The difference between LJ and Skyehawke

[blamebrampton]

In one of my stories, I have a scene in which the bad guys attempt to take control of the Thames Barrier to hold it open while an artificial storm surge races up the river to flood much of London. It's told in fast snatches, but there are a number of very clear bits of information given to show what's happening, including:

The rest of Draco's Unspeakables arrive. He speaks quickly: "Thames Barrier, we think there's a team using dark magic to hold it open. Storm surge is coming, a big one."

A few people responded to its posting on LJ with "I had no idea what the Barrier was, so I looked it up, it's cool/was on Doctor Who!"

Last night I posted that chapter on Skyhawke. Today I received a comment similar to "Look, I liked it, but you'd have made the ending so much more gripping if you'd explained what the Barrier was." *

I was THIS CLOSE to answering with "Thanks very much for letting me know you liked it, but if you need more Barrier info, you can find it easily! In my day we did not have Google and you had to shag computer scientists to get internet access, so just count yourself lucky, young whippersnapper and use the tools Tim Berners-Lee gave you!"

I held back, but only because I knew I'd receive a reply saying "Berners-Lee? Who?!"

Ah LJ folk, Let me never take you for granted ...

* I should emphasise that I genuinely think this person meant to be helpful here. They were not being intentionally annoying, I am just the least patient closet librarian in the vicinity.

Comments

[romaine24.livejournal.com]

I have to remember this one for the list of how to tell a story was written by me. In writing for my job, we have to put in references and links for everything. I'm so used to it that I put a list of links at the end of my stories (anon) or not for these things. I think I have about 5 for Survival of the Species. :) It's a habit I can't quite break. I've tried, but the twitching that comes upon me interferes with my being able to function. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Your footnotes are great fun, though!

But I have to confess that the first time I read SoS I broke off half way through one scene to google some geography; you were in an area I half-knew, but I thought it would work better with more details. I only expect what I am prepared to do!