17:44 Jan 23 2011
Times Read: 648
Disclaimers make me sad where writing is concerned. My friend just wrote a beautiful poem/song lyric and felt the need to explain at the front end that it isn't about anyone...not to draw conclusions. I know why he felt that way; hell, we all know. Isn't it sad, though?
More and more writers have to cover their asses by writing "all characters in this work are fictional." It's almost never 100% true. Writers draw from people around them and from the world at large. They combine people and add traits and dialog, experience and situations.
When you read older books and poems, you'll notice that authors didn't feel that necessity. I wish that writers could just put it forward with a mental attitude of, "here it is." When I studied literature in college, I had a great professor who made sure that when we were required to do analysis, we understood that we were not to assume that the author was writing about himself or anyone specifically. In poetry and fiction, unless otherwise noted by the author, you take the character as a character.
Now, you can make comparisons and make cases for your theories, especially in works of satire. I can't imagine reading Divine Comedy without doing so, but even so...the characters are not the people themselves. They are Dante's creations.
I've read many many journals in VR. I have even wondered if I saw myself in a post or two. Sometimes it was in a good light and sometimes not. But without my name on it, all I can do is wonder...it could just as easily be someone else in the journalist's life. I don't think I've ever reacted in any way that would ever cause someone to feel they have to worry about what they write. I understand 2 things:
1. I am not that interesting.
2. If someone has not used my name (nick, work title, or other SPECIFIC way of identifying me), they can vent, create, spew anything they like without me assuming it's about me and bugging them in any way, especially in VR's favorite ways:
a. Messaging them and asking, "Is that about me?"
b. Writing a retaliatory or pre-emptive journal strike.
c. Sending threats or otherwise flipping the f*** out. Do some of you even REALIZE how crazy that makes you look, defending yourself in fiery diatribes in a journal? Sure, we look. How could we not? If someone stood outside a window lighting their poo on fire and flinging it at a wall while screaming, "I'm not the crazy person here!" Wouldn't you look? Wouldn't you call a friend and say, "Hey, you looking out the window?" But I ask...I REALLY REALLY ask, Is that what you're looking for? Are you mistaking horrified fascination for genuine interest and friendship? I admit, I wonder.
I can say, though, that it gets old. I mean, ONE guy flinging fiery poo is worth a look. A poo-flinger every hour of every day just becomes that guy you try not to look at...you go to actual efforts NOT TO SEE him.
Don't be that guy. Don't be THAT GUY! It's not about you...even when it is. It is not about you. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! Knock it off.
COMMENTS
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LIFEBLOOD
18:16 Jan 23 2011
Your names all over my journal especially the seedy downtroddon bits :-P
Joli
18:21 Jan 23 2011
and this was all about you! ;)
birra
19:05 Jan 23 2011
Well, I know you were writing about me... a little bit.
It is necessary when I'm displaying my efforts here. It's a cultural thing on this site - everyone assumes an emotional poem, a heartfelt sentiment or a jab at the air MUST be directed at someone in some passive-aggressive way. Especially when there are known relationships, in a positive or negative relation.
So I disclaimer before I post some of my work, especially when I know it might look like a statement against someone I care very deeply about and would not in any way, shape or form publicly spew something that might hurt that person, damage my relationship with that person or cause any kind of discomfort in that person's life.
I'm not publishing my work to a book. It's mainly being tested for public consumption on a silly website where not everyone knows me that well, but knows enough to feel like they might know me that well. I'd rather avoid the assumptions before they even begin...
Joli
19:15 Jan 23 2011
Of course that's why. No question. I just hate the necessity to do so.
NocturnalMistress
19:43 Jan 23 2011
I have gotten to the point in where... I just don't care anymore. When I write poetry, I write it to get thoughts out. If someone thinks it's about them, then let them. If I had written something about someone, I would let them know, or if I journaled about something, especially if it was a user, I would let them know first.
Nine out of ten times when I write it doesn't really pertain to anyone in general, but more of a general thought that I needed or wanted to express. I have gotten messages from people feeling as if what I wrote was about them... I just sigh and feel stupid that I have to exactly explain that it isn't.
So I put up a disclaimer so no one gets the wrong idea.
It is, in a way, at times, pretty sad that one must do so. Or explain why they weren't online for whatever reason...
Nightgame
23:13 Jan 23 2011
I wonder what type of guilty conscience a person has to immediately imagine anything negative is about them?
I've never really tried to place real people into the shoes of characters I read about or even made up myself. It's all inside the twisted workings of my mind.