Books and a Slash Survey (you know you want to take it...)

[rubberbutton]

Went shopping today; I wanted to pick up some philosophy books for my dad. I abhor shopping. I’d rather have my kneecaps broken. At what point does anxiety edge out of uncomfortable-with-crowds and into actual agoraphobia? It was packed and I was on edge the entire time, like you might be if they were playing music you loathed really, really loud. I’m tempted to accept the inevitable and embrace my inner hermit, working out a system in which I never have to leave my house à la Twitch City.

On the bright side, books! I got Socrates Against Athens: Philosophy on Trial, which was kind of an impulse and I’m not sure will actually get gifted. *g* Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality is a book I’m not sure my dad will really appreciate, but seems pretty cool to me—which is one of my greatest flaws as a gift-giver. I tend to give things I want and then borrow them. Oops. I also picked up Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar...Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, which purridot recommended.

On the fandom side of things, I’m kinda, sorta working on meta about Victorian romantic friendships and the appeal of slash—something I was jokingly discussing with Purridot (who is catalyst in all things) but then I got carried away, as per usual.

To aid my super-serious scholarship/to satisfy my curiosity, please take a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire:

Assuming you read slash (non-canon, same-sex pairings) at least occasionally...

1. Do you prefer slash to heterosexual (both canon and non-canon) pairings? Why or why not?
2. Do you prefer slash to canon homosexual pairings? Why or why not?
3. Do you have a preference between m/m pairings and f/f pairings?
4. How much do you think your own orientation, gender and sexual experience affect your fanfic-reading preferences? Explain.
5. Do you read gen fic of characters you slash? Do you read it more, less or about the same as fic with overt romance/sex? Why?
6. How do you like sex in slash fic? Is explicit sex a pro or con?
7. How did you get into slash and how old were you?
8. Anything you’d like to share?

Comments

[dangomango.livejournal.com]

1. No. I ship the characters that I feel have chemistry, and one of my biggest pet peeves is that characters on TV shows are thrown into relationships because "he has a penis! she has a vagina! TRUE LOVE!"
2. Nope. I don't really see the difference between the two, though I acknowledge that canon homosexual relationships are usually rife with stereotypes and little to no sexual activity.
3. I prefer m/m when I'm feeling sentimental or want a good read, and I like f/f when I want some down and dirty smut.
4. It has a big affect. I'm bisexual, so I like the men with the men and the women with the women and when they mix.
5. I like gen fic and read it when I can, but often it either doesn't exist, is written poorly, or the writer has a major superiority complex because he or she is a 'speshul snowflake' for writing gen while the rest of us peons like icky sex. But yeah, I do like gen--the best gen stories are like episodes from the show!
6. I like explicit sex. And I like non-explicit sex. Depends on the writer and my mood.
7. I was probably about fourteen, or maybe a little younger, and I thought it was kinky that Obi-Wan called Qui-Gon "master" all the time. Hee. And then I found a slash archive, read a few stories, got offended, left a flame *facepalm*, and then went back the next day and read more. Thus a slasher was born.
8. That I like it best when everyone gets along. *warm fuzzies*

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

characters on TV shows are thrown into relationships because "he has a penis! she has a vagina! TRUE LOVE!"

*gigglesnort* Yeah, and I loathe it movies where attractive (but personalityless) female love interests are thrown in, just because.

I acknowledge that canon homosexual relationships are usually rife with stereotypes and little to no sexual activity.

Ha. Why have sex in your bedroom when you can redecorate it?

I like the men with the men and the women with the women and when they mix.

Well, you're certainly easy to please. :P It's a good way to be--I should know.

And then I found a slash archive, read a few stories, got offended, left a flame

You can't know how delighted that makes me. Inside every puritanical harpy is a hardcore slasher just waiting to get out. :DDD

That I like it best when everyone gets along. *warm fuzzies*

Aw, me too. *joins in on the warm fuzzies*

[dangomango.livejournal.com]

*gigglesnort* Yeah, and I loathe it movies where attractive (but personalityless) female love interests are thrown in, just because. You know what's scary? If we took out all the female characters like that (including on television) the amount of women actors that would still have jobs.....well. Sometimes I really wonder if we want good representation, or if we want *lots* of it, and what that means.
Ha. Why have sex in your bedroom when you can redecorate it? Of course, if you redecorate it, you can have sex on every single new piece of furniture...er. *g*
Well, you're certainly easy to please. :P It's a good way to be--I should know. Heh. It's good to be shallow as hell, even though I'm mostly a look-don't-touch person in real life. *g*
You can't know how delighted that makes me. Inside every puritanical harpy is a hardcore slasher just waiting to get out. :DDD That's why I love newbies! To think of all the little perverted me's out there, hee.
Aw, me too. *joins in on the warm fuzzies* God, I just...I love fandom. Yay fandom!