To porn or not to porn, that is not even the question

[sevenswells]

I'm a bit sick of people whining bitterly (particularly on Dumblr) about how Sherlock fans are only interested in porn and slash.
That is not true. Not that there's anything wrong with being only interested in porn and slash in my opinion, but it is. Not. True.
I'll be the first to admit that I love my porn. Most of my rec posts contain fics where Sherlock and John are going at it like rabbits, because I'm a sexual being, and that's the prism with which I view the world; I won't apologize for it.
But as it turns out, my favourite fic in the whole fandom is rosa_acicularis 's The Anatomist. It's wonderfully written, it's not centered on a romantic relationship, there is no porn in it and not even hints of Sherlock/John. And I'm the biggest porn enthusiast and romantic schmoop I know. Go figure.
I can't even think of one fandom where people won't ask for moar porn in their comments and where porny fics are not more popular than plotty ones.
But I think we're actually doing fairly well in the Sherlock fandom. It's not perfect, I guess no fandom is, but it really is not that bad.
There are dark fics, casefics, funny comedy fics with no romantic relationship whatsoever, fics where Sherlock is 100% asexual and not touching John one bit -- or anyone else for that matter... and I know for a fact that some of them are quite popular, too. Like it or not, there is diversity in the Sherlock fandom, maybe more than in some others. Of course there is a crushing majority of Sherlock/John slash (and I'm the first to support it), but I don't agree with the picture those bitter fans are depicting where there is absolutely no place or recognition for anything else.
In this fandom, I wrote one fic where there was S/J porn (after several paragraphs of idiotic comedy involving spray bottles and giant crabs), one fic that was mainly about food with a bit of slash in the end with nothing more explicit than a kiss between Sherlock and John, one fic about Mycroft's brotherly relationship to Sherlock with a mini-squinty hint at a possible romantic relationship between Sherlock and John, and one ficlet about nothing in particular, just Sherlock and John drinking tea on New Year's Day.
I consider that they all got a good deal of appreciation from readers, each at their own level, and I didn't even get one comment about making any of the ones that didn't contain sex "more porny", and I didn't feel any underlying frustration in any comment either.
So I don't know what the people who complain about that are actually doing, but maybe, MAYBE they're doing it wrong, and it has nothing to do with rabidly horny fans looking desperately for slash and porn everywhere.

Sorry about the rant, but I got really annoyed in ways I didn't even expect and I had to write about it.

Comments

[pollums.livejournal.com]

WHAAAAAT
sherlock fandom you have like
the biggest asexual base
what are you even
WHAT IS GOING ON

[pollums.livejournal.com]

oh wait is it nonSherlock fans complaining about it????

[sevenswells.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the post that got me so annoyed actually (I have seen others before, but this one in particular got on my nerves) http://street-howitzer.tumblr.com/post/12001535074/on-sexual-and-romantic-privilege-tw-brief-discussion
The person who wrote it is apparently a fan

[pollums.livejournal.com]

hahahahah wow what an entitled sounding post

I don't even know what to say... Porn and romantic privilege? Really?

Waaaahhh I'm not getting nearly enough attention for my nonpornfic and I'm going to blame it on my fanbase and politicize it to make them feel guilty waaaaaaahhh

[pollums.livejournal.com]

I MEAN that was a really bitchy comment of me to make. Everyone has a right to complain about what they see as injustice in the world. To each their own.

[sevenswells.livejournal.com]

But it's true though. It all boils down to "I don't get enough comments, that's because I don't write porn, I feel so oppressed"... WTF?
I think that kind of shortcut reasoning is really unfair, and that's why I wanted to react: some non-porn fics in this fandom do get a lot of comments and appreciation too, and it's too easy to blame it on the fact that most people like to read porn (fuck, there are even porn fics that barely get any comments at all! So where's the bad excuse now, huh?).
Of course everyone has the right to complain about injustice, but everyone else also has the right to call bullshit on it, when bullshit there is.

[pollums.livejournal.com]

Hahhahaah and bullshit there well is, yes

[karadin.livejournal.com]

This is actually one of the least wanktastic fandoms I've been in, I'd say if you aren't getting comments on your fic (or art or whatever) TRY DOING IT BETTER. I've found sometimes the things I think are the strangest, crackiest, only-four-people -might-get-this things I do end up being the most popular.

[pollums.livejournal.com]

yeah I mean I personally think you can always find an audience for what you create, yknow? you don't have to pander to an audience, just make some goooooood shit!

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I find this the most accepting-of-all-kinds-of-fic fandom I've ever been in (and I've been doing this for QUITE A WHILE PEOPLE). Nobody acts like het is gross (and there's relatively little female-character bashing, which I hate) - there is very, very good het, slash, gen, and not-specified-could-go-either-way fic posted constantly - I have seen some of the most tender fades-out-on-a-kiss fic and some of the most extreme kink fic, often being admired by the same readers (including me).

I feel bad for the poster - she obviously isn't finding all the tolerance I am. She would do well to find one of the LJ communities that focuses on gen or asexual sorts of fic - if her writing is good, she would get an audience. There is a reason fanfiction.net is called the Pit of Voles...

[sevenswells.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I find this the most accepting-of-all-kinds-of-fic fandom I've ever been in

Yes! Exactly!

Thank you for this comment, you explain it better than I could! And as you say, I guess he/she just didn't find the right place to post, indeed.

So... I talk too much.

[mattiezumi.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.... To quote La Roux lyrics: What is love without lust?

I mean, I'm completely bias, because well yeah, I Heart Porn, but whaaaaaaa?

Several people, yourself included, have already established that there is a wide range of diversity in Sherlock fandom, hell, I'll even go as far to say ALL fandom *gasp*, I know, what a revelation. Somebody Saint me! So that point is moot.

That, and when taken on a case-by-case basis (such as comparing yours or any other person's experience in this fandom) the results are varied, making what this particular person's experience in their 'tenure' as a fanfiction author, not the norm. Lack of porn equating lack of reviews/readers, is a correlation, not causality. And of course FF.net isn't going to be the most reliable, and number of hit counts are the devil.

So stop whining about how fandom doesn't treat you right. Maybe it's just not that into you.

There. Stated the obvious. It had to be done. Jeez, some people!

However.

If I think about this harder, and dig down a LOT deeper, and I mean A LOT deeper, I think I just may be able to see a larger issue. Maybe. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe.

I'm probably reaching here, but let's just say that that person isn't completely full of crap. Well, I mean they are, so this is mostly just me talking, but, there is something to be said about society today, about how we are less willing to commit to something long-termed when we can get instant gratification. Letters to emails to instant messaging to facebook to twitter. Human interaction just keeps getting shorter and shorter, and more impersonal.

But that's my own bone to pick with life as we know it.

I totally do not mean it when it comes to reading fiction, fan or otherwise. In fact I mean it even less when it comes to fiction. With the steady decrease of eye contact and face-to-face interactions, I feel like it makes people connect even more with whatever piece they are reading, not less. I mean, you can safely connect to the characters in your book, but not so much Lazy-Eyed Homeless Stranger on the Tube. That's life!

The reason why that person's post reminded me of this thorn of mine (I told you it was a far reach! Man, I can devote an entire SOAPBOX to how much twitter annoys me! Tricked you! Made you read about my pet peeve! And you thought it was going to be relevant. Ha! ^___^) is how they accused people of skimming their work until they got to the good part. But COME ON! Who hasn't? They have, for sure. I know it, and if there's anyone out there that says they haven't, then they're a liar! I do it all the time, on things that I've read before, scrolling/flipping through to the witty exchange/friendly banter/comedic one-liner/UST/wrenching heartbreak/soulful confession/devastating first kiss/(and yes) the penetration.
The only thing that differs is what someone considers the 'good part.' As established, for a large portion of fans, the 'good part' is the porn. For some others, myself included, it may not be. It all depends. Everyone wants to go back to that moment when they laughed out loud, teared up in public, or got that warm fuzzy feeling in their hearts. Or pants. It's nice. And that particular person is not exempt, so yet another reason why they're just blowing smoke out of their ass.

Also, I don't quite understand their use of 'privilege' in this context. Is it that because they are a self-proclaimed 'demisexual' (and I had to google that shit, because what the fuck does THAT mean?!?) and are therefore unable to get all 'Aw yeah' in the pants, they condemn the rest of us? That because a large proportion of fandom are normal functioning sexual beings, that we are 'privileged' in a way that they are not? Because we are capable of orgasm? And that we take it for granted? Hmmm.... yeah, I think they used that word wrong.

It feels like they just threw it out there, like it was on their 'vocab word of the day' toliet paper, or something.

So much, that LJ <i>cut</i> me!

[mattiezumi.livejournal.com]

And really, if someone knows that what they're writing is not popular with the fans, but they still want to write, they need to start picking a new reason for why they write at all. Rather than being bitter about how all fans are shallow and perverted. Which I am, but still, calling me on it isn't going to change how I read, and what I choose to read. Writing should be about more that catering to the tastes of your target audience. Change your target or write for yourself and the 'unprivileged' minority. Or whatever. Just stop complaining.

Because really, the author of the book that decribes the inner workings of living as a giant boob, had to have known it would be a very niche market, but by god he still did TITit!