Fandom Fail: RealPerson Slashfic Set in Haiti

[logansrogue]

I'm not sure if many people in my friends list have seen this link? It's to a post where someone lists all the faily bits in a particular fanfic.

It's not in a fandom that I frequent at all. It's Supernatural fandom, RealPersonFic, Slash and is set in Haiti after the earthquake. No, you're not reading things, it really is set there. And, you know, maybe in some universe a BRILLIANT writer might be able to do something with that concept, enough that it can make up for the egregious insult of setting a slash smutfic in a natural disaster aftermath, but this particular writer manages to pack in EVERY racist thing imaginable.

Just - read the link. I can't really encapsulate it without my head exploding. I just wanted to say - I don't want fandom to be like this. I want fandom to be a place that's safe for everyone to exist in. I find that a good way of changing things is to be vocal and be adamant - I will not accept this crap, and I do not think it's okay. If lots of people do it, maybe the message will finally sink in.

The thing that really kicks my ass with this thing is, there was a group of people, not just ONE person, but beta-readers, comm-members, artists and comm-leaders, that saw this fic and didn't think, "Hmm, maybe this might be wrong." It just - ugh. Vom time. Super vom time. I can't parse it or understand it. I don't know what else to say about this, really. I just - ugh.

Comments

[starfyre01.livejournal.com]

I think my icon more or less says it all, really. o_0 What the hell is the matter with people? I know that Supernatural has a pretty batshit fandom, but really... Ugh. Just UGH.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

It's a fandom I would have a great reticence to get involved in, not only because of the misogyfail in the show itself, but in the attitudes of a lot of fans. But this is a shame, as my sister had some good things to say about the show, and indeed, the lead men are both beautiful men. I really enjoyed Jensen's work in Dark Angel too. He deployed the Duckface with much aplomb.

Fail ruins everything.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

When I say fandom, I mean the really hardcore slash fans that get frothy at the mention of any female characters on the show. Casual fans seem to be regular folk.

(waves a Melanie).

[starfyre01.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've seen a lot of the hardcore slash fans that ruin it for the ones who are in it for the fun of it all just act like total putzes. It's unfortunate, really :-(

What makes it even worse with those more, um, militant slash fans that make it tough for the nice folks are those who also wear the Tinfoil Hats and swear up and down that Jensen and Jared are secretly sexx0ring each other up and that their ladies are just beards for them (jeez, THAT sounds familar, doesn't it?). I just don't get that logic. Makes my head go all asplodey.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm annoyed when any fangirling or fanboying crosses the line of both Privacy and Respect. It's different if an actor or actress or celebrity encourage certain kinds of discourse (eg. Stephen Colbert and his RPS tendencies, and that guy from Watchmen, I think is also a bit gung-ho with his fans?) but speculating openly on a celeb's private lives to the point where you basically call them liars, or their loved ones liars? That's not illegal, but really douchy, so I don't like it.

RPF, I can see people having fun with it in a safe way, but one has to be SO VERY CAREFUL about it.

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yeah, I'm not a fandom person anymore. :) ::waves back:: My fandom basically consists of myself, my mom and my cousin Sarah. Only time I venture onto a message board or read a recap for a show I like anymore is if I miss something or am trying to figure out who sang that song, or whatever.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I know you like SPN, so I wanted to make it clear I wasn't counting you amongst certain types.

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[bewarethespork.livejournal.com]

I've been avoiding this because I don't want to explode from rage, but the number of times it's popped up on my flist is probably an indication that the universe wants me to see it or something, so... *off to read and be disgusted*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I haven't read my friendslist, I just saw it on unfunnybusiness. I just had to say something, even if only a couple of people heard what I had to say. To extend the echo of "This shit is NOT OKAY."

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Supernatural so I don't read the fanfic, but this seems to be another example of "Just because you can write something doesn't mean you should" o_O

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty much. Never, in all of my fandoms, did I ever feel the need to set a fanfic at a disaster area, or an area of great suffering. The closest I've come to that is an X-Men AU that takes place in Scotland during the invasion lead by King Edward II and the consequent fights for freedom that happened after that. And I can be pretty damned sure that there's no survivors of that that will be traumatised by my framing of a fic against that. :(

Funny thing is, I never released said fic because a) I didn't finish and b) it was too upsetting to write at the time.

[asweetdownfall.livejournal.com]

*winces* Really, people? REALLY?

That is the epitome of epic fail. STAY CLASSY SPN FANDOM.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

If you made a macro to this effect for fandomsecrets, 95 percent of respondents would make fun of you for being so provincial and offended. 'Cause, you know, ANYTHING goes when it comes to entertainment. (I just wish it weren't slash fans who always come off looking so bad in highly-visible fracas, since I could point you to a whole group of batshit-insane het fans in a couple of fandoms with which I'm more than passingly familiar.)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know how extreme het fans can get - I was a het fan and I saw some pretty bullshit behaviour, from my own side, even. I should have been clear about that, sorry.

ETA: When I say "was", it's not that I'm not a het pairing fandom fan anymore, it's just that I'm really busy with my own work so I don't get to publish as much fic as I'd like to.

[starfyre01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have to agree with that as well. Hell hath no fury like a bunch of batshit-insane fans, no matter what/who the shipping preference is. UGH.

[shantari.livejournal.com]

I'll let my inner angry Scotsman speak for me.