Headers: Don't Be That Guy (rec) and A Digression into Backhanded FB (my own)

[cimorene]

penknife explains fic headers with praiseworthy, exhaustive thoroughness (you could give an exam on headers with this post as the text) and a dash of wit in Headers, or the only way we have to judge a book by its cover, making it a worthwhile read for all from the utter newbie to the bitter old fandom queen who never neglects her headers at all and just wants to enjoy the snark.

For some reason, people often seem inspired to write things in the Author's Note field like "I decided to write Bob/Ted even though I think Bob/Ted shippers are dumb and all the other Bob/Ted stories I've ever read suck" when posting to a Bob/Ted community. Don't be that person.

You know, I've often wanted to say something like that, but I've never managed it so concisely. Don't be that person, guys. Even though the urge is often strong, no good can come of it!

That quote reminds me of the Insulting A/N's close cousin, the Backhanded Feedback. Which brings to mind that somewhere I was reading lately, someone was talking about Don't Be That Guy in the context of how "I enjoyed your Bob/Ted story even though I think Bob/Ted shippers are dumb and Bob/Ted is inherently inclined to be sucky" is not the great complimentary fb you might have thought it was. I'm pretty sure it was in the context of the Due South wank (aka Ray Wars iteration #1,600,042: Yes We're Still At It, What Is This Fandom History of Which You Speak?¹) accompanied with flounce that was at Fandom Wank last week or so. Can't remember the precise context or the exchange, though, just that it's the first time I've seen anyone respond to it with "Hey, I totally leave feedback like that all the time and it's really a compliment".


1. No, I'm not making this up. Yes, they really are still at it. See?

Comments

[brownbetty]

I recently got on a fic "Hey, I liked this story even though I'm not familiar with the canon!" to which I said, being complimented, "Thanks, if you liked it, you might like the canon."

To which they replied, and am I being oversensitive? "Nah, but keep writing more, I want to read it!"

Also a fair amount of "I don't usually read this pairing, but-" which at first was flattering and by the end was sort of O.o

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Well, not everyone is looking for new canon, especially if it's complicated or long or not in a format they like, or just because they already have enough on their plate in terms of TV shows or whatever. There's a big difference between reading one or two fics and getting into an entire new fandom.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

I regard that sort of info more as "THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON YAOI" because, really, if you don't bring it up because you want to *discuss* the canon - if you've already decided you're still not going to read it - then... why? The conversation's dead before it's started. How are you supposed to reply? But then, at least it's not as bad as "No, I think it's horribly boring", which I have actually gotten before.