Question about reccing

[emmagrant01]

Last night, MDH and I went out with charlotteschaos and her hubby to see Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park get MST'd by a comedy troupe. It was hilarious, but I think Char and I giggled the loudest at all the Harry Potter references that were worked in!

And now, I have a question: on another post, some folks are talking about reccing, and a few comments have been made that seem to imply many people don't read fics that they think have been over-hyped. This is honestly a bit baffling to me, because if everyone on my f-list is reccing something, then I tend to assume it has a good chance of being a great read. People don't rec fics they don't like, after all, so if the pairing is something I'm in the mood for, I figure I should at least give it a shot. If I don't like it, I can hit the back button and go on my merry way.

But why would someone not read a fic that's getting a lot of attention on principle? If you do this, I'd appreciate an explanation, because it doesn't make any sense to me at the moment.

Edit: To clarify, I'm talking about a situation where it's a pairing and a scenario you would ordinarily find appealing, but you choose not to read the fic SOLELY because it's getting recced by everyone out there. Maybe no one actually does this and I'm overgeneralizing...

Comments

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

Hm. Maybe it's like being in school and having to read something. An "ought-to-read". Something insta-recced for reasons other than what might appeal to the person refusing to take up this recommendation.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but... we're all here for fun, and we all know it. Maybe some people interpret those "OMG you must go read this fic NOW!!!" comments literally.

And what other reasons are you thinking of? *is confused*

[balfrog.livejournal.com]

Usually the folks on my flist rec one or two at a time - if the pairing fits (I'm shallow) I go read it... I guess I have a flist whose recs are more non H/D than not... that's the only reason I'd skip out on an oft-recced fic.
A one ship (character) reader like myself misses out on a lot.
:D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I'll usually skip a highly recced Snarry fic, because that's just not a pairing that does anything for me most of the time.

But that's not exactly what I mean -- I'm talking about a fan not reading something that they would otherwise be interested in, just because it's been highly recced.

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

It may be a case of having been burned. I finally watched a film that everyone else said was SO much better than another version of the same story, that if I liked the one I'd seen, then I'd *REALLY* like this other version - and I ended up very disappointed. I mean, it was a good film and all but it just didn't compare to the other in my mind. So it might be a case of not willing to become disappointed and feel out of the loop if they don't like it as much as others hype it to be.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I can see that, and maybe that's part of it, yeah.

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

I'll read fics that are hyped, but I admit I'll look first at who's hyping it. My tastes are really specific, and there are a lot of popular authors whose work is not to my taste, and I'd say the same about a lot of popular reccers. On the other hand, there are reccers whose tastes I enjoy so much, that I'd read anything they recommended, even if it was written by someone whose work I have not previously enjoyed.

So. Er. I didn't really answer your question, but... :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Right, that's not exactly what I was asking! ;-)

But yeah, I agree. There are some reccers whose taste I don't share. But if they AND twelve other people on my f-list are reccing a fic, I'll go take a look.

[mrshamill.livejournal.com]

Oy, there's a new one. After having been told by some people that they 'only read certain authors' (who are not even writing in their fandom any longer) or 'only read what's been recommended'(by a certain cabal of people), now apparently they've figured out how to not reading anything. Why'n'hell are some people even in FANDOM?! /bitter

Sorry 'bout that, but honestly. I'll read anything, or at least try to, but I won't recommend anymore because I just don't need the drama in my life.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

You are so good that way, and always have been! You've done more for newbies in TPM than just about anyone else I can think of. :-)

And please don't stop reccing!

[accio-draco.livejournal.com]

Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Hillary Duff, etc are some of the most recced artists out there. Sure, they're shiny and nice to look at, but that's about it. One can't always, and perhaps shouldn't ever, trust popular opinion.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't put fanfic in the same category, though!

After all, I choose who is on my f-list, and I respect their opinions. If a large number of those people think something is good, the odds are high I will think so too. If nothing else, my curiosity is piqued.

It's not simply popular opinion -- it's the opinion of a group of people whose journals *I* chose to read.

[lily-bywater.livejournal.com]

(Hi! Just strolling by.)

For me it's not that I don't read a much recced fic on principle, it's just that I won't get around to reading it. I'll see a fic recced. And then recced again. And again. So I think hey! might be good to check that one out - so I bookmark it. But then...I forget about it. I'll have it bookmarked for months, and when the hype is gone and I'm looking trough my bookmarks I'll find it again and decide to read it and I'll love it. By then I would have forgotten about the hype and the recs and it would be like I found the fic myself.

It's the same with books. I've not read the LoTR yet, but I do have the books. At some point I will read them, I know this, but it will be on my own terms. Maybe that's what it comes down to? I don't want anyone else to tell me what to read, I want to feel like it's my own decision. Maybe I just want to be different, not reading what everyone else is reading - just floating about doing my own thing you know?

Eck I don't know what I'm trying to say here really (it's late, sorry).

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

it's not that I don't read a much recced fic on principle, it's just that I won't get around to reading it.

Right, I do that too -- but that's not exactly what I'm talking about. We read when we have time to read, in general. Sometimes I'll drop everything to go read something that's getting a lot of attention, and sometimes I'll bookmark it for later. But I still don't understand why people refuse to read a fic just because it appears to be popular.

[kaalee.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if you're talking about a conversation that I was having with someone earlier today, and if you are, you certainly could have jumped into the discussion.

When I see a fic that is very recc'ed, and particularly by people with whom I have similar taste, I typically bookmark it. I like to read, watch, experience things (when possible) without the hype surrounding it. I've joked with my partner that we're such losers with Netflix, because we'll stick a movie in our queue and by the time it arrives, we have no idea what it is. Sometimes we look at each other and say, "What was this movie about again?" because we've forgotten the hype and any reviews/spoilers/weird events surrounding it by the time it shows up.

For me, it's sort of the same with fic. I bookmark things that are well recc'ed - and, a lot of the time, I do rely on friend's recommendations, particularly now that the school year is starting and I'll have a lot less time to dedicate to fic-writing, b/c I'll want to dedicate it to teaching and planning. I *want* to read well read and well-written stories and I would never avoid one on principle. I just like to read something when I'm going to get my own experience.

For some people, it may be that the experience of reading something that's *hot* right now is enhanced because of the fact that others are reading/reviewing/discussing, etc... For me, I want the discussion, etc... but I want my read to have less surrounding it.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

if you are, you certainly could have jumped into the discussion.

Yes, and I did -- though a little further downthread. ;-)

For some people, it may be that the experience of reading something that's *hot* right now is enhanced because of the fact that others are reading/reviewing/discussing, etc... For me, I want the discussion, etc... but I want my read to have less surrounding it.

Yes, I can see that difference. And I don't think waiting to read something that's gotten a lot of attention is the same as not reading it at all, of course. I tend to fall into the category of wanting to read it now to join in the fun, myself, but I totally understand that many people aren't like that.

[amy-leone.livejournal.com]

I'm only guessing here, but you know how when someone writes a really great song and it gets played way too much, everyone sort of burns out on it? Maybe it's like that...you don't quite get around to reading a fic the first couple of times you see it recced on your flist, and then the hype gets annoying and maybe you don't feel like following the crowd...?

Personally, if my friends like it, I'll probably read it when I have time. If writers I like are reccing it, it goes on my definitely-soon list. If it's getting recced by friends and writers, and people other than the author like it so well they are moved to create banners and fan art, it goes on my definitely-make-time-right-now list. But that's just me. *shrug*

[joesther.livejournal.com]

I don't understand it either. I actually know of people who haven't read HP (canon) because of the overhyping as well, and to me that's also a WTF? moment. I mean, to me, it seems like you're intentionally depriving yourself of something good just because it's popular. Backwards logic, if you ask me.

I mean, if a lot of people like something, it just seems to me that it'll up the odds that you will like it all the more, so... why deprive yourself intentionally? To rebel against the masses? Frankly, that's the only reason I can come up with. And if you ask me, any rebellion just comes across as immature.

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

Um, I'm actually the opposite. I read anything that is posted H/R. I read other pairings by certain authors. But if something is being rec'd around, I read it no matter what the pairing. To me it's not jumping on a bandwagon or anything, I just get curious as to what the fuss is about. And just like any fic, sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't.

[vexia.livejournal.com]

In past experiences, fics that had been getting a lot of attention (with my favourite pairing) tended to disappoint me. But then again, I do have high expectations.

Generally, however, I'll click a link to a fic that's being recommended by nearly everyone, skim the first paragraph ... and if I don't like it, I don't read it.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

So when are you not disappointed, then? Is it that your tastes in fic are different from most other folks', or is it something else?

[rainclowd.livejournal.com]

Got me. I tend to read the things that I see recced most. There's usually a good reason for it. Even if it's not as good to me as it's been hyped to be, it's not like I've lost anything except a bit of time. I'm even more likely to dive into it if the rec comes from someone I like or respect, someone whose writing I enjoy, or someone who has recced other things I've ended up drooling over.

Seems illogical to do otherwise.

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

Here via the Quibbler.

If you're referring to Marks's post, I thought she was talking about people's specific author preferences rather than reading/not reading fic that's overhyped. I'd commented in her post that there are over-hyped fics I dislike, but that's because I read them (or started to) and didn't like them, not because they're over-hyped. I think it's silly to refuse to read fic that's widely recced just because it's widely recced - it's a bit like refusing to wear labels because it's the 'cool thing to do', and not because you have a moral concern with mainstream fashion makers' third-world employment practices (or a moral concern with mainstream cosmetics producers and animal testing, whatevs). There are some authors whose fic I will not read, full stop - not because it's over-hyped but because I don't like the way they write (either writing style or lack of attention to canon detail or the way they write my favourite characters, or some other reason). It's a taste thing.

I've never met anybody who refuses to read 'over-hyped' fics on the sole basis of the hype, though, fwiw.

[imadra-blue.livejournal.com]

Same here. I'll read a highly recced fic -- in fact, if it's recced by people I know have similar tastes to mine, or know what I like to read, I'm extremely likely to give it a go. I don't care less who reads what, so popularity has no bearing on a fic. I've read (or started to, before I gave up) a lot of over-hyped fics that I hated, but not because they were over-hyped -- I hated them because they, in my humble opinion, sucked rancor balls. I never hated the fic because it was popular. I was perhaps baffled by its popularity, but generally I can look at the people who did like it or rec it, and know their tastes are simply just not like mine. I mean, I know there's got to be fics out there that I rec and love that make some people scratch their heads in confusion.

There are plenty of very popular writers or fics that I dislike virulently. But there are just as many that I adore. It's simply just a matter of taste for me, as well.

I can confess to never having met anyone that refused to read popular fics for the sole reason that they were popular, either. At least, that no one ever told me.

[child-labor.livejournal.com]

[redcandle17.livejournal.com]

I didn't read the Harry Potter series until 2003 for the same reason. :)

[malicemadden.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why people wouldn't read them.
For me, if it's H/D and it's highly recommended, then i take a look.
If I don't like it, I don't like it. If I do, then great.
Sometimes if a fic is another pairing, but everyone's talking about it i'll give it a go.

[malicemadden.livejournal.com]

By the way, I'm BEGGING for your help. I wouldn't do this normally, but I need to get something written today and i'm BEGGING you to check out my latest entry. ANY help would be appreciated. It's a homework assignment that's completely doing my head in. *gets down on her hands and knees*
Please oh wise one?

[rebawilliams.livejournal.com]

I was recently on a board where this comment was made also. The situation was - someone was criticized for 'over self-promotion', the person was posting in every thread about their own story, they had created a thread about their own story, and even in posts not related to their story they would some how bring the subject up. Several people got annoyed and a couple voiced their discontent for the situation. Then... one of the 'regulars' commented that they didn't read stories that were over rec'd, I, too, was baffled by this. I can understand not reading the story that the person was self-promoting, just on principle... but as far as other stories go. If it's being rec'd by so many people, then I, for one, have to read it, whether it's my ship or not.

So to answer you question... damned if I know! The only logic that I could even think of, is that the person is either intentionally a nonconformist or they get so sick of hearing about some stories that they just have no interest in them... but I don't know if either of those are really the reason.

[redcandle17.livejournal.com]

Here via one of the newsletters. Sometimes I won't read a very popular fic I might have otherwise read because I've found all too often that I'm disappointed by popular fics - and certain BNF-type writers as well.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Is it that your expectations were really high, or is it taht your tastes just aren't "mainstream"?

[valkyrie17.livejournal.com]

I don't understand it, either. If someone recs something, I go and look. If I don't like it after "tasting it", I don't finish it. But, as a rule, most of the fics I've read because several people have recced them have been great.

[tastyeyeliner.livejournal.com]

I didn't read all the comments so I don't know if this has been said yet, but being in my late teen's, it's more of a music thing though in our popular society. The 'hardcore' kids who like obscure music and bands that nobody has ever heard of shun bands that actually make it because everyone likes them. And that's it. It's really stupid and is really annoying. When you like a band and want to go see a show, and when you tell people about it they go off on you. "Oh my god, EVERYBODY likes them! They're so stupid! They sound bad! They're so popular!" It's just...a thing that people do because they have nothing else better to talk about.

I've even succombed to it before. For example, I used to LOVE My Chemical Romance back when they just started out, but when they became famous and started showing up on MTV it suddenly felt uncool to still like them. I don't understand it and I suppose nobody else does either, but it happens...-shrug-

[awaywithpixie.livejournal.com]

I try to read all the recs I see that interest me. If I don't get time, I'll bookmark them and read them when I get time... There is only one fic I have ever refused to read beyond chapter 1, and only because the author wrote my first flame (I apparently lacked talent, cohesiveness and failed to get her in... after 12 chapters?), then proceeded to tell me how much better her fic was than mine. I subsequently read the first chapter and discovered it was no better, or worse than mine. It's recently had an update, and I can't be bothered going back the several chapters to attempt to read it again. If I'm bored enough with no other recs, I'll possibly read it, but will be reading it as if I were back marking English essays...

But yes, if I see an author self promoting in every corner of fandom, I usually approach the fic with caution. It's one reason why I'm so averse to self promotion.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Someone did that to you? Good grief! That's incredibly catty and pretentious -- but that sort of thing has happened to me too, I have to say.

And yes, self-promotion is tricky that way.

I'm really curious about who that was now... :-P

[charlotteschaos.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try not to be paranoid and concentrate instead on men in fishnets making growling sounds :)

If something is super-rec'ed but it rings my bells, I'll read it. I can't always promise to like it, but if it pops up when I'm in the mood to read and it sounds interesting, I'll read it.

Sometimes I'll even say, "omg I'm so not reading this Draco/Hagrid" only to get curious some time later and run back to it and giggle. It's really a mood thing for me. I don't usually bookmark, it's generally not hard to back track to find something highly rec'ed.

I will admit, though, that squeeing 'omg u hav 2 read this!' sort of posts put me off. I kind of, don't care if it's the greatest thing since sliced bread if you don't explain what makes it so great.

Or people who say that to me in chat and then wait for me expectantly to toddle off and read right. now. But then, I tend to get a bit grumpy at anyone who presumes that much on my time who isn't paying :) When that happens, it puts me in a bad mood to read, and that's never a good thing :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Rowr! Kaa! ;-)

I guess I read what appeals to me at the time, and other people's recs tend to be how I find stuff to read. So this idea that the more people who rec it, the less I'll enjoy it seems... I dunno, weird. Heh.

[lea-hazel.livejournal.com]

I used to do stuff like that out of sheer stubbornness. I made extreme effort not to like Philosopher's Stone for exactly this reason, and failed. Now I try just as hard to avoid that pitfall. It ain't easy.

Seriously, though. When you put yourself up as some sort of superior counter culture, the very idea that something is popular will conjure associations of unwashed masses and a natural tendency towards elitism may kick in. It's a good line. "Oh, everybody's raving about so-and-so, but I didn't think it was so great."