XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, alt.usage.english   
   From: g@crcomp.net   
      
   Fictive flotsam found on the Inet:   
      
       They will also get 'It's fiction. Not a scientific paper up   
       for peer review. Go away.' Basic rule of thumb: unless the   
       creator ASKS for it, keep your 'critique' to yourself.   
      
       I DO agree with 'You don't need to give a number'. Without any   
       research, how many people out there Just Know how old their   
       hometown actually is, exactly? How many people Just Know the   
       exact speed of the space shuttle on re entry off the top of   
       their heads? How many people Just Know the exact speed of the   
       current land speed record? 'A few hundred years' or 'fast   
       enough that the effects of ram air create plasma' or 'over   
       mach one' are all acceptable answers that don't often need any   
       more detail. Your characters don't have to know everything or   
       have a complete understanding of how the world around them   
       works! That's how things often are in reality, too!   
      
       But what if you're writing a character who is actually in on   
       the science? What if an exact number relates to the plot ? Or   
       would be really [FORKING] funny, even if it's incorrect? What   
       if YOU have the PhD?   
      
       As a former welder, it GRATES on me when I see an oxyfuel   
       cutting torch being used to ARC WELD. Or I read about someone   
       weldIng cast iron to aluminum BECAUSE YOU CAN'T [FORKING] DO   
       THAT.   
      
       You know what I do in those situations? I remind myself that   
       most people out there aren't professional welders or   
       metallurgists with a working knowledge of the chemistry behind   
       the process and the materials. It will be fine. The world will   
       not end because of one mistake in a movie. And my commenting   
       on it or calling out the writer won't do anything but make me   
       look like an [azzhole] and possibly cause someone to stop   
       writing and sharing their work. My professional knowledge on   
       the subject was not asked for, nor is it necessary.   
      
       You don't NEED exact numbers in your fic. You also don't need   
       to do the math for [forking] fiction just to prove the writer   
       is wrong and call out their 'mistake'. You are not doing   
       anyone any good by giving unsolicited critique. You ARE being   
       rude.   
      
       speculative fiction writers i am going to give you a really   
       urgent piece of advice: don't say numbers. don't give your   
       readers any numbers. how heavy is the sword? lots. how old is   
       that city? plenty. how big is the fort? massive. how fast is   
       the spaceship? not very, it's secondhand.   
      
       the minute you say a number your readers can check your math   
       and you cannot do math better than your most autistic critic.   
       i guarantee. don't let your readers do any math. when did   
       something happen? awhile ago. how many bullets can that gun   
       fire? trick question, it shoots lasers, and it shoots em HARD.   
      
       you are lying to people for fun. if you let them do math at   
       you the lie collapses and it's no fun anymore.   
      
   --   
   Don.......My cat's  )\._.,--....,'``.                     veritas    _|_   
   telltale tall tail /,   _.. \   _\  (`._ ,.               liberabit   |   
   tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'              vos         |   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)