RANT

[mistressjinx]

I was reading the comments to a podfic (which I won't name) and the only comment the podfic received was someone asking them if they had another version of it, because they don't like music in their audiofics. Well, the p-ficcer was really nice (WAY NICER THAN I EVER WOULD HAVE BEEN) and offered to make a new version of it for the person without the intro/exit music and the musical breaks she put throughout the podfic. 

This kind of got me seeing red. I don't think the commenter meant anything bad by it, but I think it was RUDE. I have music in EVERY>SINGLE>PODFIC I've ever posted. I have music in it because I like it and it's MY VISION to have it in there. I put a lot of thought into picking the right music and where and how long I place it. I do this because, as an artist, this is how I want my finished product to be. My podfics aren't complete without music. I feel by asking a podficcer if they have a different version of something because you don't like the one they made, is like asking a fic writer if they have an alternative ending to their fic, because you didn't like the one they posted. 

I feel really strongly about this. I have seen other readers post 2 versions of their works, one with music, one without. But that was their vision. To have both available. That will never be my vision. I know that wasn't the vision of the artist who got this comment, because she obviously put a lot of time and thought and effort into placing musical breaks throughout her work. She never intended to have a second version, because she never made one. 

To top it off, the commenter answered her back telling her not to bother that she would go ahead and edit out the music herself.....

AND BAM, JUST LIKE THAT, I WAS SEEING RED AGAIN. THEN WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU TWIT? WHY DID YOU MAKE THIS FIRST TIME PODFICCER HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR SHIT? FUCK RIGHT THE FUCK OFF!

So the gist of my grumble...Don't ever make the mistake of asking people if there are other versions of their work. BECAUSE THAT IS OFFENSIVE. I can't be the only person who feels this way...



Or maybe I am and it's just late and I'm cranky. 

~Jinxy

Comments

[dodificus]

I chose to focus more on your repetitive use of 'This is my vision' and picturing you as Will Graham (This is my design) than on the sadness of the comment because I don't have the spoons at the moment. But the image of you as Will makes me smile:)

[piscaria]

Thanks for pointing me towards this! I did somehow manage to miss it when you first posted.

It definitely annoyed me too, but I was trying to err on the side of niceness because
1) I've seen some podcasters posting music and music free versions, and since I'd already made a major podcasting faux pas earlier (as you know), part of me was worried that I'd messed up somehow.

2) Earlier that day, somebody commented on one of my fics giving me a PARAGRAPH explaining that Derek couldn't POSSIBLY drink a gallon of water after being tortured and left with nothing to drink for a few days, because a human couldn't do it without vomiting. Nothing on the story itself, btw. Just medical nitpicking. For a WEREWOLF. On a story that the author's notes clearly said was written in less than 24 hours for a tag challenge. And then she ended the paragraph with, "but if he has some kind of werewolf magic, just ignore this." *headdesk* Gee, I wonder if the ALPHA WEREWOLF has werewolf healing?
(sorry for renting -- I'm still a little worked up about that). Anyway, after Ms. Medical, the music-free podfic request didn't even make me bat an eye.

[majoline]

This is ages after you posted this, but I've been really busy off the internet cleaning, so yeah. Sorry if this is too late to comment.

But... that said, I have ended up editing the music out of my podfics because a lot of people don't like music in podfic, no matter how carefully I edit it in or how relevant/meta it is (and a lot of times, it really really is for me; heck, half of the time the music is the first thing I pick after I decide to podfic something).

And at first, I just wanted more people to listen to my stuff, and that's natural, right? but as time goes on it is starting to get to me, because those same people like the podcast "Welcome to Night Vale" and the music never ends and is even under the narration.

Why do the same people who like music in movies and podcasts absolutely have to have the sound effects and music edited out of podfics? I worked damn hard for that one horror TW podfic of mine, so it would sound like a real Hollywood slasher and I know that's the reason it's not more popular.

Because I dared to have only a music version. >:/

*sigh* Ugh, I hate feeling like I "have" to have a non-music version.

[mistressjinx]

Well. I will take your music version any day of the week. I really don't understand people getting all worked up about having a little music in there. I have like 75 audio books downloaded-like actual ones from publishers-and they ALL have music in them. Doesn't bother me one bit.

My next project is about 9 hours, and it has 22 musical pieces in it. And if that makes people not download it, well then they can just suck it. Their loss.

Nice to see you again! I almost forgot about this post. I was kinda mad when I wrote it. Also nice to hear a point of view that is different from my mad ranting:)