The so-called "Terror Squad"

[Erin <erin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ok, the folks at the BTVS Writers' Guild have been discussing this all
day too, so I figure I'll let my opinion known.

First of all, the site in question (I'm omitting the URL) is extremely
juvenile in its insults. Yes, they target several authors whose work
I am familiar with, including Kimber's. Yes, I think their insults
are largely unbased, and yes, I think that they're not at all
interested in making fic better, they're just interested in getting a
rise out of people.

That having been said, I fully believe that they have the right to
express those opinions on the web. Because you do not like the
opinions people express is no excuse to try to take those opinions
away from others.

So, what to do? I have a few suggestions:

1) Ignore them. Do not post the URL in your messages. Last I
checked, their mailing list had over 40 members - and few, if any of
these members found the web page because the "Terror Squad" told them
about it. They, like me, found it when someone complaining about the
site directed people to it.

2) Send private feedback, encouragement, and constructive criticism to
the authors listed (the authors are listed on that other, "Countering
Flames with Water" site, or whatever it was called). Tell them that
there is another side to the story, and for every one person who hates
their stuff, there are dozens who like it.

3) Please, I beg you, do not sign that petition to get that web page
pulled. I spent hours the other day arguing for intellectual freedom
and against censorship, and pulling a web page just because you're
offended by the content is no better than the WB pulling Buffy for its
"pro-lesbian" content (for example). If they truly are violating
their Terms of Service, a single email to Abuse quoting the violated
section and the violating material will do the job.

Just my $0.02.

Erin
-- 
"Like everyone, Dan had been taught since elementary school that 
sharing books was nasty and wrong--something that only pirates 
would do." -- http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
*email: erin@xxxxxxxxxxx
*web: http://www.heckman.net/erin
*ICQ: 82263179