posted
I felt this warrants its own thread. yeah, I know this has probably been done to death but Bob the "Lawyer" wrote this in the Somalian's thread:
quote: As for this
quote: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ One thing we all have in common is that we like OSC, or at least his writing ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm pretty confident in saying that's untrue. One thing we all have in common is that we like each other, or at least each other's writing. At the end of the day this is an exercise in community building, not an OSC fansite. Not saying that you can run amok saying whatever you please about Card, you can't do that to anyone on this board. Ideally (my ideal, clearly) he would be treated with the same standards we hold for everyone else.
I think that as much as a normal community is somewhat determined by geographical location, this commmunity is determined by someone liking OSC's published fiction. Compare and contrast. You have 1 hour.
posted
Actually, I've never read any of his books -> although I did become a member after a friend (Megan, who is a fan) pointed me to one of the more intesting discussion threads.
posted
By the nature of the forum people are more likely to come here if they like OSC's writing. People stay because they like the people.
You do, however, get people who are invited by other posters. These people may have never read OSC's works or may not like them at all but stay because of the people.
And so I'm back to it's people not Card that "sell" the place.
Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Of course, you could argue that the people who like Card share values and so are more likely to get along that a random sampling of people. There may be something to that.
Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Most of us found our way here because we were interested in some aspect of all things OSC. I'd say a scant minority have never heard of OSC at all when they first post here. So almost everyone has at least some opinion of OSC's writing. Depends on how much moxie you have if you can't stand anything OSC does and you still want to call this forum home.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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I’m pretty sure we have a few members who have never read anything by OSC. They’re here because they like the people.
And while I have read almost every book OSC has published, and that’s why I came here in the first place, he’s not my very favorite author, but I don’t hang out on the websites of the three or four authors whose writing I like better. I’m here because I like the people.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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I think there's definitely something to that, BtL. Cards books are likely all pretty much going to be boring to people who don't like to ponder moral values and consequences. Even if people end up at different ends of an issue, the fact that they think moral questions matter and deserve thoughtful consideration are going to give them more in common with each other than with people who have more similar views but no idea why.
People who have not read OSC's books, but who also like thinking and discussing morality, are likely to be attracted to some of the discussions here.
This applies to a lot of threads here, not just the serious discussion ones.
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That would be rather unfair in a way... *likes for everyone to be welcome, even haters... it makes for interesting perspectives*
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Some people find this site because of his columns that occasionally get published in newspapers. I found this site after 9/11 when someone posted the link to an article he wrote in another forum I was in.
I'm here not because I like his stuff. I'm here because I like the community. I think I've said this before. Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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But if this place is about building a community, has anyone become excited about community "makery" from some other source? Would they like to share what those sources are?
I certainly don't think people should be banned if they don't like OSC, or haven't read his work.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:I’m pretty sure we have a few members who have never read anything by OSC. They’re here because they like the people.
And while I have read almost every book OSC has published, and that’s why I came here in the first place, he’s not my very favorite author, but I don’t hang out on the websites of the three or four authors whose writing I like better. I’m here because I like the people.
What Dana said.
I got hooked up to Hatrack from Pweb, and was there, at least initially, because I liked the Ender's Game books. The reason I stuck around Hatrack was because of the community.
Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000
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No. You don't have to like OSC or his writings to be a member here.
You do have to fall maddly in love with me though.
Purely platonic love.
No smooches or kisses allowed.
Though cash contributions to the "Save the Raven" fund are always proper.
(ps. While you don't have to like OSC or his writings, you do have to demonstrate a basic Respect for Kathryn, the Mods, the backers, and the other members of this community)
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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I bet most people who stick around here eventually start reading OSC's work. I know when I first came here I had read and loved some of his stuff, but being exposed to people talking about the rest of it is what prompted me to go ahead and get the Alvin series, for instance, though I'm not really into fantasy as much as SF. Also the homecoming series, and all of his newer stuff starting with Enchantment.
I can't remember if I actually read the whole Ender series before I found hatrack or not. I know I had read the short story long ago when it came out. Also Songmaster and Unaccompanied Sonata. I definitely would not have found the Women of Genesis series were it not for hatrack.
Oh and after I started hanging out on hatrack I started buying the new ones in hardback. I figured there was no way I would not be totally spoilered by the time the paperback came out, plus I was just impatient.
Yes, all this is to convince the Cards that this site is very worth their money in sales generated! I would say that I've spent hundreds of dollars more on OSC books because of hatrack than I would have otherwise. Is that true for others as well?
Posts: 2843 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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*mutters* Stupid typo. What I meant to say was that *most* of us have in common a like for OSC, or at least his writing. Not necessarily all of us, but those that don't read much of his stuff, or don't like it that much don't come in here bashing OSC, and bashing those of us who like him.
Posts: 4174 | Registered: Sep 2003
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I looked up OSC on Google, and this is where I wound up. Card is among my favorite reads, though I don't read his op-ed stuff. The art in the novels keeps me reading, and he's continually improving his art. I love watching authors mature.
I bought, and my wife is now reading Seventh Son because of what was said here, particularly by Papa Moose.
So, yeah. There is something to that. Posts: 2506 | Registered: Jul 2003
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