Lately I've taken to filling out prompts on an American Idol kink meme. I've filled about six prompts, and I've been having a blast because people seem to enjoy my fills and, for the most part, everyone's been really kind and respectful toward me.

But I've been noticing a trend, and it's not just toward me. This is a problem in many memes, but I've noticed it much more heavily in the AI fandom. I'd like to lay out a few rules here regarding Meme Etiquette. You are, of course, free to disagree, but I really think this is as simple as being appreciative and respectful of the hard work writers put into filling out prompts.

Meme Etiquette

1) When prompting at a meme, you forfeit the right to be critical of anything apart from grammar, spelling and sentence structure (even this is pretty nitpicky - it's a meme, for crying out loud). When someone goes out of their way, takes the time and energy to fill out a prompt for you, you should say, "Thank you! I liked that!" (even if you didn't) and move on.

2) If the fill was not exactly what you were looking for, or at all what you were looking for, you could wait a few days and repost your prompt, perhaps reworded, explaining that you would really like a similar fill. Suggestion of what you might say: "I'm reposting this; the other fill was good, and I'd love to read another take on this concept." That way everyone's happy. Someone else might fill out your prompt again, closer to what you wanted, and the writer who initially took the time to fill it out for you doesn't have to feel like shit because it wasn't what you wanted.

3) If you really want to read something in a fill, but the writer who filled it for you didn't give you precisely what you wanted, and you're having trouble finding the premise anywhere else, write it yourfuckingself. If you're so hellbent on reading something, do not harass writers; fucking write it. It absolutely boggles my mind when I see people nitpicking over the smallest things; details that have nothing to do with the overall prompt. If you don't like the way a fill is going, stop reading. No one's forcing you to. Don't comment. Leave it alone.

4) If you're not the writer or the OP, what the hell are you doing critiquing a specific angle, or a specific element of characterization, etc.? The writer did not write it for you! It's nice to get drive-by comments of appreciation; it is not nice to receive drive-by criticism from strangers, especially anonymice. If you're not a fan of the way the story went down, write your own damn version.

5) Last but not least, let us not forget this important truth about memes: We are all extremely lucky when someone fills out our prompts at all. The bigger the fandom (and its subsequent memes), the more followers there are, the less likely we are to have our prompts filled. So we should feel very fortunate to have anyone bothering to fill them out; I know I do! It is our responsibility - in order to keep the various writers at these memes - to be respectful of the fills that are written. If we aren't, what's keeping these writers from saying, "fuck this noise!" and moving the fuck on? Absolutely nothing. So let's use our discretion at all times, and if we have nothing kind to say -- all together now -- don't say anything at all!

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I'm not gonna lie; sometimes I feel very discouraged by the attitude at the meme. Sometimes I really don't want to continue filling out prompts. Right now I'm having trouble remaining cool and collected about this issue (if this entry hasn't already told you that), and I'm seriously reconsidering my participation there. For the most part, people have been very kind. I am extremely grateful for the kind words most of my readers have commented with. I continue to be very touched by my readers' enjoyment of my writing. That's all I want!! Truly, it's the random bystander who feels compelled to tell me that my fill wasn't what they wanted, or that someone else should fill it out the way it actually went down (even though this is fucking fanfiction), that makes me feel shitty about my writing.

NOTE: This is not directed at anyone who has commented on Diamond Dog Diva. You have ALL been wonderfully kind to me, and I am so grateful for the beautiful feedback I've received. I'm referring to the few odd fills I've submitted at the meme that I have yet to post over here. I've received some comments that hurt me and make me feel dumb for writing a prompt in a particular way. I mean no offense by this entry, either, and I'm certainly not talking to any of the friends in the AI fandom that I've made in the last few weeks. You're all darlings! It's just a few bad eggs that I'm talking about (usually in the guise of anonymity), and I thought I'd spread the word in the hopes that some of you on my flist might read it, agree with what I'm saying, and think it worth incorporating into our interactions with each other in fandom life.

Thank you for your attention! ♥