@Kastom:

See? All better now. (^_^)

@Allamorph:

I DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY did not see the joke part there. Huh. My bad! lol.

I still don't see why I had to be attacked, but I AM sorry that I misinterpreted the meaning of this post. Completely my fault there.

Once again, sorry that his whole thing happened then due to my apparent inability to read. lol. Apparently I am now as blind as Mousse...

I don't really read fan fiction, but I don't have anything against it either. If that's what someone wants to write, more power to them. I only object if they try and insist that I read it. lol

For myself, I prefer to write original stories.^^ It's just easier for me to create and work with their personalities and universe from the get go.

I shy away from fan fiction because in the end, I didn't create the universe they are in. That and it's more fun to have full control over what's allowed and what's not.

I do find it a bit odd to see people get up in arms over it though. That has always struck me as kind of... silly really. It's not like you have to read it after all. lol

I actually don't really care one way or another. I don't read them (at least not very often) but I don't have anything against them either. It's pointless to be annoyed over people having fun with characters and universes that they like.

I've always wondered why people care enough to let someone else's writing annoy them. It's not like it really affects them in any way after all. *laugh*

~Crystia

@Kastom:

Yeeeeah, like Alla already pointed out, I wrote this all in good fun. I was trying to be silly with my presentation of the whole "do you like fanfiction?" question.
I doubt anyone here would get offended by any of your comments. The subject is pretty simple, and as long as you don't make it out to be something more serious than it really is (too late now, though), then it's fine.

If nothing else, you could simply respond with an "I say nay!" and leave it at that if you think your real opinion would have been too harsh.

@Allamorph:

Oi, you're lucky that all I can find is the munition-less rifles. ._. I'm not Viral, after all.

...though I was Ardeth the Butcher in a medieval roleplay I participated in during highschool...

@Nehszriah:

ACK ACK ACK

*runs*

@Kastom:

From what I can tell, the whole point of this post IS to start a fight (or using a less violent term due to the nature of the people that post here, I believe it would be most appropriate to say a discussion), to get some back and forth opinions on the matter.

Read the first line of the post. Then pay attention to the word 'joke'. (^_^)

@Allamorph:

*rummages through bedroom closet*

Now where did I put my meat cleaver...?

Fanfiction is the double edged sword of fandom. On one hand, it can be semi-profound, incredibly well-written, faithful to the story and may even end up complimenting the tale it was spawned from. Then you get silly stuff that was just for fun, mocking with love, so it were. Finally there is the stuff that gives the rest of us bad names: the stupid fangirl/boy stuff.

Now I'll admit, I have written that devilish self-insertion fiction in the past. While my character wasn't personally romantically involved, my friend's character was and it was mostly a story to make my friends laugh. Now that I'm older, I know how to write a story and write it well. Unfortunately, many people with a computer at their disposal think they can write and usually only come up with sophomoric humor and unimaginative senarios.

Bad fanfiction is too rampant, yet some of the authors need to be nurtured so that they mature into something worth while. While I thought this was the epitome of awesome way back when once I wrote it, now I've evolved into someone who can fill in story gaps craftily, construct a totally thought-provoking alternate-universe and even alter the main story into something that could have easily existed had a specific character not died. I only came down the road to betterment with positive, yet helpful, critiques that came from those more experienced than me. If it were not for fanfiction, I would not be the writer I am today. Fanfiction is how I practice and without that practice, I would definitely not be where I am right now.

I can understand fans wanting something to go this way or that instead of the direction their favorite story did, though I do admit that there are too many that take it too far. Slash is a horrible thing if it is not part of the canon story to begin with. One of the things I hate about One Piece fanfiction is the fan-authors' urge to make all the male characters gay for one another, even if there is no Bon Clay involved. Anything that looks remotely "romantic" to them is immediately warped into "repressed feelings". Hm. Yeah. I usually have the urge to spam all the review boxes with "Hello! This is brotherly interaction! They're close like siblings. Leave the comradery alone." I don't because it would take too much time.

So, bottom line is: I would be a crappy writer had I not gotten all my crap out with fanfiction. It can be either a blessing or a curse. It all depends on if you are willing to sift through the bad in search for the good and encourage those who are promising. Just because our bad side is the most vocal and prominent, doesn't mean all of us are totally nutters.

@Allamorph:

In reply to your first three points:
From what I can tell, the whole point of this post IS to start a fight (or using a less violent term due to the nature of the people that post here, I believe it would be most appropriate to say a discussion), to get some back and forth opinions on the matter. Since this is supposed to be a discussion on an "issue", I can only assume that there are at least two sides to it, so whichever side I chose, I would have another side explaining to me their own. What else would be the point of an "issue"? If I didn't have an opinion that at least one other didn't agree with, and therefore could be potentially insulted by it, then this would not be an issue at all, hence the reason that I was believing that my opinion would start/continue the discussion/fight. I don't see how you could be insulted by the fact that I believed that my opinion could insult people during an argument over varying ideas.

That's the whole thing, I don't WANT to say whether or not I like the toast, because I believe that I have a very offensive view on the matter, and I see no reason to express it, considering I don't believe this to be an Earth-shattering issue. I don't see how it is moronic that I don't want to insult my friends and people I know over an issue I believe to be not worth it. True, like you said, there was no certainty that someone would indeed get offended, but once again, I just did not believe this issue to be worth taking the risk. But to post and then not respond if someone got angry at me? What's the point in that? If I had stated my opinion, then just ignored anyone that disagreed with me, why would I have even bothered talking in the first place? If I'm here to do nothing more than state my opinion and not argue it, how am I supposed to further develop it and explore other's ideas? Going through life stating your opinion and leaving it at that is like walking around with your ears covered.

And this is why I originally did not post my opinion. I did not want to participate in the fight/discussion/argument over this issue, and hence the reason I posted an opinion stating that I believed my opinion on the matter need not be told.

How could there not be an issue when there's something with at least two varying sides? Is that not what an issue is?

And funny that you should be mentioning a sense of humour. Usually humour goes along with this thing called being easygoing. I was attempting to be easygoing by not stating my opinion, which was not. And apparently you are unable to be, and have decided to completely upturn the environment here to one that is not.

I've actually never bothered to read any fanfiction. o_0

Like Ace said, when it's done right, fanfiction can be brilliant. I have read many fanfics I've enjoyed, and while I have yet to write anything substantial of my own, I do have the desire to create my own.

It is sad that a lot of it is horrible, and you have to wade through that tom find the good stuff, but when you find those gems, it's like reaching an island refuge in a stormy sea.

@Kastom:

All I can say is that I find you rather amusing. Kind of like a kid that thinks he's gained the wisdom of an adult, and is trying to impress and teach others with his limited knowledge and understanding.

Sweet.

That you don't feel it necessary to start a fight here was obvious. I mean, that's what you said. What I found offensive was first the idea that a fight would start if you expressed an opinion (you just tried to inform me, remember, that that's what we're here to do), second that you were incapable of phrasing your opinion in a manner that wouldn't start a fight, and third that the only reason you might have wanted to express your opinion was to start a fight in the first place, as if playing along with the poster's gag was too low for you to stoop.

All I wanted you to say was whether or not you liked the toast. Saying you were going to claim indifference because people might get offended was moronic. There was no certainty ever that any commenter would have taken exception to you saying "I find fanfiction a total waste of time and talent" or "get off our case and let us fantasize", and even then the kicker is that if someone does decide to blow up at you, you don't have to respond.

Just like you could have ignored my snarky comment, and just like you have the option to ignore me right now. Point of fact, I will be thonking you each time you reply to me anew, so if you really don't want a fight, then play along and voice your opinion or just stay silent.

Never assume there's an 'issue', man, and never assume others see that, either. And grow a sense of humor.

@Allamorph:

Congrats, you sound like someone that needs to take their head out of their ass.

You misunderstand me. I don't care about starting intellectual fights. Heck, I went to the OB just to start some 'cause I find it both extremely interesting and fun.

But in this case, nothing will come of it. There is nothing for me to gain here by engaging in a discussion. I see no fight whatsoever. From my point of view, this "issue" is the same thing as someone saying, "I like toast. Do you?" This isn't an issue at all, it's a preference.

Believe me, if I deemed this worthy of a fight, I sure as hell wouldn't back down from expressing myself.

But this isn't, and just because you and others may think it is, doesn't make it so. What I see here is a bunch of people expressing themselves through what they like. Like people getting to know each other through small conversational talk. Something in which I attempted to join in, until you decided to attack me.

All I can say is that I find you rather amusing. Kind of like a kid that thinks he's gained the wisdom of an adult, and is trying to impress and teach others with his limited knowledge and understanding.

@Ace:

Haha, you know, I didn't even think about that -- The Books of Moe probably counts as fan fiction, eh? Whoops!

*rescinds part of his statement in his earlier comment*

Fanfiction is awesome when done right. When it's a bunch of smut written by someone with zero writing skill who isn't old enough to have even gotten "the talk," then I have a problem.

Also, please note that my allegiance lies in the Camp of Moe.

I'm with Shin and Kastom, I'm indifferent. =P

FANFICTION IS THE SPAWN OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF

*waits for Nehszriah to kill him*

@Kastom:

Hearing you say that honestly offends me more than anything else you might have possibly said, aside from calling me a liar or racist—which are both unrelated to this post.

If people are going to be offended by you expressing a viewpoint, that's their problem, not yours, and you are under no obligation to kow-tow to their overbearing rabidness. Avoiding fights is one thing. But giving up on them when they haven't even started is . . . well, sorry to say, but kinda cowardly.

(And by no obligation, I mean none but mine. Because obviously I'm not at all rabid about this. Oh no no. =P)

I'm just not going to say my opinion on the matter. I could possibly greatly offend some, and I'd just really rather not.

So I'll just say I'm indifferent.

@Shinmaru:

Yes, that was what I was referring to with the possibility of a third army being raised. :P

Uh, is there a camp for indifference? lol

I have not read or written a fanfic in years, but I don't have anything against them. It's not worth my time or energy to hate on someone having a bit of fun with characters lol. (Even if that fun starts to get a bit weird and creepy, haha.)