#frustrated fiddler can't fiddle and has to Join the Discourse instead

[shadesofmauve]

I'm not going to touch 'is it literature' because that would require folks to agree on a working definition of literature and without that it's just endless arguing circles. And I've written before about how fanfic can be important and valuable because stories can be important and valuable. But I also agree with @roach-works that it really doesn't matter. If something brings you joy and harms no one, hot damn, what a marvelous thing to have.

My partner and I have both taught adult beginners who want to start playing instruments. One of the things we both ask is what their goal is. That inevitably leads into at least half an hour of explaining that it's 100% okay if your goal is to learn just the three chords you need for your favorite song. It's 100% okay if your goal is to noodle around in your own living room when no one's home. It's 100% okay if you only want to be able to plunk out nursery rhymes for kids. You don't have to be aiming for/capable of performing on stage in order for making music to be worthwhile.

And let me tell you, people have a hard time internalizing that. Our society makes so damn much out of accomplishment, especially accomplishment that pays.

(I will never as good as you are. That's probably true. So what? Do you want to be in a band performing on stage? No? Then don't get wrapped up in a target you don't even want).

The great thing about fic is that it's more like singing in the shower than learning an instrument: there's a marvelously low barrier to entry! You don't need to buy/rent an instrument, you don't need lessons (or even time spent watching how-tos on youTube). Anyone can do it!

Of course Sturgeon's Law applies: 90% of everything is crap! And with a low barrier to entry that's a lot of crap! And that's FINE! It's better than fine, it's marvelous! If you don't like other people's crap, you don't have to read it! What a system! It's great!

something about the discourse on if fanfiction is Good or not has bugged me for years and i think i finally put my finger on why: even if reading and writing fanfiction is bad for women– because let’s not pretend all these judgements don’t hinge on whether or not women are having fun in the wrong way–it’s a voluntary activity that people enjoy doing, and that should be that.

fanfic degrades your morals– cool so does football. look at the way football players and football fans behave. when’s the last time supernatural fans set pittsburgh on fire, or tore up a strip club, or assaulted flight attendants? fuck, it would be cool if fanfic was on the level of literally any national sport.

fanfic lures you into sexual activity you might not otherwise have engaged in– so does dancing and drinking and especially drinking and dancing, activities women are also warned against but have enjoyed anyway for thousands of fucking years.

fanfic is a waste of time when you could be reading or writing Literature– almost no one does that anyway! like, if this is your beef you’re not allowed to turn on the TV until you finish Wuthering Heights. meanwhile the rest of us are going to do things that are easy and fun, because humans like doing things that are easy and fun.

fanfic is masturbatory– masturbation is actually healthy and good for you if you care to partake in it. it reduces stress, improves your mood, and acquaints you with your body’s likes and dislikes. isn’t it suspicious that this is something women are also not supposed to be doing?

IN CONCLUSION i don’t care if fanfiction is good for you and neither should you. i don’t care about the latest thinkpiece that argues that fanfiction is intelligent, sophisticated, analytical, healing, creative, revolutionary.

i care that hundreds of thousands of women like it.

because that’s enough.