Fan Fiction

[Merus]

I defend all sorts of speech/content I find reprehensible, like the Phelps clan and the KKK being able to protest and speak.  Even though I think some of those types of things can actually be dangerous. 

 

What I find interesting here is that Twig clearly finds illustrated child pornography so intolerable that he can't understand how others can. I think this is a fairly normal reaction - I think we're mostly incapable of separating our personal opinion on something with our tolerance for it, and if we're forced to tolerate something, it's not hard for us to develop some kind of appreciation for it to mentally justify having to tolerate it.

 

Anyway, I've probably said more than I should, because I do not get into free speech arguments with Americans.

[clyde]

It may be a discussion of tolerance for some, for me it's a discussion about whether or not the offense is harmful enough to cage people.

[Bjorn]

What I find interesting here is that Twig clearly finds illustrated child pornography so intolerable that he can't understand how others can. I think this is a fairly normal reaction - I think we're mostly incapable of separating our personal opinion on something with our tolerance for it, and if we're forced to tolerate something, it's not hard for us to develop some kind of appreciation for it to mentally justify having to tolerate it.

 

Tolerance is an interesting word to use, I wouldn't think of myself as tolerant of things like hate speech or gross pornography.  In fact I'm quite intolerant to some things and have acted in opposition to them, attempting to embody the mantra that the "answer to bad speech is more speech."  I just draw a line at legally banning or criminalizing speech I disagree with. 

 

 

Anyway, I've probably said more than I should, because I do not get into free speech arguments with Americans.

 

I'm super curious to what you mean by this.  Not to have a free speech argument, but to hear your perspective on how Americans approach it versus other cultures. 

 

And this is kind of continuing a derail, but given the relationship of slash fiction to often taboo subjects, it seems within the general realm of the topic.

[Merus]

I'm super curious to what you mean by this.  Not to have a free speech argument, but to hear your perspective on how Americans approach it versus other cultures. 

 

I'm not a sociologist, so I'm not entirely sure what it is about Americans specifically, but I know that I've never had a discussion about free speech with Americans where I felt good about where it ended up. I'd be wary of trying to say what it is about Americans specifically - is it because freedom is a core American value? is it culture shock? is it the tyranny thing? - but it's definitely not an experience I've had with, say, Europeans.

[SecretAsianMan]

I would say the US has certain... perceptions of what free speech is/isn't and what it should/shouldn't be.  As a whole, we tend to not agree on anything apart from "it's good" even though a lot of people don't even have a clear idea what "it" is.  As an example, I'm sure there's someone who disagrees with everything I just said.

[Bjorn]

I'm not a sociologist, so I'm not entirely sure what it is about Americans specifically, but I know that I've never had a discussion about free speech with Americans where I felt good about where it ended up. I'd be wary of trying to say what it is about Americans specifically - is it because freedom is a core American value? is it culture shock? is it the tyranny thing? - but it's definitely not an experience I've had with, say, Europeans.

 

I can only speak to what I've experienced as an American, but what I encounter is the tendency to put American ideals on a pedestal, without any real contemplation about that ideal or consideration of how it should be applied to the world (and our consistent inability to even pretend to live up to our values). It's a unique blend of ignorance and superiority.  I've also known plenty of people who seem to think that freedom is a uniquely American thing, and that the rest of the world exists in some sort of non-free state. 

 

I actually had someone defriend me from Facebook last week because I insisted that mandating that children recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school  violates several aspects of our supposed cultural values.  She lost her shit, and then defiended me before I could respond more. 

[clyde]

I just played through Curtain by dreamfeel and I spent a good chunk of it thinking that it was Gone Home fanfic.

[clyde]

I'm such an idiot. I'm going through K-drama withdrawl at work so I decided to find some fanfic of the show I'm currently obsessed with. A substitute, so that I could be in that world until I have a television available.

How did I rationalize any improbablity that spoilers would be in the first few sentences. Back to drugery til I get home for episode 13 of Spy Myung Wol. And probably episode 14. Maybe episode 15 too.

[clyde]

Mathnet fanfic.

Makes me realize that I can much more easily visualize George's character than Kate's. This makes me think that George may be more campy. From my perspective, the author nails George.

[Bjorn]

Insurance Commercial FanFic - Everytime I'm sure the Internet is an irredeemable hive of assholes and trolls, someone makes something magical. 

 

[Vorlonesque]

Insurance Commercial FanFic - Everytime I'm sure the Internet is an irredeemable hive of assholes and trolls, someone makes something magical. 

 

tumblr_nf1v3tJgR51tm6fj3o1_1280.jpg

That is amazing...on all levels...amazing.

[clyde]

Full strip.