.livejournal.com]

I agree with stillscape. If people can't read, that's not your problem. Whatever their stance is, it's not like they would have been surprised that it wasn't just a Ben/Leslie story if they read the summary.

And writing IS hard! I haven't really written anything for the Parks fandom because it takes such of lot of work to write something and I'm way intimidated by it all.

[rikyl.livejournal.com]

Agreed, it seemed pretty obvious that a threesome fic was not going to be a straight Leslie/Ben story, and I don't know how you could have indicated it any other way without giving away your ending. *sigh* Don't let the one anon commenter get to you too much.

[stiffleaves.livejournal.com]

People are idiots. Especially on the internet. Especially Anons on the internet. I mean, even if you have a username, it's still fairly anonymous, so if you can't even commit that far ... pfft.
Which is my way of saying, I agree that writing is hard and I think anon commenting is stupid, so don't take it to heart.

[k8-26-2.livejournal.com]

People are idiots. And rude. You put enough warnings out there that they could have backed out at any time.