Why do people hate BNFs?

[icarus]

I really don't understand this BNF phenomenon. I just don't get it.

I don't see why people go "whee, Icarus!" when they find out their review or whatever is from me. I understand "whee, Stories!" -- or -- "whee, Icarus' Stories!" That makes sense to me, because this is all about the stories, all about the fun of writing. If you've liked something I wrote in the past, there's good chance you'll like the next one. I'm the same way about "whee, Candy!"

But I don't know why the focus shifts from the story to the person. What the hell...?

Comments

[absynthia.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm hoping it's because they really respect your work and love your writing style, so if you liked their writing also it was a big compliment to them. Some bnf's don't leave very much feedback also, so if you get a comment from them you might notice it and feel like it was something special -- an encouragement from someone you admire.

But in all reality, I think it's just human nature to make 'celebrities' in any community. Which means others will then try to emulate them or gain admittance into that group. Not everyone, by any means, but many. And so to some, getting one of these known anchors of the community in their flist or on their AIM list then becomes a status symbol, and somehow validates that they've arrived. :P This is the attitude I've noticed.

There is also a greater possibility of exposure if you're read and recced by someone whose journal is widely read. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing to be happy about. We all want people to read our stuff.

Why is everyone afraid to say these things? Some of it's ugly, but it's true.