fandom at its worst, and I hope also best

[rm]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/guede_mazaka/352550.html

I am now linking to guede_mazaka on this one as her post is the most neutral explication of the situation I can currently find. No doubt, it will still offend someone, and there's not a lot I can do about that, as I don't have the time or energy to read the entire thread, develop friendships with everyone involved, or otherwise divine the truth in a situation where absolute truth probably doesn't exist (as is the case in all situatios involving humans).

Every fandom is fucked up. And every online community has its dramas. And as we've seen (including on this journal in recent weeks) net "events" of this nature have a startling level of momentum. I'm not going to go on and on about it today, because you all _know_ how it works. I'll never be a BNF, and perhaps in all aspects of my life, fannish and not, the stories I have to tell may be too particular to make me the locus of any sort of stuff like this. Even so, a lot of people read this journal, and a lot of you are also well-read and great at disseminating information. I'm not asking anyone to do anything really, other than to read the linked to post above, consider it and if you have something to say, say it.

EDITED TO ADD:


don't think anyone should feel obligated to give money to anyone or any cause.

Nor do I think a writer or journaler should feel obligated to put up a link because someone asked.

Honestly, while I think both sides could have handled the intial contact better, it's just not that big a deal and is between two people. I have no real negative judgements for either Heidi or Christina, neither of whom I know.

The pile-on disgusts me though. And the people involved in that, I do have a lot of judgement for.

I'll write later about the Internet instigation of the changing definition of "public figure", and the dilemmas of comporting oneself as such.

Comments

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

The whole laptop thing is just... bleh. Whatever. As soon as people bring that up I automatically assume that their credibility is null. I didn't donate, but I don't know Cassie. (I did spare at her cleavage for ten minutes at Nimbus, trying to read her nametage and figure out who she was, but that's another story.) I think that what people chose to do for her was quite kind, however, and really has no bearing whatsoever on the current wanktastic state of fandom.

The best thing to do, really, is ignore the bad and hug the good.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[rm.livejournal.com]

Aside -- does anyone have a picture of Cassie? I have the increasing feeling that I know her from a previous professional incarnation.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

She keeps photos of herself offline to prevent people using them in obscene icons. Yes, it's happened. But she has red hair and is in her mid-20s and has been a journalist before she started working on original fiction. I'm not trying to be snarky in ducking the answer, but I am trying to protect her privacy.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[rm.livejournal.com]

Considering my profession, I'm certainly aware of the issues, no worries. It's a random curiousity, and since it seems we have mutual friends, I'll figure it out one day or other. No biggie.