Livejournal Questions

[lettered]

This actually has nothing to do with the recent drama.

I have a confession to make. I'm a genius. But I'm really tragically stupid also.


-how to put on a header. And why everyone can figure it out but me.
-what a DDoS attack is. Looked it up on Wikipedia. Still really don't understand.
-where everyone gets the equipment to do all the icons and everything they do. Seems to me that stuff costs a fortune.
-how to write short fanfic.
-who Rodney is.
-Henry Jenkins.
-GIP.
-how NOT to hotlink some images. I can do it if the image is in a format Photobucket will upload, otherwise I don't understand.
-how people keep up with their flists.
-how people keep up with stuff like which new cat macro is funniest.
-how anyone keeps up with anything.
-why seraphcelene can't be here RIGHT NOW, I dunno, making pie with me.
-how people find out people are talking about them when said people are not talking to them. It's not that I don't like gossip. It's that I don't understand it. I literally seem to have trouble paying attention to anything not aimed straight at me with a missile launcher.
-why I like Harry/Draco.
-flangst.
-how people not being able to post really isn't connected to the Great Strikethrough.
-how to play most online videos, or dl the equipment.
-birthdays.
-why I didn't find a plane ticket to NYC for an earlier day so I could watch DB with a2zmom.
-Spike.
-betas.
-most emoticons.
-who Jo is.
-what Due South is.


In other news, The Sound of Music in Sparta. (link courtesy imnotacommittee.)

Comments

[tkp.livejournal.com]

I hope you know I was not talking about you specifically here. Just, demanding time is an issue I've had with every *good* beta I've worked with. And a few bad ones I've worked with! And you're definitely among the best.

Anyway you shouldn't feel guilty. I UNDERSTAND. I understand RL getting in the way and not having time and just not feeling like it sometimes (I don't know if that happens with you but it's the main reason my beta-work often takes so long). It's just...I feel guilty back if I bug you. And I feel like I shouldn't feel guilty, because I should be able to ask, and *you* shouldn't feel guilty if (FOR ANY REASON) you say, "ZOMG not right now Joy!"--which I would be fine with and doesn't make you suck. But instead we're both left with guilt.

Anyway, a big reason besides guilt I rarely bug you about BS is I don't have anything written after what I sent you. Well, I had some, but it was on the laptop that got stolen and I only have half backed up. So I mean it's not like I've been waiting over here with bated breath or anything, so honestly, don't worry about it.

And that sounds awesome, I'd love to talk some BS, but again, it wouldn't be a big deal if we didn't. I do love ya for other reasons, you know ;o) I think I've mentioned before that I know what it feels like to have fannish obligation breathing down your neck, and I don't want you to feel that way. Fandom should be FUN, omg.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I do feel guilty though, it's the whole Jew thing, lol. I also feel guilty that I have a whole bunch of fic I need to clean up so it can be posted. I need to learn Aaron's rules for a guilt free life.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

The main thing I wasn't getting was--if it was a group trying to "close the airport"--why didn't anyone think it was anger over the recent censorship?

But apparently it's the result of Russain politics, or something (according to this comment).

I still think it's weird how there's all this hulabaloo in fandom and also on LJ, and some of the issues are connected and some are separate. I'm not a conspiracy theorist and I do believe in coincidences. But since I didn't get what was happening anyway I thought it was awfully strange. But now it's a bit clearer--so, thanks!

[tkp.livejournal.com]

I think I've mentioned before that I knew a Catholic who used to say her colossal guilt was a Catholic thing.

And a Virgo who said her colossal guilt was a Virgo thing.

I used to think my own colossal guilt was a me thing.

Good to know we're not alone, eh?

I feel guilty for making you feel guilty, if it's any consolation.

I AM INTERESTED TO SEE THIS FIC. But more interested in you not having a breakdown. You do what you need to, fandom will get by.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

How to write short fic - specifically a drabble.

This is how I wrote Sparing the Rod, this weeks OoS effort.

First I need to get a very, very specific visual in my head. This weeks topic was "strike" and what I finally settled on was Dru talking to a child whose throat she had ripped out. Then I think of what the flow should be. So I wanted Dru to complain that the child had spilled jam all over her dress (it turns out it's actually blood), I knew Spike would say that the child wasn't going to answer, Dru would explain that she felt spanking was wrong and then we finally get the description of the child sitting there, dead with her throat ripped out.

My first attempt was 116 words. I deleted one entire sentence and still had 8 words to cut. I rewrote one small part (originally I had written that the child's "eyes were shut tight and mouth wide open", I changed it to eyes and mouth opened wide) and got it down to exactly 100.

The big key is you want to pick one tiny moment and keep things very, very focused.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Nowadays, sending tons of spam is likely not to close the airport, although in the past it would have. Software now just cancels the flights.

As to why people think clogging up networks is going to accomplish anything except make many, many people pissed at them is beyond me.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Keeping up with flists.

Now that I suddenly have to work every second of the day (i didn't eat lunch until 3:30 PM last week to give you an idea), I've been having days where I don't log on to LJ period. So, I no longer keep up with anything except a permanent headache.

flangst. My definition of flangst is an angsty story where the angst is manufactured and is easily overcome (normally in one of those long speechy shouting matches.) Then the hero and heroine fall into each others arms and everythig is peachy.

hy I didn't find a plane ticket to NYC for an earlier dayW

[pjgale.livejournal.com]

I was overwhelmed by the man flesh and don't usually like man mountains to ogle but I couldn't help it this time- I was hypnotised! I too like men clothed eg. DB in his jumpers and dacks- yum. Now I'm off into another fantasy land. (:

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I did not mean to hit post. Anyway, are you implying you definitely won't be here Saturday or are you still trying to get here? Because you should, if possible. Then we can wait at the stage door and rush Dave. Hee.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU for trying to explain. It's picking a tiny moment I find hard. I always think of the moment that follows and for some reason it seems to be integral to my point. But your drabble, for instance, conclude perfectly; it's a great snapshot and I want no more and no less.

The few times I tried to wrote drabbles I went and cut out words and sentences precisely the way you say, though. I rather like giving myself word limits (I've done it on several non-drabble fics); it makes everything so much more precise, even if I lament the cuts.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

I'm implying. Pretty definitely, I guess. I managed to get cheap tickets way back when, but the prices now are just impossible for me. I can't tell you how much I regret it. Though I would not rush DB with you; I would just be there to catch you once you fainted. I have actually no interest in meeting him or even seeing him up close; it would make me nervous and self conscious and shy. I *am* interested in watching you meet him, though. HEE.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

But I am still checking the prices with fingers crossed, I might add. I even checked bus prices. Even though it would take nearly 40 hours I'm kinda thinking about it.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I have three questions I want to ask him, assuming I didn't faint first.

You should see if they have standby flights here. What the hell.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

40 hours? You would need a serious butt massage after that.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

So, I no longer keep up with anything except a permanent headache.

*pets you* I figured you must be really, really busy. I'm sorry about that. I hope things shape up...not the least for the selfish reason that I miss having you 'round about these parts!

My definition of flangst is an angsty story where the angst is manufactured and is easily overcome (normally in one of those long speechy shouting matches.) Then the hero and heroine fall into each others arms and everythig is peachy.

AH! Okay! This makes sense. It's weird that I never heard this term before a little while ago. Thanks for clearing that up.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

I KNOW. Insanity.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I almost always prefer the drabble version to my original. It's a lot more disciplined for one thing.

As far as choosing the moment, you want to go right to the final moment. All the stuff that led up to it is gone in a drabble.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

How do you check standby flights? I'll try to find out, because I'd totally take any flight that didn't ax my remaining balance in half.

What 3 questions?

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

1. I saw "Suffering Man's Charity" in Philly and it was very emotionally intense. What scene was the most difficult for you and ehat did you draw on to act it?

2. What's been your favorite character to portray?

3. TV, movies or theater and why.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

Awesome questions! I particularly like #2.

OH! I was going to do a post about it but then didn't so I forgot to tell you--you told me a while ago I should see Wicked Prayer just because it was so fantastically bad. I did and it was fantastically bad. I think it was probably too bad to be funny to me. Then I rented Mr Fix It, which was also fantastically bad. My mother frets over DB's agent. I rather liked These Girls, though; even if the subject matter didn't interest me all that much; it was well done and he was good in it. I'm interested to see Suffering Man's Charity.

[makd.livejournal.com]

We were going to go earlier, but then DB changed the dates he was appearing, and THE BOX OFFICE MANAGER KNEW WE WERE GOING JUST TO SEE DB AND SHE CALLED US TO SWITCH TICKETS FOR US.

I've been going to the theatre in Manhattan since I was 16. I've NEVER heard of this done before, but the Box Office Manager was just. a. doll.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Of course!

[tkp.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome! What a nice lady.

[tkp.livejournal.com]

How Machiavelli of you ;o)

And yes, that is a very bad pun on your user name.

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

how people find out people are talking about them when said people are not talking to them. It's not that I don't like gossip. It's that I don't understand it. I literally seem to have trouble paying attention to anything not aimed straight at me with a missile launcher.

Gossip is something you are either attuned to or not. A lot of it comes down to social attitudes, I reckon. I come from a small village, so gossip is part of our social structure to a huge extent - it provides the support system, the social bonds that tie us together, and thus becomes a form of currency. If you aren't part of the gossip network then you are on your own if something goes wrong, and who wants that. And I tend to unconsciously carry those attitudes over to LJ. Where they come head to head with people with an urban attitude who view gossip as some sort of intrusion on their privacy. But I'm not just a peasant but a militant peasant so my response to urban attitudes involves two fingers.

But on LJ it is simple - if something turns up on my flist that I don't understand I will ask around and follow links until I have a decent context for it. It doesn't take much time. I would say the strikethrough kerfuffle shows that gossip can spread on LJ at almost the same speed as it does in our village, which is quite impressive. The only time I have found people bitching specifically about me it was not so much behind my back, since I wouldn't call a public post of someone on my flist as behind my back (although I have a feeling they were stupid enough to think it was), but if they did talk about me anywhere else I suppose I would pick up on it the same way as any other sort of gossip.