Fandom Compromised? - The FanLib/Strikeout '07 Wank Thread

Sarah · Fandom Compromised? - The FanLib/Strikeout '07 Wank Thread

I promised on the "Introduce Yourself" thread that I'd post tomorrow with links concerning these issues. I'm gonna do it now. It's very much LiveJournal based right now. However, it does affect a large part of the Supernatural fandom, who are stationed in LJ territory.

FanLib is more general. It affects fanfiction writers. It's a website that wants to make a profit off of fanfiction and is inviting people to join and post their fics in order to make money off of us. Most of fandom is up in arms about this. There are others who think it's a lovely idea. Personally, I think that some random non-fandom company making cash off of our work is not only making us plagiarists, it's taking power away from US, the fans.

Strikeout '07 is a kerfuffle that's occurring on LJ. Strikeout refers to what happens to a journal when it is suspended or deleted. A line is struck through the username to denote that is is no longer "there". This past week, a group called Warriors for Innocence (a neo-Nazi group, but one who was threatening Six Apart -- the owners of LJ -- with legal action if they didn't listen) contacted LJ about the number of pedophiles using their services. This led to a mass deletion of various journals, some of which were journals and communities of actually creepy people. Many, however, were simply fan journals. One big no-no was the deletion of the Harry Potter fanfiction/fanart community "Pornish Pixies", a highly popular community that boasts NC-17 slash/femmeslash fanfiction about the series. The reason it was deleted? They had fics containing incest. Yes, incest was a BIG keyword in this mass-deletion. This, as you can see, would very much affect Supernatural fans -- the fans of Wincest. Many people immediately changed their interest lists (they are searchable on the LJ database) and friends-locked their journals, essentially burrowing underground so as not to be found. And EVERYONE was up in arms. Essentially, LJ ignored that many of the deleted journals were fandom journals, and they were accusing these people of pedophilia. Many of these people were simply writing stories about underaged boys -- not having sex with adults, mind you, but having relationships with OTHER underaged boys (ie. a relationship between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy during their Hogwarts years). Others WERE writing fics about incest, such as Wincest, etc. But as we've discussed on various Wincest-related threads here and at CW, these are all FICTIONAL stories and are not written by people who actually attracted to underaged children or to their own siblings. If this was grounds for legal action, JK Rowling would've been in trouble for writing a book where Harry Potter kissed Cho Chang while both were under 16, and where Pureblooded witches and wizards are admittedly intermarried to the point that many are somehow related. Ridiculous, right?

Anyway. You can find more information at Fandom Wank. All you have to do is scroll through and find the entries concerning FanLib and Strikeout '07. There are many, and they have a plethora of links for your persusal.

I suggest EVERYONE check this out, whether you're into Wincest or not. FanLib affects everyone, and if you write young adult fiction or erotica, Strikeout '07 could be you next!

ThursdayWench

i'm confused Embarassed

this Fanlib is just making money off the fics, or are the writers being paid for what they write?
and geez...top ten reasons not to have a LJ.... Shocked

that's pretty terrible, personal beliefs aside... Evil or Very Mad

Sarah

From what I understand, they were trying to make money off the fanfiction. People would submit their stories and FanLib would then claim ownership, "polish it" like "pros" and (ie. fix it to suit themselves) and then make a profit off of it.

I don't know a whole lot about this one, which is why I linked to Fandom Wank. They have OODLES of articles about it all.

And it's not that LJ is shit. Just that this one time, LJ was influenced by a shitty group. Generally, I love LJ. And the fandom-base there is HUGE. I actually prefer it to forums. This is the first forum I've actively participated in.

ThursdayWench

*feels the smackdown* i didn't mean that LJ was crap...i just don't use it....i'm glad you've joined the board thinger!! Cool

that fanlib place sounds like an utter bag of shit. any writer who'd let someone "polish" and poke at their work like that shouldn't be writing in the first place *goes to link* argh!! i don't understand this!!! (and this is why i avoid LJ...it confuses the crap outta me...) well, anyway, from what you said Sarah, that doesn't sound like anything good.

Sarah

Nope, it really doesn't! A lot of other people have written very thoughtful critiques about the whole thing. I'd direct you to them if I could remember the links. But if you can find them on F_W, read them for sure. They are so much more eloquent than I am and much more knowledgeable about the whole issue.

PS: Get an LJ. *cough* <3

ThursdayWench

haha, i have one...tried to use it...and failed dismally!!! Cool

Sarah

Awww! But it's super easy! You just need to get used to it. Smile

ThursdayWench

hahaha, well, it seems my online buddies all want me to LJ....so i posted on it. Razz

and i think i might be able to actually work the goddamm thing. so yeah, friend me or whatever it is on there...my name stays the same, thursdaywench Cool

but beware... Shocked

i don't know what i'm doing Very Happy

Sarah

Hahaha, nobody does when they first start using it. However, my html is now...er...basic, but far more advanced than some people I know (who do not know any, of course).

Husitka

Hi, Sarah. I just thought I could ask you here, in this thread instead of making a brand new topic/thread.

I'm currently working (with another girl) on an *cougheroticcough* story and we can't decide whether it's better to post it on FanFiction or LJ. It's a story using our RP characters, so is it possible at all to post it on FF? Or only fictions inspired by TV shows/movies etc are allowed?

Husitka

Oh and one more thing: Do you know a good site for posting my stories (mainly fantasy) that don't use any existing characters, so they can't be labeled as FANFICTION? I have them in Czech now but once I've translated them, I'd love to share them and get some kind of feedback. Embarassed

Thanks.

Sarah

Hey Monika! Um. Actually it's better to post it to LJ if you have one. The problem being that ff.net banned erotica (well, NC-17 anyway) stories in about 2002 or 2003, I believe. I'm not sure if they host R-rated stories anymore, but I suspect they do. So if you there's a sex scene explicit enough to warrant an NC-17 rating rather than an R rating, I'd go for LJ. LJ is actually really good about allowing erotica, by the way. It's just certain situations in erotica (ie. underaged, incest, etc) that were called into question. They aren't bothered (for now) by slash, etc so whether your story is het, slash, femmeslash, or whatever, you should be fine.
Also, I don't remember if ff.net has an "original fiction" heading anymore. I know they used to, but I never really go there anymore. You could check it out anyway. I know they used to have one, despite it being a "fanfiction" site.
There's also Adult Fan Fiction, for if your story is NC-17 and you want to host it on a site. They do have an original fiction section, for sure.

Husitka

Hi, Sarah. Thank you for your answer. Our story is M-rated according to my friend. It's an erotic story with very explicit scenes. We wanted to try to write st like this, post it and get some feedback. So you say LJ or Adult FF. I have both FF and LJ. What's the address for that Adult FF site, please? You know, I'm not much into fanfic-ing, I prefer creating my own characters, so I need a place for orig fic. The Adult FF could be the right place.

ThursdayWench

waitaminute...FF.net banned erotica??? Shocked

they've got a rather loose definition of erotica then...cause man, there is some high def smut there...not..that...i read....that *whistles* Rolling Eyes

Husitka

Yup, sure, Wench. You don't read that stuff... *laughing hysterically* Best joke I've heard in a long time. Rolling Eyes

*remembers a certain situation in GG and snorts* No, you're an angel... Laughing

ThursdayWench

Fuck you!!! Laughing

hey, i can get away with that here...woot...
yeah....i'll just...be here...in the house of shame....*house of shame*
but ya know, it took 4 to tango Wink

Sarah

With a site that size, they don't read every story to see if they have explicit sex scenes or not. So if someone rates it 'R', they don't blink.
But to be honest, I haven't been browsing there for years. In the four or five years since they banned NC-17 scenes, they may very well have allowed it again. I'd check it out.
As for the address, Monika, just look it up on Google. I don't remember the web address, but it should be the first one on Google.
Gotta run!

Husitka

Oh, not here, not now, baby... Laughing

Well, if I remember it well, I wasn't even there. Twisted Evil

And Dean told me later he was the most innocent one. I didn't believe him but I apologized to him after reading through. Twisted Evil

You and Sam on the other hand... *ROFLMFAO*

Husitka

Hi, Sarah. Thanks for your help. I've already looked it up. I'm just too quick in asking questions sometimes. And then I go like *slaps self in the forehead* You don't have to ask, you can do this. Embarassed

Oh but I want to ask this. Are you particularly interested in fics with NC-17 scenes cos it sounded like you were pissed that FF banned erotica. Confused

*sheepish look* Anywho, thanks.

ThursdayWench

Husitka

Whatever you say... Twisted Evil

*loses it and bursts in uncontrollable laughter*

Sarah

Husitka

Hi, Sarah. I've noticed you were speaking about other fanfic sites. Could you recommend some of them to me? No, I'm not gonna stalk you. Wink

But I must say I've fallen for fanfics recently (I've got more time now and not a lot is happening with SN or Jensen at this time, so I was a bit bored and started to read) and I'd love to read some of yours IF you write, that is... Smile

Sarah

I would rec you, but I only just got into the Supernatural fandom in about November, so LJ is where I find all my Supernatural fics, unless I'm linked to outside hosting sites.
The sites I'm talking about are all Harry Potter sites. Places like Fiction Alley, the HP Slash Archive, etc.
I do know that there's a Sam/Dean archive somewhere, but aside from that, I get all my gen, het, etc fixes from LJ. J2 is all over it too. So if you have an LJ, I'd be happy to rec communities!

Husitka

I do have an LJ but I don't use it much cos I find it somehow unfriendly... But you can recommend some communities anyway.

Sarah

Unfriendly? Really? Huh. I guess in some places it can be, yeah. Anyway.

Jensen/Jared comms:
cw_rps
padacklesrps
super_real

Sam/Dean comms:
sn_slash
snslashnotebook
http://deviantslice.com/supernatural/samdean/

General SN comms:
sn_fic
spn_brotherlove
supernaturalfic

And there's the spnnewsletter (I'm not sure that's it, so try spn_newsletter as well, etc).