poll! KFZ!

[aimeelicious]

So I've been giving a lot of thought to character death in fic, and the fic header warnings that often come with them, but sometimes don't. In the interest of fostering a dialogue on the topic, I've created a poll to gather some general information about reader preferences. This post/poll is UNLOCKED, in the hope that some of you will be willing to PIMP it in your journals and hopefully encourage others to fill it out, as I'd like as much input as possible. ETA: I do plan on doing a results post based on this poll, so please know that your responses will not just disappear into the ether.

Feel free to answer the poll anonymously if you wish, and take over my journal for discussion, just don't get nasty! This has been declared a kerfuffle-free zone (KFZ).

[Poll #450697]

ETA: Sorry for forgetting Smallville as a fandom...it's one of my faves and I left it off! Dang polls, can't edit them.

Comments

[aimeelicious]

I think it also matters how important the character death is to the story as a whole. It's one thing to say, "Ron was killed in the war and Harry missed him every day" and then get on with the rest of the story. (not a big Ron fan, can you tell?) It's quite another to have the story completely revolve around Ron's painful death and Harry's own slipping into grief and madness as a result. You see what I mean?

I see *exactly* what you mean, and it makes a lot of sense. I've read plenty of post-war HP fic where Harry and/or other characters mourn their losses, but it's not -current- and is more a part of the backstory that motivates the characters now. I feel no need for a warning about something like that.

Also, I hadn't considered the idea of dust jackets, reviews, trailers and the like. Now that I think about it, other than a few random times I fell over a movie on television, I don't believe I've ever intentionally watched a film that I didn't know something about ahead of time, for the same reasons I like warnings in fic. Why subject myself to entertainment that pains me?

I've loved all your comments regarding this poll, and am happy you engaged a few other responders as well, please don't apologize for participating!

*snergle*

[starkittyn.livejournal.com]

Why subject myself to entertainment that pains me?

I think this is a key issue really.

I'm here to be entertained, and hopefully to entertain others. That's why it's called entertainment or a hobby or whatever.

If entertainment makes me grow as a person, gives me food for thought all the better, but I really don't want to be put through the wringer. That's not entertainment to me, that's self inflicted torture.

I don't get the pleasure some people get out of hurt/comfort or angst most of the time for this same reason. "OMG, they're suffering, isn't it great?" And I'm thinking, not really. LOL, I'm still in it for the porn most of the time. Usually when boys are getting off, they aren't dying. ;)