If you're becoming an asshole, you should probably stop.
	Should I feel guilty about reading/writing fanfic, or being a 'shipper? A large amount of academic research is being produced in Pop Culture studies about rogue fans and their rewriting of canon as a method of controlling the influence of the media. It categorizes fanfiction and the writing of it as a subversive act that undermines the dumbing effects of mainstream culture, allowing the writers to engage in their own production of hyperreality through imaginative creation, both restructuring reality and acknowledging the falseness of the hyperreal as presented by the mainstream and the self. In other words: if I must be a sheep, then I'll be whatever damn color of sheep that I want to be, not the color that society has determined I should be. I find that a very liberating concept – so I don't feel a bit guilty about my hobbies, nor should you (as long as you don't take it too far – see question #3). That all sounds great, and I might even buy into that, but I feel guilty anyway. Why? Because you've been hailed, in the Althusserian sense. Because rogue fans are subversive, they are going against the mainstream and voices of authority within that mainstream (ie: the authority of DC Comics).
	Perhaps the biggest voice of authority, of course, is the capitalistic system in which we all live (and must live, as there is no escaping it). Fan fiction doesn't make any money – so many of us feel that we are 'wasting' our time by writing and reading fan fiction, which is the capitalistic authority tapping you on the shoulder and saying, "Hey, you aren't doing what you should be doing right now." I know that is a big problem for me; frankly, if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't worry about writing 'real' fiction – the creative process would be enough, and I wouldn't care if I was writing fan fiction or real fiction. But, because I feel that I must produce money along with a story, I'm moving away from writing fan fiction, and giving in to that capitalistic impulse (of course, there is something to be said with creating and working with your own characters, too). After all, I've got a baby to send to college now. Must…make…money… There are other authorities that hail us, too: peers and society, parents, etc. So, even though we aren't doing anything wrong (Repeat that. "I am doing nothing wrong. I am doing nothing wrong.") we feel ashamed because we are, at some level, always aware of that authority, and our subversion (but not wrongdoing!) It's not unlike driving down the freeway at 55 miles per hour, when 55 miles per hour is the speed limit. You are following the rules, but when you see a police officer you still have that knee-jerk reaction of guilt, followed by a quick check of your speedometer and a tap of your foot on the brakes. The same goes with fan fiction – technically, you are following the rules; but, when confronted by an authority (comic companies, capitalism, parents, peers) you have that knee-jerk reaction of shame. Okay, Meljean, enough of that theoretical bullshit. Give it to me straight: should we be ashamed? That depends on a couple of factors. If you are writing and reading fan fiction because you enjoy the characters, want more out of your purchased products than cable or comics can provide, you want to practice writing, or are simply curious, that's great. However, if you are writing and reading fan fiction with an eye out for something to hate…then you've got a problem. Signs that you should be ashamed of your fan fiction habits: 1) You write reviews that, instead of being constructive critically, insult the intelligence and/or writing of the author. My advice: Please remember that even though you can't see them, the people behind the stories are living human beings, who A) have different opinions about characters than you, B) have different interpretations of the events shown in canon, C) have just as much right to post their stories as anyone else. Please critique fairly; don't eviscerate, and don't hide your dislike of what the author has written about behind an unsupported critique of how they wrote it. 2) You troll for stories with plotlines that you hate, simply so that you can write a bad review. You enjoy being angry at fanfic authors who write about a character/coupling that you hate. My advice: Get over yourself. Stop opening and reading the fics that offend you. Most fics have a summary that gives a general idea of the story itself – if it sounds like you won't like it, then don't read it. 3) You like (or don't like) a pairing so much that you are rude to anyone who doesn't feel the same way that you do, or feel compelled to sway them to your opinion. You can't tolerate the idea of your favorite character with anyone other than the person you want them with, and will not even try to understand why anyone else might have different opinions. My advice: realize that you aren’t going to change anyone’s mind, and constantly trying only makes you seem A) desperate, and B) like a jerk. Just live and let live. 4) You opt to live in the world of fanfiction and ‘shipping instead of the real world. If you’ve ever told a friend that you can’t go out to dinner/movies/etc with him, and made up an excuse or a lie just so you could stay home and read fanfiction, you have a problem. My advice: LIVE! It is one thing to stay up all night, reading fanfiction because you’re hooked on a really good story – it’s something completely else to blow off friends or family because of your habit (although at that point it is beyond habit, and into no-longer-funny-addiction.) Now, if you don’t feel like doing something someone suggests, and you end up reading fanfiction instead, that’s okay – it’s when you don’t do the things that you enjoy in favor of fanfiction that you need to re-evaluate things. 5) You are one of the people who send e-mails like this: The Industry Joke I’ve been caught writing/reading fanfiction! What now? First of all, it’s not the end of the world. You might be embarrassed, but remember, you’ve done nothing wrong. If the person who caught you thinks less of you, then they’ve probably never read fanfiction – so who are they to judge? True story: I shared my first fic, In Darkest Light, with my sister, and she (agh!) let my dad read it. That story starts with a sex scene, of all things. I was, to put it mildly, horrified and embarrassed. (He liked it, but that was beside the point.) Anyway, to make a long story short, I got over it (kind of – sex scene…Dad reading it…<shudder>) Well, at least the embarrassment that it was fanfiction, anyway. How I did that: 1) I realized that fanfiction is very good writing/reading practice. Not only do you enhance your critical skills by reviewing fics, you can become a better writer by creating fics. Writing fanfic allows you to focus on things such as plot, dialogue, theme, etc – without the added pressure of creating your own characters. 2) Fanfic is an outlet – for anger, creativity, passion, whatever…and is a much better outlet than some other things I can name. 3) It is a way of experiencing community. Let’s face it – not all of us are outgoing, popular people, and we can have a hard time connecting and making friends. Online, in the fanfic community, there are people with whom we have similar experiences, appreciate the same things, and can have a meaningful conversation with. This does not, of course, substitute for non-virtual relationships, but there is something to be said about chatting online with someone with complete freedom and (almost) anonymity, and finding that, no, you aren’t alone in your habits and obsessions. I, personally, have come into contact with a wide range of people through the community, and met many mature, intelligent, well-rounded people who are also ‘shippers—people worth knowing. 4) It’s fun, and—as long as you don’t become an asshole—a healthy pastime. So don’t be an asshole, and enjoy.