TWoP Friends!

[deelaundry]

nightdog, asynca, sara, fiddy, perspi, kiwi, et al.

Your opinions on Sara M shutting down the House Fanfic discussion thread on TWoP?

I'm ANGRY but not sure how to complain/protest.

Maybe we should just go to the Meet Market thread for our discussions, since there is no restriction on what you can say there.  Here's part of the top post on page 3369:

Snuggle, you really need to take care of yourself! I know you are, but you musn't skip breakfast! [/mum] I know adjusting to a gluten-free lifestyle is hard work, but it does get easier. (Just watch the french fries at Outback Steakhouse. The seasoning has gluten. As do many soy sauces.)

YES, THAT DESERVES TO BE ON TWOP WHEREAS DISCUSSION OF HOUSE FANFIC DOES NOT!

8:35 pm US Eastern Time:  I just emailed Sara M.  She hasn't replied to my emails in the past, but we'll see.  Here's what I said:

May I ask for more clarification on why the House Fanfic Discussion thread was closed?  The discussions there were great and high quality, leading to (I believe) improved House fanfic, and thus a greater enjoyment of House as a show for those of us who feel fanfic is an intrinsic part of the experience.

Your post indicated there are other places to discuss House fanfic - but the very few I've seen can't match the camraderie and intelligent spirit of the House TWoP forum.

11 pm:  Sara actually replied.  It's a bullshit answer, but seems rather conclusive.  So, anyone got a clue where these "so many other places" to discuss House fanfic are?

Hi Dee,

TWoP is not a fanfic site, so there's no reason for a thread about fanfic to be there.  
There is a thread to post links to your own stuff (as long as it's not own your personal 
site) or recommendations to other people's stuff, and I think that's enough.  Last year 
there were some problems with people going way off topic in the fanfic thread and that's 
why it had to become recommendations-only.

There so many places out there to discuss fanfiction and House fanfiction; I'm sure 
you'll find one that suits you.

Sara

Comments

[i-heart-cameron.livejournal.com]

1. TWOP SUCKS THE FATTEST DICKS.
2. SARA M IS A STUPID RETARDED WHORE AND I HOPE SHE FALLS IN A PUDDLE OF AIDS. OR EATS AIDS PIE.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I HEART YOU SO BAD, IHC. KISS, KISS, KISS. YOU DON'T PULL THAT KIND OF CRAP ON CLH AND I THANK YOU FOR IT.

PS. I WAS SO EXCITED (CAPSLOCK-LEVEL EXCITED) TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR GREAT DATE!

[i-heart-cameron.livejournal.com]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE TO RECIEVE THIS LOVELY COMMENT BUT ILU2

HAHA THANKS YEAH IT WAS PRETTY CAPSLOCK

[asynca.livejournal.com]

Well, I lost faith in TWoP since I got a warning for discussing latent homophobia but the people who told me I was projecting by wanting House/Wilson (+more nasty discussion) didn't.

The fanfic thread was in the OUTHOUSE, and it was RELATED TO HOUSE! There's no reason to shut it down. And you know if you complain you'll get a warning.

[timbershiver.livejournal.com]

LOL, 24 Pages (of quite cool discussion i liked to read, being a writer myself) later and they decide "that's enough - playtime over kids, back to classes."

Sara M, reminds me of my friend's crazy mum who kept accusing her kids of driving her mad when it was obvious she was the one who was nutso and the kids were keeping it together. ("I USED TO HAVE A LIFE AND A GOOD FIGURE BEFORE I GAVE BIRTH TO YOU!")

What is the deal with that place? Is it voluntary? Are they paid? Do they have a final solution?

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I was ... completely baffled by the closure.

Well, okay, maybe not completely baffled. The only reason I can think of that might've led to its shutdown is that someone complained (about what, God only knows) and threatened to make a stink with the provider about a TOS violation.

In my experience (limited as it is), that's what will get a thread shut and locked faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Or Gregory House. Or whatever.

A TOS violation can get an entire site booted off, and once that happens it's a bitch to get another host.

But if that's what happened, I wish the TWoP Powers That Be had said so, because otherwise it just looks like an unreasonable, vindictive power play with an utter lack of regard for the TWoP members who were posting there.

And if that's what happened, then my opinion of TWoP has been drastically lowered.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

I too have no idea what happened, there. I thought our writing discusion was interesting and useful, and it kept the fanfic thread on-topic (if you read back in the fanfic thread, there were some of those kinds of writing discussions happening between recs, which was why that thread was started in the first place). Can I put more into one sentence?

Anyway, I'm sad and disappointed that it got closed, but not exactly angry. I frequent the Meet Market thread--it's one of the only other threads I regularly post in--and there are several other writers there. In fact, we've had some of the very same writerly discussions. The core Hizziens really are a lovely bunch, and would welcome you. The only problem with posting in the Meet Market is that it's a very fast-moving thread, and the writerly discussion could sometimes get lost.

Other options? At the moment, I haven't been posting much of anywhere, because I'm sewing my costume for karaokegal's party, and it's turning into an elaborate gown complete with beading and marabou.

[timbershiver.livejournal.com]

i could have understood a violation thing,, (Copyright issues, fear of Vampiric Laywers, etc), if it had happened ages ago, but why was it just the fanfic discussion thread that was shut down, and not the actual fanfic one as well, the one that Sara M started herself?

And where does the mod think that all the 24 pages of discussion are going to go? They're going to go somewhere, it's not going to get forgotten, is it?

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

Aw, man! I never posted in the thread, but I really enjoyed reading it. Lots of great insight on the writing process. I don't get it... (Maybe we could (stealthily) hijack the rec thread?)

By the way, thank you for rec'ing my latest! It was a nice surprise. :)

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Other options?

At the moment, the only place I can think of is housefic_meta, but I don't usually post there because people are very ... serious. Honest. They scare me a little bit, and I always feel unworthy.

If GAFF was up it would probably be a friendly environment, but I don't think they're back online quite yet.

Maybe I'll visit the Meet Market ... I actually haven't been there very much because I didn't recognize many names.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

... complete with beading and marabou.

Ooooohhhh, pretty feathers!

*touches gently*

[perspi.livejournal.com]

Hee, nightdog, you've been 'helping' with the feathers all this time!

[perspi.livejournal.com]

The Meet Market often has several discussions running in parallel across pages and pages, and it can be a little odd.

Or, you know, we could take over Dee's journal. :)

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I asked for clarification - we'll see how far that gets me. I was able to refrain from calling her a twat (giving myself a pat on the back for that).

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The recappers are paid and the site is funded through advertising. They are good about certain things and have their thumbs up their butts about other things.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I was also PO'd when the HoYay thread got moved to the Outhouse, another arbitrary play of some kind. I mean, come on, the TWoP FAQ for the show mentions the House/Wilson HoYay!

But with the Outhouse banishment has come more fun and creativity, so that ended up being fine in the end. Completely closing an active and interesting discussion thread, though... I don't get it.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

The Meet Market thread is like chat-room to me - it moves really fast, as you said, and there are overlapping discussions. I can't follow it.

I'm glad you get along well in there, but I have found many of the core Hizziens (hee) to be rabid in their hate of the HoYay. Even ones that are part of the H/W LJ comm, just slam it down when it dares to go out of the HoYay thread of TWoP. The one exception has been the Shipper thread, which after the initial kerfluffle is not actively smackdown-y.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

You are definitely welcome to take over my journal to discuss writer-ly things! It makes me better, so I enjoy it.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Housefic_meta is a little scary. I read over there sometimes but haven't joined because I feel like I'd have to spend so much time making my opinions worthy... Which reminds me of something, but I'll put it on your journal.

I have never been able, technologically, to get into GAFF.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

We are expressly forbidden from hijacking the rec thread. We could try to weave things into the Meet Market thread, but it moves too fast for me generally.

You're welcome for the rec - the fic definitely deserved it!

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Just had to echo this... At first I was quite excited about joining that community, but then I got spooked and would spend ages trying to compose a well-thought out post... I've written academic papers in less time. ;-)

[perspi.livejournal.com]

What about housefic_pens? It's supposed to be a writer's workshop. I like the serious, in-depth discussion at housefic_meta, but for the more general 'hey I've got a question' kind of discussion, maybe housefic_pens is the place to be?

What is GAFF and with the CAPSLOCKERS?

Also, I won't touch the rabid HoYay hate, or the rabid House/Cam hate, or the rabid House/Cuddy hate, or the rabid Foreman apathy. I'm an equal-opportunity ficcer and general enjoyer of the show. Just call me Wilson.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

GAFF is Godawful Fan Fiction.

It was originally created to poke fun at all sorts of terrible fanfic and gradually expanded into a large set of forums (fora?) on all types of subjects.

It grew into a pretty large, thriving community, and then ran into server problems. The Site Guru (the administrator and only mod) moved the site but it just got worse.

They're offline at the moment but are supposed to return ... sometime. I do believe it would be a friendly haven, as there was a Gabbery forum at one time that encompassed all sorts of threads.

I'm a GAFF refugee -- most of my original FL are fellow GAFFers. I was Night Dog there, and *points to icon* that was my avatar. I miss it.

I try not to embrace the hate either (heh!) although I have to admit I do get annoyed with some of the characters more than others.

[shoedog.livejournal.com]

You know I think Sara M is a dumb cooze.

OH GOD PLEASE POST IN THE MEET MARKET AND BEFRIEND CAPN KIDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[perspi.livejournal.com]

So I'll reiterate, maybe housefic_pens, but if you think that's more of a workshop spot rather than a discussion group, might I suggest we start something ourselves?

One idea: a community, just for random-ish musings on Housefic in particular, with links to the deeper discussion sites like Housefic_meta or Housefic_pens. What do you think?

[saara-zaara.livejournal.com]

Greetings, glad I stumbled across the discussion here (I'm zhaara on TWoP); I'd suggest The Clinic as maybe a suitable forum if the mods there are agreeable, I'd like to continue the discussion, I'd learned a lot plus it was fun! I'm happy to co-mod a new comm for this specifically if anyone is interested. Can't pretend to understand why Sara M shut this down, or rather why it took her 24 pages to do so.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to give housefic_pens a try, and if that doesn't work I think it might be a good idea to start something ourselves.

It seems there should be a forum that's not as serious as housefic_meta but not a workshop-only comm either -- that's what the "October/Housefic" thread felt like to me on TWoP (a nice cross between the two) and maybe that's why I liked it so much.

Maybe something like a "pop" Housefic comm. I don't know.

Why do I suddenly feel like Judy Garland, with Mickey Rooney standing beside her, saying "We can put on a show and save the school!"

Heh!

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

Why do I suddenly feel like Judy Garland, with Mickey Rooney standing beside her, saying "We can put on a show and save the school!" Oh my god, you almost made coffee come out my nose. Too funny!

And, I think you all are on to something with the new comm idea.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

housefic_pens says it includes "discussion of the show, characters, and actors in relation to writing fanfic." I haven't seen much, but maybe that's just because we haven't been active on it! Let's try.

PS. You're Wilson. Without the man-slut thing (I assume).

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

housefic_pens says it includes "discussion of the show, characters, and actors in relation to writing fanfic." I haven't seen much, but maybe that's just because we haven't been active on it! Let's try it, and if it doesn't work we can do our own.

[asynca.livejournal.com]

According to that logic, the Meet Market thread shouldn't even be on TWoP. There's plenty other of places to meet House fans - TWoP isn't adultfriendfinder.com.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

housefic_pens says it includes "discussion of the show, characters, and actors in relation to writing fanfic." I haven't seen much, but maybe that's just because we haven't been active on it! Let's try it, and if it doesn't work we can do our own.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

housefic_pens says it includes "discussion of the show, characters, and actors in relation to writing fanfic." I haven't seen much, but maybe that's just because we haven't been active on it! Let's try it, and if it doesn't work we can do our own.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

Do I even have to say that I agree with you? Plenty of other places to play games, talk about actors' personal lives, etc., too. But I'm not a mod, so...

If you want to get into some House fanfic writerly discussion, I think we're going to try housefic_pens. Stop by if interested.

[deelaundry.livejournal.com]

I think we're going to try to continue discussion on the housefic_pens site. If we run into problems there, we may start our own comm.

[perspi.livejournal.com]

So I'm Wilson because I like to keep the peace? I was actually thinking more along the lines that I liked everybody (at least some of the time) and most any pairing (if it's written well and it works), so that fits right in with the man-slut thing, right?

Except I'm not really a man. :)

[saara-zaara.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan! Want to kick off a thread over there?

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

Popping my head in to express my disappointment at the closure of the thread at TWoP. It was fun, friendly, intelligent and a great place to learn.

I'm also one of the mods at housefic_pens and we'd welcome discussion of various aspects of writing. That's an area we were planning to move into soon. (I have a discussion topic on AU kicking around in my head I was going to launch as soon as real life stopped biting my heels for a moment.)

Y'all come on over!

[spoopy.livejournal.com]

Y HALLO THAR

Seeing this has happened, it makes me think that maybe a community specifically for the very thing that TwoP had with the House fanfic discussion. Sure, we could use housefic_pens, but I think a community specifically for discussions would be better. Keep things separate.

Of course, my opinion doesn't really matter, seeing I never actually participated in TwoP fanfic discussions (never even visited TwoP, to be honest). But yeah.

Should I shut up? Maybe I'll shut up.