Podcast of White Out and some thoughts · 2:56am Feb 15th, 2017
It came to my attention just yesterday that no less a fandom luminary than ObabScribbler, accompanied by fan voice actress Gina M., recorded a podcast of a highly in-depth critique of my story White Out. I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that its release eluded my normally Sauron-like vigilance (I guess he had his blind spots too - happens to the best of us). Future oversights of this sort will be avoided via the appropriate following and subbing.
There are a few things I'd like to say regarding this matter. First off, many thanks to ObabScribbler and Gina M. for taking the time to undertake such a thoughtful and fair analysis of what many found to be a challenging (and in some cases, infuriating) story. I consider it an act of bravery for them to have delved into it despite the sharply divided response it elicited. Their commentary deftly covered many of the questions, concerns and doubts that the readers had voiced, and I greatly appreciate the seriousness with which they handled it. As I consider it bad form to "defend" my writing against honest criticism and responses, I will not be addressing their deliberations (directly). Nor will I overtly discuss what the story means. I encourage any who are interested to view their video, as they touch on important themes.
Instead, let me lay to rest what seemed to be some people's misgivings and say unequivocally that this is NOT a trollfic. It is also NOT intended to be celebratory of anything. If any part of it comes across as such, then I failed miserably. To the very few who might be reading this, I would humbly submit that there are many among us for whom, by definition and consensus, it is impossible to live a normal life. They do not have access to fulfillment or privilege, and are destined to remain in the margins. Do you feel anything when you consider them? Are you such a person yourself? Or could it be that, if we reject the concept of "normal", to some extent everyone is dwelling in the margins?
We're all bound in the same hell. The expectations and realities are the same for almost everyone; only the manifestations are different. Those who have power, use it.
My advice for interpreting this story is to play your favorite jazz music, sit back and ponder where you're from and where you're going. Or even better, go into town (assuming there's one nearby) and find an outdoor bar where a live band has distilled for you your local history and mode of life, and think how things have gone so far. Do you have control? Who or what has power over you? Did you acquiesce freely, or was it taken from you? Your story is far more important than this one.
To the person who expressed a desire to kill me in the now deleted comments on EQD, in the minuscule chance you read this, I understand your frustration. I was there many a time (and still find myself there) , wanting nothing but to grab the biggest knife I could find and stab to death the perceived inanity of what I was reading. If there was a particular reason you took offense, other than the lack of clarity, I apologize and assure you that mockery was never my intent. Quite the opposite.
We're all bound in the same hell.
Wait, White Out had themes?
4422959
4422972 Yeah.
Honestly, even now my best guess at a theme is 'the author of this piece is obsessed with ambiguity'.
You apparently hit something and hit something very hard there.
I've not read any of it, but man oh man, a lot of those comments were pretty scathing, although some of them seemed a little pompous to me.
The one remark about "pseudoliterary masturbation" was amusing, but I have my suspicions there was a bit pretense there on behalf of the commenter. Those who make it a point to eloquently accuse others of pretense so often are projecting.
And in the words of Bob Dylan: "Don't criticize what you can't understand."
I'd say if got the attention of those two, and they gave you the review you deserved, you definitely achieved something there.