blamebrampton (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
blamebrampton) wrote2011-01-08 04:37 pm
blamebrampton) wrote2011-01-08 04:37 pm
A case in point ...
So, there we were, having a chat on a friend's LJ about the differences between the US and the UK for purposes of a self-Britpicking list, with participants from both sides of the pond and beyond and frequent diversions into baiting and comedy from all sides, and apparently it has become a source of Flocked Drama.
Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.
And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.
I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...
Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.
AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!
Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.
And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.
I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...
Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.
AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!
no subject
I agree it's not easy, nor is it possible to be spot-on, but I'm not sure why "it's hard to be perfectly spot-on" has to morph into "since it's hard to be perfect, there's no point bothering".
(I mean, even locals can have trouble being 100% spot-on simply because even in small countries, there are regional variations. I've spent a lot of time in the Budapest area, both in the city and in a tiny village in the same county, but if I was going to sit down and write a story set in Eger (a mere 140km away), I'd have to do some research about local customs just to make sure I don't have characters making out in the middle of a plaza if there's a craft festival there every year or something. I see Brits from different regions and generations disagreeing with one another in HP Britglish all the time, too.)
I remember reading a story in another fandom where people were getting ready for Christmas in what would at the time would've been Soviet Russia, and they were getting ready for Christmas in Gregorian December. Like, Google "Russia Christmas" and you get an article that says both that it was banned for decades and that it's not celebrated in December -- all within the first 2 paragraphs!
I totally accept that some people don't care, I just don't want them to get in my face about not wanting to read their fic because I keep getting thrown out by cultural or historical inaccuracies. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is pretty easy to tell the difference between the writing of someone who's not 'from there' but did research and someone who just didn't bother. I like accuracy, and I just don't appreciate their not caring, and my time is more important to me than their ~painstaking writing efforts~, anyway. :P
the issue of difference being some form of ghastly anti-Americanism
If you're different from Americans, you must hate America! You filthy communist!
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And yes, I do agree with you that research is usually a good sign. I think it;s a perfectly reasonable thing to base reading choices on. But I liked Reign of Fire, so obviously I will put up with quite a bit of dodginess if there is something else there. (Hush. It was not solely Christian Bale's upper arms. Oh, maybe it was ...)
no subject