I know I said I'd never do that, but I lied. At least I can admit that. Not so much for content, although I must admit I've gotten a couple heartbreakers lately, but mostly because I want to put a name with an opinion, start my database of morons, and when I'm in charge I'll know precisely how many bullets I need to buy.
Just kidding. I wouldn't really shoot anybody. I'd just make them answer my anonymous email for awhile.
Except...I haven't got any any more!!!!
But I did get one good one, which almost changed my mind and it says (the "cite" function is broken)
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Anonymous to me show details 7:35 pm (16 hours ago)
Reply Re: Now that I've cleared that up...
Posted : 2009-01-19 - 10:15 pm
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The biggest problem with your argument is the
assumption that anyone can craft a well-written
synopsis.
A secondary issue is that graphic descriptions of
sexual activity will by their very nature engender
stronger physical and emotional responses from
readers. This means a negative reaction to erotica
content will be greater than almost any negative
reaction any other genre will generate. This is
why codes need to exist... because until and
unless writers can (or are willing to) create
synopses that will allow readers to make a
determination whether or not they will enjoy a
story, correctly coding a story goes farther to do
this than anything else.
==============================
Which demonstrates precisely what I mean when I say we have to change our entire mindset and get creative and adventurous and take a chance. Of course 99% of all the authors on the net suck. They shouldn't merely be using codes, they should be using training wheels on their keyboards, but that will never ever change. Porn deserves story codes, I won't argue that. What I'm looking for is legitimate erotica of a quality consistent with getting on the New Yorkl Times best seller list...Sans codes.
Now that's a pipe dream and I'm not arguing that either. But if nobody ever tries,then it'll never happen for sure! We won't even get close to that level of acceptance, and realisatically, "Close" is all I'm shooting for. Not personally, but as a community, as a social element. Close would be good. But we'll never get there saying "Until writers learn to write a decent synopsis...We'll use codes to do it for them" (to paraphrase)
That's a catch-22 isn't it?
Don't learn to write a decent synopsis because we have codes...Don't do away with codes because nobody ever had to write a real synopsis before.
Keep the codes! I like the codes 9 times out of 10...But I'd like to have the option of saying "I didn't code this work at all" and NOT be flamed for my decision. See? That's the key, turning the culture around so that it isn't uncommon to try an uncoded story and accepting the responsibility that comes with reading, instead of sticking the author with the onus 24/7
That's kinda my point, I think. I probably need to think about all of this more before I open my big mouth. But like Whitey used to say: A faint heart never fucked a pig!
Anyway, I admit my thoughts are not organized. I have only a general and vague idea of what I want to say, so I'll understand if I'm confusing anyone. My apologies for that.
rache
I turned off anonymous...
