It seems to be a good time to pause, and re-post...

[icarus]

... How To Survive a Wank

The first rule of course is, stop. If that's possible at this point.

Comments

[tjstein.livejournal.com]

Wank?

Who cares about wank when we get to see that icon.

Yeah, that one.

guh

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. That one's nice.

Icarus

[photosinensis.livejournal.com]

What wank is it now?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

There's always a wank. :D

Icarus

[incoming.livejournal.com]

Hahaha.

Call me cruel and inhuman, but I love fandom_wank...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I prefer unethical and slanderous to cruel and inhuman, since I think that's a more accurate description.

Icarus

[incoming.livejournal.com]

Unethical and slanderous about fit the bill, yes; but you'd be amazed what people do for attention, or how they try to elevate themselves above others. Some people just really have it coming, I'm afraid. What I don't like is F_W-elitism. These are just basically people who understand fandom etiquette, know the do's and don't's, but sometimes they let it get to their heads and then the wank just wanks itself. They forget that it's key to be able to laugh at yourself, and not take something as trivial as fandom, too seriously.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I've made it pretty clear what I think of fandom wank. I don't unfriend people for it, but don't defend it to me. I've no respect for it at all.

Icarus

[incoming.livejournal.com]

Of course, I respect your opinion. If everybody were the same it would be boring.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's why I don't unfriend for FW affiliation. I try to differentiate between the person -- with whom I may have much in common -- and the one activity I ahppen to not like. *shrugs*

Icarus

[dkwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'm with you - I don't see the point of a group of people organized for the sole purpose of pointing fingers and laughing at others. I don't like that in real life and I don't like it in fandom. The two times I got pulled into a wank, trying to clear up some second-hand info and outright fabrications, I got burned. Never, ever again. And Thanks for the suggestions - I'm printing out your Survival Kit to pin on the board next to my desk, just in case I feel the urge to jump in ever again.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I wrote the guidelines, and I still step in it every time. *snort* At least I have the satisfaction of knowing better.

Icarus

[machiavellian.livejournal.com]

I just had to comment for the icon alone. I think I was vaguely hypnotised by it for about 15 minutes. What's even worse was trying to think of who it was.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Heh. I don't want to admit how much time I've spent watching that icon go around and around and...

Icarus

[wanderingscribe.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, the good old survival kit. It's still in my memories and I read it once in a while to remind myself not to get involved. (Don't get me wrong about having 'fandom wank' in my interests. I'm more interested in why people get involved in it than that it's something 'fun' to do.)

Hmmm...what's your stance on parody, btw? MSTs and all that? Out of curiosity, of course.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Bear in mind that my all-time favourite movie is Airplane, speaking of parodies in general. :D

But, fanfiction writers are usually new at it, just trying their wings. I don't feel comfortable making fun of them behind their backs. And you know, I can't think of a single MST I've ever read.

Icarus

[wanderingscribe.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't parody the works of younger fen, though I'm sorely tempted sometimes. It has to be dyed-in-the wool badfic, which requires that an "author" have some experience with knowingly writing terribly nonsensical things under their belt.

[snickers] Airplane was a little before my time, but I think I get the reference.

[rockcandy.livejournal.com]

I've just now been going through about a month's worth of friendslist, trying to catch up, and I'm the type of person that usually enjoys drama (It's like a car crash), but the stuff I've seen lately has made me feel dirty. I'm not involved so obviously I don't know the whole stories, but the malicious pettiness and cruelty has literally made me sick,.

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

I'll tell you thank you again now.

And in honour of the swirly icon of drool - my own swirly - but not half as interesting icon...