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Selene Avis (selene_avis) wrote in fandom_wank,
@ 2004-04-24 16:58:00

Current mood:

*sporfle!*

Mary-sue Wankage
Over at the AMSA HQ, new member Truth Graystar makes a post about mary-sues.

Chevira Lowe responses, angry that Truth sounded smug.

Highlights

Who the hell do you think you are, waltzing in here and spouting off advice like you're some sort of Messiah newly come to light?

And...

Need I remind you, you arrogant little worm, that quantity doesn't equal quality?

Well, say what you want about Chevira, she can certainly turn a phrase.

Edit: The Wank continues with another strike from Chevira despite Dagas Isa's attempt to restore order and Truth's apology. Oh, and will the real Truth Graystar please stand up? 'Cause we either have identity theft, an account assassination attempt, or someone having some fun with a joke.

(Post a new comment)

chash
2004-04-25 12:18 am UTC (link)

To be fair, the OP's advice, in my opinion, does not a good character make. I think having your character break out in pimples in the middle of a fight could be a good gag in an anime, but in a real story I'm not sure it could be written in a way that isn't madly clunky.

And, also? Um... you're probably not going to be able to give your Japanese character even vaguely realistic Japanese using a fucking phrase book. It's um... no. Yeah. It's basically no.

And the response makes me laugh with its incredible, incredible beauty. Wow.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

selene_avis
2004-04-25 01:11 am UTC (link)

Oh, you're probably right on the first point. Though I would definitely be happy if some of the OCs I ran across did have some little imperfection. The blandness of mary-sues is impossible!

With you on point two.

Chevira has quite the tongue on her, no? The real shame is that she really is a talented writer. It is much easier to take insults if you don't admire the person's oratory skills. She's snapped at me before, too. Ouch!

(Reply to this)(Parent)

iczer6
2004-04-25 01:52 am UTC (link)

And, also? Um... you're probably not going to be able to give your Japanese character even vaguely realistic Japanese using a fucking phrase book. It's um... no. Yeah. It's basically no.

I'd prefer it if people didn't feel the burning urge to sprinkle their fics with phrases from another language. It'd work better if they could find a decent reason as to why character A is spouting off in Japanese for no good reason.

On the other hand over-react much?

I know the OPs didn't seem that helpful but I think she was trying to make a good point. IE make your characters work for what they have.

If they're pretty show them taking care of themselves, if they're strong show them working out, etc. It's not bad advice IMO.

Icz

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re:

selene_avis
2004-04-25 02:53 am UTC (link)

Agreed. As for the random language thing, it all depends. I'll put it this way. I live in Florida. People speak Spanglish here if they are Hispanic in origion. They mix Spanish and English. They say things like "Porque not?!" However, when writing, you have the problem with the fact that the reader may or may not know both languages. I'm just saying that their could be a reason for a character to be mixing two languages.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - cicer, 2004-04-25 03:23 am UTC

chash, 2004-04-25 07:05 am UTC

sarajayechan, 2004-04-25 07:11 pm UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2004-04-26 04:16 am UTC

Re: -

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 05:24 am UTC

Re:

chash
2004-04-25 07:02 am UTC (link)

I dunno, the thing I found about the OP was that the advice she was giving seemed to be... I dunno. She seemed to want to be giving a "cure" to Mary Sues, and I'm not sure she chose the best way to approach the problem. Her solution struck me as being the other extreme to the Mary Sue. I think definately what she wanted to say was what you said, that characters should work for what they have, which makes absolute sense. But the way she suggested going about it seemed just as extreme and unrealistic as the Mary Sue's no work--I speak here in particular of the pimple example, as it's the one I remember best. It just seemed like while she had a good point, her execution of it wasn't actually as realistic as would be ideal. Basically I'd say she had a good idea and poor execution of it.

As for the other languages thing, I've finally come to the conclusion that, if you're going to deal with other languages, the best is to just write in English and add "he said in X language" at the end, because otherwise it's just awkward.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

iczer6, 2004-04-25 09:56 am UTC

notjo, 2004-04-25 12:08 pm UTC

Re: -

chash, 2004-04-25 04:37 pm UTC

sarajayechan, 2004-04-25 07:13 pm UTC

shinigami_co, 2004-04-25 07:20 pm UTC

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2004-04-25 09:31 pm UTC

Re: -

shinigami_co, 2004-04-25 10:08 pm UTC

	thespacecat 2004-04-25 12:47 am UTC (link)
	What do you call it when everyone involved in a wank is really stupid and worthy of hate? There should be a word for that. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	thespacecat 2004-04-25 01:02 am UTC (link)
	I've got it! Kentuckian. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

limyaael, 2004-04-25 01:29 am UTC

(no subject) - allen, 2004-04-25 02:25 am UTC

skarrow, 2004-04-25 04:29 am UTC

(no subject) - allen, 2004-04-25 04:40 am UTC

Re: -

skarrow, 2004-04-25 04:41 am UTC

(no subject) - allen, 2004-04-25 04:50 am UTC

Re: -

skarrow, 2004-04-25 04:51 am UTC

ellensmithee, 2004-04-25 12:18 pm UTC

(no subject) - allen, 2004-04-25 07:51 pm UTC

	selene_avis 2004-04-25 01:13 am UTC (link)
	Global-wank, perhaps? You know, the thing is, Truth seems like a nice person, from what I've seen her. And I know that Chevira possess the ability to be kind. Alas, they wank! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	psychofangirl 2004-04-25 06:04 am UTC (link)
	Haterade. Good stuff. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

calluna, 2004-04-25 09:36 am UTC

limyaael
2004-04-25 01:44 am UTC (link)

The OP sounded as though she was attempting to come up with ways to keep Mary Sue intact, with just the slightest excuse (she can be incredibly strong because she lifts weights! she's just got really clean skin! etc.) Not to mention that most of those things wouldn't work for a lot of fandoms. Where is a LOTR MS going to find a bar of soap or weights out in the wilderness, for example? How would an HP MS come up with good enough excuses to have Muggle items like a computer at Hogwarts?

To be fair, there are authors who can write good OC fics. But there are many more who only think they're good at it, thanks to "explanations" like the character being born of good-looking parents or being the Destined Whatever. This is the reason I leave a fic the moment an OC: a) gets more lines of description than anyone else and b) starts "explaining" why this is.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

selene_avis
2004-04-25 02:50 am UTC (link)

Hm...interesting take. ::Giggles.:: Oh, we know that Mary-sue could manage a computer in Middle Earth!

Can you expand what you mean by explanations? I personally like when something a character does has a reason rather than being unexplainable, but I can kind of see where you are coming from. "My character can use a computer at Hogwarts because she knows a magic spell that allows her too!" Then again, I'm in an original fiction thinking mode at the moment rather than fan fiction, and the rules are different. There's no canon to adhere to; you make the canon. i.e. I have a character who gets a bit of special treatment because the king is indebt to her grandmother. (And a bit of an idiot, but that's something different.) This character has green eyes because his parents have green eyes. Stuff like that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cairea, 2004-04-25 05:00 am UTC

squib, 2004-04-25 05:14 am UTC

cairea, 2004-04-25 06:50 am UTC

selene_avis, 2004-04-25 05:31 am UTC

iczer6, 2004-04-25 05:44 am UTC

selene_avis, 2004-04-25 06:33 am UTC

cairea, 2004-04-25 10:20 pm UTC

Re: -

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 02:05 am UTC

diamonde, 2004-04-25 07:22 am UTC

ladysorka, 2004-04-25 09:27 am UTC

limyaael, 2004-04-25 05:55 pm UTC

Re: -

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 02:01 am UTC

	(Anonymous) 2004-04-25 05:48 am UTC (link)
	Highlights* (Reply to this)(Thread)

	selene_avis 2004-04-25 06:35 am UTC (link)
	Thanks. (Reply to this)(Parent)

meshou
2004-04-25 06:05 am UTC (link)

WHOAH. I just followed the link, and this is what I found. It wasn't posted long ago but, uhhh... whoah.

/The REAL Truth Graystar:

You are SO dead, Amanda! FIRST you get on my account without permission, especially after I told you not to, THEN you change my password, THEN you changed the email address so I can't recover it. DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE?! Truth Graystar is MY character! I was going to use her in my BOOK!! NOW whenever someone will read my book, they'll think I'M YOU and spread nasty stories about me! Truth is a COOL character! That's why I used her name! I registered because I wanted to find authors like MYSELF and who I could TALK to! But YOU ruined that for me! You slimey, sluggish, unoriginal, soon-to-be-dead thief!

Ugh! Would someone PLEASE get the admissiontrator and delete this account? Thanks to that-- ugh! I'm too mad to use swear words!/

This could get bad.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	yadda 2004-04-25 06:13 am UTC (link)
	I can't quite figure out what Truth Graywhatsit is being accused of here, but I can't wait to learn more. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - meshou, 2004-04-25 06:18 am UTC

yadda, 2004-04-25 06:38 am UTC

	selene_avis 2004-04-25 06:35 am UTC (link)
	Mary-sue identity theft? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

kijikun, 2004-04-25 09:10 am UTC

calluna, 2004-04-25 09:42 am UTC

	frodaish 2004-04-25 09:11 am UTC (link)
	Perhaps she just thought 'fuck I stuffed my foot down my throat' and tried to cover up her tracks..? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: -

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 01:51 am UTC

	(Anonymous) 2004-04-25 11:35 am UTC (link)
	Yes. Because with a main character named "Truth Graystar", you just know that's got to be some quality reading material, right there. No. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - nakannimi, 2004-04-26 12:11 am UTC

Re: -

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 02:06 am UTC

(no subject) - nakannimi, 2004-04-26 03:11 am UTC

selene_avis, 2004-04-26 04:10 am UTC

	sarajayechan 2004-04-25 05:30 pm UTC (link)
	Anyone else have the urge to bitchslap Chevira? I mean, Truth was just offering some ideas. Chevira was way outta line. --; ... notices the "Real Truth Graystar" post Woahboy...why do I get the feeling it's gonna turn into a case of Molly Fanton there very soon. O_o; (Reply to this)(Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2004-04-26 11:41 am UTC (link)
	--Bitchslap away, my friend. Chevira Lowe, at your service. bow (Reply to this)(Parent)

	shinigami_co 2004-04-25 07:14 pm UTC (link)
	To be honest, I didn't read through this whole thread. I was too busy being amused by the last post. Aah, what a sweet, delicious CYA move. "OMG, everyone's against me, quick, DAMAGE CONTROL! cough 'Waaaah, Sibling/Friend/Cousin/Parent/Imaginary Friend, you logged in and totally made everyone hate me, I hate u omg! CRIES'" (Reply to this)(Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2004-04-26 12:51 am UTC (link)
	I don't get it. I can see no responses, credulous or otherwise, to the Amanda-u-r-dead post. I was expecting big things. moue of disappointment (yeah, I know I should get a paid account already. Sorry.) ~Jwan (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cleolinda, 2004-04-26 05:42 am UTC

	rock_ore 2004-04-26 11:57 am UTC (link)
	Ah, several people I know get wanked. I think this might be a first. . . . you're from the AMSA boards? tilts head . . . Bonasi? (Reply to this)

	(Anonymous) 2004-04-27 04:24 am UTC (link)
	Oh boy. Bonasi, if this is you, you could also mention your great big pity-post that incited further wankage here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/alexi_serenitia/17269.html?view=33397 And weren't you already slapped on the wrist for reporting your own wank before? Ooh, Chev, you've been wanked. You're one of the great people now. <3 ~Sapphira Angel (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: selene_avis 2004-04-27 11:05 pm UTC (link)
	If you are involved in a wank, it goes on i_wank. The wank I reported involved Chevira Lowe and Truth Graystar. That link you gave me is...ah...voltile. But it is not fandom related. Sorry. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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