A Question.

[kungfuwaynewho]

What are people's thoughts on Real Person Fiction?  Have you read any of it?  Does the very idea of RPF squick you out?  Do you think less of a writer who tries her hand at RPF?  Is there some RPF pairing you would want to read or even write but don't?  Do you have an unabashed love of RPF (and don't care who frakking knows)?

I'm not saying yet why I'm asking!  But I am curious.

Comments

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Brutal honesty? It squicks me in a big way. Regular fic is one thing, though it's a bit dubious for me, too, because you're playing with other people's toys. I can live with it, though I mostly avoid it. RPF, on the other hand, feels like an invasion of someone else's privacy. I think about how I'd feel if someone had written about me, in my own name, the things people write about others, and I just want to be sick (which is why I try not to think about it much!).

I try very hard not to look at people who read/write it differently, but it's very difficult. I don't understand the appeal and/or the motivation, which doesn't help. But most of the time, I just end up at, "You know, I was happier before I knew that about you."

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Interesting; I didn't know you weren't a fan of regular fanfic, either.

I guess I kind of take the tack that RPF isn't actually about real people; it's just about fictional characters who happen to have the names of real people, and the canon isn't episodes, it's interviews and behind-the-scenes specials. I suppose for me the line is drawn between people who know they're writing fiction, and those who think they are actually writing about the truth - the tinhats, in other words.

Now I'm sadly aware that by even asking about this in the first place, you are probably side-eyeing me right now. LOL.

[jerusha]

It's not really my cup of tea, but I have read it before. I guess it doesn't do much for me because I tend to fall in love with a character, and when I read fic, I want to read about that character or characters (or pairing).

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

That's usually where I am, too. The only previous time I've read RPF was for LOTR, when LoTRPS as a fandom became (or at least seemed to become) bigger than the fictional fandom.

[icepixie]

I've read a couple. Intellectually, I realize it's not a whole lot different from the crap tabloids make up. Emotionally, it is a GIANT FLAMING SCREAMING OH GOD NO kind of thing for me. It's not so bad if I don't really know who the people are--like, someone on my flist occasionally writes RPF for Rachel Maddow and other pundits, none of whom I've seen on TV for more than five minutes, and it was sort of like reading original fiction when I read one of them. (It used my bulletproof narrative kink of the fake marriage/marriage of convenience. I'll read practically anything for that trope.) But for, say, B5 actors, or other celebrities I can actually see in my mind/hear in my head because I've seen them enough...nope, can't do it.

I don't think less of people who write it (as long as they aren't, you know, showing it to the actors involved, which apparently happened in Supernatural fandom), but it's not really for me.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

But for, say, B5 actors, or other celebrities I can actually see in my mind/hear in my head because I've seen them enough...nope, can't do it.

:/

I AM GLAD I ASKED THIS FIRST. NOW I KNOW TO NOT POST A THING.

[hollywobbles.livejournal.com]

It squicks me out, but not so much that I look at people differently if they read or write it. I know it's a fairly natural thing to end up doing with the way celebrity works in our culture. But just since they're real ppl, and I know it would creep me out if I were the celebrity (although no more more than people posting pics of me and squealing "omg she's so hoooooottttttt i want to be her best friend and/or _______ her RIGHT. NOW.", which, obviously, is the sort of thing I do on a regular basis, which is why I'm not going to judge a rpf author. But rpf is probably where I do draw my own line. Characters who start acting suspiciously like their actor counterparts only. ;) )

And appropriate icon is appropriate if I do say so myself.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for some reason I thought you read RPF. Never mind, hee! I actually tried to read an Eddie/Mary once and it didn't work for me at all. AT ALL. So I think for me it's a very fandom/actor-specific thing.

[nhpw.livejournal.com]

Today is all about me confessing things, apparently. Once again, JUDGE ME, IDC.

So, just like I wrote fanfiction before I even knew it was called fanfiction, I also wrote RPF before I knew what RPF was. I posted RPF on fanfiction.net back before the site said "no more RPF, this category is de-lete-ted." (At least, I think that happened. That was over ten years ago; it's kind of a foggy memory.)

I also wrote RPS before I knew what slash was (no joke. Someone once asked, "Do you ever write slash?" and I said "You mean like slasher fic, with killers and knives and blood and stuff? Ew, no." And then... then I felt really, really dumb.)

And then I lacked a fandom for years and years, and I didn't write fanfic for years and years, and then when I started up again I was like, "RPF... oh, that thing I used to do buttloads of has a NAME!" But, you know, I was NOT TOUCHING THAT because it was like an addict being away from crack for awhile, and then someone says "look! crack!" and you don't wanna do it. And. Yeah. Then. Stuff. Personally I blame the Porn Battle, because it gave me the prompts, and I said, "I never would've dreamed this up on my own, but I can work with that."

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

"RPF... oh, that thing I used to do buttloads of has a NAME!"

HAHAHA maybe "buttloads" isn't the word to use in this particular discussion. /12 years old

[vjs2259.livejournal.com]

Don't much like it, but as icepixie says, my scroll wheel works just fine. I'm not an actor fan, actually. I don't normally follow an actor from show to show, although it can be a good indicator of quality if you trust the actor's choices.

It's the characters with me. I don't even listen to the DVD commentaries much--it's like the actors are people who knew the character at one time and can make observations about them, but it doesn't mean much. Writers and producers are a little more interesting, but still they're at a distance somehow.

I can and do fantasize but it feels invasive to put it down on paper/pixels where it can be read by the real people involved.

[xphilehb.livejournal.com]

It's not my thing. But in fandom I've come to respect that some people don't understand the things I enjoy, and I don't necessarily understand the things other people enjoy. That's the beauty of fandom. It supports all types.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Very diplomatic, hee. :)

[naushika.livejournal.com]

It does squick me out a lot. I tried to read one once, and I just couldn't do it. The justification I've heard is that the writers "treat them like characters," but, they're people, they're NOT characters. And I can't see them as any way but people.

I dunno.. it just feels wrong.

THAT SAID. There are people on my flist who write RPF, and I am more than capable of scrolling on by, lol.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

You just feel wrong.

(Don't worry - I have decided that I ain't posting shit, because wow, was that a unanimous reply. Hee! My flist does not like RPF!)

[pwincess.livejournal.com]

When I first heard of RPF I guess I thought it was weird, but that wore off pretty quick.

I have a way bigger problem with people who are like, "this is unacceptable, I'm judging you," than I do with any type of fic.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember back in my fandom infancy, coming across David Duchovny/Gillian Anderson fic, and just being like, "OMG what is wrong with you ugh no come on they are real people what?!" And then five or six years later I watched Lord of the Rings, and all the extras, and I was like, "Those boys should just, like, lay on each other."

I mean, I'll judge the weirdo who gives their RPF fic or manips to an actual actor, but not very many people do that; same as most SF fans don't live in their parents' basements.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I don't read it, but I have friends who read and write it and generally just skip by, or snerk if the pairing is particularly apt or otherwise amusing in some way. The only way it really bothers me is in the fact that people... how to put this? Don't seem to understand that actors are actors?

And there are some really weird sections of fandom (Lord of the Rings and SPN fandom both come to mind...) that seem to a) take RPF waaaaaay too seriously and b) think it's okay to bring it up to the actors, which horrifies me beyond my ability to tell it. But that's a whole other kettle of fish, right there.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

I think one of my very favorite pictures in the entire world is whoever managed to capture someone handing Dominic and Billy that one manip of the two of them. Oh God, their faces.

[singer-shaper.livejournal.com]

I'm joining the "squicks at RPF" group. That doesn't mean you shouldn't write or post something if you feel you need to.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Hee, no one needs to post RPF.

[icepixie]

Happy birthday! :)

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[indigoviolet.livejournal.com]

Hi! (Remember me? I don't get online much these days but I thought I'd drop in and say hi)

Really, while I enjoy fanfic, I've always felt that RPF crosses the line. Especially when it's pairings/slash related. It's not about literary merit or anything (as you say, fanfic, although it can help hone your technical word skills, isn't the same as original fic nor is it intended to be. Some anti-fanfic snobs seem to miss the point here - you're just playing in a ready-made universe and the writers and readers are completely aware of this and of who owns the actual copyright. Most fic writers know they're on shaky legal ground but don't want to profit or claim ownership in any way. OK, maybe we're adults who never grew out of pretending to be our favourite characters but is that such a bad thing?)

But RPF - it's the fact you're dealing with actual people. Maybe it's the price you pay for being in the public eye but I don't know, famous people have internet access too and I wonder what they make of it. In their position I reckon I'd feel violated. And some people who really get into RPF seem to be the same ones who have trouble telling an actor from the character they play, or thinking they actually know someone based on their public persona.

Saying that, it is acceptable for satirical comedy to have public figures and celebrities in made-up situations. But that doesn't have the voyeuristic element, which is the aspect of RPF I think creeps a lot of people out, me included.

But what the heck, write what you like. I won't pass judgement on you personally, I just won't read it. I think you're pretty obviously not a creepy celeb-stalker. :)

[indigoviolet.livejournal.com]

F**king hell I'm long-winded, aren't I? I'll sum that up as:

-Creepy when taken seriously/with sexytimes
-Okay when obviously satirical/taking the piss (does this even count as RPF, though?)
-I won't think less of you if you post some

:)

[dref22.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, this is nice, so I would like to tell my opinions about it, even though they are not the most interesting ones, LOL.

Does it squick me? I would be lying if I say "yes". Honestly, I never think RPF as invasion of someone's privacy. The writer is not telling real stories, she is writing fiction. Using real names and even situations don't change this. Btw, do you watch Episodes? Matt LeBlanc is playing himself in that show. :P My logic tells me that if an actor is using his own identity in a fictional show, then we are good to go! :D

On the other hand, I generally don't read them, because I don't see what's so attractive about them. I love the characters, I love the show/movie and I love the character interactions. When I want more, I will read fanfics. Why would I be reading fics about celebs? And yes, this is even true for Jack Coleman. :P

I know only one squicky situation: The writer inserting herself into the fic. I think I would find this one always creepy even if it is not a RPF.