yinyang wrote:

	(Yes, Yinyang wanted to this to be private, but I feel that I should
express my opinion to the list on this kind of question in general)

Hi Doug.  I'm sorry, I won't comment on grammar or anything like that again.  I mean, >who needs grammar when you have a good story?  Who needs to tell jokes? As long as the >story is good.  Who cares if someone messes up a use of the language?  At least it's >funny, and I'm sure he/she didn't know it was used a certain way.  From now on, I will >talk about the story perspective of the fic.  No more boring, we-don't-need mechanics >crap.  I mean, if the story is extremely good, who needs to know how

 
	You two should just cool down a little bit.  Since Richard Lawson is
one of my personal favorite authors, I sort of find your criticisms to
be... harsh, I suppose.  I realize what you said about Richard was
right, but really such relatively minor flaws doesn't ecclipse Richard's
ability as a writer.  Of course, I agree that these grammatical problems
needed to be addressed, but I think the impression you gave to the list
was more... extreme than you intended, I suppose.  I myself was fuming
over that review for quite a while until I finally calmed down.  As for
the jokes, I take it that's from 'Manual Not Included', right?  Like
Plunger's story about Akane getting kidnapped, it is supposed to be a
satire.  I'm not sure about this, but isn't the funny part of 'Manual
Not Included' is how it satirizes the usual one omnipotent being fixes
Ranmaverse?  I'm not saying that you can't point out flaws in the
author's writing, but I think your way of addressing it was a bit
extreme and that's why it caused so much flame on this post.  I've seem
many other authors that uses much more Japanese than Richard.  It does
seem to me that your complaint about 'Storm's End' is a bit unfounded.
Richard only used the standard "Ranma no baka" which just about every
author has used a some point.  I agree with you that excess Japanese
usage doesn't help the story, but Richard didn't use it to excess.  I
think he used it just right.

Oh, and you know what?  I'll only point out the good points of the author, that way, >everybody will be happy.  There, now we all feel better and don't need to post on the >ffml any more.  You guys, if you want to flame to me about the above statement, just >e-mail me at Yinyang@altered.com.

	I think the problem comes from your style of review.  When I look at
your reviews, it usually doesn't say much more than a score and either a
good or not good.  For example, take my Chrono Trigger 1/2.  You say it
isn't good and needs improvement, but you didn't say why.  That, as I've
found out, tends to annoy the author.  If you think something is wrong,
let me know what it is and I'll fix it.  Just getting a response of
'this story needs to improve' doesn't really help the author a whole lot
in improving.  Similarly, if you think a story is good explain WHY it is
so good.  Sometimes as I read your fanfic reviews I tend to get the
impression that they're biased, both because of personal opinion as well
as the obviously lack of explanation.  Mike criticized my story, and he
gave a good reasoning on why it wasn't good.  I think you need to do the
same.

	Hopefully my efforts will not be in vain and can prevent another
possible flame war.


Don Wang <dwang@sprynet.com>, Vice President of AFSS, member of RPGA and
COR, Self-appointed Protector/Defender/Guardian of Akane Tendo, a
faithful Square and Ranma 1/2 fan