At 12:41 AM 8/26/97 +0100, Alpha Centauri wrote:
I don't know about the rest of you, but this kind of thing is becoming
frighteningly commonplace on the FFML. Authors, even longtime, respected
authors, considering dropping out. New, promising authors getting such
negative responses that they feel their work is completely useless.
Arguments shifting from legitimate discussions to personal attacks.
So I've noticed, too. Because of this, long gone are the days when I would
warm up my mailer and rant my latest pet peeve of the
FFML/Stories/Self-insertions/State of Otakudom in general on the list. Maybe
that's good. I dunno.
To tell you the truth, I have been thinking of leaving, too. Maybe I should
just post directly to the RAAC. I don't know why I'm still here.
No, maybe I do. I still have friends here, and I'm willing to stay here so
they can read what I write and I can read what they write, even though so
many useless fights break out on this list.
My friends, you know who you are. Especially Scriviner, all 20 Nikholas F.
Toledos (at last count), CBear, and Keener. I wouldn't be here anymore if it
weren't for you guys.
I've been insulated, working on my own litle project with my own little
group, and I haven't been paying close attention, but I HAVE been
skimming the messages, and I still don't understand what's causing this.
What happened?
All I know is that our sense of community is almost gone. We're not one big
happy family anymore, we're a damn fraternity of the worst kind now (no
reactions from fraternities in general, okay? I said of the worst kind). The
established authors who have become cynical about the fanfic world in
general give the new ones the 'trial by fire', alienating them. The new
ones, in turn, who refuse to take the advice (and who can blame them,
sometimes?) either leave or sulk.
In the midst of all of this, Tybalt, not to take anything away from him, of
course, is clamping down on spam. While I am grateful for this (and so is my
mailer), I feel that all of these together has made something on the list die.
Congratulations, people, we have broke the camel's back.
Ironically enough, the list was at it's most cohesive, the sense of
community strongest when there WAS no list. When White Wolf had to shut
down the ML for his move, everyone banded together, TWO new lists were
created to take the load, and we weathered the entire situation
amazingly well. All this happened around exam time, when our stress
level was the highest.
Yes! I loved those days! Everybody was still reading everything, everybody
was trying to hold together against the threat of the breakup due to the
FFML going down.
Now, everything is running smoothly, we're, for the most part, on summer
vacation, with time to relax and reflect. Our stress levels should be
running at a low background buzz at worst.
And we're falling apart.
Why? This is not a rhetorical question. I honestly don't understand
this.
I think I do. As a MAGE Storyteller, I can only liken this to Doissetep.
During its heyday, Chantry Doissetep was a powerful force against the other
factions of the Ascension War. Everyone was united against a common threat,
and only by holding together could they overcome them. It was Spring in
Doissetep, then, for those of you who know of Resonance.
After the threat was over, Doissetep was finally recognized and revered for
the part it played to reach that goal. Everyone wanted to sign up for
apprenticeship for the most famous Chantry. And there was peace. The Summer
had arrived.
Eventually, like generals without a war, the mages without a clear and
present threat, decided to vie for position, politics flying left and right.
Autumn came to Doissetep.
At present (using the sourcebook as basis), Chantry Doissetep is still
revered and respected, but is a hotbed for intrigue and political
backstabbing. Established cabals grapple with each other for power, while
newer cabals (and older ones who have grown weary of the treachery) leave,
never turning back. They have forgotten their purpose. They have forgotten
why they came together in the first place.
My friends in the FFML, we are in our Winter because we have forgotten why
we are together.
TimeRunner
Representative of the Crusaders of Nabiki Tendo at
the Church of All Worlds
=====
"Put your money where your foot is!"
TimeRunner's Fics can be found at:
TimeRunner Central
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/7482/index.html