blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2009-01-18 11:13 pm

Some points of clarification ...

Pursuant to the previous post.
1. If you as an author say that Harry had never seen such deep colors in a sky as he did that morning, I, personally, do not mind. If you have Hermione saying 'It's C-O-L-O-R', then I won't be the only one rolling my eyes at you to judge by yesterday's comments.

2. If you are posting to an archive that insists on British spelling, that's what you provide. Just as you would provide safe fics to the younger oriented archives and dodgy displays of man flesh to the pornier ones. If I ever turn to SPN-dom and they have an archive that demands it, I will be traveling and honoring with the best of them. But if it's just for our own ljs, then I think authors' choice is fine.

3. No one wants Americans to pretend to be British. It never ends well, and it means that some of the great fics of deep emotional resonance from people like Fray and Sansa, and Heathen's poignantly witty comics and Lil's lyrical art would never happen because the artists would all be too busy worrying about whether their characters were being stoic enough. This would be a disaster.

Or, even worse, it would mean more fics in which Draco Malfoy says 'I'm going nutters, you gobshite! What I wouldn't give for a Sainsbury's curry!' And nobody deserves that.

4. Though it would be lovely if overt Americanisms could be kept to a minimum. The obvious things … especially slang and companies. Needless to say, all of you whose work I read manage this very well, so if you have this popping up on your flist, it's something you already do. 

5. We all notice 'Mom'. We know Scholastic did it to you. This is why we have voodoo dolls of their CEO under construction. It would be a great favour if you could use Mum. And the pants/underpants/trousers issue can cause unintentional humour.

6. We do express emotion, just quietly, or with a degree of irony or self-deprecation. Harry is rather highly strung in canon, Hermione's propensity to flee to the girls' loos if she needs a cry is more typical. If the situation calls for absolute emotional honesty, then it is done very  privately and we joke about it later. As Lizzie says in Pride and Prejudice, ``It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.''

ETA: And, as Shiv points out, animals receive the full extent of our personal feelings. And more public displays of affection. Not  like that, you disturbing individual.

7. The whole aluminium issue was Humphry Davy's fault. And if minerals were held to the same nomenclature rules as plants, it would be alumium. Strange but true.

8. Horrifyingly, the Macquarie dictionary in Australia lists alright as an acceptable variant spelling, and not just for the adverbial form (which I could accept as an American variation functioning in the same way as altogether/all together). This is not all right, and if any of you know any Macquarie lexicographers, I strongly urge you to remove all alcohol from their persons as they have clearly partaken FAR too liberally. They also prefer fiord, which is obviously madness, over the elegant fjord.

9. Not that this applies to anyone on my flist, but droit de seigneur was NEVER an English concept, more Sumerian. Must learn to not read fic synopses on archives. Stick to the flist, it's a safe place!

10. The heatwave is coming back. Bleargh.

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Shooting is a bit harsh!

Alas, the warm is coming back, according to the BoM. BUGGER!

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh you're a spoil sport.

I've read the Amanuensis ones, though I'm finding it hard to work out why Harry was so upset. I mean...

[identity profile] emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Eh, well. It would save me from finding out my uni acceptance on Wednesday, so really you'd be doing me a favour. :)

DAMN THEM. (Yes, not their fault, technically. I'm still inclined to blame the buggers for telling us.).

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, that doesn't sound very British of you to be so affectionate! ;)

But you are a, b, and c as well, you silver-tongued flatterer you.

I don't see many flagrantly American fics on LJ: they're either crack, written by teenagers, or confined to ff.net (which is where I read the Home Depot fic). So most non-British writers do make an effort.,

I may have told you that my fantasy is to read a fic which is written like a Monty Python skit (i.e., ultra-proper Harry and Draco keep making passes at each other and denying it, politely apologizing all the while). I couldn't do justice to it myself.

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I am planning to spend the day in the fridge ...

[identity profile] frances-veritas.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
This entire post is made of win.

Especially this: 5. We all notice 'Mom'. We know Scholastic did it to you. This is why we have voodoo dolls of their CEO under construction. It would be a great favour if you could use Mum. And the pants/underpants/trousers issue can cause unintentional humour.

*gigglesnorts*

I wish they had let JKR just release the British versions and that's it. They didn't need to "americanize" them. Oh, well.

I wish someone in the SPN fandom made a post like this. For non-American people. I've beta'ed fics with the same problems but the complete opposite of yours, if that makes sense. I'm all it's not "colour" it's "color." :P Or "realize" not "realise".

[identity profile] pingrid.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
True, I would be better suited to the North, or possibly Ireland. But that won't do; the shopping in London is far superior! Although I do tend to buy my socks in Scotland, hm. ;)

Oooh, I doubt it. I'd think he'd be more than willing to let Lucius have a go if it meant having a gorgeous spouse, however resentful. :p

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh god ... I wish you hadn't told me that. I have enough unfinished things on ...

Remember, I've been Australianised, and was hippiefied before that ;-)

[identity profile] vaysh11.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
No pressure, of course! *smirk* Twas just a reminded that indeed people are waiting for the continuation of that tale. I mean, Sansa has yet to bring Teddy and Scorpius together, and it's been weeks for those boys!!!

Hermione, as in ... Arthur Weasley???? I am thinking too much canon, obviously.

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
This is what Obliviate is for

Or polyjuice. And just think of all the whining there would be when the sex in the rest of the marriage didn't live up to the first night.

[identity profile] vaysh11.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
So Harry is marrying Draco, and Lucius gets the right of the first night?

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Exactly!

[identity profile] norton-gale.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Are Australians more openly affectionate than Brits? I haven't known many of them.

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:44 pm (UTC)(link)
It was a fairly patronising decision, I agree. Though on the other hand, it may not have been the publishing phenomenon it became if it hadn't had such aggressive American marketing ...

And this is why I don't write SPN. Well, that and I've only seen half an episode. (Mmmmmmmm Jensen ...)

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
In an offensive but loving way, yes ;-)
ext_135179: (Default)

[identity profile] thisgirl-is.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
It would have to be, surely? I can't imagine anyone but the Malfoys dragging that up, and while Lucius would just sweep in with his sense of entitlement, I can't see poor Draco barging in and demanding first go at anyone's bride. Or groom for that matter. He'd be mortified. :oD

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Quite fair enough. Elizabeth was also interesting and capable, as opposed to whiny and a bad embroiderer.

[identity profile] vaysh11.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
You're mean!

I meant to ask you, have you read [livejournal.com profile] pushdragon's Reliquary. I'd think you'd find Lucius delicious evenm though he fucks the wrong guy, um, person.

[identity profile] pingrid.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Right again! You're clearly far more well-versed in these matters than I am. :D

I think Draco would put a sleeping potion into his new spouse's drink and polyjuice into him/her so he could enjoy Lucius's charms, virtually incest-free. ;)

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
You're perverse.

Clearly Hermione would offer to sort it out for Harry. Use polyjuice, and then when it ran out, peg Lucius.

[identity profile] pingrid.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, do! I've never read a het one, and it would be nice if the first one wasn't completely riddled with misogyny! :)

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermione could be married to someone else. It could be, as Vaysh says, Arthur

Though I still argue that Ron/Hermione is not canon, and she's just giving the kiddies a lift to the station.

[identity profile] shiv5468.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I am mean.

Mmm, I have heard good things about it but not ventured there. Maybe I will

[identity profile] pingrid.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh all right then, make it all-out non-con if the veneer of faux tradition disturbs you. :p

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2009-01-18 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
*Turns to drink*

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