Post by admin account on Aug 23, 2012 13:18:08 GMT -6
These are a few things for you to keep in mind whenever entering a debate here on this forum. They're not hard-and-fast rules, just general concepts that you should understand to aid you in effective communication.
Merit is not Popularity: The number of people who purchase or enjoy a work is no accurate measure of its worth. Therefore, please refrain from defending an aspect of the books or fandom by referencing its popularity, and instead look toward countering the actual points made. However, if the subject of the thread does have something to do with numbers of copies sold, feel free to discuss those figures.
Meaning is not Author Intent: First of all, getting published does not make a writer infallible. Even diehard fans must admit that the authors have made some mistakes. Second of all, Erin Hunter and the publisher may own the copyrights to the Warriors series, but that does not make it "theirs" in that no one else has any say about what it means. Our interpretations are not made invalid simply by conflicting with those of an author. In other words, you can disagree with Erin Hunter without necessarily being wrong.
Can vs. Should: Some of you may feel the urge to point out that no matter what we say, the Erins (and/or fan writers) can write what they want. This is true, and by the same token, we can write what we want about what they've written. Capability, here, is not the issue, nor should it be, for can is never the same thing as should. You should make sure you can distinguish between these two before you enter a debate.
Criticism vs. Flaming: Whenever posting a negative comment, never forget to include the because. All too often, when examining a work or reviewing an argument, it's all too easy to go into hyper-critical mode and pick out minor details that aren't to your taste. Likewise, preference is not a defense, and sentiments of "well, I like it anyway" have no place here. Remember, whether or positive or negative, always back up you assertions with reasoning and evidence to support your claim. Verbal abuse and ad hominem attacks on other members are not allowed.
Defend vs. Challenge: At some point, you might see another member criticizing an aspect of the books (or something else) that you liked. In this situation, if you believe the criticism to be unfair, the proper response is to explain how and why. This is distinct from replying with a challenge, i. e. "If you're so great, why don't you write something better?" Fourtrees Resurrected has no prerequisites for its members on critiquing the series or original characters. It does not take a published author to see the flaws in a piece of writing. As such, you will need to find a more direct way to defend the validity of a creative choice.
Merit is not Popularity: The number of people who purchase or enjoy a work is no accurate measure of its worth. Therefore, please refrain from defending an aspect of the books or fandom by referencing its popularity, and instead look toward countering the actual points made. However, if the subject of the thread does have something to do with numbers of copies sold, feel free to discuss those figures.
Meaning is not Author Intent: First of all, getting published does not make a writer infallible. Even diehard fans must admit that the authors have made some mistakes. Second of all, Erin Hunter and the publisher may own the copyrights to the Warriors series, but that does not make it "theirs" in that no one else has any say about what it means. Our interpretations are not made invalid simply by conflicting with those of an author. In other words, you can disagree with Erin Hunter without necessarily being wrong.
Can vs. Should: Some of you may feel the urge to point out that no matter what we say, the Erins (and/or fan writers) can write what they want. This is true, and by the same token, we can write what we want about what they've written. Capability, here, is not the issue, nor should it be, for can is never the same thing as should. You should make sure you can distinguish between these two before you enter a debate.
Criticism vs. Flaming: Whenever posting a negative comment, never forget to include the because. All too often, when examining a work or reviewing an argument, it's all too easy to go into hyper-critical mode and pick out minor details that aren't to your taste. Likewise, preference is not a defense, and sentiments of "well, I like it anyway" have no place here. Remember, whether or positive or negative, always back up you assertions with reasoning and evidence to support your claim. Verbal abuse and ad hominem attacks on other members are not allowed.
Defend vs. Challenge: At some point, you might see another member criticizing an aspect of the books (or something else) that you liked. In this situation, if you believe the criticism to be unfair, the proper response is to explain how and why. This is distinct from replying with a challenge, i. e. "If you're so great, why don't you write something better?" Fourtrees Resurrected has no prerequisites for its members on critiquing the series or original characters. It does not take a published author to see the flaws in a piece of writing. As such, you will need to find a more direct way to defend the validity of a creative choice.