Sim_mania challenge entry + simsecret

[strangetomato]

I posted an entry for the latest challenge at sim_mania, if you want to check it out.

Also, check this out... Someone made a simsecret about me. That's pretty cool, but also way less fun than I imagined it would be. That's always the way, isn't it? There's a certain giddy thrill to realizing that someone has written your name on the wall of the highschool washroom, but then you realize that the rest of the sentence says, "...is a slut." (This may or may not relate to an actual event in my life.) Well, what are you going to do? I probably am too obsessed with these characters. I won't deny that. I think I have gotten too caught up in it all, really. It's probably unhealthy. (I'm also feeling that the fact that I've been posted about in a sim secret community might be a sign that I need to return to the real world. I really have fallen down a nerdy rabbit hole, haven't I?)

As for the second part... they must have started reading a different story, since both Jaxy and Ripp still swear like sailors. I don't think I really cut back on that much, if at all. *shrugs* They swear. Some people do. It's not all about them being "bad ass" (though that is a factor, for sure).

I keep intending to submit a simsecret, but I always forget or have trouble coming up with an idea. I considered making a joke secret about the simstorytellers comm, since it's so drama-free, but it never really came together. Maybe next time, I'll think of something.

ETA: I probably won't respond to any of these comments for a while. I have a busy day ahead of me.

Comments

[mjo5oh.livejournal.com]

That person who made that secret is silly. They are complaining about YOU being way too into your characters when it's YOUR story. They just read and made a whole simsecret about it... and even said they cried... Maybe you write such good stories because you can immerse yourself in characters and the whole Strangetown world. Eh, don't let it bother you, some secrets are much much worse. At least you know that person is actually a fan.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I have a pretty thin skin, so things like that do bother me, even though I logically know that it's not worth worrying about. I wasn't really all that bothered by it until they said that it ~frightens~ them. That's sort of extreme.

They did say that they LOVE it, but you know what? It doesn't really negate the fact that they talked about how they think I have a sad obsession on a public forum, does it? It's nice to know they liked it, sure. It still feels kind of shitty to have something like that posted about me.

The swearing thing I can totally handle. Fair enough. That's just constructive criticism. They could have mentioned that without being anonymous. Swearing isn't to everyone's taste, and I understand that.

Anyway... I need to go to bed. It's getting late here and my brain is shutting down.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty neat, despite it being kind of negative. I do think it's a bit ridiculous to call you obsessed while admitting to crying over Cosmo Broke. The way I see it, for ytou it's less about being attached to the sim itself as it is being attached to the characters. Which I completely understand. It's easy to really get lost in your characters, and that's basically what these sims are. Even though maxis made them and gave them the bare bones of backstories, YOU'RE the one who has developed them this far.

These versions of Ripp, Ophelia, Johnny, etc. are YOURS and it's perfectly okay to get attached to the characters you've created (and you have). It's just a fuzzier line than when somebody writes or makes something with completely original characters, because we all have a Ripp, Ophelia, Johnny, etc.

But I think it's cool that you've been secreted. It means somebody cares enough about your story to take time out of their day to think about it.

Also, I've never really seen the swearing as a badass thing. It's just a habit of those characters. I've gotten used to it by this point.

Just, don't let it get ya down, 'kay?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I agree. I do think it's quite cool to have someone make a simsecret about me. It makes me feel sort of famous in a really insular kind of way (famous to fifteen people? Probably not even that many *snicker*). I guess I'm just bummed out that I didn't get one of those glowing "I'm totally gay for your legacy/story/whatever" secrets that other people seem to get.

I think that's why I sometimes feel that it's an unhealthy obsession. If they were completely my own characters, then maybe devoting so much thought to it might be a bit more productive? It is a little bit of a grey area. They are mine, but, of course, they are also not.

As for being obsessed, I really couldn't be bothered to write a story and not put this much thought into it. Anything worth doing is worth doing whole-heartedly. That's just how I am. I do plan to move on to other, completely original ventures one of these days. For now, this is good practice. I've been out of the writing game for a while, so it's been great to have an interactive venue for feedback like this. Everyone reading this has been great for offering advice and feedback, and I really like to dissect everything as I'm writing it. It's hard to be detached when it's so much fun to sort through all the details with everyone here.

With Jaxy, more than Ripp, I see it as something of a badass thing. She does it for shock value and to be funny and harsh. Neither of them really realizes that they do it anymore. I just base that on actual people I know. Some people just swear like that. I actually put a lot of thought (LOL - I'm obsessed) into where I do include the cursing and where to place the f-bombs in the structure of the sentence. *snicker* I study cursing to make it more natural in my writing.

I'm not going to let it get to me. My initial reaction was to feel bummed out (just like I was with those nasty messages written in the dirt on the side of the schoolbus), but really... why should I let it concern me?

[simantics.livejournal.com]

If it helps, I am totally gay for your Strangetown!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Awesome. ^_^ That makes me feel so much better. You have no idea.

(And, the feeling is mutual, so that really does sound like some sort of gay Strangetown lovefest, doesn't it?)

[simantics.livejournal.com]

Good. You deserve to feel better. And "Gay Strangetown Lovefest" would make an excellent sidestory to any Strangetown tale, imho.

I know how much it sucks to be talked that kind of bitchy high school smack about. So I sympathize with you lots.

Maybe it's good that I'm inactive right now, because back in the day I'm sure my name would have shown up on simsecrets and I'd have been upset for days. :/ I was upset enough when someone made a post about thesims2 mods, and I've been inactive as a mod for ages.

Anyway, I send you much love and admiration ♥

[franwi.livejournal.com]

I'd have to disagree and say this is probably a pretty healthy obsession, considering the vast variety of unhealthy obsessions out there. I don't think it's something you need to feel like you have to break free from. I find your stuff much more entertaining than most of the things churned out by the world of entertainment, so take heart.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

You're right. I could be addicted to playing VLTs or something of that nature. Even watching hours of TV would be a passive activity, and this is a creative pastime. So yeah... not really as bad as it could be.

Thanks. That's very nice of you to say. At least I'm devoting my time to creating something that people enjoy.

[franwi.livejournal.com]

I don't know what VLTs is. Worse things you could be obsessed with - death, celebrity gossip, crack, small yipping dogs, voodoo, shiny mud balls... well, actually that last one is pretty cool. ;)

Definitely embrace your creativity and the enjoyment you're giving others.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

VLTs = Video Lottery Terminals

(They are a pretty big life-destroying problem around here.)

Well, I have dabbled in celebrity gossip and crack, but other than that... :P Kidding, of course (about the crack). There are many other things to devote my time to that would be far worse (and more expensive too). I need to try those shiny mud balls, though. :)

Yeah, why not, right? Maybe I go a bit far, but why do things halfway?

[simantics.livejournal.com]

I'm obsessed with celebrity gossip, haha. In fact, right after I read this comment I opened up Dlisted. Oh the shame. ::hangs head::

[franwi.livejournal.com]

LOL! Well at least you haven't moved on to crack or small yipping dogs yet, so stay strong! ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/fileg_/]

I have always thought that Ripp and the band swearing was far less about showing how cool they think they are than characterization. I"ll admit, Ripp does swear a lot, but hey, I've been known to be just as bad, especially if I'm frustrated, and Ripp so clearly is, about so many things. It seems real to me.

Also,if my characters weren't in many senses real to me, I would never write. I think the reason I've never written with/for my sims is that they aren't as real to me as the characters I write fanfic for (Then again, I have had 40 years of my fandom rattling about in my head. And I actually started playing Sims 1 with the idea of making sims for the characters I write so I could *see* some things in action. I think the reason I've never bonded with my Sims2 sims is because I have lost every neighborhood I've made so far, and I'm wary of getting attacthed.)

Your Sims are not only *real* to you, in the sense of their characterizations, they are now real to many of us. Good job, that!


(edited for bad typing. Argh.)

[cameoflage.livejournal.com]

Then again, I have had 40 years of my fandom rattling about in my head.

Doctor Who, by any chance? Or are you just referring to how long you've been a fan, rather than the time the show's been running for?

[http://users.livejournal.com/fileg_/]

No, I am a new convert to Doctor Who (though I probably saw at least the Tom Baker and Peter Davidson episodes go by since I had a friend who loved them. My true fandoms are Lord of the Rings and Man from UNCLE, both of which came into my life in 1963 when I was 11.

[cameoflage.livejournal.com]

Aha! So it was the latter after all.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad that comes across. Ripp picked up the habit when he was young because it was something that Buzz hated (he did it when the General wasn't around, of course), and it just stuck. He swears more when he's angry and when he's carrying on, and he consciously doesn't around certain people (like Phi), which seems about right to me.

That's how I feel about it too. I'm not sure how I would muster the energy to do something like this without being invested in the characters like I am. It seems to increase the more time you spend writing it too.

Thank you. I'm humbled to think that others do find them real too. To be able to get a reader to respond emotionally to a character is why I love devoting so much energy to it the first place.

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

I still don't understand the whole simsecret thing. Are they just little blurbs like that? Like stuff that people want to say but want to stay anonymous or something?

I need to help you think of something to say about simstorytellers. But I'm totally lame about coming up with stuff like that. :P

As far as having an unhealthy obesession... I don't think you have anything to worry about. IMO, it's not the sims per se, it's the writing. I asked my hubby once (when I was in the middle of writing To Fear the Dawn) if he would get so jealous if I wasn't writing about the sims... if I was just writing. Say, writing that novel I started back before we had kids? And he honestly thought and said he wouldn't. To him, it was just part of the game, and the game was stupid (to him.)

Well, I *think* I got him to realize that it's not just a game, it's something to write about. Something to get my inner muse talking.

There's nothing unhealthy about that, I don't think.

And ooooh, girl! You so bad now! You RAWK. I'm jealous. ;)

[mjo5oh.livejournal.com]

I still don't understand the whole simsecret thing. Are they just little blurbs like that? Like stuff that people want to say but want to stay anonymous or something?

YEP! You got it exactly.

We should get the whole simstorytellers community to make secrets! Make them dramatic and untrue, but no one will know they're just fake! They will start calling simstorytellers the new bitches of the sim lj community!!! But it will all just be a huge joke!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That's the idea I was considering. It was something that came up in conversation with madame_ugly. I couldn't even think of anything to say in a joking way when I tried to think of something for a secret. Everyone is too nice. That's not really much of a complaint, though.

The fake drama secrets would be kind of funny, but do we really need to feed the drama machine? It seems to be running quite well on its own these days.

Heheh. Those bitchy simstorytellers are also getting into catfights over there. :P

[aledstrange.livejournal.com]

well, I don't get much those secrets either. I checked on that comm once, but *shrugs* many sound pretty much plain rants and complaints made by very sour/unhappy/jealous people .... though maybe that's the idea??

Anyways I think that if you are in any way 'obsess' is as much as any other writer would 'obsess' over his/her characters, and I'm sure they do! I don't think any good writer could come out with a great, compelling and captivating story/novel as your, if they don't get a bit 'obsess' about it (and i'm not trying to use the word in the bad sense of it :) )

And anyone who feels that Ripp or the band in general curses to feel 'cool' is because they are simply NOT getting the idea, the characterization you are doing with them.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

I can't see the secrets because my Internet connection is awful right now, but from what I've read from this entry and the comments, I'm quite angry at these so called "secrets" >:(

No one has the right to hide behind the comfort of anonimity to humiliate someone in public, especially if said person is as nice as you are. You've never attacked someone in public as far as I know, so what the fuck did this person pretend when they posted that?

Don't pay attention to that, please. I can only wonder what people might think about me and my sims, but I couldn't care less. Yes, I play with pixel dollies and write silly stories about them in my free time, so what?! I also have a job, a family and friends. Sure, my social life could be "better" (in the "traditional" sense of going out every night), but that's more a shyness issue that I'm currently dealing with. I know my sims aren't real and I'm aware that my hobby is extremely nerdy but I have so much fun with them that it's almost relaxing when I'm dealing with anxiety.

*Sigh*

That community should be called sim_bitching instead. I think the mods should enforce similar rules as the ones in fandom_secrets and ban all personal attacks. I'm gonna suggest that to them as soon as my Internet lets me load the newest secrets entry.

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

The secret about Strange_Tomato really wasn't an attack so much as a seriously backhanded compliment. The author basically said they LOVE the story, but think ST is scary obsessed with the characters (especially Johnny, Ophelia and Ripp), and that Ripp and Jaxy swear too much.

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

Oooh, now I have to go look at the other secrets. Could we finally have some that aren't about how dark that one person's pics are? I'm so sick of that one I could scream.

Sounds like your secret writer wants to hold an intervention for you. *snort* Eh, like others have said, there's way worse things you could be "obsessed" with, so enjoy this sim stuff while it lasts. As long as it's not upsetting any of your family/people you physically interact with, who gives a shit how much time you put into it?

For what it's worth, I've wondered about my obsession at times, too. I've even asked my wife it it bothers him (that he's a sims "widow"). He just cracks wise on me and that's that.

Now you need to make a response secret where you have a lot of cussing. "I got a fucking sim secret made about my fucking story. FUCK YEAH!"

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THAT IDEA.

That's what we need to do. We need to come up with some sort of secret that says something like, "I FUCKING love it when a fucking story says the word 'fuck' a lot..."

Hee.

[saunasims.livejournal.com]

... That's sort of a creepy double secret right there. They're the ones coming across as obsessive! Brrr.
I'd say that you just seem like any other author/roleplayer/other person who's put time and effort into creating characters.
In short: that person is silly and you should disregard their opinion like Ripp disregards underwear!

[meetme2theriver.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I'm watching the simsecret community just for the lols, really. The first few had some ACTUAL secrets that were just funny and cute, but since then, most people seem to believe that the word 'secret' is synonymous with 'BITCH ABOUT OTHERS ALL YOU WANT - IT'S ANONYMOUS SO IT'S OKAY :D'.

Don't take this too seriously. You're into your story, so what? I think a certain level of obsession is needed to make a story good. If it's unhealthy to you, you should be the one to judge that, not some stranger online who doesn't even have the guts to say it to you to your face. Possibly there's even a little hint of jealousy in that "secret", your story is popular and interesting, and maybe they can't reach the level of involvement necessary to do something like that themselves. Heh. Well, I can theorise about them all I want, they can't actually respond to it without revealing their identity. :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I agree. I've checked out the fandom secrets community, and it's much less bitchy and personal. It's about YOUR secrets - your weird confessions, personal quirks, and embarrassing obsessions. The most personal things I ever seen there was someone saying they are in love with their RPing partner, or something like that. There's some self-referential fandom wank too, but simsecret seems to be almost nothing but that.

I don't really think it's unhealthy, even though I sometimes wonder if I'm spending too much time on something like a sims story, when I could be doing something more productive, like trying to actually publish something. I do think it's pretty normal to get really involved in something you're writing. Plenty of writers are like that, and I'd like to think of myself as one.

I'm sure my mom would agree with you that they're "just jealous" (*snicker* silly mothers and their well-meaning advice), but who knows, really. I'm not sure what other motivation such a post would have but to try to get to me, so maybe you're right.

They actually could respond here, if they had THE BALLS (or the ovaries, more likely) to do so. I did enable anonymous posting, remember. I'd much rather see them do that than post some bullshit follow-up secret next week (as I really hope they won't, because it's just dull). I suspect that the person doesn't even really follow the story, since they seemed to be confused about the facts anyway.

[showercapfrog.livejournal.com]

I like that you seem obsessed with your characters - it makes me feel less weird about liking my little pixel people so much. And it's not really obsession anyway - more that you're quite involved with your characters. Which I think is a positive thing, as you write incredibly well.
Plus anyway, as has already been said - they cried when someone else's character died, so it's not just you who is overly attached to an imaginary person.
And I like the swearing. It seems so very...Ripp.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think you have fallen down in the sims like you are addict or something. And I think it's cute that Jaxy and Ripp swear like pirates (not everytime, but it's fun). About the fact they seem to stop it ? He, they grow up, don't they ? I think it's good to be caught up in anything if you're able to do such stories then. I'm impressed by the way you can do anything you want to with the base game and nearly no downloads. I intend to write my sims story too and sometimes, I just don't have time to play (because I've got a career and everything to deal with) but I still think about my story even when I'm in the train or in the streets. So when I come back to my story, I now exactly what I want for my sims. That's why I can't get this thing about people saying they are too much in the game so that they forget real life.

As for that sims secret, I didn't now such things existed. It's exactly like someone writing a word in the High School toilets, though. (I've already said that, but I really love what you do with your game)

And as Ripp might have said : "And sorry about my fucking bad English. I'm fucking French so you fucking know it's fucking difficult especially during the fucking morning... :p


gab75

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

Eh, you probably are a little obsessed with them, but you're no worse than any other 'hardcore' simmer I've seen out there. I think the biggest difference between the obsessions I've seen and yours is that most people are obsessed with the family and breeding the generations (legacy style), whereas you've taken specific sims and are telling THEIR story.

I doubt your obsession is any unhealthier than any other author's, honestly.

As for the second part, I was wondering WTF they were talking about. I LIKE that Ripp and Jaxy swear like sailors. It's got an honesty to the language, which I usually find slightly missing from sim stories since most try and keep in a PG13 range (especially on the exchange).

I never thought the swearing was about them being 'badass'. It's about them having filthy mouths and no internal editor on what they're saying, really.

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

Well, what are you going to do? I probably am too obsessed with these characters.

I don't know of a single author, actor, musician or artist that doesn't become obsessed with a character, song, or medium. I think that when the 'artist' is not a little bit obsessed, it comes across too. Those people are considered to be types who just "phone it in," or maybe they're just "in it" for the money.

There is nothing wrong with having the focus be on one part, or a few specific characters, or one motif. I'll go on a limb and point out Beethoven (for example) would beat a motif into the ground, consume it, regurgitate it, and still manage to produce some of the most fantastic music ever. The "Am die Freude" poem set to the final movement of his 9th symphony is a perfect example. 20 minutes of the same phrase obsessively. And it's a masterpiece.

And even if the secret writer finds your focus odd, it's not atypical. More so, for every naysayer, you have two or three who applaud your development of the trio. And don't forget that every artist has a couple of critics.

As far as obsession goes, I've seen obsessions far more intense than this. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Don't let the secret get to you too much.

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

I would not call it obsession, (maybe it is...I think about my sims at work sometimes)But it's more like a hobby, maybe escapism and relaxing and totally fun and happy. My job is physically and mentally draining.

Meeting people with the same hobbies here is awesome.

It's only scary when you stay home from work, neglect your kids, and (maybe the spouse), can't pay the bills and take care of necessary real life stuff.


Strange, people here do not know you personaly, and so it's not right for them to comment on you or anyone on a personal level, unless under certain circumstances, like you being a meanie or soemthing. LOL

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

Please keep writing your stories. I love them.

[melody-curious.livejournal.com]

Hiding behind a nameless tag to say something like that is wrong, and should (IMO) just be ignored. Saying that, I know how it can work at the mind and make you start doubting yourself.

Don't! You are one very talented writer, heck it draws me back day after day... "is there an update?.... Yeah!"

Writers do become obessed with their characters, they have to, to do the story credit. So you have Johnny, Ripp and Ophelia living in your head 24/7....So what? Is it harming anyone?... No.... Many's the time I have the brothers shouting for attension, or Loki holding his hand up waiting silently "Soon Loki .... soon"

A normal state of affairs.

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

Yes, didn't JK Rowling admit she had Ron, Harry, and Hermione practically sitting at her dinner table having discussions with her while she was doing her writing?

It's part of being a great author.

[muslemura.livejournal.com]

Obsession? Maybe. Unhealthy? No. Great source of creative outlet? Indeed! Signs of a quality storyteller? Yes! (I should know, I have a degree in storyreading so to speak ;)

As for the swearing, I love Ripp and Jaxy's filthy mouths. It's part of what makes the characters believable. And lovable.

Please don't let it get to you, it's a wonderful story with interesting and complex characters :)

[teresagreen13.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't really agree that you're obsessed, just really, really into the game. I think any of us who play the sims regularly and/or write a sims legacy or story all get attached to the characters we develop for our sims. I for one definitely don't think this attachment is 'scary' or 'freaky'.

On to the other comment made about Ripp and Jaxy's swearing - they just wouldn't be the same if they didn't swear like they did. It makes the story and characterisation more realistic too - in real life some people swear heaps and some hardly at all.

Don't worry too much about the negative aspects of this secret, your story rocks, as can be clearly seen from the number of people who comment every update :D

[indigoleo.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I personally think we're all obsessed with this game and it's characters, IMO.
I'm thinking of not just the real stories like you and madam ugly and others do, but the simple legacy stories, too. I know sometimes I get very happy seeing that a favorite I've been following has been updated. To do all of this, the playing, the picture taking, the figuring of stats, etc., you have to be a little obsessed.
It's why I named my sim journal my_simsession, because it is my obsession. When I first got The Sims 2 I pretty much stopped playing just about any other game for almost a year! So, yeah, I'm obsessed, but I'm enjoying it. :)

As far as the secrets, I don't know if I'd want any part of that. If it's something someone couldn't say "to my face" so to speak, I don't want to know what they're saying "behind my back."

As for the swearing, I can take it. Maybe they do swear a lot but it's them. Maybe as Ripp gets older he'll grow out of it some. Then again, maybe not!
(I've been told I swear like a sailor and they're not wrong.)

[x-illegal-x.livejournal.com]

The person who wrote that "secret" was being really FUCKING rude.

Honestly, you are one of the most talented writers I have ever seen. I kind of feel the emotions that go through the characters, and I can sense that you do too. I almost feel like I know your characters personally. I don't think that's obsession on your part at all, it's just a deep caring for and concern for them, like they are real people. Nothing wrong with that.

I understand that that criticism hurts. But look at all the people who left supportive comments here! You are an EXCELLENT writer, don't let one dumbass let you down.

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

The person that wrote that secret doesn't make any sense. Many people who write stories become attached to their characters. I think that a good writer WILL get attached to their characters. Who are they to judge what a "sad obsession" is, when they cried over a character that isn't even theirs?

I know plenty of people who say fuck for every other word in a sentence. They don't do it to show that they are ~badass~, it's more like a force of habit.

[saunasims.livejournal.com]

*mildly boggled* I just SimPE'd through Strangetown, and according to it Willow is supposed to be a redhead! Makes me wonder if that was the original plan for Ophelia rather than her mysterious blonde blondeness.. Or maybe Maxis was just sloppy again. Hmm.

[telephonication.livejournal.com]

It's entirely different to be so invested in someone else's story to cry about a death (which I won't deny ever happened to me), and to be attached to your own story. You molded these characters, and created them as far as I'm concerned. When I started playing, the Maxis stories were fine, but you made them amazing and made them your own. You shouldn't take what they said too much to heart, because it holds no ground.

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Well...a simsecret is flattering in the sense that you're important enough to be talked about...but...I wish the person had said something more positive!!! :(

I'll just go on record saying that I LOVE how invested you are in your characters. It makes me care about them. And it makes me feel better cause I'm invested in them a lot more than I should be too. LOL :P (My Jill/Ripp obession is a tad relevant here! :P) I don't think it's unhealthy. I think you do an amazing job of making characters that feel real and are awesome enough to ship, to worry about...AND to bitch about. ;)

So, try not to sweat it, you're awesome and so is your story! *hug* :)

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

OH! And I forgot to say don't feel stupid for being a little upset by the negativity in the secret. I was ranted about in the Simrants comm, and it really upset me. :( I made a lot sad post about it lol. Looking back I realize it's not a big deal, but at the time I was really upset.

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

*a whole sad post* Sigh. It's late and my typos are making the kind of sense that...doesn't. :P

[nessa-seragon.livejournal.com]

I agree with madame_ugly. No one expect you and your family should be concerned with how healthy/unhealthy your obsession is.

Also if the person doesn't like the language your characters use to express themselves, then that person shouldn't read it. It's like offensive TV, if you don't like the content, turn the channel.