I know discourse is the word of choice in fandom nowadays but I kind of wish we would have stuck with “fandom wank” because it carries the implication that the anger involved culminated into effectively nothing and that the act was wholeheartedly masturbatory in nature rather than for any greater cause.
I saw this post about an hour after I saw a post that said, essentially, “There should be a word for that thing where [exactly describes ‘squeeing’].”
I feel like the time has come to produce something like this:
Squee: The noise you make when something is so good that all you can really do is squeak or squeal. A high pitched sound of delight, often accomanied by hugging yourself or others.
Squick: A fic/art/concept/topic that is repellent to you, so you reject association with it and instead retreat to your personal comfortable spaces- all the while remembering that someone else’s comfort is not your own.
YKINMKATO: Also called “kink tomato.” Abbreviation meaning “your kink is not my kink, and that’s okay.” Used to explain why you are rejecting art or fic brought to you by someone else. A solid mantra to recall instead of sending flames in people’s comments
Flames: The comment equivalent of anon hate.
AMV: “animated music video” or “anime music video.” Often, this is stylized to fit a specific fandom, such as a “PMV” (pony music video) in my little pony. May also be referred to as a lyricstuck.
Filk: Combination of the words “film” and “folk,” this is a music genre, to which “fan songs” and “fan parody covers” belong. If you don’t really understand what this means, take a quick listen to American Pie, then compare Weird Al Yankovic’s Saga Begins
BNF: Big name fan. You know that one person who is just so fuckign popular in your fandom? Their art is always on your dash, everyone knows their fics? Being spoken to directly by them is basically being noticed by everyone ever’s senpai? That’s what these people are called.
DL:DR; Not unliked the teal deer (tl;dr, or “too long, didn’t read”), DLDR means “don’t like? Don’t read!” It’s a reminder that you are under no obligation, ever, to expose yourself to uncomfortable (or, squicky), or potentially harmful (or, triggering), material. Not ever. If you don’t actively like something? It’s not worth your time. Skip it.
Gen: or “genfic” “genart” etc. Fan works which contain no or very little romantic content. Often these are styled after the canon material, and may be called “episodic” ro “slice of life” in addition.
Lemon: Work containing strong pornographic elements
Lime, or Citrus: Work containing mild or implicit pornographic elements
Sockpuppeting: The surprisingly common scenario of someone making a bunch of fake accounts/sideblogs to send themselves reviews or hate, to try to increase views or drama surrounding a work. The accounts they make are called Sockpuppets.
WAFF: Warm and fluffy feelings. A genre of fic that exists just to be therapeutically sweet. Nowadays, usually just called “fluffy.”
Schmoop: Take WAFF and somehow make it even more syrupy. You’ll know it when you see it.
Whump: Imagine if you will, a hurt-comfort fic. The comfort might be considered WAFF. The hurt? That’s the whump.
Wapanese: When white autors pepper their anime fanfic with random, tonally inappropriate japanese words.
Anthropomorfic: Nowadays we just call these “humanstuck” or “humanized AU.”
Wank: Wildly disproportionate drama that crops up because someone wrote/drew/did something that someone else didn’t like. Seriously, I cannot begin to express the fiascos that have come about from all this. Just… Just go look at this.
Plot bunny: Story ideas that you probably won’t ever actually deal with, but that multiply entirely out of control, creating huge worlds in your head that you’re probably not going to write. But hey! You might! And until then they make great sideblogs/askblogs/tumblr posts.
Casefic: Fanfics that try to create an episode-like feel for procedural and crime dramas, moster of the week shows, etc.
Jossed: When popular fan theories and fanon are addressed in the canon of a series, and whoops, turns out we were all very, very wrong.
Kripked: When popular fan theories and fanon are addressed in the canon of a show and, hot damn, we fucking called it.
Secret Masters: The people who run the websites/ communities/etc that we all do our fanning on. Less relevant now that we have things like tumblr, but when everyone had to run their own archival and social sites for each fandom, it was more important to pay our respects to the strange and powerful beings that brought us all together and gave us our fannish homes. Think the staff of AO3, for example.
Bashing: When a writer purposefully writes a specific character as a horrible, horrible person so that they can throw them out of the storyline, usually to allow their OTP to get together without trouble. Distinct from fridging in that it doesn’t require the character to die, but rather to be such a screaming harpy that they get rightfully removed from the main characters’ lives for being an abusive hell beast. Generally, a type of character hate. Be wary of people who bash women, queer people, and POC with consistency: they are not safe to be around.
This lowkey feels like something Legolas would say in the Hobbit trilogy lol, I mean, he p much seems to be going through his rebellious teen phase as it is.
*pats Leggy*
Gloin: Hey give it back, that’s private. Legolas: Who is this? Your brother? Gloin: That is my wife. Legolas: And what is this horrid creature? A goblin mutant? Gloin: That’s my wee lad Gimli. Why are you so rude, elf? Legolas: unlike u i have the spine to tell ppl when i hate them so they know and can fix their behaviour
Dwarves: The elves did not come to our aid when we needed it most
Thranduil: unlike u i have the spine to tell ppl when i hate them so they know and can fix their behavior
I’ve made dozens of posts about Defending Thorin Oakenshield. I have a whole tag on my blog for such things. I’ve reblogged hateful posts and participated in fandom wank with the best of them. But in this case, I believe we’re only making this person happy by doing so, and accomplishing nothing else in the process.
Block them. Ignore them. And please, if they do post some long thing that will supposedly ‘prove’ that their gross opinion about Thorin is true, ignore it. Don’t give it a single note. I promise you that’s exactly the reaction this person doesn’t want to garner.
Rachel puttin it better than i could. All of this. Even if someone’s an actual asshole (as the case is holy shit) harassment accomplishes nothing. Especially if they’re enjoying it.
Yk maybe mentally ill people are tired of seeing people like you look at good, accurate portrayals of mental illness and brand them as abusers. Maybe they’re tired of people like you thinking their symptoms mean they’re abusive. Maybe they’re tired of believing they’re a burden, a “fuckup”, a “douchebag”, a “patient”, and all the other lovely words you’ve used.
Maybe they’re tired of being hidden away in dark corners because people like you think so lowly of mental illness. Maybe they’re tired of being ashamed to talk about how they feel in case someone like you calls them a “fuckup” or an “abuser”.
Maybe the only person here with a problem is you, anon. Maybe the person being abusive here is you, anon. Just a thought.
I’ve said all I need to say on this matter, now. I’ve explained in depth Thorin’s mental state, I’ve explained my take on Bagginshield. I’ve had to defend things I never thought I’ve had to defend, because I assumed most people had basically decency in their hearts
You’ve been exposed, anon, as a disgusting example of ableist nonsense.
You’ve lost. Beyond Thorin, beyond Bagginshield, beyond fandom, you’ve lost. You’ve shown your true, horrible colours. You’ve come across as a monster. You should be ashamed.
Give up. Go away.
I have no time for abusive, ableist creatures like you.
Gamve Over.
You lost.
I am so fucking angry right now. Sophie, you are a stellar human, and have responded to this vile little toad with grace and patience. I have to add my own fucking 2 cents, because this whole steaming mass of bullshit has cut me very close to the bone.
I write Thorin as a person living with mental illness. You know why?
Because I do. Because my father does. My little sister. My best friend. My uncle had schizophrenia, as it was then called. My grandfather had PTSD. There are so many more members of my family, so many more of my friends, who also live with mental illness. We’re fucking everywhere.
Anon, stop talking for people with mental illness. STOP IT. STOP. IT.
You do not speak for me. Or them. We can speak FOR OURSELVES. I don’t remember voting for you as spokesasshole for the mentally ill.
I am a good singer, and a decent dancer, and I bake fabulous cakes and pies, and I am a good mum. I am tidy, I am a great organiser, I am a good teacher. I hate glace cherries, I love liquorice, I make my own pasta and shortcrust pastry. The fact that I cannot always deal with shit – or that I sometimes deal in a way that isn’t ‘nice’ – has never mattered to my husband. He loves me. I love him. We do not need to be the same in every respect in order to love each other. I am perceptive and cautious and loyal and retiring. He is discerning and analytical and confident and funny. I make risotto. He makes sushi. I vacuum. He mows the lawn. I wash the towels and bedsheets. He does the ironing. I empty the kitty litter. He takes out the bins. We have been together for a hell of a long time. Sometimes I carry him. Sometimes he carries me. Sometimes we prop each other up.
WTF, anon – how can you say that illness is the measure of a whole person, let alone of a relationship? Because I have depression and my husband does not, to you we are unequal? That he is my minder? That I am abusing him? You are insulting and infantilising me, you arrogant monster. And fuck you very much, you jerk. I am 33, I have lived a hell of a life already, and I am no infant. My husband is my partner in all things. There is no decision we do not make mutually. And you know something? He has always said that I have sacrificed waaaaay too much of my own life to facilitate his. I support him wholeheartedly, in everything, with everything that I am. And he does the same for me.
Do I not have the right to express my story in a way that I see fit, using characters I love, in a world that has captivated me since I was 8? Or is that only for NT folks, and not for the likes of dirty, ‘broken’ lil me?
Am I not permitted to see similarities between my illness and Thorin’s character – AND Bilbo’s, to be perfectly frank – and to explore that? To say, ‘yes, I am never going to be “ all better, all fixed now!!!” – and that’s okay, I am loved and I am enough.’ That when I withdraw or can’t cope or hide (or worse), it doesn’t mean that the good things that I am, the good things that I have done and still do and still may achieve, are suddenly wiped away?
Fuck you, anon.
My own little sister is one of the most compassionate and gentle and wise and good people in this whole entire world. In the past she has mutilated her face and has tried to throw herself out of the window. She travelled India and Nepal by herself, volunteering in orphanages as a childminder, despite her chronic pain. My dad is ridiculously creative and passionate and clever and full of life and ridiculous snort-worthy jokes, and he is also generous. beyond. belief. Not kidding. I mean it: my Dad will give you the shirt off his back. He would shower you in tiny puppies if he thought it would make you happy. I have lost count of the times he has said, ‘so what can I do to help?’
He also has angry rants in which he verbally attacks the people he loves, and is too ashamed to even speak afterwards. But he always ALWAYS takes responsibility for them, and for the damage his words can do.
I love my dad. Love my dad. My dad is a wonderful, amazing, incredible dad. I would never, EVER wish for another. He is not. Fucking. Abusive. He is my darlin’ ole dad, and he is doing the very best he can. On all days; on every day. He is a flawed and perfect and wonderful human. Sound in any way familiar?
Do these very real flesh-and-blood-and-bone people not deserve love? Are they nothing but ‘patients’?
My uncle introduced me to Lord of the Rings. I was 8. I called him ‘Uncle Puss’ and he used to read it to me and tell me what the long words meant, and encouraged me when I expressed a thought aloud. He was kind, and quiet, and shy, and sweet. His intelligence was literally OFF THE FUCKING CHARTS. He encouraged me in everything, he supported me when I had no sense of self-worth and would literally let myself be walked all over if it made things ‘easier’. He recognised when I was being bullied before anybody else did. He comforted and bolstered me when I thought that I wasn’t allowed to be smart, because I thought it made me a bigger target. His illness made him lethargic and withdrawn, and his medications for a time made him physically violent. Did that make him a terrible person? Did it make this tall, awkward, skinny, sweet, shy, brilliant man a leech? An ABUSER?
Fuck you, anon.
Many people thought the same way as this asshole anon. Thanks in part to their influence, my brilliant, gentle Uncle Puss has been missing for 15 years. He was legally presumed dead two years ago.
My grandfather fought in Papua New Guinea in WWII. He came home. He raised three children – it would have been four, but my youngest uncle died when he was only 9. My grandfather never spoke about what he’d seen, or done. The medals went into the cupboard, and my grandfather made things grow. He planted trees all over Australia: taught people to care for them. Whole magnificent avenues of trees still stand, taller than buildings, and I can point to them and say ‘my Poppy did that.’ He called me silly pet names, he would dismantle the whole sun-room to build blanket forts for us that never collapsed, and taught me how to garden. He fed the whole street with the vegetables from his garden. He would distance himself, he would hide, and he would snap and snarl: he would accuse us of snooping when we went climbing and playing in the shed. He was a WIZARD at Uno. He was so strong. He was so amazing. He developed bowel cancer and took his own life on the 29th of February, so that we could only mark that one day every four years. I miss him so much.
I loved them. They deserved love. I deserve love.
Anon, your goddamned awful views hurt real living people like these. You simplify them. You reduce them – and me – to a couple of hurtful, spiteful, vicious words.
This anon seems to think that we ‘fuckups’ are rare. That we are somehow aberrant. That the love we have to give, the people we are, are not worth the time and affection of any neurotypical person. That we bring nothing good to a relationship.
That we do not deserve to see ourselves in the fan-media that
we
ourselves
create.
That we are nothing but ‘draining leeches’. Nothing but ‘fuckups’. Unworthy.
This anon acts as though we can’t speak for ourselves, and then tells us that we are ‘fetishising’ our illness when we do.
God, I haven’t even touched on the matter of being instructed as to which characters are ‘acceptable’ for me, as a person with MI, to identify with. The absolutely breath-taking arrogance of that. The sheer level of autocratic, imperious obliviousness.
Despite all this rantage and evidence and soul-baring, I don’t think I have articulated the ways in which I am angry about this poisonous and STUPID viewpoint, and the fact that this jerk anon is using me and people like me as mouthless and voiceless ‘validation’ to bolster their very obvious bigotry.
But I think it can be concluded in three short words: Fuck. You. Anon.
Ok but, I think it’s funny that the people/person spewing their bagginshield hate and calling Thorin abusive is doing it to make themselves feel better about their own ship.
Like most likely they ship Bilbo with someone else, and it’s not a very popular ship, so there isn’t that much content for it so they’re butthurt about it because bagginshield is such a bloody big ship (:’D)
Or maybe they write wilting flower Bilbo with someone else and their fics aren’t popular enough so they’re salty about it and are putting the blame on Thorin because he is such a cinnamon roll, too good for this world, and his kindness is killing them so they rather vilify him
Like, I can’t even take their accusations about Thorin seriously…
I mean, did y’all even watch/read the same Hobbit????
It all sounds like a big joke and desperate cry for attention…
They can’t get attention any other way so they turn to harassment and wank instead cuz they know it’s probably the only way they’ll get it.
It’s hilarious and sad at the same time.
i started laughing at this post b/c i’m watching criminal minds right now and you profiled the hell out of this hateful anon, you go sky
idiots: TAURIEL IS A MARY SUE
glorfindel: *exists*
aragorn: *exists*
elrond: *exists*
bilbo: *is a self-insert character*
kili: *exists*
earendil: *exists*
Sorry everyone for this shitstorm. Thank you to those who have been supportive. It sucks so much when your fave is always the target, and it’s nice to see that others actually understand that. It’s a hell of a reach and a bit ridiculous to call it ‘nerd elitism’ (easily refuted with a single look at my reclist, tbh) instead of what it is: unhappiness over a beloved character always and forever depicted as a scapegoat, an ass, a bigot or a laughing-stock.
Do. Not. Ever. Send. Anon. Hate. I repeat:
Do. Not. Ever. Send. Anon. Hate.
Thanks especially to those who have expressed sympathy to me, and given me advice on how to handle something that has blown up out of all proportion. I am not used to having a private opinion turn into an excuse for others to attack someone else. I am angry and disgusted at those who used me as their excuse to send hate: you appall me.
If you knew anything about me, you’d know how much I despise anon hate. I do not want ‘defense’ like yours.
I will not be using this blog to have personal opinions on characters or whatever any more. I’m a bit sad that I have to take the ‘me’ out of this blog in order to make it palatable. It’s been my little escape, my little place for three years now, but apparently the rules are changing and I have to adapt.
I am reaaaally not happy about being blamed for the words and actions of others. I have apologised already for my sad whine that others used to excuse sending anon hate to someone else. I do not need to apologise for things I have not said or done. The person who said those things is responsible for them. I do not condone or agree with any anon message that was sent to the other party. I am astonished that yet another negative and totally incorrect assumption is being made about me, and reported as ‘fact’, without even asking me. False accusations are very upsetting.
I do not feel it is my place to talk about another person’s personal life online, be it language status or place of residence, etc. Particularly if I don’t know anything about it. Because y’know – assumptions are usually wrong.
I am INCREDIBLY unhappy about being insulted and called ugly and derogatory names, all my hard work mocked and jeered at. I am a real person here, and that’s more hurtful than any character bashing. I have never seen such a mob mentality, all gleefully slagging me off without question or hesitation, putting the boot into me for something I didn’t even fucking do.
I am frankly amazed at people who think it is okay to tell anyone to kill themself. Particularly someone with depression – like. Thanks a bundle, you absolute asshats, you really do your friend proud.
I repeat:
Do. NOT. EVER. SEND. ANON. HATE.
I will leave my answers where they are. I do not have anything to hide – and it makes me glad in my friends to see that nobody has been insulted or attacked in the replies to my posts (something I can’t say about the anon haters – you still appall me, I want nothing to do with you). There’s no need to descend to that.
Anon is remaining off for the meanwhile, and if and when I ever choose to turn it back on, I won’t be answering anons who ask for my opinions again. I know, I know, and I’m sorry – I usually do my best to answer everyone, but again – I gotta adapt, it appears.
Sorry again, all. And thank you again, to those who have expressed understanding and agreement. You’re golden.
HAVEN’T I MADE IT CLEAR HOW I FEEL ABOUT ANON HATE
HEY ANON HATERS
I WAS NOT BEHIND THE FUCKING ANON HATE TO THE ARTIST GDI I HAVE NEVER SENT HATE IN MY WHOLE FUCKING LIFE
I ALWAYS PUT MY FUCKING NAME ON E V E R Y T H I N G I S A Y AND THIS IS FUCKING WHY
I HAVE TRIED TO TELL THE PERSON IN QUESTION THIS. STOP THE STUPID ACCUSATIONS. I SENT THEM A MESSAGE AND IT SEEMED TO GO THROUGH BUT NO RESPONSE
SO I CHECKED, AND THEY HAVE FUCKING BLOCKED ME, I CAN’T TELL THEM JACK SHIT, SO DON’T FUCKING TELL ME TO APOLOGISE OR KILL MYSELF YOU ABSOLUTE ASSHOLES
ESPECIALLY WHEN I DIDN’T. SEND. ANON. HATE!!!!!
YOU KNOW WHAT – IN MY POSTS (WHICH WERE ANSWERS TO OTHER PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS, OH MY GOD, I TRY TO ANSWER EVERYONE BC I WANT TO BE POLITE) I DIDN’T EVEN FUCKING NAME THEM
AND D’YOU KNOW WHY? BC I DIDN’T WANT TO FUCKING. RUIN. THEIR. DAY. I DIDN’T WANT MY ANON ANSWERPOSTS TO SHOW UP IN THEIR TAG ON MOBILE TO BRING THEM DOWN. I DIDN’T WANT TO DRAG THEM INTO MY OWN LITTLE MISERY.
AND NOW THEY HAVE BLOCKED ME AND ARE CALLING ME FUCKING HORRIBLE NAMES, BEING DEROGATORY ABOUT MY HEADCANONS ETC, AND SO ARE THEIR FOLLOWERS. SAYING THAT I SHOULD BE ‘NAMED AND SHAMED’
FOR.
WHAT.
YOU.
DID.
HEY ANON HATERS
LET ME PARAPHRASE YOUR BULLSHIT FOR YOU:
YES GOD FORBID I BE UPSET ABOUT THINGS THAT UPSET ME, CAN’T I TAKE A FUCKING JOKE, HOW DARE I WISH FOR NICE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY, DON’T I KNOW IT’S BETTER TO SHUT THE FUCK UP IF I KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR ME, DON’T I KNOW THAT CANON DAIN IS SHIT, APOLOGISE FOR SENDING HATE (WHICH I DIDN’T HOLY FUUUUUUUUCK) OR KILL YOURSELF, PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO UNREPENTANTLY BASH DAIN WITHOUT OTHERS GETTING UPSET, GETTING UPSET IN PUBLIC IS FUCKING WEAK, BASHING DAIN ISN’T REALLY CHARACTER BASHING, AND I’M A PIECE OF OVERRATED SHIT
HEY ANON HATERS
STOP TRYING TO REIGNITE THIS CLUSTERFUCK YOU BEGAN AND
Thank you, hon. I don’t think I’ll be comfortable disagreeing or being openly upset about anything again though.
I am amazed I need to say this, but: Me disagreeing with someone? Is not a licence to send hate to anybody, EVER. Me venting bc I am upset? NEVER an excuse to hurt another person. To those who did: Now there is a fucking whole bunch of people who are saying horrible and untrue things about me, because of your actions. So yeah, if you were trying to protect me, you missed the mark.
I’m discovering this now, and tbh Nonnie I am very sorry I didn’t listen to you. Please people – STOP. Do not EVER attack someone. Do not EVER send anon hate. DO. NOT.
I am incredibly INCREDIBLY ANGRY AND APPALLED and about a billion times more upset now!!!
a) Anon hate is not and shall not EVER be okay. Difference of opinion – fine. Anon hate – NO.
b) The recipient of the hate apparently thinks that I was the one to send it????? I am appalled and HORRIFIED. I have never sent anon hate in my entire fucking life.
c) Welp. Apparently I cannot be a person on my blog. I can’t even be upset about something. Looks like I get to be seventeen deliriously happy puppies chained to a keyboard.
Aw Yiss 