FAQ MiSTing on ASC
Stephen Ratliff
| Mini__ _ _ | A Little Suggestion for |
| |_ /_\ / \ | MSTing on Alt.StarTrek.Creative |
| | | | \_X |________________________________________|
|__________________|Version_1.12___________August_15,2000___|
Alt.StarTrek.Creative is for the posting of Creative Star Trek
fan works (stories, poems, documentation) and discussion
of those works, Star Trek Fan works in general, and issues
effecting those works. As such, MSTing falls into the
purview of this group.
However, ASC is a courteous group, so one should be sure to
avoid certain potential problems which MSTing may cause. This
Mini-FAQ is designed to assist in that.
Table of Contents
I Section I: General Stuff
1. What is an MSTing
2. What is Mystery Science Theater 3000 about?
3. What do they have to do with ASC?
II Section II: MSTer's Guide
III Section III: The MSTed Guide
_____________
General Stuff\________________________________________________
What is an MSTing?
A MSTing is a written form of parody. It is designed to parody
a work by putting it though the same treatment as bad movies
get on Mystery Science Theater 3000. The original work is quoted
like one does in a response, with Joel or Mike and his 'bots making
comments throughout referencing as many possible works and poking
fun at the work, the writer and who ever else the MSTer chooses to.
What is Mystery Science Theater 3000 about?
The basic concept is a man (Joel or Mike depending on the season)
is placed on a satellite (known as the Satellite of Love) by mad
scientists who force them to sit though bad movies, trying to get
them to go insane. In order to prevent insanity, he builds some
'bots (Crow, Tom Servo, etc. ..., who join him at making fun of the
movies.
[Season 8] Now the SOL is being chased by the mother of one of the
afformetioned sciencists (Pearl Forester).
[Season 9] Pearl has moved into Castle Forester and is back to the
usual format.
What do they have to do with ASC?
Well, the people over at rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc, have developed
some strange traditions. Most notable they MST all the Voyager
episodes, and all the works of one Stephen Ratliff. Recently some
of these MSTings have hit ASC. (Night of the Next Generation and
A Ratliff Wedding) So it became advisable to have some guidelines
so that some of our more sensitive authors are not driven away.
_____________
MSTer's Guide\__________________________________________________
So what MSTings should be posted to ASC?
MSTings of Star Trek Episodes.
But I want to MST Fan Fiction ...
OK, but before you post it to ASC, there are some things you should
do ...
1. Ask the author first. MSTings can be rather scathing and ASC
is a community. Don't destroy that community by posting
MSTings that the author isn't willing to defend. Unless the
author says yes ... post to rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (ratmm)
only.
2. Be sure to not that this is not an attack on the author.
You only wish to have fun with the work. Personal attacks
are not tolerated on ASC.
3. Be sure to consult the Dibs List FAQ. (Join the dibs list too)
Many useful hints on MSTing are provided in it.
4. Inform the original author when you post your MSTing if
possible.
5. Call dibs on the work via the dibs list at To join the MiSTing
Authors Dibs List, send an e-mail message to:
majo...@neylonpc.engin.umich.edu
with the message "subscribe dibslist [<your name>]" in the
message body. Be sure to read the MiSTing Guidelines, as
described in the FAQ.
____________________
A Guide to the MSTed\___________________________________________
You are an author who's just received word that your work is being
MSTed. What do you do about it?
Well, there really isn't much you can do about it. It is best to
try to deal with them calmly and without going into a hissy fit.
The members of the dibslist, will drop dibs of fanfic authors who
do not wish to have thier works MSTed, but other MSTers may not.
The best way to deal with it is to use it as a form of feedback.
The way Mike/Joel and the bots reply can tell you a lot about what
you did wrong and why. The MSTing will let you know how if you did
anything that doesn't fit with the Trek Universe for instance.
It's best to keep a level head when dealing with the MSTer. Do not
get angry... it doesn't do you or them any good. If you do not
think you can handle reading an MSTing of your work, ask them to
post it only to ratmm.
If you are especially brave, and can handle the often harsh critism
that MSTing brings, you might consider working with the MSTer. Read
though your work and look for anything that could be humorous or
miss-interpreted. Its an excellent way to approach revising a work
and in my expreinance, no work is ever done completely to the author's
satisfaction.
If the MSTer is acting in a manner that you do not think is
appropriate, take a deep breath, reread the message and then contact
Stephen Ratliff (stephen...@crosswinds.net) or the dibslist.
He'll try to calm them down and work with the dibslist to reduce the
offending manner.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Standard ASC Mini-FAQ disclaimer:
These are provided as guides. You do not HAVE to follow the
guides. However, by doing so you are less likely to cause
problems and it does make for a much nicer group.
This FAQ is also posted to rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (ratmm) in order
to reach it's target audience. It is also run past the dibslist.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This ASC Mini-FAQ is a publication of the ASC Volunteer
Administration.
It is located on the Web at:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~stephenratliff/FAQs/MST.txt
This FAQ is maintained by ASC FAQ Maintainer, Stephen B Ratliff
****************************************************************
--
Stephen Ratliff stephen trekiverse org
"I don't know if I'm cut out to be Captain. First Officer
maybe. I understand there are no real qualifications."
- Counselor Troi, ST:TNG "Disaster"
arkiet...@cox.net
and ASC is a community. Don't destroy that community by posting
MSTings that the author isn't willing to defend. Unless the author
says yes ... post to rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (ratmm) only.
So whether the author gives permission or not, the MST gets
posted? I don't see that posting it on a group the author isn't a
member of is any better than posting it here without permission. Why
bother to ask, if you can post it anyway? Am I the only author who
finds this extremely presumptuous? It seems to me that if the author
denies permission, it *shouldn't* be allowed to be posted *anywhere*.
But maybe it's just me....
Gamin
Mark Stanley
I presume it's because it's not our job to enforce our rules on other
communities.
Mark
--
Personal: http://www.geocities.com/mrs260
GBFF: http://www.geocities.com/garakbashirfuhqfest
Sisko2374
>From: "arkiet...@cox.net" arkiet...@cox.net
>Date: 1/27/2005 6:40 PM Central Standard Time
>It seems to me that if the author
>denies permission, it *shouldn't* be allowed to be posted *anywhere*
Unauthorized MSTings should be counter-MSTed, IMHO, where ever appropriate.
Legitimate critiques and reviews can be responded to "legitimately". My two
cents.
Bill Livingston
>arkiet...@cox.net wrote:
>>Stephen R.: 1. Ask the author first. MSTings can be rather scathing
>>and ASC is a community. Don't destroy that community by posting
>>MSTings that the author isn't willing to defend. Unless the author
>>says yes ... post to rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (ratmm) only.
>>
>>So whether the author gives permission or not, the MST gets
>>posted? I don't see that posting it on a group the author isn't a
>>member of is any better than posting it here without permission. Why
>>bother to ask, if you can post it anyway? Am I the only author who
>>finds this extremely presumptuous? It seems to me that if the author
>>denies permission, it *shouldn't* be allowed to be posted *anywhere*.
>>But maybe it's just me....
>
>communities.
FWIW, (and this is just my personal opinion) if a fanfic author flat out
denies permission for a MiSTing, common courtesy dictates that the MiSTer
should not post it - period. If an author requests it not be posted in the
creative group, but says elsewhere is OK, then it's okay to post to RATMM,
alt.tv.mst3k.mstings, or a MiSTing archive such as SVAM or Website # 9
(providing WS9 actually comes back online).
Your MiSTage, of course, will vary from author to author (and even from story
to story by a particular author).
Bill L.
Again, just my couple of pennies
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
bil...@hiwaay.net http://home.hiwaay.net/~billfl
"If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people. And if you're smart,
surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you."
Isaac Jaffee (Robert Guillaume), "Sports Night"