Back from the dead

[tarigwaemir]

Blair Hall Apts., on the Feast of St. Romuald

My old desktop computer went through boot failure a couple of days ago, before I had a chance to transfer files to my new iMac. What a nightmare! I spent the weekend trying to reinstall Windows about a dozen times and reconnecting my two hard drives in different combinations in hopes of trying to fix the problem. I even ended up reformatting my boot drive (which luckily has none of my files). In the end, what it took was changing the hard drive configuration and running chkdsk on both drives before I managed to boot Windows successfully. After two sleepless nights, I was able to access my files again! Yay! Everything is now moved onto my iMac, and all the important files are backed up on DVD. I also had to hunt down all the missing drivers and reinstall programs on the old desktop, which is now the family computer and hooked up to the Internet. Mother is complaining that she can't access any of her old bookmarks, and Father wants me to hurry up and install Microsoft Office. Sheesh.

We've had Internet access, thanks to my father's laptop (which is also on its last legs), but I haven't been checking LJ for the past few days out of sheer exhaustion (although do note that I haven't failed to check my email religiously). Now that I'm going back through my friends list, that may have been an unexpectedly good thing because apparently there's been a bit of a kerfluffle about blind_go? Does it even qualify as a kerfluffle? Actually, I'm kind of bemused because I think it's the first time that something I'm directly involved in has been the subject of one of Charmian's fandom meta posts. ^_^ I'm also not really sure what's going on since Aja's original post is friends-locked, so everything I'm about to say is based on what I've read in a few reaction posts.

I never expected blind_go to get so large, and it's been a pleasant surprise. As a mod, I've had my share of worries about potential wank fodder: the competitive nature of the challenge, the influx of new writers versus old guard, the deadline pressures, etc. We do try our best to reduce such stresses (hence the support threads and the weekly chats), but actually the lack of conflict is mostly due to the maturity of Hikaru no Go fandom as a whole. <3 But let us know if there's anything we can do (as mods, I mean) to make it better.

From what I can tell, one of the allegations in the original post was that the community doesn't usually give rise to fic that the poster wants to read. It's true that via the theme sets, silvermuse89 and I may encourage certain types of fic to be written. I don't think that it's any secret that we like AUs and minor characters, for example. But nothing is binding, and I doubt that our preferences really have all that much effect on what the writers choose to write. What blind_go does seem to do is encourage writers to push themselves and try out things they haven't tried before, and that may mean different sorts of fics may be posted than what writers would write otherwise. But hey, that's part of the challenge too, and I wouldn't change it even if I could. ::shrugs::

Anyway, from comments in issen4's response, there was a good point brought up that perhaps Hikaru no Go could use more fic challenges, which I support 100%. As I've said to zoesque before, silvermuse89 and I will happily coordinate the blind_go schedule with any other challenges, so just let us know if you're thinking of organizing one! ^_^

That reminds me: daisy_chan has been advertising ihikago, which is holding sign-ups for its second round here. Go join! I admit, I never have the patience to actually sit through and listen to an entire podfic, but it's fun to hear what people's voices sound like. ^_^

Also, really late but go read cyberpunk issue of imaginarybeasts! (I really should remember to go and leave comments.) I meant to write for this issue, but despite much patience on lacewood's part, I couldn't make the story finish on time. Oh well, perhaps for a future issue. The next issue's theme is "heat wave" (sign up here).

I have a goodreads profile (thanks to bravecows and lacewood). Friend me if you have one too!

I told everyone that I was going to bum around in New York for the summer, but actually I've found that bumming around is hard work. >_< Bike-riding practice, driving lessons, marathoning both seasons of Hana Yori Dango with angelyrique, watching 쩐의전쟁 (War of Money) and 불량커플 (Bad Couple) online...more on that next time. (War of Money is the hit K-drama of the season. It's based on a manhwa and the perfect choice for those of you who prefer shounen-style plots.)

Yours &c.

Post-script: Thanks so much to everyone who gave me advice re: housing and finding roommates. I was feeling a little hysterical when I wrote that entry, and reading your comments helped me calm down and feel more in control of the situation. I did manage to contact another incoming student who's agreed to room with me, and we're currently looking for apartments.

Comments

[aishuu.livejournal.com]

bookshop is unable to do things in a nonconfrontational way. *sighs* It drives me absolutely batty, because she does some great meta, but also manages to rile everyone up while doing it.

[troisroyaumes]

Completely unrelated, but ahhhh I want to read Brightly Burning 11 but my parents are kicking me off the computer. ;_; The disadvantage of being at home. ::sighs::

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

I dont't think it really reached the level of a "kerfluffle".
Basically, she doesn't like blindgo because she thinks that fandom is producing less fic, because everyone is waiting for the next round. And she thinks the entire fandom now revolves around that one comm.

I sorta want to organize a challenge, but I've never done anything like it. *sigh* I'll stalk some more challenges and see how they're set up.

[troisroyaumes]

Yes, now that I've finished reading through comments, the general reaction seems to be, "Eh, whatever." (Why I love this fandom! XD)

I've never modded anything before blind_go either! So far, the actual work is pretty easy, just immensely time-consuming. It helps to have a co-mod though. I noticed that qem_chibati is setting up a drabble challenge, and I know zoesque really wanted to hold a remix challenge as well, so maybe you can get in touch with them?

[unrequitedangst.livejournal.com]

Good lord, the blind_go thing has been blown totally out of proportion by all the reaction posts. As I understand it--I'm on Aja's flist, but I don't really know her that well, etc, so I can't speak for her, but Aja's post basically made two points about blind_go. The first was that HnG fandom was starting to center unhealthily around blind_go so she thinks the fandom needs additional challenge comms and the second was that she wasn't a big fan of a lot of the blind_go fics because of the writing styles themselves, which is pretty YMMV. :|

I don't know, I don't really have any opinion on what she said either way since (a) I barely know her and (b) I don't really hang out in the fandom apart from having read and enjoyed the manga, but I do think it's getting kind of blown out of proportion in a really silly way. Anyway, I doubt your name will be showing up on F_W anytime soon so you can relax on that front. *g*

Did you like HyD? I've been thinking about watching it, since it seems to be a JE must-see, but I've seen part of the Taiwanese version and wasn't really impressed enough to finish it.

[troisroyaumes]

Oh well, I have nothing against more challenge comms (actually I would kind of like it if things got a little more decentralized), and the writing style issue is probably due to fandom origins and whatnot. Actually, I wasn't worried about anything making it to F_W because Hikago fandom prides itself on its lack of wank and does a really good job of avoiding it for the most part. And I think the reaction posts I read are just really expressing a minor irritation rather than anything else, and most people seem to be pretty indifferent to the whole issue. (Which is why I like Hikaru no Go fandom so much; we're pretty chill.)

I loved Hanadan, but then again, I loved the manga as well (which is the quintessence of shoujo, in my opinion) so it may or may not to be your taste. Although I couldn't stand Meteor Garden; I stopped watching after episode 2. I definitely think the Japanese live-action is better but I'm probably biased because it's a close adaptation of the original manga.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Podfics! What a neat idea.

[troisroyaumes]

Ooh, are you thinking of having your fics recorded then?

[petronia.livejournal.com]

I went and signed up for it as a writer! Would do so as a reader too, but I'd have to figure out Audacity first (and get rid of this cough ^^;).

My HikaGo fics are perfect for podding IMO since they're short - all except "A Proof...", which would probably be a nightmare. XD

Zoe, commenting from work.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, blind_go kerfuffle. XD I chose to focus on the pretty meta aspects of the original post, but I do agree with her opinion that the entire fandom now centres around BG.

Which is... better than not centering around anything at all?! I mean, I am not really of the opinion that Hikago fen DESPERATELY NEEDS TO INCREASE FANNISH OUTPUT OH NOEZ: while I admittedly haven't enjoyed a large percentage of BG fic (but dude, that is my own craziness and the pickines I have apparently and recently developed re: Hikago fic), more is not better, exactly. Er.

I have a conflated opinion of the entire thing (which really should not even qualify as a 'thing' at al), obviously! XD But I love BG, above everything, for the way it brings to fandom together. That, rather than the fics themselves, has always been what has been awesome about BG for me. :)

Re: other fic challenges. I STILL WANT TO DO A REMIX CHALLENGE? Because I am crazy. I wonder if I could magically coordinate one before September (and schoooool)...

Re: Zoe, commenting from work.

[daisy-chan.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I could magically coordinate one before September
Dude, it'd be easy, you can't just lift the rules from any of the five million other remix challenges out there. The trick would be convincing people to sign up XPP

[zoesque.livejournal.com]

Yes but Daisy, you forget that this is me we are talking about here. Queen of a Thousand Spazzes? XD

[daisy-chan.livejournal.com]

Even YOU can copy and paste, zoe. I believe in you!

Re: Zoe, commenting from work.

[harumi.livejournal.com]

I do too, and I was feeling especially uncomfortable because she mentions me outright in her post. So um. Yeah.

I've already volunteered to mod if qem_chibati really starts a new challenge com, and I'm more than happy to participate in any new ones that are created. Hikago is the only fandom I actually participate in. The only other one I'd write fics for is for Zelda: Twilight Princess and anything by Mercedes Lackey, so I'm really limited when it comes to a feeling of community. Which the Hikago fandom has very little of. Um. Yeah.

Anyways, I think I really need to be quiet now. *hides*

Re: Zoe, commenting from work.

[zoesque.livejournal.com]

That is awkward-making! :(

I am highly excited about the potential drabble challenge comm, I have to say. And it is good to hear you would be leaping on any bandwagons that should appear! :D

Re: Zoe, commenting from work.

[harumi.livejournal.com]

qem_chibati has started a new challenge com. It is a drabble/one-shot com called hng_prompts.

So far it's just us mods talking though. We'll probably bring a challenge eventually. Hee. ♥

Re: Zoe, commenting from work.

[troisroyaumes]

Well, I certainly don't mind more decentralization, especially if it means more fic challenges. XD (Do the remix challenge, please! I'd participate! ^_^) And I'm glad that blind_go has managed to be a fun place for the fandom to congregate and talk; it's what I've liked best about the whole experience as well. XD

[zoesque.livejournal.com]

Would you really participate? *___* I should do a poll or something to get an idea of numbers, and then possibly put it into motion...

When're you guys shooting for round 4 (good god, ROUND FOUR. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE THIS TALL, BG.) to hit flists?? So my piddly remix thing can stay out of the way and not get squashed, hee. :>

[troisroyaumes]

Of course I'd participate! XD I think it would be a lot of fun.

We were thinking tentatively the same schedule as the first round (sign-ups in August and fics due in early September), but I'm actually willing to push it back if necessary since both Silvy and I will be pretty busy settling into our respective new schools around then.

[zoesque.livejournal.com]

:D

Yeah, that's kind of like the Last Great Timeslot, isn't it? And you can add me to the list of people who will be settling into new schools in September ahaha. (Prioritizing, WHAT IS THIS YOU SPEAK OF?)

I'm reluctant to have anything going on in July, because a) that's ihikago time yo and b) I will not be here for two weeks of it. Hmm.

[troisroyaumes]

Oh, well, we can always push back round 4 to November-December (ahaha, finals season, but I've grown resigned to the fact that there's never a good time), and you can hold the remix in August-September, if you'd like. Although I'm sure you'd probably be pretty busy around that time too...anyway, let's just keep talking, and I'm sure we can figure out a good schedule. ^_^

[issen4.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay, you're back! I was wondering what happened.

I admit to quaking a little bit at what you would think about my post about blind_go, but I admit, I was not happy at what she said and reacted rather quickly. Honestly, I don't see what the point of her complaint is: so the fandom is waiting for blind_go--well, it's not like we had anything else to be preoccupied with, before. And it's been said many times already, but blind_go was a shot in the arm for the Hikago fandom (on LJ, at least?), which had been rather... hm, passive? And people who don't like blind_go are free to keep doing their own thing, or hold other challenges--that's the beauty of the Hikago fandom. We're supposed to be mature! ^__^;

Glad to hear that the housing situation has been dealt with.

[troisroyaumes]

Oh wow, someone noticed I was gone. ^_^;; Thanks for the concern.

I thought your post was pretty laidback actually. Besides, I think you're entitled to say that you weren't happy, and I would probably be irritated myself if I'd read the actual post, but luckily I was unaware of the whole thing. Anyway, as you said yourself in your post, it really seems to be a matter of fandom perspective; I mean, I've also always thought that Hikago tends to be pretty passive since it's a finished series, but perhaps things look different from Aja's end of the spectrum? Or perhaps she's just used to the energy of HP and Tenipuri. In any case, if the upside means more fic challenges in Hikago, I have no objections. ^_^

[daisy-chan.livejournal.com]

What. What. I've been reading Harry Potter porn all day. Did I miss the only Hikago wank in history? XD

I admit, I never have the patience to actually sit through and listen to an entire podfic, but it's fun to hear what people's voices sound like.
podfic and postcasts are great for your commute!

[troisroyaumes]

Haha, I don't think it qualifies as wank at all. Also apparently it all took place a few days ago, judging by the dates? I feel like I missed it entirely too.

Good point! I might sign up as a writer, although I don't know who would want to record my fics...

[daisy-chan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I went back and read Aja's post (for some reason, my flist won't show flocked entries, even if I'm on that person's flist) and it really wasn't as negative as I think you think it was. She wasn't saying she didn't like blind_go, but that there should be MORE events like it so that it doesn't become the only thing we do anymore.

Speaking of which, when are you guys planning on doing the next round and did you pick a ficcing style for it? XD


Sign up anyway! You never know XD

[lucathia]

I'm glad you were able to find a roommate! I asked around for you and had no luck, as most people I know have already found their place for summer school. ^^;

If it weren't for blind_go, I would not have even written anything for hikago in the past year. Deadlines are very good motivators.

[troisroyaumes]

Thank you for the help anyway! <3

Deadlines are good motivators. Lately I can't seem to write anything without a deadline. ^_^;;

[serendip.livejournal.com]

Noraebang? Frozen yogurt? 양엽치킨? XDDDDDD

[troisroyaumes]

Yes to all three! When? This Friday? Email me~