I am an island. Or something. Cheese. Monkeys.

[tzikeh]

Very, very, very simple question, posed because I think I'm the only person left in fandom (and I'm mostly serious) who doesn't:

clarification: I don't mean you have to be *in* the fandom to be a "fan" of the source. If you saw the movie and liked it okay, that's enough. I'm trying to be really specific: if you haven't seen the source (no familiarity other than general fannish osmosis or you've caught an episode or two) or you don't like the source (tried it an didn't like it), have you still gone and read fanfiction for it - for any reason at all. That's the question.

[Poll #540738]

Note that there is no third option, because "Only if Fan X is writing it" falls under "Yes", and "I occasionally glance at stories for Y Fandom because all of my friends are in it but I don't actively seek it out" falls under "Yes", and "I only read Story Z that one time because everyone was raving and I'd seen two episodes of the show" - wait for it - falls under "Yes".

I'm feeling very alone right now....

Comments

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I will say that it's rare, and driven, as you note, by the "fan X" thing. Hell, I don't even read in my own fandoms unless someone vets for me!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I don't even read in my own fandoms unless someone vets for me!

I hear you. :-D

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

I clicked "Yes," but only because I very infrequently fall under the disclaimers you mentioned. Also, there's a question what "a fan of the source" means; I read some of astolat's M&C fic, and I've seen the movie and read a couple of the books, but in no way am I a member of M&C fandom. Where does that fall?

However, by and large, if I don't like the show, I'm not gonna read the fic. I understand that SGA is sprouting good fic like crazy, but I watched two episodes and cared not a whit for the show, so I'm not reading the stories.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

"a fan of the source" means; I read some of astolat's M&C fic, and I've seen the movie and read a couple of the books, but in no way am I a member of M&C fandom. Where does that fall?

I knew I wasn't being clear enough - I mean if you never saw the movie, never read a book, but still read fanfiction for it.

[sanj.livejournal.com]

If I'm ignorant of the source or not excited about it, I don't read the fanfic, period. For me it's all about the interplay between the source and the fic writer's interpretation/extrapolation.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

'zactly. See my response to danceswithwords below.

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

I chose the NO option.

To clarify, I don't think I'd seek out fanfiction for a source I hated, so by definition if I'm reading the fanfiction, I'm a fan.

But wait, would that be a YES, then? Are you defining a fan as a person who merely finds some enjoyment in the source or as a person who is actively involved in consuming the source?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Enjoying the source. I don't mean you have to be active in fandom. I mean familiarity with the source.

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

My fanfiction reading is primarily motivated by a desire to spend more time with characters I love, in situations I find intriguing, so I've never felt a desire to read stories outside my own fandoms. I only have X amount of time for reading, and there's so much I want to read in my own fandoms and in original fiction, that it's never really occurred to me to seek out stories in an unfamiliar fandom.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

See, this is exactly how I feel. The draw of fanfiction for me is *more* of something I already love. I don't read fanfiction to be exposed to new fandoms; if I wanted that, I'd Netflix or TiVo or buy the book or whatever. I don't want to be exposed to a new fandom through someone else's interpretation of the characters and universe; I want to experience the canon on my own and then enjoy the fanfiction for what it does best.

I guess people like us are very much the minority in fandom now.

[estrella30.livejournal.com]

hmm. I mean, I clicked yes, and I have done this a LOT, but I need to have a general idea of what and who I'm reading about (like I did with Fast and the Furious and now Smallville) and also have a general - hmm - interest in being hooked in the fandom. Again, not to pick on SGA but I have seen a few episodes and didn't like it, and it doesnt matter WHO or WHAT is being written in it, I won't read it. Whereas say, F&F, I'd never laid *eyes* on the movie, but I had a general interest in the idea and the authors, so I read it and then watched the movie and was hooked.

If that answers your question at all *g*

[jfc013.livejournal.com]

My answer used to be "Yes" until viridian5 started writing the Weis Kreuz novel that doesn't end. I'm never gonna see the anime, so I've given up trying to read her story, no matter how good it is. She currently isn't writing any other fandom, so I've stopped reading her other fandoms of which I know nothing, as well. I miss her smut, and she roped me into this SV thang in the first place! It's all her fault... :(

[cereta.livejournal.com]

Very, very, very rarely. I think Pros was maybe the only time I read more than one story for a source I didn't know. For sources I don't like? Never.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

I am a firm no. If I don't know the source, or have no interest in the source (or actively hate the source), I don't care if Ursula LeGuin and James Ellroy have started writing fic in it, I'm not going to read it. Well, okay, maybe for LeGuin and Ellroy, but not for any fan writer. I don't even read *pairings* I'm not interested in in fandoms I'm already in, even if the stories are by authors I adore.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

This is exactly how I feel - see response to danceswithwords above.

Source

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

See, I said no, but there are those rare exceptions--If it's an MPREG or a disability story and I'm vaguely aware of what the show is/who the characters are. Yes, I have weird exceptions, but I'm weird myself.

Re: Source

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

But... if you have any exception at all, then your answer is yes. I thought I was being clear, but apparently not.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

I tried it once (for a favorite author) but couldn't get anything out of the story and stopped reading. So now I don't even clicky the linky.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I have read stories where I have never seen the source or even a picture of the actors/characters/pop stars. In general, I don't do that with book universes, but movies and tv, heck yes.

Now, if I actively dislike the source or I have issues with the fandom? Not going to happen.

Unless, you know, it's a crossover with something I really, really like by a person whose work I adore. Then I have no willpower at all.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Hee! Fannish willpower; she is a fickle beast.

[reginagiraffe]

I'm a big ol' YES! If I've never seen the source but the fic has a character played by an actor I like, I'm there. If I don't know the source but the story is written by an author I like, I'm there. If I've never seen the source but everyone is raving about the story, I'm there.

To me, if I don't know the source than it's no different than reading original fic.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

To me, if I don't know the source than it's no different than reading original fic.

Right - and this hits at the crux of my question. I don't go to fandom for my original fiction. I want fanfiction to be fanfiction - and all the attendant joys therein. The basic delight of fanfiction, for me, is playing in canon your audience is already familiar with. I'm... just in a different place.

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

I grew up mostly without television, and for the first four years of my fannish involvement, I didn't have a TV or any means of playing DVDs, so I got into the habit of reading fic without even having any expectation of seeing the source material.

These days, I still see sitting down and watching a few eps of a TV show as a bigger commitment than sitting down and reading a few fics; I tend to make an effort to seek out and watch the source if I've read and enjoyed the fanfic.

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Well, I would've said No, but there are just too darn many 1-story exceptions, most of them during Yuletide. :->

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

HEE - and see, I helped *run* Yuletide, and I *still* didn't read stories that weren't for a source I knew.

[destina.livejournal.com]

Dude, what's the point of reading fan fiction for shows I don't watch or movies I haven't seen? I read ff to get my jollies off of characters I know and love. If I wanted to read about characters I've never heard of, I'd read a book.

*doesn't get it*

[reginagiraffe]

Well, there's the gay sex and there's the fact that I know it's going to be competantly written (if I read stuff by an author I like).

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

I felt compelled to answer yes, but it is *very* rare. I have to love (well, like at least) the characters to want to read about them. It's why I never got into Sentinel or now, SG:A. The characters and their relationship don't draw me in in the show, so the stories aren't going to move me.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

It's so funny...I had to go look at my recs page (because...over 50 fandoms represented, and counting) to make sure my answer wasn't a lie. But no, every story I recced was for a source work that - at least at the time that I read the associated story - I liked.

Like, Dead Zone. Saw the movie, never saw the t.v. show. Do I love Cesca's writing? Yes. Have I read her Dead Zone story? No. Am I going to, no matter how many people say "Dude, you don't *have* to have seen the show!" No...or at least not until I see the show, whenever that occurs.

[logovo.livejournal.com]

Without intimate knowledge of the source *and* the fandom I have zero interest in reading the fic. It might be good, but with so many material in fandoms I feel an actual connection to and so little time I stay away. This is going on with SGA now for me. People love it but after watching one episode I'm yet to be moved to read the fic, even with *really* good people posting stories left and right.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

I'm confused. I answered no but I don't think I am hardcore enough to actually be a no so I am just a poseur no. Cause vids blur the line for me tremendously. I rarely read fanfic and never in a show I am not at least familiar with (even all the cave in fic I read the other day - I *knew* the show on some level. Like Bonanza. I know Bonanza) but I can't swear that I haven't ever cause I read a big ole flist every day and they write a lot. And I am positive I read some Yuletide stories without knowing the fandom but just cause they were there and rec'd and it was Christmas.

Oh!! I read EVERY SINGLE CANADIAN SHACK STORY and I've never ever seen The Sentinel and I hadn't seen due South at the time and there were several other fandoms I didn't even know anything about in there as well (and like I am familiar with who is who in TS and was familiar with dS as well because I am *in* fandom and in SLASH fandom and to walk around and *not* know at least a bit about these guys would just be weird). But there were shacks and stories and it was all right there and it was fun and you wrote R&G!!!

And where do you draw the line - as far as NEVER seeing an ep or watching one or two and jumping into the fandom?

Like - okay - so I have seen 4 episodes total of Dead Zone. I've watched a DZ vid a gazillion times. I still haven't read Ces's DZ story but mainly because I am gonna borrow the source from renenet in a few months and I can wait. But at this point - I would read it and not feel strange about it because I do know who these guys are. Kinda.

Would I have to answer "yes" to this question if I read a Numb3rs fic as I've only seen, maybe, 2 eps despite the fact that renenet spent an evening explaining the set up to me and capping Rob Morrow and I am around when Becca and Merry discuss the show and so I feel like I know who/what everyone is already -- but I am not fannish and I *don't* really know the show (although could be easily pimped by vids)?

How familiar with the source is familiar with the source? Nevermind - I just confused myself more. I am gonna change my vote to not a vote.

[lydiabell.livejournal.com]

I've done this a couple of times in the past (so replied "yes"), but these days I'm really disinclined to.

[greywingnut.livejournal.com]

As far as the whole topic of fanfiction goes, I'm still just dipping my toe into the pool. Weigh my opinion accordingly.

That said, I can't imagine reading any fanfiction if I wasn't already deeply immersed in the original source materials. I mean, talk about a "Darmok" situation: I'd understand the words, but not the context.

[merryish.livejournal.com]

I read lots of stuff from shows/source I'm not interested in; usually because a friend is writing it, or is interested in it, and I'm curious. If I like the story, I'll check out the source.

Of course, most of my friends who write are pretty damn good at it, so I feel like their work gives me a fairly good approximation of the character's voices. And if those appeal to me, I hie myself off to netflix or bit torrent and see if the show works for me, too.

You know, being in both story-world and vid-world is weird. In vid-world, you get points for being able to enjoy a vid even if you don't know/haven't seen the show, based on the talent of the vidder. But in story-world, if you read without knowing the source - even if you know and trust the writer - you lose points.

Freaky!

I think of it this way: I watch shows based on thirty-second promo spots on NBC, and I have a LOT less confidence in those than I do in the talents of my writerly friends. Seeing - studying, really - source, is vital to me for writing; a rec and some background is all I really need for reading.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

But in story-world, if you read without knowing the source - even if you know and trust the writer - you lose points.

There are no points involved here - I'm trying to find out if there are many people who approach fanfiction the way I do. I'm not awarding points for different reading styles.

[penknife.livejournal.com]

I do sometimes read fanfic for shows I don't watch -- sometimes just the occasional story, but I've now read enough Due South fic to have a weird bastardized fanon idea of what the show is about, having only seen ten minutes of one episode one time. I know I'm not really having the experience that the author intended, because I don't get half the references to canon, but sometimes I like the author or the story enough that I'm okay with that. I don't rec or write in fandoms where I'm not reasonably familiar with canon, though, because I do not want to be One of Those People.

[emyrys.livejournal.com]

Well, I read XFiles slash for 4 years and I am not now, nor have I ever been a fan of that show -- in any sense of the word. In fact, I pretty much actively dislike the show. :-D

I got hooked on Alex Krycek, reading crossovers with HL, but then I read straight XF stories centered on Krycek for a long time before I'd ever seen an episode. ( I did a lot of online reseach on characters & episode plots & anything else I needed) Evnetually, I saw all of the Krycek episodes & I did watch some of the last season...ummm....maybe. I think the total non-Krycek eps I've seen all the way through number....2?

let me refer you back to the beginning of this comment -- I was obsessed with XF slash for 4 years (!?!?) without being a fan of the show. lolol