Pondering the fanbrat

[effervescible]

Am I the only one who thinks the term "fanbrat" (and its derivatives) is an assy word to use? No doubt there are times it's an accurate descriptor, but when I read it in a post, I think of how silly a fanficcer I was back in the day--how I wanted to write goodfic but I had areas of stoopid that I just didn't see. Sure, I sucked, but not on purpose. And I think how many authors must still be like that. I'm not saying that mocking badfic is a bad thing; after all, it's poking the work, not the person who produced it. "Fanbrat" seems a much more personal insult.

Writers of sues and really awful fic might be more likely to be truly bratty, especially when the quality of their work is pointed out, but I don't believe that badfic alone justifies this term, even if it's really awful badfic. It bothers me. Makes me think of fannish entitlement, like readers are being insulted by the very existence of badfic, so they insult back. I don't expect to change anyone's behavior, but I don't think that's right.

Comments

[sarajayechan.livejournal.com]

See, I only use terms like that if the fanperson in question IS a brat. :3

[plaindot.livejournal.com]

I never use the term of fanbrat, cause... well I don't think I ever heard about it!!

my policy is if I don't like them, leave them be >:O ohohoho

[imre-nico.livejournal.com]

I used to say "fangurl" until Renet made a post like this one pointing out that no one should use that as a disparaging term because we are all, technically Fangurls.

Sooooo I amended that to "Fanbrat" because "brat" denotes youthful inexperience and presumption. I mean, in my view, being a brat isn't necessarily a mortal sin. We were all brats. Any time you start up in something where there are older, more experienced people, you're going to be seen as an upstart.

So what to do now? XD

Fenfry? Jeunefen? Fenfant? Fanchild?

[angstymcgoth.livejournal.com]

Like all things, I think this depends on the context of the situation (and the delivery of the person, and who it's directed towards). Being pissy and using 'fanbrat/girl' as derogitory are, I think, in the same vein as using 'bitch' as derogitory, but I can still call all of my friends bitches (and fangirls) without them getting bent out of shape.

I think it's generally a contextual thing...and with most people, you can definately tell where there coming from when they use it.

[angstymcgoth.livejournal.com]

there = they're

[andmydog.livejournal.com]

My preferred STFU-child term has always been "puppy", but it doesn't have the right effect without the condescending eyeroll and the I'm-not-mocking-you-honest smirk.

So until I come up with the world's best emoticon, I'll stick with using the offender's name for single cases, and whatever form for fan- is applicable to the group in question (fangirl, fantard, fanbrat, fanit... fanthing? Fansexual? Fant-asstic?)

[imre-nico.livejournal.com]

ooo, I like "fantard".

[fallofrain.livejournal.com]

I think I was just ranting about that the other day, actually. It's been bugging me for awhile. I've just been good about keeping my mouth shut.

[arafel.livejournal.com]

Those who are least tolerant of the foibles of other fen are usually not sterling specimens themselves.

Which is to say, people who spend an inordinate amout of time calling other fans "fanbrats" are generally well-described by that term.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Fanbrat doesn't bother me as much because it's gender-neutral and behavior-based (at least in general, if not in particular). Calling someone a fanbrat for, say, refusing to use "Moofy" is, of course, stupid. XD

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, fanficrants inspired this. I think there's a difference between calling someone a brat when they ARE being a brat and calling someone a brat for daring to have written a dumb fic omg.

[rosehiptea.livejournal.com]

I don't usually call people fanbrats just because they wrote a bad fic. If it's really bad and includes squealy in-text author's notes about the characters, that however may qualify them. I don't use the word too much, but if I do I apply it to people who honestly seem to be acting stupidly, not just people who can't write very well. At least I hope that's what I do...

[lul1aby.livejournal.com]

I, too, don't mind "fanbrat" because it is gender-neutral. The term that drives me absolutely insane is "fanpoodle." It seems gender-neutal on the surface, but the way it was used in BtVS fandom was very gender-specific. The fact that it was mostly used by a woman who identified herself as a radical feminist was particularly headdesk-inducing. Terminology aside, the overall mindset of communities that are created around bashing badfic bothers me. There is fannish entitlement there - you hit that nail right on the head. While the idea is, allegedly, to mock the fic, in reality it is the author that is being mocked. And since many fandoms are dominated by women, the idea of a community of women bashing other women bugs.

[buttercup0222.livejournal.com]

I think that's about my view on it too. It's more about the stupid behavior than the fic. And I'll sometimes call myself a fangirl just to be self-deprecating :)