Of Train Wrecks and Triage

Note: One half baked essay hauled out for no other reason than to test the blog interface.

It's amazing how conflict brings out the philosophers. Armchair philosophy, to be sure, but philosophy nonetheless.

Needless to say (I hope) it is those differing philosophies that bring the conflict to a head nine times out ten. In the present incarnation, it is the philosophy of open and frank discussion, versus the philosophy of being able to say what you want without censure.

Whaaa---?? That's the same thing isn't it?

Apparently not.

Fan fic writers, and I include myself among that cadre, take their own views, imagining, fantasies, skill sets and agendas (conscious or unconscious) say what they want in the realm of fiction. They present their view of the characters, situations, progressions of those characters, conflicts and resolution in the format of short stories, novella, snippets, PWP's and poetry. How they see the characters, their interpretation of events, what they think those characters capable of being or doing or enduring is offered up to the fandom at large for consumption and hopefully for feedback, approval or other support. 

Readers, on the other hand, take those offerings and consume them, in large quantities and on a regular basis, and in reading formulate their own ideas about the characters, how they act, what they are capable of and how they might progress -- and will respond by providing feedback, approval and other support. But they also have the option of disagreeing with those presentations and in their own ways, express those disagreements.

I think it is tacitly implied in posting publicly (And by publicly I mean to an archive, open mail list or on an unrestricted web page) that there is no control over who may read what is posted. There are no requirements to gain access to any of the above save the oft necessary age disclaimer for adult material and that is done mostly on an honor system. You don't agree to say only nice things to the authors, or agree to like everything you read, or to never share your opinions on said works with anyone else. You don't abrogate your right to have an opinion by visiting any of those places.