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Post by Nittanylizard on Apr 28, 2007 13:01:29 GMT -5
I don't like when Darry is made to sound like a nagging parent rather than a brother. Even when he gets after Pony in the book, he does it as his older brother, not like a parent (imo). It's especially bad when authors have him reprimanding Soda like he's a little kid. I just can't picture a 20-yr-old guy from a tough neighborhood getting nitpicky with his almost-17-yr-old brother. I'm sure it comes from young writers who think twenty is pretty darn old, lol, but once you're, like, 21, you realize how young 20 is.
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Post by Ryker on Apr 28, 2007 13:13:27 GMT -5
Johnny: When he's portrayed as the ultimate emo kid. I don't think I've ever read a fic where's he's not depressed, crying and all that junk. Okay, I get that he's getting beat and ignored by his folks, but he's hardly ever home (Well, that's what I gathered from the book, I could be wrong). What does he do everyday? Sit in the lot all day and cry? No.
Dallas: Dally suddenly changing and become all warm, smiley and faithful just because of a female OC.
Steve: Always angry, mean and crabby. Just because Ponyboy didn't like him, author's ignore him and only mention him in to create another 'bad guy' character. Let's show Steve some lovin' people!
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Post by Keira on Apr 28, 2007 14:30:55 GMT -5
I'm sure it comes from young writers who think twenty is pretty darn old, lol, but once you're, like, 21, you realize how young 20 is. I was guilty of that once. I first read the book when I was 12 and at that point I had a brother who was 19 who seemed pretty old to me. Maybe not OLD, but he certainly was not young in my opinion. Because I began to view Darry as being older - I never considered him an old man, but I really had no idea how old 20 was going to seem when I reached that age - he sort of stayed the same in my mindset for a long time. Even when I was 17 I kept forgetting that he was only 20. Now that I am 20, I am soooo much respect for Darry. I have younger brothers who are 17 and 14 and I could not imagine having guardianship over them like that. I would crumble under the pressure. I don't feel old enough to be Darry's age, as per the fanfiction general consensus stand point. Back on topic though, my biggest pet peeves are Two-Bit being portrayed as stupid and illiterate (though I do believe in the TV series he doesn't know how to read...), and Soda being perfect. Soda is my baby, but he's definitely not perfect. I sometimes wonder how often people forget that he too has a record, drag races, fights, etc... |
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Post by Tensleep on Apr 28, 2007 14:48:24 GMT -5
You know, I agree with all the peeves up there so far. They're all the typical stereotypes. I guess thats what I really hate. The same characters written the same way in same plot lines. I always try for something different because the repediveness was alright before I started writing, but now... well, it seems like the easy way out to write something the same way as everyone else.
That's one of the reasons I don't read many fics these days. They all read the same to me. So hopefully I will get lots of reccomendations from you guys!
See ya in the funny papers!!!
Tens
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Post by printandpolish on Apr 28, 2007 20:28:50 GMT -5
The smooshy, sappy boys always bother me -- even though I actually love that stuff -- because it's not true to character. Darry called Ponyboy baby *once.* Soda called him honey *once.* Pony may be young and sensitive, but I'm sorry, there is no way he's all cuddled up in Darry's arms all the time.
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Post by Keira on Apr 28, 2007 21:53:15 GMT -5
The sappy boys irritate me too, come to think of it. A sensitive guy is nice, but yeah... I hate to say it, because I know the majority of people have not seen the TV series, but Darry was portrayed so .... realistically in there. He laughed, he got angry, he was scared, he got upset when he realized how he had messed up, etc... Even though it's some of the cheesiest plotlines I could think of, it was THE best portrayal of Darry, outside of the book, I have ever seen. I've never read a fanfic that even came close to that, either, which is a slight bummer. They're all human, and no one, especially tough boys, go around being all sappy and huggy all the time.
Another pet peeve of mine - which isn't so much in characterization, but that many people could probably benefit from hearing - is when every single darn scene takes place in the living room at the Curtis house. Goodness knows they have lives, places to go, people to see.... they'd be a bunch of lazy-butts if they sat around watching TV all day long. Besides, I don't think they had cable, and so they couldn't have been THAT interested in the television, haha.
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Post by Keira on Apr 28, 2007 22:52:21 GMT -5
Haha, Slutty!Soda. I love it. It makes me shake my head and laugh when people view him as being a chaste virgin. That's just not how it is. Maybe up to the point of the book he WAS, who knows? But he's a teenage boy, with lots of pretty girls vying for his attention. What guy wouldn't take advantage of that? Yet, I DO believe he's chivalrous enough to be a gentleman about it... for the most part. Again, he's a good looking teenage boy, with hormones and lots of women.
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Post by zevie on Apr 29, 2007 14:31:32 GMT -5
You know, as obvious as it is, I never thought about what Pony might miss in the characters because of his age, his experience, and just the fact that he's human and can't be everywhere are once. Maybe because he's just so darn observant and insightful. Still...there are so many discrepancies in between the statements he makes about the characters and their actions...so, I've got to say, I really love it when a character is well-researched, thoroughly thought-out, completely in agreement with the book and just the teeniest, tiniest bit out of character.
The biggest example I can think of is Dallas. Someone mentioned in another subject that absolute statements about the character can be annoying, and I agree. Because Pony's such a friggin extremist, he says it would be a miracle if Dallas ever loved anyone, he's tough as nails all the time and can turn it when he isn't... But Pony's a fourteen year old kid, and like a lot of people already said, when you're that young, anyone older by more than a year is OLD. Once you're past 18, you look back and Dallas is a seventeen year old KID. Yeah, he's tough but he's human and he's been hurt and kicked down and all that, and he's absolutely, platonically (heh, usually) in love with Johnny. I love it when people can crumble Dallas a little - put him in love, in emotional pain, make him feel regret, or desire for family, heck even on occasion cry although that is PUSHING it - and still keep him Dallas. The same for the other characters - I love it when writers manage to create a new level for the character (since we've only read about them once, sigh) without negating anything from Goddess Mother Hinton. That little flaw in a perfect recreation is just such fun to read. (Probably why I'm loving the Tim fics right now - there are sooo many possibilities for backstory while staying in character...)
...Of course, this is so dangerous. Fics with Bleeding-Heart-Dallas can be a little...gag-worthy (as mentioned above - Dallas ain't no white knight, lol). As are fics where Two-Bit suddenly becomes as funny as The Bell Jar or Johnny becomes a sex monger (though seriously, I'd like to see a fic in-between where Johnny is, you know, a human boy, with knowledge of his crotch and all - not to be crude - outside of the slash section).
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Post by zevie on Apr 29, 2007 22:40:14 GMT -5
Haha, that's totally it!!! I usually think of Dallas as experiencing his emotions incredibly violently...it's just he doesn't experience ALL of them. I love the idea that everything he feels comes out in a blind rage - even when he's in love, haha. Like you guys said, because he can't deal with it, nor can he control it.
"That seems like someone who is desperate for some kind of affection, even if it's from someone who treats him like crap." - I wish I could sum things up as fully and as coherently as you do, mars.
P.S. Agreed, you do put him through the ringer, and also agreed with mars, it's amazing to read.
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Post by fairlane on May 1, 2007 22:25:37 GMT -5
I agree with everyone, it's so funny to see all the things that bug the heck out of me listed by others who feel the same!
My own one is writers who take Ponyboys comment on Curly Shepard, that he's 'not too bright', and run with it till Curly is some imbecile who can barely string two words together.
Maybe that is just my own bias since he is a main character in my fics and I have taken a more sympathetic view, but I try not to take Ponyboys perspective of the other characters at entirely face value as he learnt throughout the book that he was not always correct!
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Post by zevie on May 2, 2007 2:52:06 GMT -5
I have a pet peeve that is not always valid, as the character is so open...hah, yeah it's Tim Shepard.
It bugs me when Tim is wimpier than Dallas. I just can't see that. Dally's a skinny little blond kid...okay, Tim's a skinny little black haired kid, whatever. Yeah, Dally is a tough, terrifying hood. But, seriously, no matter how tough Dallas is, he says that Tim can pack a punch which is enough of an admission (from a guy whose rep is everything to him) to mean that Tim is just a tough as he is, if not tougher. And he's a strict, disciplinarian-type gang leader who beats his own boys if they do wrong, which means he can't be wimpy, or his gang would not only ditch him, they'd beat him to a pulp. This wimpy-ass Shepard is usually a victim of Stu-Dally.
This may be very subjective. Still...
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Post by Tensleep on May 8, 2007 23:37:27 GMT -5
I agree with Zevie's points on Dallas. Ponyboy doesn't get the whole picture all the time and if he doesn't like girls yet, it's not likely he'd understand how Dallas could fall in love.
Personally, I think that given a couple years to get the worst of the rebellion and partying out of his system, Dallas could have fallen in love with some girl. I doubt he'd be Mr. Romance, diving into marriage and kids, but I don't think he'd be beyond love. That's one of my Peeves.
Another is when Darry is portrayed as this lifeless guy who orders everyone around and reads the paper and makes Ponyboy's life miserable. I can't believe thats all there is to his character, and yet I see it so frequently that I have to wonder.
Oh well.
See ya in the funny papers!!!
Tens
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akanechan
New In Town
Pimp hat = Awesome :D
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Post by akanechan on May 12, 2007 0:19:33 GMT -5
Haha, Slutty!Soda. XD For some reason, that's easy for me to picture...o.o Moving on, my pet peeves are pretty much most of the above, but there's one that bothers me to end: (WARNING: My reasons are never as good or long as others. It shows how much I truely suck) Emo!Ponyboy - It's probably the most cliche plot that's been used overtime and I got tired of it real fast. My view on it: Ponyboy read a letter from Johnny, requesting him to stay the way he is. Watching sunsets, reading books, he wants him to "stay gold". Those were his last words. Pony wouldn't go and cut himself over Johnny's death. It was Johnny's last request, so Ponyboy OBVIOUSLY KNOWS Johnny wouldn't want him to go emo. I told you I suck at in-depth reasoning  |
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Post by Keira on May 12, 2007 2:22:01 GMT -5
I don't know how I feel about emo!Pony. It's easy to feel strong emotions such as depression and anxiety, as well as giddiness and pure joy. Especially when you're a teenager and experiencing hormones as well as massive amounts of tragedy in your life. Ponyboy has not only lost his parents, but two of his closest friends, in less then a year. I'm of the opinion/reasoning that it would be difficult to stay positive after that. Not for forever, but that grieving period would be H*E*L*L on a 14 year old boy.
With that said, I still don't picture Pony as being emo. I see him as experiencing a depression-laced period, but if he didn't feel that way, I would have to wonder *why* he was so unfeeling, you know?
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akanechan
New In Town
Pimp hat = Awesome :D
Posts: 16
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Post by akanechan on May 12, 2007 10:13:43 GMT -5
I don't know how I feel about emo!Pony. It's easy to feel strong emotions such as depression and anxiety, as well as giddiness and pure joy. Especially when you're a teenager and experiencing hormones as well as massive amounts of tragedy in your life. Ponyboy has not only lost his parents, but two of his closest friends, in less then a year. I'm of the opinion/reasoning that it would be difficult to stay positive after that. Not for forever, but that grieving period would be H*E*L*L on a 14 year old boy. With that said, I still don't picture Pony as being emo. I see him as experiencing a depression-laced period, but if he didn't feel that way, I would have to wonder *why* he was so unfeeling, you know? You're so totally right. I can tolerate him being depressed, sad, even a bit cold (well, he did turn cold in the book). However, in my eyes, I cross the line at cutting, drugs, etc. If anything, Pony would consider it, but soon think about Johnny's last words. That's just my view of being realistic. EDIT: Oh, and another major turn-off is Abusive!Darry. I find it to be the most unrealistic portrayal ever to hit fanfiction. Darry works for 2 jobs and tries hard to keep what's left of his family together. We've all seen how he got when he just hit Ponyboy. He was depressive. And all he did was hit him. Abusive is the THE last thing to ever suit Darry. |
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