I carried this over from the Rec Thread, but it fit better here so here goes. I don't want to start a pissing contest, but I am sure I am gonna stomp on some people's paws with this but why now is there a discussion about what should and should not be recced. I think for the past two years both here at at TSTSNBN we have had a system that encouraged all sorts of stories to be recced, so it seems weird to me that we should be trying to define what should be recced. In light o fhte recent wankfest my fear is that this discussion is less an attempt to define good stories and more a way of keepin gcertain disliked authors from being mentioned. I truly hope that this is not the case. As it has been noted, if you don't like someone, vote with your mouse, don't click the link, but I think that al fics and all authors should be mentioned here. We have a system that works and has worked for two plus years now. A new story gets a short blurb, a WIP gets a little update. Why mess with what works?

TrooperCam, I agree full heartedly. Why is it that we have to define good now? Good shouldn't have a set of rules put in cement. Good is what the recc'er likes and that's all that matters. So, out of fear of being labeled as off topic, I'm just going to say and leave it at this... As long as somebody likes a story, I believe they have every right to rec said story. If somebody else doesn't like it for whatever reasons, then they can either a) leave a review to that author with constructive critisism, or b) bring up the topic at the disscussion thread. But in no way should people here be afraid to rec because somebody else might judge what they like. That's not the spirit HHOW should carry with it. We left TWoP to get away from being afraid to do things, let's not carry it over here.

Did I miss something? I might have; I'm often somewhat oblivious. I followed (and took part in) the discussion in question and as far as I could tell there was only one person who asked whether there should be standards. And all the rest of us said, nope, because everyone's standards are different and what rings my bells may not ring yours. If anything I found that conversation rather reassuring. While each poster might have talked about the standards they personally have for what they will or won't rec, no one seemed to wish to impose their personal standards on others. Was there something worrying there and I simply didn't see it?

I was under the impression that we were just discussing recs and reccing habits in a purely academic way, not as some sort of conspiracy to exclude people. I didn't think it was a touchy subject. edit: blackmare said it better. I think zulu brought it up, and used an example of a rec that she was curious about. Is that the issue? It seems perfectly reasonable to me to discuss concrete examples when we can. Why should we talk in abstracts when fanfic is posted publicly to be read by the public?

TC, a poster posed a question about reccing fics. People weighed in with what they thought. In no way should the discussion be considered anything but that, a discussion. It wasn't a vote or an attempt to flesh out a new policy. The reccing policy here is open. I don't see that changing any time soon. HHoW is all about the love and inclusiveness. Fear not!

Troops, I don't think that anyone at any point said we need to change what we're doing. What was asked is how people determine what they chose to rec (after all everyone does have different standards & interests) & what they look for in deciding th take a rec, particularly when its for something new to them or they might have disliked in the past (a pairing, an author etc). I think that's a valuable exercise for our own education to see where others are coming from in their likes/dislikes, but what I gained from this in particular was that more information on why we are reccing something is incredibly valuable, so we can all make an educated decision on whether or not to click on the link. I know I tend to be skimpy at times on what I write when I give a rec, I'm going to make a more concious effort to put some thought into what I say & why I think others should read it (& I do have some pretty obscure tastes ;D)

I didn't see anything wankish in that topic either, just a question and polite discussion. As to the other topic Trooper raised in the rec thread: Kind of sucks going into a story knowing a character is going to die. IMHO I know that's a controversial subject in most areas, but to me it sucks a lot more when you're dealing with real death, try to read fic for some mindless relief and you get whammied without warning of a character death. I don't think it's out of line to say: "character death." You don't have be specific, but at least if you're not in the right frame of mind to deal with that, you know to stay away.

I agree, Namaste. I usually avoid character death fics like the plague. I've had too much death in real life to suffer through stories where a favorite bites the dust. I think it's only fair to warn readers of character death.

Crud....well I hope you were ok with my fic I just posted.

I think it is fair to warn a reader of a character death, but in most cases unless the story starts out THe day House died he was quietly at work usually the death is a plot twist or surprise. Believe me, I have had more than my share of deaths in my life so I can appreciate the need for the heads up but to me reading character death is akin to reading "story will be House/Cam later" Let me find out it will be House/Cam later don't tell me ahead of time. Though I usually don't read H/Cam cause its not my cup of tea. As to the otehr discussion, maybe it wasn't what was said, but a feeling to some of the posts and like I said, it does seem strange the timing giving some of the activities that have happened recently in the fandom. I'm not trying to knock anyone but I do think that all recs and all authors regardless of people's personal feelings should be encouraged.

I have to admit I completely missed your warning. I got the end and was like, "Whaaaaaa?" But, yeah, I was okay with it.

As to the otehr discussion, maybe it wasn't what was said, but a feeling to some of the posts and like I said, it does seem strange the timing giving some of the activities that have happened recently in the fandom. I'm not trying to knock anyone but I do think that all recs and all authors regardless of people's personal feelings should be encouraged. Well, as far as HHOW is concerned, the rec policy remains open. And that's the mod's honest truth! ;-) ETA: I'm pretty sure that warning of character death is rather standard across this fandom, heck, across the fanfic world in general. Authors & betas, help me out here - is that correct? I personally think it's polite to warn people in advance. The same goes for excessive violence, non-con, mpreg and House/Cameron. I want to know these things in advance and make a decision whether to read or not. I'm a HoYayer, but I know alot of people prefer the H/W friendship angle and are very slash squeamish, so I try to be sensitive to that while reccing.

Well then that's your fault, e_c, I GAVE FAIR WARNING!!!! Not to bash on you though, you know I heart you. There is one thing that annoys me though. When people say something like "You should say there's a prequel out there" or anything that is already stated in the A/N. Notes are there for a reason, they should be read!

it does annoy me if there's an AN in the middle of the chapter. Dear lord, yes :bashes head on desk: why do people do this??