Just a
little note to my readers and fellow
Slash Writers out there regarding the XF Slashdom...if you have no idea
what Slash even is, than I would say it is safe for you to hit
the back key, and keep surfing around the site. For those of you
who partake in the adventures of writing and reading Slash, than this
is for you.
Dear Fellow Slashers,
I'd like to take a
moment of your time to say a few things
regarding the art and talent of writing X-Files Fanfic; particularly
Mulder/Krycek Slash.
Over the course
of the last couple of months some issues have been brought to my
attention, and I feel that they need
to be addressed, and what better way to do that, than to use my own
site. A venue in which I
am able to speak my mind freely.
Since January, while
recovering from cervical cancer, I have been forced to witness some of
my favorite M/K stories virtually vanish
from the Internet. Not
because of some nefarious virus, or something as equally heinous, but
because of things that people within
the XF Slashdom had been saying
to or about each other.
Now, I in no way,
shape, or form, have any idea as to all
of the
identities of these individuals, nor do I even want to know. All
I do want to know is what the
hell is going on here?
I thought that the
entire point
to being in the Fanfic world (any Fanfic world) was to write stories
that we, as authors, felt needed to be placed "out there" for others to
enjoy, and to
read the stories that others have written themselves for us to enjoy.
Instead, I am now
hearing of at least one brilliant author who removed
her stories from the XF Fandom based on something that happened to her
on a personal level
from a specific male individual (again, no idea as to the particulars,
though I AM dying of curiosity-I mean, there is NOTHING that could turn
me away from a certain
beautiful Canadian actor [who shall remain nameless]. Especially
not enough to drive me to remove
my ENTIRE SITE from the 'Net, because of whatever it is/was that he
did/said, but I digress...) and it is not only her work which is now lost (unless
you have the know how to actually find it in an archive, or were smart
enough to save it to your own drive in the first place).
No, in addition I
have
two other friends (who will
also remain nameless) who also felt
the need to remove their stories from the 'Net, because of something
that was said and done to them
personally. The pain that was
inflicted to these two was enough to render one of these friends of
mine virtually
useless as a writer for a short period of time.
I remember when she
said to me that she
couldn't understand why someone would pretend to be her friend, and
stab her in the back, later.
To read a story, and
give praise,
only to turn around and completely rip this person's heart out by
bad-mouthing the story somewhere else?
This is only the
gist of what has happened. Thus, leaving this specific writer
feeling as if they aren't fit to not only write, but to do anything else creative?
I don't understand
this either!
We are all a part of
something that is larger than our "real lives",
yet what is happening out here in Cyberspace is starting to have an
affect on some Real Lives,
and I am beyond pissed at
this point!
Just today, I came
across a popular archive and to my utter surprise there was a note from
the archivist herself! Without going into any particulars this
individual felt that she had to post a reminder to the Internet Community,
stating that those of us who "live" here must all take into
consideration the feelings of others. That we must all remember
to be courteous and kind to each other, regardless of our own personal
opinions, or relationships (be it virtual or "real life").
This should be a no-brainer people!
If you don't like
what you read, than go
somewhere else!! Don't sit there and continue to read
something, and then go off your rocker with a flame, or even worse,
begin to spread viciousness regarding a particular author!
How many more
authors must feel the need to remove years
of their heartfelt writings,
leaving the rest of us bereft of their work, before we realize that
what we do as authors is PROVIDE A SERVICE to each other?
We are not doing this for money; we are doing this because we love to
do it! However, there is only so much people will take when it
comes to their "hobbies", before they move on to something else,
because of negative feeback or experiences.
Now, I am not saying
that everyone should stop giving each other constructive
criticism. Of course not! We writers need that type of
feedback in order to become better writers. However, there is a
distinct line between being constructive, and being destructive.
Respect other
people's writing, and their feelings, and you may go farther with your
own literary pursuits. Because I can promise you this...
If we do not stop
with the ever-increasing negativity within the realm of XF Slash, there
will soon be NO XF SLASH TO BE HAD by anyone
within the 'Net community. Everyone will begin to simply keep
their pieces trapped to their own hard drives, or spread to each other
only from inside a select group of friends.
Think
before you start spreading
negativity around, and maybe people who have left will come "back to
the fold" and once more share their wonderful writing with the rest of
us.
Lecture over...
Tammy D.
Aiken-Phillips
www.thamasd.com
thamasd@comcast.net
July 8, 2005
