That's a good reason to read fanfic of all kinds: you want to see your favorite characters/relationships explored, the show doesn't (can't) do that completely. I think all of us are in it for that reason, to some extent.
(I was going to say "all of us are in it for that reason, primarily," but I think that would assume that a fan gets into a show first, then having grown attached to the characters, turns to fanfic for further exploration of them. That is certainly sometimes. But I like slash so much that I I will start watching new shows just because I know there is a lot of slash for them.)
I didn't include reasons to like fanfic in general on this list; there are so many, many, many. I know there are many people who don't care whether the pairings are gay or straight, as long as the characterization is good. For people who do have a strong preference for gay pairings over straight ones (like me), I interest myself in the question of why that might be.
My conclusion: it seems to be one of those things that resists logical reasoning. You can come up with reasons after the fact why slash (or het or gen or no-fanfic-at-all) is the best, but no amount of arguing either side is going to change your preference.
Don't take this the wrong way (anyone! please!), but the "It's not about het or slash, it's about the characters" argument weirdly reminds me of the probisexual argument, "It's not about gender, it's about the person." And, yes, the person (characterization) has to be good TOO, but having a preference for one gender or another should not be considered closed-minded or a personal failing. It is what it is.
Actually, I'm kind of glad I have a strong preference. Having almost no interest in het helps me to understand and accept people who have no interest in slash. Also, people who are straight. Also, people who are gay.
Wow, this comment has reaaaaaally strayed. Sorry, folks.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2008-01-17 02:03 am (UTC)(I was going to say "all of us are in it for that reason, primarily," but I think that would assume that a fan gets into a show first, then having grown attached to the characters, turns to fanfic for further exploration of them. That is certainly sometimes. But I like slash so much that I I will start watching new shows just because I know there is a lot of slash for them.)
I didn't include reasons to like fanfic in general on this list; there are so many, many, many. I know there are many people who don't care whether the pairings are gay or straight, as long as the characterization is good. For people who do have a strong preference for gay pairings over straight ones (like me), I interest myself in the question of why that might be.
My conclusion: it seems to be one of those things that resists logical reasoning. You can come up with reasons after the fact why slash (or het or gen or no-fanfic-at-all) is the best, but no amount of arguing either side is going to change your preference.
Don't take this the wrong way (anyone! please!), but the "It's not about het or slash, it's about the characters" argument weirdly reminds me of the probisexual argument, "It's not about gender, it's about the person." And, yes, the person (characterization) has to be good TOO, but having a preference for one gender or another should not be considered closed-minded or a personal failing. It is what it is.
Actually, I'm kind of glad I have a strong preference. Having almost no interest in het helps me to understand and accept people who have no interest in slash. Also, people who are straight. Also, people who are gay.
Wow, this comment has reaaaaaally strayed. Sorry, folks.