I am not your user-generated content

[rivkat]

Subject line ganked from elements. ETA: corinna_5 made the Barbara Kruger icon.

ignazwisdom said a bunch of things I believe about the inevitable visibility of fandom. I feel the need for an easily findable set of voices offering a corrective to the hoary Spock Ears cliches of nonfannish reporting. cesperanza said we need to own the servers; astolat said we need persistence; others said many other beautiful things and shrift even made me cry. Here is my tiny attempt:

I support the OTW because fandom is so big and varied that attempts to control it through legal threats tend to strike like a bolt of lightning out of a clear sky. It is terrifying, and it doesn't happen to fandom; it happens to specific fans. The risk is low, but that is small consolation to the recipient of a cease and desist letter – and too many people are afraid to play outside because of the low risk. In the past, I’ve worked with a number of fans who’ve received threat letters for fanworks, including people who probably would find each other’s (and my) fanfic puzzling at best and appalling at worst. They found me because they knew me, but there was no infrastructure. I want there to be an easy-to-find place for fans of any stripe to find information and assistance when the lightning strikes.

I support the OTW because I want there to be a multi-fandom archive that is nonprofit and persistent. I want the archive to be able to survive multiple changes in personnel; not to be dependent on a small group’s willingness to sustain the costs of hosting it in the long term; and to spend its money transparently, as required by US nonprofit law. I want an archive that accepts as much fannish content as possible. I want an archive that offers its software freely to anyone who wants to implement different rules for content. The archive won’t make everyone happy – “two fans, three opinions” is a good rule, except there are a lot more than two fans involved – but I love the idea that even the people it doesn’t make happy will have the option of using the software to make their own rules.

If you can, consider coming to code with us!

This post is part of Why I Joined OTW Week.

Comments

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent post. I don't think anyone else has been talking about the legal defense aspect, at least not in such clear (and personal and informed) terms, and that's a critical project of the OTW.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I want an archive that offers its software freely to anyone who wants to implement different rules for content. The archive won’t make everyone happy – “two fans, three opinions” is a good rule, except there are a lot more than two fans involved – but I love the idea that even the people it doesn’t make happy will have the option of using the software to make their own rules.

...This is the first I've heard of this. (Everything I've heard before is "if you want to be a part of OTW, you have to accept all kinds of content.")

Can you expand more on what you mean by this, and how widespread within OTW you think this idea is?

(If you have time...) (Thank you!)

- hg

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

The software is going to be open-source. Anyone who wants to use it to set up another archive will be able to do so. Everyone working on the archive project has committed to this; it's been the plan from the get-go. Maybe I'm not quite sure what you're asking!

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

No, that answers the question, thank you!

(What I was thinking was not what you've said here, but that's fine - at least I'm less confused now.)

And this sharing, while perhaps not in the plan from the get-go, hasn't been advertised well. I'm not saying that this will fundamently change my stance on the OTW project, but it does affect how I think about it. So thank you for sharing that info.

- hg

it is a vitally important issue that gets ignored

[ithiliana.livejournal.com]

"The archive software will be open-source."
Naomi Novik, Oct 10, 2007 here for post (http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/10668.html#cutid6).

From the start, they were talking about open source software. A lot was posted, so maybe it was lost in the flurry, but I'm not sure how they could have 'advertised' it any better. Naomi Novik was the creator of the program that's currently being used by a bunch of archives--and that was apparently also open source from the start.

My main critique of a lot of the criticisms is that much of what is being said shows that critics have not read much of what OTW has put out, and are criticizing them on grounds that are simply not true (they've done a lot of posting to clarify stances, positions, etc.)

It was always meant to be open source.

From the start.

[corinna-5.livejournal.com]

Imagine a Barbara Kruger icon saying that, okay?

Pick the image - I've got the Futura Extra Bold and I'm not afraid to use it.

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Hmm ... I am most enamored of your body is a battleground (http://www.lyseo.edu.ouka.fi/kuvataide/albums/album05/kruger_yourbody_lg.jpg), but if you need a clean slate, maybe this (http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/WI/data/images/TEIr/wiacrev/V42/reference/WAR0420402201r.jpeg)?

[corinna-5.livejournal.com]

I ended up using Futura Medium Oblique, because I only had the extra-bold in the condensed. I know she's used that weight elsewhere, and that you don't give a damn. *g*

Sending under separate cover. I really love it! And I got better at Photoshop in making it!

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

So wonderful! There goes one of my slots for when the extra icon time runs out.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I stole the icon to use as well cos I haven't had time to make one of my own yet. Credited you on my pics info page. Is that OK? I really wanted to use it on my post about the latest stupidity from LJ. If it's not OK, and apologies for not having asked first, I'll definitely remove it and make my own sooner rather than later.

Rivkat, I got the impression you'd be OK with me using it too back when Corinna made it for you but also please let me know if it's not. I want to make my own anyway and proliferate the phrase far & wide but I still haven't had time.

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

Corinna did the work, I just get the benefits!

[elements.livejournal.com]

Please do! Because I am not as good at Things Graphic Design as I would like to be.

Also, the line exactly as phrased is me, but it was Ces's words and I just changed something minor, so the real credit goes to her.

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

Hee, look!