I agree with what Mr. Morrison says. C&C is comments and
(constructive) criticism. Lashing out at your C&Cer is simply biting
the hand that feeds you, so to speak.
As for the concept of profanity, there is an old quote by a modern
Spanish author (his name escapes me at the moment) that kinda goes
like this: "Just enough profanity is exotic, shocking, and effective.
Any more than that is vulgar, uncultured, and ineffective." Just
what is meant by "just enough"? That is a personal issue; for me,
that means minimal (case in point: some of my Ranma characters--old
and new--do swear, but minimally. They are also adults, and the ones
that do use profanity are living in the States--where profanity is
more common--as opposed to Japan--where it's NOT). I also get the
feeling--again, personal--that the quote's author intended the same
meaning is I get.
We have a responsibility as writers to use the words we scribe to
express feelings and actions--not demean them.
One last thing--if you have to be "witty" by writing comments like
"P.S. Fuck You", then you really need to re-learn the concept of wit.
Mr. Morrison, on behalf of those who agree with your comments, I
congratulate you for taking the insults in such a mature manner, and
saying what needed to be said. I would like to say that I hope this
won't happen again, but that's for each of us to decide.
--Ashita
---ROBERT MORRISON wrote:
I would not make such a big deal over this, especially since it's
inviting a flame war, but I feel this issue needs to be addressed.
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.
I wrote C&C to the author, expressing my concern about the language
usage. I was not (particularly) rude in my letter, I did not flame
the author. I simply expressed my opinion that this kind of language
doesn't belong in the Ranma universe.
The reply I received told me to "learn to love it" and at the end
the
author wrote "P.S. Fuck you."
I ask you, is this kind of thing neccessary?
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?
Folks, think carefully when people send you C&C. They're only trying
to be helpful, usually.
OK, I'll shut up now. Sumimasen.
____
------------------------------------------------------------
The Eternal Lost Lurker
squn29a@prodigy.com
EtLostLurker@hotmail.com
http://pages.prodigy.com/RMorrison
_____________________________________________________________________
Sent by RocketMail. Get your free e-mail at http://www.rocketmail.com