A Writer's Manifesto · 4:09am May 28th, 2012
Everyone, after much deliberation, I have come to the decision to permanently leave FimFiction.net; because, frankly, I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the politics, the bickering, and the air of animosity that permeates this site. I know this doesn't apply to all of us. The vast majority of posters here are open-minded, courteous, creative members of the community. In fact, that's exactly why it saddens me to see us treated like unwanted guests at best, and pests that are only mercifully kept alive at worst. You see, what I'm sick of most of all is the authoritarian attitude of FimFiction's administrators. They've consistently disregarded and disrespected what we've had to say. I'm sick of the feeling that I'm walking on eggshells from the time I joined, to the times I upload stories, down to every time I post a comment, lest the banhammer come down upon my hapless head. Hell, I've known users that have been banned simply at whim! They've instituted numerous changes without our consent, or even with our dissent: including, but not limited to: content moderation of stories (no more MST3K or script-based fics), mechanical elements of the site (tracking system, rating system), and a heavily regulated code of conduct in comments, etc. (i.e. the ban on roleplaying). On innumerable instances our voices have been shot down with blatant disrespect (i.e. http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/18075) I can not stand to have my, no, OUR creativity watered-down into their vision. By its nature, creativity can not, or should not, be regulated. If a select few want to abuse the system, they should not ruin it for all of us, and regulation that punishes the many for the actions of the few is the antithesis of democracy. Of course, the creators never claimed for FimFiction was a democracy, in fact it's quite the opposite. Their attitude, and the attitude of their supporters, seems to be, to put it metaphorically, that we are all simply guests in their house, and as such have to abide by our rules. What they fail to realize is without us, the writers, the critics, the proletariat of this fandom, this site is nothing. How can FimFiction exist without the fiction? As such, a more appropriate metaphor would be that we are the employed and they are the employers, and as such we have rights to bargain for conditions that suit our needs. I intend to do just that. To quote Poultron, "You want the features that YOU want, which are not necessarily the ones that are best for the site." You're right, I know what I want, and this isn't it. Consider this my resignation, my propaganda of the deed, if you will. I'll tell you what I won't do, though, and that's stop writing. I love writing, and I love this fandom, and I won't let this stop me. I don't know exactly what I will do with my work, though. Maybe I'll publish my work anonymously from now on, maybe I'll publish it under a new moniker, but I'll keep writing, because it's what I love. I hope to see you all again someday.
Best wishes,
-EAP
P.S. I've appointed a successor to administrate the GrimDark group in my absence.
This is literally the most pretentious thing i've ever seen on a fanfiction website about technicolor horses.
And i've seen some pretentious-ass shit on this website.
2176897 I find the people that take this site seriously hilarious. It's a website for writing fanfics to a childrens' show, so the irony is not lost on me.