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Question
So, I've spent most of the day reading up on what people are saying about the OTW are saying. Mostly from non-fandom people, and it's kind of making me want to shoot things, but I was wondering:
What do you think about the OTW? Would you like an archive? A written fannish history? A wiki (OMG, I can't tell you how much I'd like a wiki for fandom, although I can see it being vandalized a lot)? Do you think it's a good idea to have a legal defense fund? If the OTW were ever to go to court, would you support them?
I'm planning on making a post sometime about how I feel about it, but I'm really curious as to what other people on my flist think about it. I think so far only one person on my flist has really written about it, but I spent a couple months away so could have totally missed something.
Also, I am having a bitch of a time working on a mysql database, any one know enough about setting up eFiction to want to help?
What do you think about the OTW? Would you like an archive? A written fannish history? A wiki (OMG, I can't tell you how much I'd like a wiki for fandom, although I can see it being vandalized a lot)? Do you think it's a good idea to have a legal defense fund? If the OTW were ever to go to court, would you support them?
I'm planning on making a post sometime about how I feel about it, but I'm really curious as to what other people on my flist think about it. I think so far only one person on my flist has really written about it, but I spent a couple months away so could have totally missed something.
Also, I am having a bitch of a time working on a mysql database, any one know enough about setting up eFiction to want to help?
OTW Part 1
That's ok, I was really more interested in your thoughts anyway :)
I definitely understand the argument about women's work being undervalued, and exploited, and the way that an OTW archive is a counter to to such potential exploitation.
I haven't actually run across that much on the "Women's" side of this, mstly I've read stuff from the view of outsiders looking in on fandom, which is very teeth-gritty. Do you have links to any of these discussions? I'll admit, I was kind of surprised to see that they were saying fandom is mostly women. I don't necessarily agree that *fandom* is mostly women, but will concede that the fanfic aspect is mostly women.
However, I am uninterested in fandom and academia, and I don't feel the need to access a central archive at the moment.
Yeah, I'm not sure about the academia bit. I *like* how think-y fandom is, but sometimes we're a little too high-brow, especially when our common interest is squeeing over hot space heroes fighting alien vampires and robots.
As for the archive, I'm kinda meh about it. Sometimes I'm really excited about it, but other times I think about it and realize I probably won't use it that much. At least not while I'm in big fandoms like SGA where I have a 40 page to-read list of stuff I got off of my flist alone.
On the one hand, it would be nice to have a central archive that isn't neutered like ff.net is (if they had any more rules about what can and cannot be posted they wouldn't have any fic), but archives are notorious for having a lot of bad fic. On the other hand, it's nice to have a starting place that's well organized and has a large readership. Most of the people I know that post to ff.net do so because of the large readership, but still dislike the site. Also, if OTW is able to set up all that they want, it'll be a nice place for newbies to find first. Large multifandom archives are also nice if you get the sudden urge to read in an obscure fandom. *shrugs*
With regards to the legal defense fund - I don't know. Part of this, I feel, is about legitimising fanworks (although I don't think they actually use the term legitimising), and I've never felt the urge to have fandom - which is a hobby to me - viewed as 'legitimate' on a societal level
The legal defense fund is probably what I'm most excited about. I would hate it if suddenly TPTB decided to shut us down (and it has happened in the past). People spend so much time working on fandom, to have someone from the outside come in and say we can't makes me so angry. Also, to not have to worry about legal ramifications would be really nice. It would be nice to have an option other than roll over when TPTB come to tell us to.
But like you, I don't really care about what the outside thinks. In fact, I kind of like that not everyone knows what fandom is. I like being able to tell people that fandom is a hobby of mine, and not have them automatically think of bad explicit HP slash or other things that being put into the limelight would bring. I don't care if we're never acknowledged by mainstream culture, I just don't want to work in fandom with the fear of it being taken away from me.
Cont...
Re: OTW Part 1
Would the defense fund support the individual author? Or the right to write fanfiction? I would like to have more clarification, but I think at this point, we can't get that - and this is one of the reason that I haven't taken a firm stance on OTW - I like to wait and see. This doesn't just apply to OTW - it applies to my approach to life in general!
But, I do have to admit that I feel a little cynical about the legal defense fund, and the potential weight that it could reasonably be expected to have.
Re: discussions on OTW - I can't remember specific links at this point, because they've been things I've run across through flist, and sometimes metafandom. But, the list of metafandom links to OTW discussion is here:
http://del.icio.us/metafandom/otw
Re: OTW Part 1
:P Maybe I'm just naive or haven't read enough about everything yet, but yeah, I'm positive about it. About the only downside I can see is if TPTB get freaked out by their legal stance, in which case, yeah things can go bad, but I don't think they're going to be lobbying to change anything, and instead are more going to do the research for a court battle now, and wait until they come to us, in which case, they've already come to us, so somethings going down already.
Would the defense fund support the individual author? Or the right to write fanfiction? I would like to have more clarification
Yeah, I just finished reading someones post saying that in the OTWs mission statements they only refer to fanworks, but I'd assume that if the fanwork isn't illegal, they can't attack the author (can they? I really don't know for sure). Also, I was just reading their site and they say This help will not be limited to those fans or projects directly connected with OTW. So yeah, my interpretation of that is, if *I* were to suddenly get in legal trouble for my fanworks, I can appeal to them for help, and they will at least consider helping me, regardless of whether the fanwork appears on their site or not.
I feel a little cynical about the legal defense fund, and the potential weight that it could reasonably be expected to have.
I do feel very strongly that the legal defense fund is a good thing. I'm not sure how good their argument about fair use is, but, if/when they go to court, I would support it, because I don't want to have to take this lying down. I think that if fandom got behind them, we could raise the money so that we're not forced out of court for money reasons, but actually, one of my concerns is that they might rely too much on volunteers for the court case. I know the board member who is a lawyer specializes in copy right, but still....
the list of metafandom links to OTW discussion is here
Cool! Thanks.
Re: OTW Part 1
I don't think you should feel that you are naive/haven't read enough. Don't negate your opinions!! :) Everyone has different reactions to this kind of project, and it's nice to see one that is focusing on the positives.
Yes, that is how I would interpret it as well.
Re: OTW Part 1
It's more, I'm not necissarily one of those people who sees the problems right away, and often have to have them pointed out to me, and I'm feeling a little behind, since I have about a mazillion windows open right now about the OTW but I just haven't had a chance to read them all.
The things I have had a chance to read though hasn't been able to dampen my enthusiasm though.
and they will at least consider helping me, regardless of whether the fanwork appears on their site or not.
That was the impression I got. I asked about the legal aid at the open chat yesterday, and I think people might be attributing more to it than they meant. I think they still want to be there for people, but they also seem to be really realistic about it too, and aren't planning on taking on copyright laws and their IP rights holders if they can avoid it.
Re: OTW Part 1
Cool!