benlehman: (hobo drifter)
benlehman ([personal profile] benlehman) wrote2007-04-09 07:58 am

(no subject)

A lot of people recently talking about what I should be doing, how I should be doing my art, what I owe to them and a "community" that only exists in our heads and hearts.

Remember what Chris said once: No one has a right to your body but you. I think it goes double this way: No one has a right to your mind but you.

Remember that people beholden to the Man want you to be more like them.

[identity profile] funwithrage.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Hell, yeah. I ran into this all the fucking time back when I took creative writing courses. "Well, you shouldn't be wasting your time on science fiction..." According to who, now? Why am I obligated to write what you consider valid?

[identity profile] benlehman.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
In this case it's like "you must do your writing in public! For the good of the community!"

Gar...

[identity profile] bar-sinister.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Whatever. I write in public for purely marketing reasons, to build buzz on my games. Otherwise I could care less.

[identity profile] bar-sinister.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
OK, that's not entirely true. I like the positive feedback I get, too. Helps motivate me.

[identity profile] benlehman.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 03:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I just don't get the thing where I'm like "So I'm working on this game that addresses this in way X" and someone's like "Where? If I can't see it right now it has no value!"

Promotion is fine. Entitlement is not.

[identity profile] bar-sinister.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
This is more echo chamber, but yeah, I write games for me. It's way to much effort for a meager reward to do for any other reason.

[identity profile] bicoastal.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Share your best stuff for free? Why in gods' names would you do that?

Ok, I can see a bunch of reasons, but only if they're valid for you.

[identity profile] funwithrage.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
What? No. Stupid.