Hmm. Do I wade back into this mess?

[icarus]

Do I do it, or not?

People in the SGA fandom were really pissed off about Last Port Of Call. The discussion started out interesting, revealing, and turned ugly. There are a couple of theories about this kicking around.

1) The "young fandom" theory, where everything's fresh and new, but the controversies haven't cropped up yet; "the explorers are the ones with the arrows in their backs";

2) The "drunken luau" theory, where yes, SGA is a fun drunken luau, but the flip side of that is that serious, challenging stories are not acceptable, the way you don't discuss the Holocaust at a cocktail party;

3) The characterization of John was really off. If I were a new writer, I'd consider it, but... no, I don't think so. I've been writing quite some time now, and characterization has always been where I'm solid. Now if someone came after me with a pitchfork about my yerk-transitions, or the stripped-down scenery ("Hello, Icarus? This is not a one-act play with a tree and a bucket, tell us where they are") or sloppily using the same word fifteen times in three pages, yeah okay.

Besides, the reaction was just too strong for it to be a simple characterization issue. Poor characterization you just go *snerk* and walk. It doesn't launch a crusade. Nor does the story get recc'd by people whose opinions I respect.

Nah. The issue was content.

But that's not what this poll is about. Or it is, but only sort of.

You see, I have another probably-guaranteed-to-be-unpopular John-fic. An SGA story where the content might fan the flames. It comes from the question:

If Rodney screws up due to hubris and ends up blowing up a solar system, and Carson screws up due to his medical curiosity and far-too-flexible ethics for the sake of his bright-eyed good intentions and fucks up a sentient being, and Weir screws up by bargaining away her principles for the sake of 'pragmatism' and gives away the position of Atlantis -- how and why does John screw up?

Okay, there are worse things in life than being controversial. But I'm feeling gun-shy. This isn't what I expected of SGA, naive of me, I know. I haven't encountered a reaction this bad since I defended slash to a group of Lord of the Rings anti-slashers in 2002 (and the arguments were eerily familar).

So, to everyone on the f-list, not just the SGA fandom who might not respond (results are viewable by none but me):

[Poll #761572]


ETA: Adds "if Carson screws up." Because "if Carson screws due to his medical curiosity and far-too-flexible ethics" has a completely different meaning.

ETA2: Wow. I'm far behind on answering everyone's comments, but that answered the question pretty thoroughly. I did not expect "er, I kinda liked Last Port" to be the strongest response, not by a long shot. So either a) the people who hated Last Port Of Call don't read my LJ (a good possibility), or b) the ones who hated it were a strident, vocal minority, and I got the wrong impression about how the story was received. Those who liked it were shouted down by those who didn't.

Either way, there's enough interest to, okay, write the Sheppard Screws Up story. But I warn you: it's het. It might not be that bad, I just... I didn't think Last Port Of Call was that controversial either.

ETA3: I'm so glad this person stopped by. Yes. Perfect example. This is the tone and nasty attitude that I've encountered over Last Port Of Call.

I've made the poll viewable to only me so that SGA readers can feel free to respond without facing problems from others. Most of the responders are SGA readers.

Comments

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well, the norm with stories people don't like is just hit the Back-button, claw at your eyes a moment, and feel grateful that didn't cost $10.95 for the paperback.

But one person I know rec'd it, and got quite an argument. Also, the comments got rather intense, if polite in the original posting on the sga_flashfic.

Then I had that cartoon moment of feeling like a flea followed by a hammer when I commented in someone else's journal and a couple people who didn't like the story in sga_flashfic followed me there (okay, ran across my comments) -- Aaaack!

Then there was the DVD commentary which went tits-up when I finally lost my temper after two weeks of heat.

The consensus for the most part was "good story" and then the qualifiers ran from "love it" to "interesting, I'm not sure John would do that" to "hateithateithateitbadwrongletmetellyouwhy!"

*does a double-take* There are negative people in the SGA fandom?

Gah. My naivete is perennial. Nothing quells my hope in the goodness of all people.

Icarus

[rike-tikki-tavi.livejournal.com]

Well, I say write the story, though I'd be happy if we got Out of Bounds first and possibly the sequel to Last Port of Call. I still desperately want to see Rodney's side of the story and the fall-out. I'll read the John-fucks-up story, though I make no promises as to reaction (well, I promise not to yell at you).

Then I had that cartoon moment of feeling like a flea followed by a hammer when I commented in someone else's journal and a couple people who didn't like the story in sga_flashfic followed me there (okay, ran across my comments) -- Aaaack!

Ahh, that explains your reaction to the DVD commentary discussion. I thought you were a little bit overboard there (didn't say anything because we don't know each other that well), but if you've been slammed in another place, I see where you came from.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Being jumped on in someone else's journal was like going to a bathroom at a bar and being followed and confronted there. O.O You're not expecting it.

It was pretty nasty. One of the people was kind enough to drop by yesterday and offer a free sample (http://icarusancalion.livejournal.com/517374.html?thread=6707454#t6707454) of the vicious tone I've faced over Last Port Of Call. If this is how people who write something challenging are treated, I can see why SGA has a reputation for nothing but crack!fic.

Icarus

[rike-tikki-tavi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, not exactly what you would call nice or helpful to a discussion.

On the other hand, if you try to look at the positive side of this whole thing, you wrote a story that you liked, as did a lot of other people. And even most of those, who had problems with it, became part of a fascinating discussion with a lot of smart, interesting and well thought out posts, which in this fandom (and many others) definitely not an everyday occurrence.

And if there are a few jerks, who feel the need to slam you, pffft. You've got a whole flist that adores you and quite a lot of people off you flist, that like you and your work, too.

Or as our old garden neighbor used to say "Could be worse, could be raining."

So keep writing and keep stepping on toes. It makes the stories so much more interesting.