OT: (A Rant) Drain Brameged Inc. Bites the Hand That Feeds It

[Mad Hamlet <Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx>]

Greetings,

I wrote this rant a few months back y'know&cause I can. Anyhow Prisms did
give the list a bit of a kick in the pants but I want more. So I figure I'd be
a bit less subtle. Or rather more blunt&cause subtle sucks. So this time
around I figure I'd just INSULT everyb- I mean...er bring attention to an
issue of grim seriousness.

Enjoy.

I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet



Greetings,

I have had, as of late, a bit of an epiphany.

It is common knowledge that I'm am somewhat of the less refined, at least in
societal niceties, persuasion. I say what I think and do so in clean conscious
as I make great effort to think the original thoughts rather then just wax on
about any quasi-rational mumble-butter that my fevered, emotional brain comes
up with.

In simple terms: I look before I leap.

And if, after a good long look, I happen to leap upon someone's head so much
the better.

It is equally known that I have very strong opinions on the Kitten Board, more
often than not of the negative variety. Not without good reason too; there are
certain fundamental aspects of life that they, with no hint of irony which his
hilarious considering the whole centre of their delusionverse, trample on and
through which they become more than just a little hypocritical; these are also
thing that I, myself, personally could not do without.

However I myself can be, and up until I wrote this, slapped with the Hypocrite
tag. Here I am standing on some puffed up soapbox, trumpeting the flaws of
another group (I have no qualms about doing so, this isn't anything even
approaching apologetic) and yet have missed one critical fact.

They are a community. A living, vibrant community with multiple, nay a
multitude of topics, ideas, thoughts, desires, actions and reaction,
crisscrossing the cyber-ether in vibrant, zipping colours creating this great
net of communication and sharing that is going more than just strong. We're
talking about a community over four-thousand strong, nearly every topic on
their forum is examined by ten score and responses are flung about liberally.
True, I'd imagine more than a few are simply of the 'LOL' or 'U Rox Dood!'
variety but that's something at least. Not much, actually in some ways it can
be counted against the communication phenomena but these 'waste-responses'
have been and are the minority.

This great engine feeds off itself and continues to churn away maintaining
itself, fuelling itself and plugging along keeping its members secure, safe
and content- If somewhat blind.

There is much akin between The Kittens and The Spuffies. Zealotry, borderline
fanaticism, coupled with near blind agreement- A winning formulae for societal
strength if not one for growth. Still despite the inherent risks in such a
formulae there is the possibility for greatness, both the actually great and
of the terrible variety.

This is, in some ways, better than the alternative.

Lassitude.

Apathy.

Lethargy.

Listlessness.

Passiveness.

Passivity.

Whole bunch of adjectives there eh? I lay em' directly at the feet of the
gross majority of the Buffy/Willow shippers too. This is not a small group.
There are two large YahooGroups, one with, if I recall correctly over a
thousand, five hundred members and the other with near a thousand though I do
believe there is some sharing between the two lists. To be on the safe side
I'll state that Buffy/Willow community is roughly two-thousand strong with
probably again that number on the sidelines as curious passer byes.

You'd think there'd be traffic, right? You think there'd be a whirlwind of
activity wouldn't you? Well, you'd be dead wrong.

Those adjectives up there? Not only are they properly laid at the feet of the
Buffy/Willow community but they are tattooed on the collective asses of the
majority. The main work, the main accomplishments of the Buffy/Willow
community has been at the hands of a few, a VERY select few.

The gross, grotesque and downright repugnant majority just sit on their
laurels waiting to be spoon fed entertainment, bloated, and careless like
great, brown toads lolling their massive eyes and occasionally flicking out a
hideous tongue from the banks of an otherwise beautiful, clear, crystal spring
pool.

The vast majority do not trouble themselves with feedback of even the inbred,
idiot-on-a-stick variety.

They do not trouble themselves with the possibility that a titbit, a tiny
titbit of some reaction would be most welcome.

They do not trouble themselves with any thoughts centred around 'Is this good'
or 'Is this bad'. Based on what I've seen my near half-decade in the community
I'd say the majority of thought that goes into a response, if any, is 'How
much sex was there in it and how kinky was it?'

Now, this is the MAJORITY. Not the totality.

Yes there is feedback, some quite good but it is of such rarity that waking up
to actually find feedback is so surprising that it doesn't matter how good or
poor it is, it's actually there at all! This is not how it should be.



Go to the front page of the BWW Yahoogroup, it shows it right there are over
one thousand, five hundred members but the facts of the matter speak
otherwise. For years I've been part of the BWW and through most of that time
there has been a concrete 'core' of active members and the majority remain
silent, lurking. Some even apologise, when they speak up at all, for it so
that means they know what they're doing is somewhat 'wrong' yet they don't
actually do anything to change.

The members of the core active users on BWW has never exceed, mmm&in a fair
estimation&fifty or so&and that's optimistic. So, fifty out of one-thousand,
five hundred are active. Wow. High percentages there. Makes me proud I tell
you, proud! (Okay I'm lying)

Of course posting can be kind of time consuming, it involves, y'know, actually
writing something akin to a letter of some sort and there's no immediate
reaction, no instant gratification or response from people who the post is
addressing. Luckily enough that's not the only option available; on the main
BWW page there are clear, simple instructions to meet in an #IRC channel,
actually talk with fellow shippers real time, have some laughs, share
thoughts, y'know actually SOCIALISE?

Of course the norm has usually been less than&oh&.a dozen.


The members who ARE there are the core of Wiffy-Dreamverse by the way. They do
the work, they create the entertainment for it and for nearly the last year,
barring the ultra-rare exception they haven't gotten Jack & Shit for it and
Jack left town.

This is also not how it should be.

Wiffy-Dreamverse.com also has made a forum for people. Much like the
Yahoogroup, designed to work in concert with, not opposed to The List, though
a tad more sophisticated; another place for ideas to be shared and expressed.
If we took a look at THAT membership list and their posts etc etc you'd
see&.well&.

It would seem to me that things are kinda slow, kinda lacklustre, kinda
meandering in the pits of droll, dross, not-happening, nobody's sayin' 'Hi',
beams pass by unmolested with nay ol' to tarry 'bout dem'.

In other words the majority here are definitely not Caesar.

They Come.

They See.

They Leave.

Whether or not they even see is debateable.


Sure, WD.com has traffic, lots of traffic. I can never go to the page without
seeing at least three 'guests' here.

I believe this is new definition of the term 'guest' as it seems these guests
enter our 'home' take what they want and leave without so much as a hi. They
probably track mud all over the carpeting too, the bastards.

It's not an issue though of just random anonymous' not actively participating
in even the slightest but it also involves the so called 'members'. Why so
many have decided to be members is a mystery which, while aptly demonstrated,
cannot be so easily explained.
Currently Wiffy-Dreamverse has around one-hundred and nine members. 

Honestly, when it comes right down to it, the majority don't give a shit. That
active minority stand clearly out, and they can take pride in that
(Translation: You who DO post, and you KNOW who you are as you responded to
the original posting of this rant/diatribe!). All the niceties aside, all the
vernacular and political correctness disregarded when it comes down to brass
tacks based on this list it is quite readily visible who is worth my time and
who is not; those few, those lucky few, who are well and truly 'better' than
everybody else.

Glory and Honour be to them with more than little thanks, they are the movers
and shakers, the thinker and the do'ers. They are the StoryTellers,
Webmasters, Radio Hosts, Photoshoppers, Video Makers. They know their
characters inside and out, upside down and right side forward they can sit
there and actually become these wonder, wonderful ladies and actually create,
effortlessly, with passing, almost airy grace, in many ways how like a God,
this wonder image of two girls in love with each other.

I am one of them; I number myself among the best of them. I too am a
Storyteller and I will continue to do so. I do this, not because I want to be
special, certainly not because I want to 'be included'. No, I do this because
I can, and because I love the characters and the ideas which is a good thing
because I can't fucking stand most of the people here.

I am lucky enough to be among good people. People I like and people who I can
teach and be taught by and we honestly want more. More people, more insights,
more conversations, discussion, yes, even arguments and conflicts. We want
emotions and rash judgements, discourse and derision, and compliments.
Critiques, quotes, suggestions&we want participation.

Which we don't seem to get a lot of.

Because so many of you are lazy.

Or busy.

Or tired.

Or horny.

Or idiots.(I'd bet more than just a few)

Or scared.(You shouldn't be)

Or curious.

So many other possible defences the majority uses to talk themselves out of
actually doing anything.

For God's sake they don't even offer a quickie vote on manips in the Gallery!
Is the most we can hope for is the occasional response to these polls?

Maybe the on again off again 'WD ROX! LOLOLOLLLOLL!!' on the tag board?

How sad is that?

Very.

And yet I guess that's the way it's going to be because I'm not delusional
enough to think that this rant will really change anything. Maybe, at best,
most of you will get guilty twinges in your brain as you lounge back in your
chairs, dresses' hiked up or jeans pulled down, waiting for the next bit of
instant gratification, Buffy/Willow fuckfic to come along so you can twiddle
your fiddle or choke your chicken to it.

So unless some here and on the BWW and other Femslash lists, and I'm not going
to be holding my breath, decide to grow a pair and leap in with both feet the
rest of you can take a flying fuck at a Jesus driven taxicab.


I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet


I was born modest, but it wore off.
                         -Samuel Clement(Mark Twain)


Look upon my work ye mighty and...ah skip it.
http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/madhamlet.htm
                                    -Mad Hamlet


Creator & Editor of Radio: JAABAFF.
The first and only BtVS Femslash Radio Show.
http://www.wiffy-dreamverse.com/




------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater?
Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/pkgkPB/SOnJAA/Zx0JAA/RoMolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

Community email addresses:
     Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Subscribe:    buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Unsubscribe:  buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     List owner:   buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortcut URL to this page:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow

Official archive for the list:
     http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic

Other links to Buffy/Willow fics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/links  
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
   http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/