Slashdot Mirror
Fan Fiction Writers Balk at FanLib.com
bill jackson writes "A couple of former Yahoo execs are trying to create the next MySpace by aggregating fanfiction on a website called FanLib. But the fanfic writers recognized that exploitation was written all over the idea and they've refused to participate. 'Instead of creating the Myspace of fanfic since the launch two weeks ago, FanLib.com sparked a white-hot Internet firestorm.The meltdown is a hard lesson in how not to conduct business on the Internet.But it's a firestorm of FanLib's own making because, in spite of the Yahoo pedigree (or maybe because of it), they plowed in like china shop bulls.'"
and got themselves clawed.
I suspect an awful lot of the negative reaction comes from three factors:
1. Membership in the site would certainly have a "We own your postings." clause in the Terms of Service.
2. *And* a "We reserve the right to censor anything you post we don't like." clause.
and the cherry on top:
3. An unwritten consequence of (1) would be: "If it's really good, we'll use it to make money. Thanks suckers." clause.
And just remember, in Hollywood, "Trust us." translates to "F**k you."
Yes, that is quite a problem with bloggers in general. Most of them are stupid enough to think that you will give one tenth of one shit about a link to a blog that no one outside of their social circle cares about.
If I'm providing a link about tech, I don't send people to a fucking slashdot comment - unless it's full of good links.
Linking to some fanfic author's blog is roughly the precise antithesis of reputability. And I don't want to unduly hurt anyone's feelings here, but I have two major problems with fanfic in general. The first one is that most of it is shit. Most of the people writing that stuff clearly weren't paying attention in their English classes in grammar school. The second one is that these people should grow a fucking imagination. It's pathetic enough when you have a show that is so endlessly officially rehashed. Fanfic is way beyond the pale there. The primary example is Star Trek - that show ran out of ideas before the first series was even over, and you could detect ToS stories recycled in ToS!
But what the hell, I don't have a problem with the stuff existing - only with its self-importance. It's not important to anyone outside that particular social scene, except for various studios wishing they could leave a smoking hole in the ground where authors of slash fanfic once stood.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Because slashdot isn't well known for "breaking" news. It's an aggregator of news that has already been published and sourced. Moreso the better, if you ask me, since we don't have to deal with Digg/Reddit's "get it first and vote for me!" culture.
This is why you shouldn't publish just any damn thing you write when you're stoned on catnip.
"We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
Other choice lines include:
I'm currently majoring in business marketing , and I can't believe the misanthropical tone and language of their marketing plan. It's as cynical and exploitive as I've ever read.
SEO Copywriter. Just Say ON
I've occasionally posted stuff @ fanfiction.net, what makes this
new website significantly different?
You are so wrong.
All of fanfic is shit. Not most. Other than that, I agree whole-heartedly.
Consider this, none of those authors are now or will ever be published by a reputable publishing house (note, I say reputable, vanity presses will press any piece of shit).
Fan fiction is the realm of the third or fourth rate writer. They are neither well-versed in their native language to make it interesting nor imaginative enough to create original stories. That is why most fan fiction descends into softcore pornography, over the top violence, and self-insertion. Fan fiction is an obsessive stalker's letter to something that has no physical manifestation. Each story a shrine to their mindless devotion to the topic.
This is why it fails. Fan fiction isn't about the story, character development, or any sort of philosophy. Fan fiction is about how one person views a franchise. A projection of ego onto the objects of their desire.
My twitter
Righto, so Six Apart are saying it doesn't matter if it's entirely legal, they're going to start banning journals based on what they think is "appropriate". No, they aren't saying "it doesn't matter if it's entirely legal". They're saying the decision was not based on legal issues, i.e., it wasn't just because they were afraid of being legally sued. In fact, they can legally ban journals based on what content they deem is "appropriate", as long as such a ban doesn't violate their stated Terms of Service.
...on a website I don't control.
Invariably, when a site gets popular, it attracts the attention of people who would like to ruin your shit. Things like this happen.
Don't rely on third parties if you have speech you want to protect.
THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON