The thing is -- as a non-mod -- I think the original poster was not trying to be offensive, and the slashers were a mite hair quick on the trigger to condemn her. (Hitler, or at least the Klan, came up about four responses in.)

But she is also really, really, really not doing herself any favors in her responses.

Basically, if I were a mod, I'd be looking at the travel brochures to Bermuda about now.

(I think Hitler, or at least the Klan, came up about four responses in.)

That's Aura. Also not the most reasonable party on the list.

But the thing is -- if Pagan has a problem with Aura? Take it to her offlist. Take it to the mods offlist. Standing up and screeching is not winning her any friends, as you noted.

But she is also really, really, really not doing herself any favors in her responses.

Yeah. A humble or even humble-sounding "Sorry, I really didn't mean it to sound that way" might've prevented a lot.

That said, while I do think it was a matter of poor word choice, I can't blame the slash side on this one -- it's a hair trigger that comes out of way too much experience with "all slash is icky so you shouldn't recommend it". For that reason, the thing that really set me off in the original post wasn't her use of "fetish" -- which I read as "it's not my kink", in the fun nonmedical way plenty of us use it -- but the "I don't want to be forced to read something squicksome". Which I thought *did* imply, and rather strongly, the all slash is icky thing.

Peeps were already prickled about the previous discussion.

So, match, meet mister powderkeg.

I know it's gone beyond anything to do with me at this point, and Career Change was just a catalyst, but I really did get all goosebumpy realizing something of mine ignited passionate feelings. Much better than someone reading it and saying, "OK, not bad," and forgetting it ten minutes later.

Thank god BFA-L largely runs itself.

It probably helps that the BFA is a benevolent tyranny.

And I still think that I should develop a god-complex for April Fool's one year...

But the thing is -- if Pagan has a problem with Aura? Take it to her offlist. Take it to the mods offlist. Standing up and screeching is not winning her any friends, as you noted.

You're The Man who's keeping us down, you know.

I wish I were a vidder, I'd do an Angel/Wes for Melissa Etheridge's "Angels Would Fall." But then, I'm a sap.

My previous post brought to you by Non Sequiter Inc.

I am! I'm the Man!

I'm also profoundly amused at the most recent posts, since the discussion is basically perpetuating itself through self-cannibalization.

"You're discriminating against me! No, you are! I'm more discriminated! I'm the discriminatednest! Help, help, I'm being oppressed!"