OH GOD, THIS IS HILARIOUS.

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

Blog Flog: http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/2006/07/authors-and-trolls.html



Darla in italics, the ranting mule in noooormal font. ;)

I just became aware another fav of mine was pretty much publicly drawn and quartered on a blog.

OH NOES, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!! You mean there are people out there who -GASP!- have DIFFERING OPPINIONS THAN YOURS????

Shock of SHOCKS, Darla honey! XD

If you see yourself as one who is doing this kind of thing, then stop it!

Excuse me, I must laugh now.

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA HAA HA HA HEH HEH HEEEEE.

Okay, I...no wait, I'm not done laughing.

BWEEEHEEE HEEEEEE!

Alright I'm better now.

Seriously. You can't just tell people to NOT have differing oppinions. News flash, we aren't all mindless drones.

Consider what you say, what you post. Is that how you really want to portray yourself publicly?

My LJ username is RANTING MULE. Clue, Darla, get one.

I know there will be those who tear this apart.

Psychic powerz, Darla apparently leveled up!!!

Read between the lines, assigning meaning that is not there. Call me names. Generally doing what was done to one of my favorite authors.

Okay, see...I'm not just sitting here calling her a stoopid doodyhead. I'm tearing appart her infinitely foolish and shortsighted logic, and her apparent belief that nobody is allowed to not like an author's work.

HUMAN INDIVIDUALITY, Darla honey, and get a clue.

Because I happen to know she is a kind, witty and wonderful person, in addition to being a terrific author.

I don't know who the hell she's talking about but I'll concede that this mystery author might be a really good person.

The ability to write well is NOT part of the package deal when being labeled a good person. It goes for art, too...I know some truly wonderful people who just can't draw, and I know a few amazingly, stunningly talented artists who are just...terrible, self-absorbed and heartless people.

I am so sorry. I kept hoping it was limited to Laurell.

Okay!!! WISH GRANTED. >:3

I am not sure what it is about the internet that inspires people to be rude!

Anonymity.

Other than anonymity.

...no, Darla honey, that's about it, really. Well...granted if I could I'd tell LKH off face-to-face, but I don't have that option.

But for some reason, people who wouldn't dream of saying it to your face, feel free to post it on the web.

...see above. I'd LOVE to get LKH in a locked room and just...try and talk sense into her over the course of a few hours. That, or just knock her senseless.

And god help anyone who disagrees with them. It is like junior high, they have to be right or their world ends apparently.

You mean, like YOU ARE? That whole...everyone must love whoreship worship and adore LKH and every piece of literary faeces she creates???

I finally got to where I started asking to see the original posts of things Laurell or I supposedly said. Too often through cut and paste things get attributed to the wrong party. Sometimes, I think it is accidental. Some of it I know is intentional.

Uhhh. Okay, I have no idea what she's trying to convey here. I am left full of WTF-ness.

Worse, are the folks who read between the lines and attribute things never stated. They cannot take what is said at face value, they have to spin it, like politicians to meet their own needs.

Let's leave the politicians out of it, okay? No need to stereotype, right?

Wait. Oh, right. Now I remember who's talking, and the...okay, so stereotyping people is Darla's only way of categorizing. Whatever.

Is this like how in prettymuch all of LKH's books "gay" is synonymous with "evil?"

And you are supposed to rise above it all and be magnanimous and gracious.

Well yeah, that's what a mature adult all-grown-up-now author would do. GOD FORBID LKH or this other author be forced to act like grown ups!

As long as you agree with them, then it is okay to say something, but if you disagree or defend yourself, then you are some kind of horrible person out to cause them harm.

You know, she's saying this about us "haters" yet I honestly feel like it's a two way street. So long as LKH's fans are licking her boots, everything's gravy. The instant someone offers anything other than glowing praise, they're a "bully" or a "hater."

I wish Darla could see the irony here.

There is always someone out there ready to tear down anything. They seem to revel in doing so. Why they are so miserable and cannot find some joy in life is I don't know, and is just sad, in my opinion.

It isn't my own life that leads me to rip at LKH's drivel or her blog, Darla honey, it's the fact that the books are literary SHIT and the blog is like this train wreck of psychosis. It's like this scary MPD thing that is somehow morbidly fascinating.

Laurell and I both have had abuse heaped on us for not agreeing with everything someone else says.

I'd like to pause for a moment and remind everyone of the bitchfest LKH spewed when she discovered that not all of her readers were OMG SO ENAMOURED with the stupid Ardeur and crap.

Everyone remember that? GOOD.

I want to explore new things, and if I don't like something, well, then I can walk away from it. I don't demand it change to suit me!

The problem, Darla honey, is that the series changed, not the tastes of the original readers. Get yer facts straight, woman!

Could you imagine walking in to a museum and demanding that a painting be changed simply because you don't like it?

UP YOURS, Darla, I cope with it more often than you'd think. And ya know what? I'm okay with the fact that there are, indeed, some people who really don't like my art. That's fine.

And no, I am not gonna change a painting to suit someone's oppinion unless they've paid me to create it. In which case I am more than happy to do so.

Also...did we not just mention that it was the series that changed???

Readers do not get to dictate what is written.

I express my oppinion with my wallet. LKH ain't getting a single cent from me, from now on. (actually I haven't paid for her books in a while, but that's neither here nor there.) And unless LKH is supported via MANA FROM HEAVEN, the food she eats...the house she lives in...her UNBRIDLED SUCCESS AS AN AUTHOR...is entirely build off of the cash We The Readers spent on her books back when they DIDN'T SUCK.

Does she honestly think that if her first several books were of the plotlessness and squicky porn they are now, that they'd have EVER been published??? If so, she's far more scary-delusional than I thought!

Now, the really scary thing? Darla made a few grammar errors and a few sentence fragments that left me all "uhm no." But her blog entry was actually more coherent than LKH's usually are.

HOW SCARY IS THAT?!

Comments

[wickedmommy.livejournal.com]

OH geez *snickers* TEH DRAMA!!!! THE WANGST!!!!! The poorly written porn!!!! oh no wait..that is LKH's novles.


Best blog flog yet...LKH called in her posse to give us a beat down. I feel....surprisingly okay with that.

[wickedmommy.livejournal.com]

novels...sighs...I have already said i can't spell.

[ladyravana.livejournal.com]

Hah, a beatdown!

If LKH wants a beatdown, I say bring it on! We could SO take them, as our lovely RM here has proven.

So...who's bringing the weapons?

I'll get my brass knuckles. :D

*cracks fingers* I say to Laurell and Darla to show me what you got.

We'll take them down! *waves steel baseball bat in the air*

...Yeah, okay. So I have some hostility issues. *coughs*

[rinkori.livejournal.com]

People who work in the public sphere--especially in the entertainment industry--do not get to whine about being "picked on" by people dissatisfied with their work.

Hamilton put herself into the public eye; if she was really that bothered by the negative attention her books have recieved, she could take herself right back out again.

[idkmybffironman.livejournal.com]

I was wondering how long it would take before someone flogged that entry. *sniggers* Brilliant job.

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

XD Thanks.

[saadiira.livejournal.com]

Psychic powerz, Darla apparently leveled up!!!

VERY good line, and terrific Flog overall. This person really doesn't get it. It's sad, honestly.

And so disrespectful to the readers who put LKH where she is now...ABLE to get utter drivel published while resting on her...hmm..Laurels.

-Dira-

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

VERY good line, and terrific Flog overall.

Awr, thanks. :)

This person really doesn't get it. It's sad, honestly.

I know. I can't even fathom how someone could be so hypocritical!

And so disrespectful to the readers who put LKH where she is now...ABLE to get utter drivel published while resting on her...hmm..Laurels.

LKH has forgotten how the Real World works. That is my only suggestion as a cause for that.

[dracoliciousss.livejournal.com]

I love how Darla talks about her persecution, as if she's a writer. Um, no, you're a *coughRenfieldcough* personal assistant, whose job is to pick up after Laurell's dogs and shield her from the haters. She has no business writing that entry. what a complete asshat.

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

YES, she is indeed an asshat. I love how she completely contradicts herself throughout the entry. "Everyone should love these author's works! But everyone should have different oppinions! Unless they contradict mine!"

The only reason Darla gets persecuted is because she bitches at us dissatisfied fans while Laurell goes off to cry on Micah's Jon's shoulder about how mean we all are.

[ladymina.livejournal.com]

reading her post she wasn't talking about lkh most of the time but about mary janice, who the fuck is mary janice

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

Apparently some author I've never heard of. I honestly don't care. :P If Darla thinks her books are Teh Awesomez, I'm scared.

[requiella]

There are just some folks in the world who are not happy unless they are bitching

Criticism = bitching?

Is she going to send her blog entry to the New York Review of Books or any book section of a newspaper or magazine, I hear they "bitch" a lot about bad books.

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is I used to feel like if LKH was offered constructive critisizm, she'd handle it 'cause I have never met anyone who became a writer or musician or artist who didn't learn to cope with or even appreciate a good, constructive crit.

LKH proved me wrong. When offered constructive crit, she declared people "bullies and haters" and ranted at length about us and our mean, evil ways.

I was pretty damn offended.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Darla's LKH's assistant. Darla is also a fangirl of LKH leik woah.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

From reading the comments on the LKH blogfeed, apparently this is about MaryJanice Davison...or whatever her name is - the chick that writes the Undead and UnSomething books. I haven't read the blog in question, I haven't read anything by MJD at all, but from what I've heard, it was a psycho fan that went off on the woman and now Darla's offering her support.

In all fairness, some fans can be complete nutters. And since I've heard nothing but good things about MJD, I'm a little confuzzled as to why there's this backlash. But good lord, Darla? Pot. Kettle.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

http://maryjanicedavidson.blogspot.com/2006/06/authors-behaving-badly-yeah-right.html

There's the post in question that Darla's talking about.

[defiler-wyrm.livejournal.com]

that steaming pile of wangst showcases quite nicely the reason i respond to those who wanna whine about the "omg every1 has opnions so stop disagreign wif me!!!1!" bullshit with a nice long jerkoff gesture and accompanying raspberry noise.

gotta love the hypocrisy of it all. T_T "you're disagreeing with me?! how dare you! omg you're so childish and think that you're right all the time, you big meanie!"

Psychic powerz, Darla apparently leveled up!!!
*cracks the fuck up* i hereby award you one internet.

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

that steaming pile of wangst showcases quite nicely the reason i respond to those who wanna whine about the "omg every1 has opnions so stop disagreign wif me!!!1!" bullshit with a nice long jerkoff gesture and accompanying raspberry noise.

Likewise.

Psychic powerz, Darla apparently leveled up!!!
*cracks the fuck up* i hereby award you one internet.

WOOHOO! XD

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ladyravana.livejournal.com]

Oh rantingmule, you're so vicious!

Oh noes, she's caught on to us, the haters! *le gasp* Darla found out that not everyone loves LKH!

There's a REASON for communities like this, Darla sweetie. It's because we've become disenchanted, disillusioned, and cynical about the books. Well, those were my reasons, at least. This community wouldn't exist if the books were still good and Laurell hadn't gone off the deep end.

And while I have poked at LKH's blog on occasion (more out of morbid curiosity than anything else) and I know the woman't nuts, but I've never actually seen her throw a bitchfit when she found out that not everyone still loved her books. *grins* I wanna read that. Anyone got a link?

You tore this apart beautifully. One of the best flogs yet. I can tell you did this with relish. And I can't help but cackle in glee. I applaud you.

Truly man, it's an honor to have you on my friends list. Just added you back, lol.

For that, I offer you a new cat'o ninetails.

*give virtual whip*

May there be many more happy floggings.

This is SO going in memories. :D This was just...priceless!

Re: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

Oh rantingmule, you're so vicious!

XD I try. >:3

There's a REASON for communities like this, Darla sweetie. It's because we've become disenchanted, disillusioned, and cynical about the books. Well, those were my reasons, at least.

*raises a glass of mudslide* SECONDED.

And while I have poked at LKH's blog on occasion (more out of morbid curiosity than anything else) and I know the woman't nuts, but I've never actually seen her throw a bitchfit when she found out that not everyone still loved her books. *grins* I wanna read that. Anyone got a link?

Linkage is at the top of the entry, above the cut-line. ;)

You tore this apart beautifully. One of the best flogs yet. I can tell you did this with relish. And I can't help but cackle in glee. I applaud you.

Bwahaa, thank you! *bows* But seriously, she made it WAY too easy to rip into. Yeah, I enjoyed the hell outta it, but at the same time some teeny part of me is screaming "OH GOD THE WORLD CONTAINS IDIOTS LIKE THIS?!?" I keep being stunned by the depths of craziness on that damn blog.

For that, I offer you a new cat'o ninetails.

*give virtual whip*

8D!!! Yay new lashes!!!! *grooves...has a thing for whips*

...hmmm. I like whips and lashes...heh, no wonder I have too much fun flogging her blogthing!

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

who is darla?

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

sorry. read above comments

[kellygyrl.livejournal.com]

Ohhh! I don't remember the time LKH went off on people when they didn't like the ardeureereeureuer. Can someone tell me or give me a link or something? That would be most excellent to read! Thanks!

[rantingmule.livejournal.com]

God I wish I had the link. It was...really horrible, actually. I'd laugh at it now, but when I first read it I was just...left stunned and angry.

If anyone can find the link they'll get a shiny virtual cookie.

[allova.livejournal.com]

I'd like to pause for a moment and remind everyone of the bitchfest LKH spewed when she discovered that not all of her readers were OMG SO ENAMOURED with the stupid Ardeur and crap.

I would adore a link to this if anyone has one. I wasn't around for that but would dearly love to see it...

[klmorgan.livejournal.com]

See the thread kellygyrl started just a one post above with the same question.

[saadiira.livejournal.com]

OK, having followed the thread on MJD, I can honestly say...I think that she's not that nuts. What is nuts is Darla here thinking ANYTHING coming from her camp might actually help the other. If there's more from MJD, I'd actually like to see it, because frankly, it was funny as hell, and mostly not that disagreable.

-Dira-

[klmorgan.livejournal.com]

I posted something above with links to MJD wanking... I don't know if I'd label her another LKH or worse, but she does have an unfortunate tendency to take very personal shots at readers who are speaking in general terms. She's got a rep for it.

Wha?

[theotherbaldwin.livejournal.com]

I'd like to pause for a moment and remind everyone of the bitchfest LKH spewed when she discovered that not all of her readers were OMG SO ENAMOURED with the stupid Ardeur and crap.


Links? :D

Re: Wha?

[klmorgan.livejournal.com]

See the thread kellygyrl started just a few posts above with the same question.

[pith]

And god help anyone who disagrees with them. It is like junior high, they have to be right or their world ends apparently..... As long as you agree with them, then it is okay to say something, but if you disagree or defend yourself, then you are some kind of horrible person out to cause them harm.

And how long have WE been saying this? Since we don't agree with LKH, we're the bad, hating, "vocal minority"? Nuh-uh. It goes both ways, Darla. To get respect, you have to give it. And LKH stopped doing that.

I can understand LKH getting upset if people just say "the new book are shitty", but if people are saying "I really miss the plot development and mystery the books used to have", that's not a case of the reader being out to 'harm'. Readers are simply sick of being told that "nothing's changed" and that our feelings are our fault.

Link fix (part 1)

[naeko.livejournal.com]

The blog being flogged here is at http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/index.php/site/authors_and_the_trolls/

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Authors and the trolls. (part 1)
I am being made more and more aware of just how some folks don't seem to get it. That they cannot dictate to an author what to write or how to write. I just became aware another fav of mine was pretty much publicly drawn and quartered on a blog. And when she defended herself and what she wrote, she was pretty much called disgusting names and treated like dirt. So here is the letter I sent her and to her newsgroup. I hope that it resonates with some folks. If you see yourself as one who is doing this kind of thing, then stop it! Consider what you say, what you post. Is that how you really want to portray yourself publicly? Because that is what your doing! I know there will be those who tear this apart. Read between the lines, assigning meaning that is not there. Call me names. Generally doing what was done to one of my favorite authors. But then I think about it, and I am in good company! Because I happen to know she is a kind, witty and wonderful person, in addition to being a terrific author. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and talking to her. So if I am to be relegated to the same group, then cool! I couldn't ask for better company. Hi MaryJanice! I saw that they have started picking on you too! I am so sorry. I kept hoping it was limited to Laurell. But more and more I am seeing it is not. Because we do hear it from other authors too. I am not sure what it is about the internet that inspires people to be rude! Other than anonymity. But for some reason, people who wouldn't dream of saying it to your face, feel free to post it on the web. And god help anyone who disagrees with them. It is like junior high, they have to be right or their world ends apparently. I finally got to where I started asking to see the original posts of things Laurell or I supposedly said. Too often through cut and paste things get attributed to the wrong party. Sometimes, I think it is accidental. Some of it I know is intentional. Worse, are the folks who read between the lines and attribute things never stated. They cannot take what is said at face value, they have to spin it, like politicians to meet their own needs. But once a rumor has started it is almost impossible to stop! And you are supposed to rise above it all and be magnanimous and gracious. I love how some folks have higher expectations for everyone else, want special rights for themselves, that they don't extend to others. As long as you agree with them, then it is okay to say something, but if you disagree or defend yourself, then you are some kind of horrible person out to cause them harm. They never consider that their opinions (and that is all they are, opinions, not facts), might be painful for someone else. That being rude and nasty is neither clever nor cute. And just because a few folks tell you that it is, doesn't make it so. There is always someone out there ready to tear down anything. They seem to revel in doing so. Why they are so miserable and cannot find some joy in life is I don't know, and is just sad, in my opinion. You're an excellent writer! Funny, witty and craft a heck of a story! Else, I wouldn't read you. And Laurell would not now be out on tour answering the question about who writes something similar readers might like and giving your name and Charlaine Harris as good choices. So please don't let the trolls get you down. I applaud you for standing up for yourself. Laurell and I both have had abuse heaped on us for not agreeing with everything someone else says. Or daring to defend ourselves.

Part two

[naeko.livejournal.com]

Authors and the trolls. (part 2)
People are not clones. We do not all like exactly the same thing. Liking or not liking something isn't wrong or right. It is simply a matter of personal choice. What is to one persons taste, is not to another. And I like that! Personally, I like diversity. I want there to be choices out there. I want to explore new things, and if I don't like something, well, then I can walk away from it. I don't demand it change to suit me! Could you imagine walking in to a museum and demanding that a painting be changed simply because you don't like it? Paint out that cow and repaint it on the other side of the tree. I don't like the expression on that statue, have it rechisled to something more pleasant. How about movies? I don't like that actor in the movie, refilm the whole thing but using this actor and not that one. The costumes are terrible. Let me tell you how to dress them better. How about stores? I don't like the way this is organized. Move the cereal section to the center of the store, and get rid of the house wares they are not necessary. Worse, how would you like it to be your own home? This living room furniture has to go! Get something modern, glass and chrome. Your bedroom needs to be totally rearranged, it just isn't efficient. Most folks would throw a fit if any of these things happened! These are books. They are written just the way the author wants. The reader is free to choose to read or not. Readers do not get to dictate what is written. Writing is not a committee exercise! But some folks don't seem to get that. They think they can do a better job. If they could, they should be out there writing books. It is easier to criticize than do any day of the week. I have flat out asked how do you make everyone happy? And no one has answered that. If these folks are unhappy with the books, they should stop reading. Again, it gets abuse heaped on you for suggesting they stop reading. That you don't have the right to tell them to stop. I don't eat food I don't like. I don't watch movies I know I won't like. No one makes me do it one way or the other than me! So if I didn't like an author, I stop reading their books! Sounds simple and logical. And I am not suggesting anyone do something, I myself don't do! Go MaryJanice go! Keep writing them just the way you do. And don't ever let them make you apologize for it. So I am going to end my rant with a lesson my mother taught me years ago. My mother was a hostess in a restaurant. The manager was no where to be found when my mother realized that one of the customers was being incredibly rude and nasty to a waitress. So my mom went over there to find out what was up. Seems the customer did not like his meal. Though he had eaten all but a few bites of it. He was ranting and raving about how horrible it was and how he felt he shouldn't have to pay for it. It was that bad. My mother never minces words. She did point out to the man that he had eaten almost the entire thing before complaining. Yet, she would make his meal complimentary. She then suggested the next time he was hungry, he eat elsewhere. She also told him about the four restaurants within one mile of that one. He left in a huff. But the point my mother told me was, you don't have to take abuse from someone. If he was as truly unhappy as he claimed, then he wouldn't be back. There are just some folks in the world who are not happy unless they are bitching. The trick is, not to take the misery they are trying to spread around and make it your own.
-----
Posted by Darla