Entry tags:
readers rules the day
The HD Most Read Fic Poll is open until midnight GMT today.
In the last day we've had over 100+ votes come in. That's just… wow. *hugs fandom*
There has been a lot of discussion on this poll with people approaching (and reproaching) the mods about it, general public discussions and yes, I'm sure lots of talk in emails and behind flock that I have not been privy to. Mostly, we've stayed out of it and explained and defended our choices when we felt it was necessary.
However, I have some thinky thoughts on this poll that I am compelled to share - mostly because I am in a sharing kind of mood.
For me, one of the key points of this poll is that it is about readers not authors. Vaysh and I did not say to each other: let's recognise the great HD authors of our times! Nope. We said: remember how much as a new reader in fandom we loved that old bookshelf and that old poll and that old rec list of 225 fics? Too bad there's nothing like that right now.
If we had wanted to recognise authors or specific fics, we'd have created an award of some sort. With a golden penis handed out to the favourites.
Instead we had readers tell us which their favourite fics were then we had readers tell us which fics they have read. 600+ have done so. And the results are pretty clear.
I do not believe that any voting was somehow 'clique' based. I do not believe any author (or anyone pimping for another author) has the kind of power to influence enough people to sway results, not drastically at least. I think the fact that these last 100+ votes did not actually change the results in any drastic way shows that well enough. One sixth of our votes came in in the last 24hrs and all they did was solidify the results we were already seeing. To me, that shows the results are due to a reading trend and NOT any indication of 'strategic' voting.
Would the results be different had we done the poll 12 months ago? Of course, they would be. That's the point. Fandom is constantly in flux. This is a snap shot of the current 'feel' of fandom. Romance rules the day. Certain writers have great appeal and have a devout following. It is interesting and it's true.
Now, people will debate the results of this poll for ages, I'm sure. This is my 2 cents, and I fully intend to stay out of it after this unless I need to clarify something that is misrepresented.
In conclusion:
Dear Authors:
If you make the Most Read 25, congratulations – you have a well read fic, but you knew that already.
If you have a fic on our rec list, congratulations – you have been added to many people's 'to read' list and you've been granted exposure from one more source that you didn't have a month ago.
If none of you fics got on the list, I am sorry for that. We know that there were great fics that we missed.
Dear Readers:
Enjoy. We did this for you. It's not perfect. It's not without controversy but in the end… it's all about you and the readers that will come after you. Grab a summary that tickles your interest and curl up with the fic for a great read. That's what I will be doing, too.
In the last day we've had over 100+ votes come in. That's just… wow. *hugs fandom*
There has been a lot of discussion on this poll with people approaching (and reproaching) the mods about it, general public discussions and yes, I'm sure lots of talk in emails and behind flock that I have not been privy to. Mostly, we've stayed out of it and explained and defended our choices when we felt it was necessary.
However, I have some thinky thoughts on this poll that I am compelled to share - mostly because I am in a sharing kind of mood.
For me, one of the key points of this poll is that it is about readers not authors. Vaysh and I did not say to each other: let's recognise the great HD authors of our times! Nope. We said: remember how much as a new reader in fandom we loved that old bookshelf and that old poll and that old rec list of 225 fics? Too bad there's nothing like that right now.
If we had wanted to recognise authors or specific fics, we'd have created an award of some sort. With a golden penis handed out to the favourites.
Instead we had readers tell us which their favourite fics were then we had readers tell us which fics they have read. 600+ have done so. And the results are pretty clear.
I do not believe that any voting was somehow 'clique' based. I do not believe any author (or anyone pimping for another author) has the kind of power to influence enough people to sway results, not drastically at least. I think the fact that these last 100+ votes did not actually change the results in any drastic way shows that well enough. One sixth of our votes came in in the last 24hrs and all they did was solidify the results we were already seeing. To me, that shows the results are due to a reading trend and NOT any indication of 'strategic' voting.
Would the results be different had we done the poll 12 months ago? Of course, they would be. That's the point. Fandom is constantly in flux. This is a snap shot of the current 'feel' of fandom. Romance rules the day. Certain writers have great appeal and have a devout following. It is interesting and it's true.
Now, people will debate the results of this poll for ages, I'm sure. This is my 2 cents, and I fully intend to stay out of it after this unless I need to clarify something that is misrepresented.
In conclusion:
Dear Authors:
If you make the Most Read 25, congratulations – you have a well read fic, but you knew that already.
If you have a fic on our rec list, congratulations – you have been added to many people's 'to read' list and you've been granted exposure from one more source that you didn't have a month ago.
If none of you fics got on the list, I am sorry for that. We know that there were great fics that we missed.
Dear Readers:
Enjoy. We did this for you. It's not perfect. It's not without controversy but in the end… it's all about you and the readers that will come after you. Grab a summary that tickles your interest and curl up with the fic for a great read. That's what I will be doing, too.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}