Fanlib and why it is a bad, bad idea

[astoryandasong]

Warning: It's 5:45 am where I am. I'm tired, I have an exam in less than four hours and I am snarky.

Oh dear. 
That was my first thought when I heard about Fanlib. Oh dear. Having read through the various posts linked on meta_fandom and various other ljs, my reaction hasn't changed. Oh dear Fanlib, you have fucked yourselves up but good. 

Now this is my opinion and not everyone will agree, that's okay. But in my opinion the biggest two fandoms going right now in fanfiction are SGA and SPN. That is where it's happening, at least in the lj portions of fandom.  Now to put it bluntly, lj is basically the locus for most fanfiction going round. Forget yahoo groups or other mailing lists (but ah, the memories) or even sometimes author websites and archives. Lj is where most people play nowadays. I'm not sure if it's a good thing (I love my lj, but I loved those lists too) but I think that its true. FF.net is mostly a joke in fandom, a cautionary tale of what not to do. I mean, when was the last time YOU went to FF.net and clicked on a decent fic? Plus, no NC-17, which drives a lot of the older fans away. Archives are still going, but most of the really popular authors with the stratosphere hit counts post in Lj as well.  Now why would you in your right mind go and piss off lj fandom? You  wouldn't.  
The fanlib CEO's tired little rant and weaselly avoidance of any reply to fannish issues has made sure that Lj fandom is going to piss on fanlib every opportunity it gets. Sure, the meta_fandom section of Lj might be small, but who doesn't have at least one bigger name author on their f-list- and those authors are currently gathering kindling for the woodpile while other fans look around shiftily for a lighter and some kerosene.  

Sadly though, I have the feeling that Fanlib may still get bigger.  There are a lot of fourteen year olds looking for a place to put their OMG PLEASE REVIEW THIS MARY SUE <3 XD XD fic. It saddens me a little to think that it could be that portion of fandom to get publicity and possibly get us into Very Big Trouble, with capitals C&D.

Comments

[astoryandasong.livejournal.com]

The reason I loved those mailing lists was that everyone was on there together. The great, the good and the terrifyingly awful. I have such fond memories of those lists, especially the Richie/Methos list. I was 14 when I joined, I'm now 22.
I think ff.net has its purpose- we all have to start somewhere. The thing is I personally would find it very hard to improve myself on ff.net. I've found some fic there that was full of potential. I once found a story I got really excited over and left a comment basically saying that- but pointed out a couple of spelling mistakes and offered to beta in the future because I had enjoyed it so much. I got told to shut up basically. That was the end of my ff.net experience.

[lastscorpion.livejournal.com]

I once found a story I got really excited over and left a comment basically saying that- but pointed out a couple of spelling mistakes

I did that once, too! The girl (she turned out to be in high school, so I felt really old) got me to beta-read the remaining chapters of her story, and then a year or so later she beta'd one of mine. So sometimes it works out fine.

[astoryandasong.livejournal.com]

I love it when fandom uses its powers for good.