A Guide to Reading Fanfiction: Separation of Reality from Fiction and Drama from Comedy · 8:05am Feb 4th, 2017
It makes me sad that it's even necessary for me to write this blog.
But alas...
Tonight, I'm going to teach some of you a desperately needed lesson: How to read a story for what it is, without dragging unnecessary baggage from reality into the reading.
Lesson One: Separation of Comedy from Drama
So you're reading this story that's obviously a comedy. But you want to read it as a drama. You want to MAKE it a drama. So in your mind, a comedy with dark, sociopathic overtones is now a drama.
You've already fucked up. You've already failed as a reader.
Don't go looking for real drama in a comedy. If there's supposed to be real drama there, the author will make it obvious and apparent that this is something you're meant to take seriously.
As an example: You're reading a screwball comedy where two guys steal a car, take it for a joyride, cause a whole string of mayhem, and it ends with them crashing the car into a church and getting beaten up by nuns.
How you're supposed to take that: These idiots did stupid things that got progressively more stupid and hilarious and ended with a hilarious outcome.
How a lot of readers on THIS site would approach that: Calculation of damages, listing of criminal charges, pointing out all the lives lost and endangered, "They could've killed CHILDREN!", yada yads
WRONG
Comedy is comedy. Drama is drama. When something is comedy, don't go out of your way to make it a drama.
Lesson Two: Separation of Reality from Fiction
More than anything else, this is the single biggest problem readers on this site have: You read a fanfic--a work of fiction SET IN A CARTOON WORLD--and you drag mountains of real-life baggage into it such as sexual predation laws and sex offender registration and the consequences thereof.
When the story is a drama that actually deals with that stuff, then that's fine. But when the story is a comedy and none of that comes up or is even part of the story? Then you're dragging your own baggage from reality into a cartoon world where it doesn't belong and dumping it into the comments section to stink up the place.
To use the latest chapter of Sunset Vs. as an example:
Zephyr Breeze is kicked out of various boarding schools because he's a lazy, obnoxious pervert. He now has to go to CHS, and the Mane Seven have to put up with his bullshit.
Sunset Vs. being a sociopathic comedy and not a drama, this means Zephyr is going to behave wildly inappropriately and the girls are going to deal with it in an inappropriately but hilariously comedic way.
How you're supposed to take that: Sociopathic comedy about a bunch of girls dealing with an obnoxious perverted douchebag in comedic ways.
How a lot of readers on THIS site have approached that: Discussing in the comments section about how Zephyr Breeze has committed various crimes, should be a registered sex offender, should be in juvy, and so forth and so on
WRONG
That's real life. This is fanfiction. Fanfiction about cartoon human versions of cartoon horses. Don't bring your real life baggage into the reading and commenting of a story where your real life baggage isn't wanted or needed. All you're doing it ruining it for everybody else.
Again, this kind of shit should be obvious, but I've seen way too many people drag real-life baggage into the comments section of WAY too many stories (not all of them my own), missing the point of the story entirely and junking up the comments with unfun crap nobody really wants to read.
So basically, what I'm saying is: THINK BEFORE YOU COMMENT. Think HARD about whether or not your real-world baggage has ANY BUSINESS being dragged into the comments of a fanfic.
Because usually? It doesn't. It really, really doesn't.
I seen a lot of people put these kind of comments from a lot of the stories I read, some of them I may have did these kind of comments I don't know, these and those people that take everything seriously. For those I have to ask: you do know it's all set in a world of small colourful hourses... Right?
Thanks for this.
I usually try to keep any comments I make to the over all tone of the story/chapter but then again half the time im half dead when I comment so I'm sorry if at any point I have done this or probable will do it by commentating on a comment that dos so also I love your breeze hes wiledly inappropriate and is clueless I knew/know people like the (hell one is my bosslike working with a perveted 10 yr old)
In some ways I quite agree. This is the setting of a cartoon, and you shouldn't come in expecting ALL real world logic to apply. An example is smutty clop: unless it's a part of the author's intent, bringing up STDs and pregnancy + ruined career or life from one night stand with a group of strangers is, arguably, not the point.
One problem I've noticed in a general sense, however, that isn't solely on the readers' shoulders is authors mixing up the tones-for instance, something listed as a comedy having a drama tag as well. While you can have comedy in a drama and vice versa, the two tags when applied to a story as a whole are mutually opposed.
So, a drama that occasionally has wacky shenanigans might veer into deep, realistic portrayals at a moment's notice. This muddles matters, and makes me at least wonder "are laws preventing the shenanigans a thing? If so why does the drama even exist or why aren't they a crime, so why is x a thing if b is-" you get the general idea.
I'll admit I'm at fault here regarding applying reality to some stories, but in general the stories aren't executing their themes, plot, jokes, or anything in general very well or it's done so insultingly or, in the case of certain stories, has logical, real world concerns and then no concerns whatsoever about other things (pregnancy being a big one I've noticed in occasional stories on this site that go beyond the act)
Ugh, don't be so surprised. I've seen this same kind of shit towards the show :facepalm:
Wow, where do you find these people?
I guess I've been lucky enough to not encounter anyone like that but after reading all that yeah that is sad.
4409074
Especially the premieres and finales right?
That one Starlight episode really triggered people.
Just one question: What about Comedy-Dramas?
(Just to be clear: This comment was merely a poor attempt at some slight humor.)
sometimes, when people incessantly bring in reality-based hangups to frivolity, it makes me wonder how they enjoy anything of the sort. "yes, this was funny, but the unspoken consequences are terrible" seems like a poor lens to read a comedy through.
on the other hand, I would also assume these types want to have the last word in a "so there!" way.
4409143 Oh, that one. SPECIALLY THAT ONE
. COME ONE PEOPLE, GIVE STARLIGHT A REST ALREADY 
. People take everything seriously these days 
4409221
I don't think its just cause she did it and wasn't sincerely sorry about that, I think they just REALLY don't like her.
Which is a shame cause her VA really enjoys the show and such.
4409322 In my case, my beef with the whole S5 finale thing is that it was just really clumsily handled by the writer. That's my main issue.
I would understand the frustrations of a writer when their audience doesn't "get" their work, but regardless of whether you're right, getting up on your soapbox and telling people how they're SUPPOSED to interpret your own story...yeah, it just isn't a very flattering look for any writer. If this issue is really that frustrating to you, maybe you should consider whether you're effectively implementing your authorial intent into the story or whether that really is the problem.
4410002 Dude, I wouldn't go off on a rant like this unless there was ABSOLUTELY a problem with the readers on this site, and there ABSOLUTELY is. Did you even read what I was complaining about? It's not a matter of interpretation of the story, it's a matter of what the reader brings into reading the story. It IS possible to read a story without dragging your real-world legal/moral/ethical baggage into it and taking the story for what it is. The problem is a lot of readers on this site have a bad habit of doing exactly that, and it isn't just MY stuff I'm talking about here. It's a sitewide problem with readers who can't leave the arbitrary laws of their own countries & the crap they see on TV legal dramas at the door.
It's like if you sit and watch Dan Vs. and complain about all the laws Dan, Chris, and Elise break on a regular basis and spend hours discussing how there should be evictions, fines, arrests, prison sentences, and so on and so on and so on while completely missing the point of the show which is sociopathic dark comedy. Someone who does that is inevitably going to annoy the people who are there to enjoy it for what it is.
4410008
Obviously, you're very defensive on this topic and I'm the asshole for not agreeing with you. Fuck me, right?
4410187 I'm not being defensive, I'm trying to explain my reasoning for posting this. If that came across as somehow defensive and, and I cannot for the life of me fathom HOW you interpreted this as such, a direct insult at you, then I'm sorry. The tone of your reply above, though? Honestly comes across as unnecessarily hostile and does not represent you in the best light. It's possible for two people to argue without making it personal. My argument with your comment was not personal, aside from asking you if you had actually read what I was saying. But now you're trying to turn it around as me calling you an asshole when at no point did I ever attack or insult you in my reply.
There's no need for drama. I certainly didn't reply to you with the intent to create drama. Why are you trying to create drama?
4409322 good point. Same with Flash, they only make poor arguments to "justify" why they suck in their eyes
How about a comedy in a drama? My country is full of it. Comedy in a drama. Can you believe it?
I'm looking for a drama genre fanfic. Can someone recommend some?