1. Yes, you're totally right. And that's kind of a good thing, really, because I've found every thing that tries to nail down anything about fanfiction in general is usually far too simplifying. For instance, when I was growing up I always did something that was basically slashing and I was sure I was the only one. Then I go on the 'net and read an essay about slash where a woman is describing her experiences growing up and doing exactly what I did with the two guys from Emergency! Thinking back I realize, "Wow, I was slashing..." and yet not, because I'm still not really prepared to put a name on what I was doing. I know I couldn't at the time. It was just the thing I did compulsively with all fiction. Describing it as something simple is like describing "art" as something simple, like it's the same for everyone and fulfills this easily described, practical purpose.
The word slash, presumably, appeared like most fandom words, as a way of describing some phenomenon that everyone recognized but there was no word for. So everybody had a similar impulse to want to read or write these stories, and the stories all seemed to have something in common. It's so funny, after all, that it refers to the / in between the two name. /=just about anything depending on the story! (It was even one of the rare fandom terms whose origins I figured out without having to be told.)
2. If this ever manages to gets published and gets fans, which characters will they slash? :o" and then "should I put in teh subtext? :o" and then I start wondering if there *is* subtext and then I get confused.
Yes! And I feel so embarassed because part of me is like--how arrogant are you that you're imagining yourself having a fandom invested in enough in your characters they want to slash them! But yeah, I do notice exactly this--I was talking about it with ranalore above too. If I as an author find something slashy does that make the slash more valid?
3. Totally agree on the grumpiness and the reasons for it. The worst conversation I remember getting into about it was with a truly unpleasant guy who seemed to unfortunately think being gay also meant having general contempt for women because they were all out to bring men down or something. Anyway, I just remember this guy kept saying, "But why do you write about this when it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!" He just seemed incredibly threatened that these women (the same ones who were always so angry when he revealed he was gay and thus they would not be able to trap him and get at his money and prestige) could make "this" about "them" in any way. It honestly almost sounded like he was saying gay sex was about excluding women--that's the vibe that came through. Anyway, I agree with your thoughts on it.:-)
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The word slash, presumably, appeared like most fandom words, as a way of describing some phenomenon that everyone recognized but there was no word for. So everybody had a similar impulse to want to read or write these stories, and the stories all seemed to have something in common. It's so funny, after all, that it refers to the / in between the two name. /=just about anything depending on the story! (It was even one of the rare fandom terms whose origins I figured out without having to be told.)
2. If this ever manages to gets published and gets fans, which characters will they slash? :o" and then "should I put in teh subtext? :o" and then I start wondering if there *is* subtext and then I get confused.
Yes! And I feel so embarassed because part of me is like--how arrogant are you that you're imagining yourself having a fandom invested in enough in your characters they want to slash them! But yeah, I do notice exactly this--I was talking about it with ranalore above too. If I as an author find something slashy does that make the slash more valid?
3. Totally agree on the grumpiness and the reasons for it. The worst conversation I remember getting into about it was with a truly unpleasant guy who seemed to unfortunately think being gay also meant having general contempt for women because they were all out to bring men down or something. Anyway, I just remember this guy kept saying, "But why do you write about this when it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!" He just seemed incredibly threatened that these women (the same ones who were always so angry when he revealed he was gay and thus they would not be able to trap him and get at his money and prestige) could make "this" about "them" in any way. It honestly almost sounded like he was saying gay sex was about excluding women--that's the vibe that came through. Anyway, I agree with your thoughts on it.:-)