(no subject)

[megwrites]

They say never meet your heroes, and I'm beginning to believe that's a maxim to live by.

I've discovered, as of late, that there are some authors who I might admire but couldn't get along with at all, and that I would probably end up wanting slap them in the face. Either because their politics are so extreme, or because I believe in being polite whenever possible.

It might be a personal quirk of mine, but nothing gets my hackles up more then someone who gets snarky towards other for little or no reason, and doesn't even stop for a moment to consider if the person they're being snarky to was trying to be rude or if there's just been an innocent misunderstanding. I consider unnecessary snark to be a sign of a very self-centered, insecure person.

Then again, there are authors on my f-list who's works I've read, admired, and who I believe to be genuinely wonderful, warm, generous, good natured people - people I'd probably want to meet with in real life.

Comments

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

No, I know what you mean. I was very relieved, when I met Connie Willis, to find that she's just as charming and wonderful as her books are. I was braced for the other, you know, but was lucky.

I dislike it intensely when I see highly unprofessional comments made by successful writers/industry people about all the lowlifes below them sending in manuscripts and how horrible they are, both mss and lowlifes.

One woman actually made a comment about how she could no longer cruise the internet because of the lowlifes (my paraphrasing). It's like, oh, get over yourself.

I think that if they want anonymity they would make a screen name, but it seems they like the stories of being nibbled to death by the great unwashed.

Hm, well, I guess I feel bitchy, too! heh

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

One woman actually made a comment about how she could no longer cruise the internet because of the lowlifes (my paraphrasing).

Well, not only that, but sometimes I see writers who seem to think that, for some reason, when they get into a discussion with someone, they're obviously superior to whomever they're speaking with.

Case in point, an author who is fairly well known (at least in SFF circles) has a blog that I went to a while back and he'd made a post about something, and a reader responded that his post was a bit hurtful to an entire group of people because he was basically calling them all very mean, hateful people - and of course, the reader was a member of that group.

The writer responded by being really rather rude and condescending in telling the reader that she had no right to be offended, because he'll TELL her when she's being offended and obviously she's too dumb to read the post the right way.

Plus, there have been other instances where well meaning, respectful fans have commented to a writer, either online or in person, and the response that the writer has given has been just downright mean. And I think it's because the writer has decided that, oh, you're just a fan, thus you're one of their many - as you put it - lowlife minions.

Hm, well, I guess I feel bitchy, too! heh

We can be bitchy together. It's always more fun that way!

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

Heh, *exactly*.

And the funny thing is, is that I don't really mind that they feel that way. Heck, feel that way all you want, poor little put-upon thing, but it's not community, professional, or even all that interesting.

It's just a weird sense of "bonus!" entitlement that is maddening. And short-sighted on their part, I must say.

Otoh, and to make it also balanced, there's an awful lot of pro writers who are generous--grateful, even, and kind. I try to keep my f-list with those people, pro and non-pro, as I like being around them best.

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

It's just a weird sense of "bonus!" entitlement that is maddening. And short-sighted on their part, I must say.

You're not kidding. I got the the snarky side of one author's internets because we mere mortals should not dare to have the temerity to even make polite suggestions in a discussion.

*rolls eyes*.

Otoh, and to make it also balanced, there's an awful lot of pro writers who are generous--grateful, even, and kind. I try to keep my f-list with those people, pro and non-pro, as I like being around them best.

Exactly! And to tell you the truth, I think most writers, even, are nice people. There are just always a few jerks out there.

Plus, seeing the many great pro-writers out there is a good example of what I want to strive to be when (if) I ever make it.