The Asshats

[Ruse]

I am part of several writing communities on the web, and when I get the chance, I try to share my knowledge advice with others.

 

(By the by, has anyone read 'Atlas Shrugged'? Lately everyone has been a defensive asshat like James Taggart, whenever I critique something. And, not the author-- oh, no, they sic their friends on me, but they won't reply, themselves.)

 

A couple of years back, when I still was into doing fanfictions, I posted them on FanFiction.net. I was fourteen/fifteen years old when I wrote those, the more recent fictions posted there being when I was fifteen.

I have always been an editor—that was one of my childhood dreams—to be an editor and publisher. At once. So, it is a natural instinct for me to critique anything I get my hands on. — One should understand that someone can tell another how to do something without themselves being able to demonstrate it.

I still get newsletters telling me when something is submitted to a certain group, but I rarely follow them. Well, this time I followed it, and I found myself utterly baffled that this piece was getting such great reviews, since I found so many things wrong with it.

I sent them an objective, through critique, complete with suggestions on how to fix the problem areas, and I encouraged them to keep at it, and I even said that I would love to see the finished product, after it was tweaked.

I did not expect to get a reply, in anger, or in thanks, and left it at that. I don’t critique work so that I can tell them I’m the best thing in the world, because I’m not. I tell people what’s wrong with their work so that they can fix it, improve themselves, and get great, praising reviews when they deserve it.

Well, they didn’t take to this kindly.

They had one of their friends on the site send two replies—one to “critique” one of my works, (which I wouldn’t care, but that they added at the end “Fix it, before you next decide to talk down to your betters.”

Now, I KNOW someone is being an asshat, and it’s not me.

 

Here’s the story I critiqued: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2995115/1/

Here’s my critique: (Third one down, the first one is the friend’s reply)

http://www.fanfiction.net/r/2995115/0/1/

 

The friend went on to find one of my http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/live_preview.php?storyid=2490661&chapter=1 pieces. (I’m not afraid, I wrote this stuff when I was a kid, of course it has plenty of things wrong with it), and said of it:

 

“The way the particle is placed, it would be "al'Lan Mandragoran." And Nynaeve, as well as any man's lover, wouldn't normally be so formal in such a tender, if tragic, moment.

You're ALWAYS supposed to start a new paragraph when someone new speaks. Basic english teaches this as one of the first points.

A strange love for run-on sentences is quickly becoming apparent.

Note, lots of obvious spelling mistakes. Imperfections, imperfections!

This fic is extremely choppy, beyond the excuse of stylisms.

... Have I said enough? For a 'seasoned' writer, these are too many mistakes. Fix it, before you next decide to talk down to your betters.

-- Freya-chan, friend to eternalotaku.”

 

If they can rip me a new one, hey, they're welcome to it-- I always enjoy improving myself. But, they go a little too far, given that the original author asked for feedback.

I never called myself a seasoned writer….

Ooh, look, I just got another “critique” from this person, for another http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2497192/1/ drabble I had done.

 

“Greetings, once again. I am not finished with you yet.

This drabble disclaimer of yours seems to spark a little something from recent memory...

"Now, Ive noticed youve gotten great praise for this whatever it is. Quite frankly, I dont know why. There is no action, no setup, no rising or falling action, either. It is simply nothing. Perhaps if you wrote about something happening it would be something. But its not. Alas."

Ah, that would be it. A disclaimer of my own, the following is not criticism on your drabble, it is criticism on your criticism.

Now, I noticed you've recieved much praise for this. However, there is little action, no setup, no rising or falling action.

The theory seems to be that, if something were to happen, this would be something rather than nothing. At least, that is as it was for a certain parallel you disliked.

I hold that you lose the "do as I say, not as I do" attitude and give credit where credit is due.

So, it is your choice. If eternalotaku's moment was nothing, this is nothing. And if you would like this to be considered something, so is the other, by all rights.

-- Freya-chan

PS.: I would like no mention of your fan following in your reply, whatever that may be. You both have had much praise for your drabbles, making eternalotaku nothing less than what you are. (And perhaps more, in being a person of integrity, one of the many qualities you seem to have given up on.)”

 

Now, let’s see here….

The author of the original story I commented on was so affected by what I wrote, they found someone who they thought could do the job for them, by shooting off a reply to me.

It was not my ability in question.

I do not claim to be above anyone else. Sure, my writing probably implied that. I’m not surprised—I can be taken as a horribly abrasive person. I made not one attack on the author, himself, instead all references of disgust were made to the piece.

If this friend can find my mistakes and tell me them, I say “more power to you!”. When one does this out of malice, I find it not worth taking notice of. If it is helpful, I will take the comments into consideration.

I haven’t replied to anything yet—I got the first reply this morning, and through my anger, I realized there was nothing I could say that would make sense to someone, if they refuse to recognize.

 

Why does everyone treat critiques as an attack?! They don’t have to take my advice—I didn’t have to comment. Why is it that they feel obligated to attack me personally?

Why are asshats so defensive, when I only want to help?!?!

 

 

--Ruse

[Lethalfind]

I am part of several writing communities on the web, and when I get the chance, I try to share my knowledge advice with others.

 

(By the by, has anyone read 'Atlas Shrugged'? Lately everyone has been a defensive asshat like James Taggart, whenever I critique something. And, not the author-- oh, no, they sic their friends on me, but they won't reply, themselves.)

 

A couple of years back, when I still was into doing fanfictions, I posted them on FanFiction.net. I was fourteen/fifteen years old when I wrote those, the more recent fictions posted there being when I was fifteen.

I have always been an editor

[phreakwars]

Quick question.... was it REALLY necessary to quote her whole fucking post when you are the second person to respond ??

 

Do you realize how many precious seconds of my time were lost having to scroll down just to see you type :

Your 16....your barely out of diapers, get over yourself.

Are you on fucking crack ?? Nobody needed a recap of her post you dizzy bitch !!

.

.

[hugo]

I am part of several writing communities on the web, and when I get the chance, I try to share my knowledge advice with others.

 

(By the by, has anyone read 'Atlas Shrugged'? Lately everyone has been a defensive asshat like James Taggart, whenever I critique something. And, not the author-- oh, no, they sic their friends on me, but they won't reply, themselves.)

 

A couple of years back, when I still was into doing fanfictions, I posted them on FanFiction.net. I was fourteen/fifteen years old when I wrote those, the more recent fictions posted there being when I was fifteen.

I have always been an editor

[hugo]

Your 16....your barely out of diapers, get over yourself.

Don't let ageists bother you, Ruse.

[Kryptonite Man]

Hugo is right. The ageists are idiots. Don't sweat the small stuff. By the way, Ruse, I'm writing a fic titled "Emerald Sunrise". It's an alternate universe/crossover fanfic of Sailor Moon/Green Lantern. As soon as I get it finished, I'll post it on Fanfiction.net.

[jokersarewild]

Your 16....your barely out of diapers, get over yourself.

 

I seriously have to wonder exactly what about this was productive, in all seriousness.

 

There was no point to it. If you don't like teenagers, that's fine with the rest of the world. However, that doesn't mean that we are stupid, immature, or any other of the misconceptions that you have of us.

 

I have noticed how you think that Ruse and I are unimportant, stupid, and whatever else you say. I find it funny, because we contribute more posts of more significance then you seem to have the capacity to. I find this oddly ironic...

[builder]

I seriously have to wonder exactly what about this was productive, in all seriousness.

 

rolleyes:

 

I'll translate it for you, JAW. LF had a chronic bedwetting problem, up to the age of 15, and now, due to her innate laziness, her pelvic floor is so weak, she suffers incontinence, and must wear pads all the time.

[Lethalfind]

Quick question.... was it REALLY necessary to quote her whole fucking post when you are the second person to respond ??

 

Do you realize how many precious seconds of my time were lost having to scroll down just to see you type :

Are you on fucking crack ?? Nobody needed a recap of her post you dizzy bitch !!

.

.

 

What I find even more stunning is that you took the time to make a snotty post about it...evidently your time isn't as precious as you thought.

[Lethalfind]

I seriously have to wonder exactly what about this was productive, in all seriousness.

 

There was no point to it. If you don't like teenagers, that's fine with the rest of the world. However, that doesn't mean that we are stupid, immature, or any other of the misconceptions that you have of us.

 

I have noticed how you think that Ruse and I are unimportant, stupid, and whatever else you say. I find it funny, because we contribute more posts of more significance then you seem to have the capacity to. I find this oddly ironic...

 

You and Ruse are important only to your parents and your other pimple faced little friends...You come across like you think the sun shines out of your ass, something you will probably get over as you age.

 

I think my point was clear...this little idiot is worse then you are. He needs to wake up and get a clue...

 

In the larger scheme of things, you are stupid...hopefully, if you weren't dropped on your head or deprived of oxygen you will grow out of it. You and your angst ridden cohorts waste alot of time going on about what amounts to nothing.

[phreakwars]

What I find even more stunning is that you took the time to make a snotty post about it...evidently your time isn't as precious as you thought.

No, I took the time to like Moderate this post.

.

.

[builder]

You and your angst ridden cohorts waste alot of time going on about what amounts to nothing.

 

So point to a post of yours that amounts to something.

[Lethalfind]

No, I took the time to like Moderate this post.

.

.

 

LOL, if thats what you call moderating...well done, Its made a HUGE differance...

[Lethalfind]

So point to a post of yours that amounts to something.

 

BE honest Builder, all my posts are crap. Everyone knows this to be fact.

[ParasiteGod]

Uh Lethal? Do you think it makes you look any better to waste time picking on a bunch of kids???

[builder]

Uh Lethal? Do you think it makes you look any better to waste time picking on a bunch of kids???

 

It's all she has left.

[jokersarewild]

Uh Lethal? Do you think it makes you look any better to waste time picking on a bunch of kids???

Considering she was Eve's midwife, you'd think she would have something better to do. Put all that experience to use by sucking dick or something.

 

I've noticed that she's had this this newly found hatred for minors. I don't know why, but I think it's cause we pwnxxorz h3r in t3h d3b4t3s.

[ParasiteGod]

I suppose I'd hate them too if my ovaries were shriveling up.

[Lethalfind]

Builder, does it make you feel better to edit what I say? How sad.

PG, I was'nt talking to you AND I don't think all people of that age group are like JAW thank god.

You unfortunately have shown that you are. Are you like Builder? Do you have to come on here to get some approval?

[Lethalfind]

What I find funny is that you poor Builder had your panties in a wad enough to start editing my posts how many days ago and I didn't even notice...that would be because I don't derive my self worth from sitting behind a computer screen hoping people will care and listen to what I say since they didn't in your so called professional life.

[Outlaw2747]

Man I miss the fights here! WHERE'S MY MUTHAFUCKIN' POPCORN!!!???!!!

[builder]

Builder, does it make you feel better to edit what I say?

 

What was that? You feel better when dancing naked on the Seine?

 

You go girl. Do it on the Seine.

[Cogito Ergo Sum]

In my best BLONDE accent

 

You mean they make hats for your ass? Wow.

[RoyalOrleans]

WHERE'S MY MUTHAFUCKIN' POPCORN!!!???!!!

 

At the muthafuckin' store.

[RoyalOrleans]

In my best BLONDE accent

 

You mean they make hats for your ass? Wow.

 

They make them for nudists, Bambi. So they don't burn their ass on sun heated lawn chairs.