I feel kinda bad about
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non_plot smackdowns, but... Learn grammar, or stop complaining, bitch. That's our new community policy. If you don't want to improve, get used to people trying to help you, and excuse us for caring. You chose to be here, and that's what we do here.
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Hey there, don't feel bad
I am aware that what I said was taken out of perspective because I only said to avoid contractions or never use them, but I never said you can't use them. I am familiar with the rules because I am an English teacher and my main study is in classical literature. Most of us say to avoid contractions because I find many times that students don't grasp how to use them properly. But yes, I have seen many respectable writers of the modern period use them, but they know how to and which ones to avoid .I have used them myself. Some of them are absolute no no's simply because they are confusing such as who's versus whose.
But like I said before, I thought it was a page full of them. As for Michel...don't let him get to you. I am sorry to say I know the guy and he is quite...well I wish I had nicer words, an ass. Really, whatever Michel comments just don't put to much energy in arguing with him because he will continue until he makes a point.
He knows what he says, only I think at times he just doesn't word them properly. However, in the end, Michel is just a character within one. I don't know if you understand what I mean, but don't break your head trying to figure it out.
Again sweetie I am really sorry I had no knowledge of what had happened or that it caused much of an uproar and that there were a bunch of comments afterwards, I sincerely didn't read them.
I am sorry it had to be on one of gata's post too and the reason I say this is because she is one of my students and so I think now you may understand the confusion on my behalf.
I hope to post in the future on non_plot, I know I haven't been active, but I have been too busy with my students. I always try to keep up when I can. It has been really hard to do so though.
I hope I did not occupy too much space. I was sort of wondering if there was a way this message could only be viewed by you and no one else because this is kind of personal.
Re: Hey there, don't feel bad
I think a lot of the confusion stemmed from that misunderstanding: Pie-chan and I were arguing against Michel's point, which you seemed to be supporting, so even though you never said that contractions were taboo, we acted as if you had. That's because he told Gata-san that contractions were simply not ALLOWED in third-person narration, which is of course not true, as anyone who reads a good deal can attest. So when you seemed to be supporting him... ^^;
I would like to apologize on behalf of the moderators for the whole mess. In the future I think I might simply delete comments where people argue with dissenting opinions -- it's extremely impolite, and anyone who's not willing to allow other people to have a different opinion (and all the opposing comments made regarding his initial statement were very careful to make it clear that it's really all the author's stylistic choice whether or not to use contractions) isn't going to let the matter drop.
I think Michel's a bit touchy about the subject because we comment on his grammar a lot: usually we'll overlook minor grammar errors instead of dissecting a piece for them, because we all know the content is more important, but his pieces tend to have very awkward statements and some that outright don't mean what he thinks they mean. We will edit for reading comprehension and ease of reading, so... We really don't do it in a hostile way, and we really do want to help, but I get the distinct feeling the grammar commentary aggravates him.
At any rate, we won't hold any grudges against Michelangelus when he comes back, and we certainly don't hold any against you. There are certain of us moderators who would like to be English teachers ourselves. ^_^ I hope to see some of your own writing in the future when there's time, especially since you're close to Gata-san! (Ha... I've been making a habit out of annoying her friends recently. *flee!*) She's really talented and writes beautifully and I've heard nothing but glowing things about you from her~.
And don't worry; I can screen the comments so that no one can see it besides you and me.
^_^
LOL! I was honestly on no one's side when I made that post. I know Sakusama (forgive me can't remember the name) replied to me. When I saw she had misunderstood what I meant to say I just decided not to answer.
About Michel, well I think he is a bit too jumpy, he establishes good points, yet he should explain them fully. As a teacher, and this is just advice just if you want to keep it in mind, what we normally do is tell the student to write everything, no matter what. Don't care about spelling or grammar, just get it all out! Afterwards go over the piece you have written and patiently make corrections. After revision the work may be presented. I think that was what Michel failed to explain.
Yes the gata, love her a lot, although I don't really tell her. She is extremely talented and has a lot of potential to go far. I just wish that she wouldn't let certain things get to her. I see how frustrated she gets and really it's frustrating to me because I wish I could do something. She has been having terrible writer's block. She is an excellent student and a lovable person...when in the right mood lol.
I hope to post when possible, probably after May, don't know. I have a lot on my mind lately since I am leaving to Florida soon, so it will be a bit hard.
Do keep in touch though. I am interested in what you would like to study and boy do I love literary discussions. After writing, it's my forte.
Thanks for the privacy too. And forgive any misspellings, but I wrote this in a hurry. Now I have to prepare some tests for finals. O_O I will get to you ASAP. Good luck on your finals as well.
Re: ^_^
Ideally I'd be writing, on a college level so I can be lazy and not need to get up at 8am every day. I really do enjoy reading, and proofreading, other people's material, and telling them how to improve it. (An editor at a book publisher is my second choice~) I'm currently on a literature track, because that's the majority of my school's offerings... And I think I can see how it would rot your brain already! *grin*
As I mentioned before, Pie-chan (sakusha_sama) and I were under the impression that you were defending Michel, and as such that your point was his point, so she wasn't totally coming out of nowhere when she responded to you, because what she said was very relevant for what he said. ^_^ I understand what you say about getting it out first, although that's not how I write -- I almost always edit as I go through, and then later I submit it to others for check -- and I think Michel does know that as well.
Where we get crossed is that the community is peer critique: which means that the piece he posts is already considered as, if not a completed work, at least a completed idea. He posts a lot of things that don't have an ending, and some things that look sloppy, as if he's posting drafts of pieces of his novel. And while we do allow and encourage drafts, the point is that it's a draft, pre-revision -- and thus we are helping him see the needed revisions. We look at the behavior of the characters, the mechanics of the writing, and how the piece affects us as readers. He seems to think that helping him with his grammar is "missing the point" of the community, but that's exactly what we're there for.
If I weren't afraid of him being mad at me, I'd try to remedy these misunderstandings more directly. XD
But Gata-san~! She's going to my university in the fall, and I can't wait to see her there. I'm going to have to stalk her on Y!M to see if she knows where she's living and what she's taking and such. ^_^ It sounds like you're a wonderful friend and teacher, and it's a vast relief to know that someone like you has been around. I know she's been going through some rough spots lately, but at least she isn't alone on them.
I wish I could start an interesting literary discussion, but honestly, I'm more likely to ask for confirmation if you're the one that lent Gata-san 'Utena'. ^_~ Not that that isn't vastly interesting in and of itself...
Florida, huh? For a vacation, or something else? It seems like a perfect remedy to the stresses of writing and grading finals! Take your time to write, I always feel bad when I hear people feeling guilty about not writing/reviewing enough for non_plot. XD I'm always like, "It's a luxury, not a chore! You don't feel guilty about not watching enough TV! Go study or something...!"