Late Night Fandom Confession

[annundriel]

The term "Janto" makes me cringe. Possibly more than any other pairing portmanteau. Most of the time, I find these thing amusing. "Chlark" will always be hilarious for certain inside joke like reasons. Plus saying it makes me sound like I'm wearing my retainer and that's good for a giggle.

But I see Janto and I kind of immediately start judging people. It's a problem I have.

Comments

[rivier.livejournal.com]

I have that too, though I see it as less of a problem, more of a reliable guide to what not to read. Like you, it's not smished-up pairing nicknames per se that annoy me - I love McShep because it doesn't feel grating, it has a kind of neatness and economy. I've described "Janto" to one friend as sounding to me like the name of a toilet cleaner or domestic bleach. Haaaaaaaate it.

My bigger problem is that I'm so hair-trigger judgemental, I won't read fics where I think the header is too flamboyant or wordy or trying too hard: giant fonts and spacing, stupid cutesy summaries, irrational ratings, feeble 'witty' disclaimers, they all just get tossed on the "don't bother" pile. In my experience, either there's a good story under the cut and it needs minimal primping, or there's an author who is trying to use tricks to make up for inadequate content.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

"A reliable guide to what not to read..." Hmm. Yeah, that sounds about right. Though if the rest of the header isn't too bad, I'll try to forgive. Still hate it, though. And you're right, it definitely sounds like cleaner of some kind. Or, as ginnith says below, a dancing monkey with cymbals. Either way, it's a horrible thing.

Oh, I really dislike it when people get creative with the headers. I like things to be neat and clean and precise and not flashing "READ ME READ ME." Neat and economical - like your assessment of McShep, which I agree with - works much better for me as a reader. Give me what I need to know, and then let me get on with the story on my own.

[ginnith.livejournal.com]

It's interesting. I don't often run across that particular name-meld, but when I do I always think of dancing monkeys with cymbals. Which seemed so much more normal when I first read your post as "I kind of immediately start juggling people." Whoops.

♥

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

You should know better. I'm horrible at juggling people. ;)

This comment made me laugh and laugh. Janto the dancing monkey. Dance, monkey! Dance!

♥