Ordover Wars

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Event
Event:
Participants: John Ordover
Date(s): 1997-1998
Type: flame wars
Fandom:
URL:
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The Ordover Wars were a result of the 1997-1998 activity of John Ordover on several fan discussion groups.

On alt.tv.x-files.creative, it was a long-running series of flamewars, known as the Ordover Wars .[1] For many participants, this constituted their first flamewar, their first encounter with a professional editor, and possibly their first direct exposure to disapproval of fanfic as not worthwhile. Ordover managed to sockpuppet himself (perhaps unintentionally, signing in from different accounts at work vs. at home), and generally caused ire and fannish solidarity, and despite its flameyness many old X-Philes recall the Ordover Wars with great fondness.

He did the same on alt.startrek.creative, where he also trumpeted his plan to get fans to write 'real', published work, by publishing an anthology of Star Trek short fiction. Several ASC fans were, in fact, published in the resultant anthology, Strange New Worlds.

Some Fanworks Inspired by The Ordover Wars

Fiction

A Poem

If I knew from whence this fic doth come
I'd want a copy on CD-ROM
Interactive, don't you see
And like fanfic, it'd be free
I'd ask a question of the Master
And his nastiness would come faster
Every answer would simply be
"You have no capacity"
I could learn a lot and be a pro
If only I knew how to blow
off fanfic with a Purple passion
my pro fic'd be all the fashion
I so need him to show me the way
How can I go another day
With mere fun and friends and snark and fic?
I must go pro or I'll be sick
I must say goodbye to Skinner
That surly, sexy, love-to-sinner
Goodbye Scully and Goodbye Fox!
Only profic truly rocks.
But how to go pro, there's the rub
I don't want the slush pile tub
Sales are the bottom line, you see
Does insurance cover lobotomy?
Emily Bronte would not sell
She'd be in target market Hell
Peter Hoeg would make John broke
Michael Ondaatje- silly bloke!
Make me just like Danielle Steele
So I can buy my next big meal
Fashion me to be like Grisham
Your little feet - why I'd kiss 'em
Teach me, Ordover, because I know
Without you I'll never grow
I'll be like Waller or even Greater
If I but follow the Master Baiter.[2]

A Filk

(ttto Leslie Fish's "Toast to Unknown Heroes") by Maureen O'Brien

"One newcomer posts a challenge, and he hears a trumpet call:
"Come share your work with all the world, oh, come and join us all!"
But others hear derision that could make their visions stall:
"The best that you have done, and do, is just a belly-crawl!"
Honeyed words will catch more flies -- no surprise -- just be wise.
Honey taste makes learning sweet -- dug-in feet cause defeat.
Honey makes the medicine go down more pleasantly;
Sour's killfiled presently -- Filter Thread -- Mark Thread Read.
Some young and fledgling writer pokes her head out, posting loud:
"My life and work's not worthless! This is my art, and I'm proud!"
The newcomer hears stubbornness, and the mob act of a crowd.
With equal stubbornness he posts...the rest, I'll kindly cloud.
Honeyed words will catch more flies -- no surprise -- just be wise.
Honey taste makes learning sweet -- dug-in feet cause defeat.
Honey makes the medicine go down more pleasantly;
Sour's killfiled presently -- Filter Thread -- Mark Thread Read.
Oh, the real point is a point with which no one would disagree --
That noone will turn pro merely by posts in this ng.
All the rest is mess and haughtiness, off-topic as can be...
Just let us write. What goal we cite's _our_ business, seems to me.
Now this thread is at an end. No more. Send no more, friend.
Now the New Year comes around. Joy abounds -- futures found --
Now it's time to party like it is 1999!
('Cause it almost is....)
Leave threads for champagne and wine -- Auld lang syne! Auld lang syne!"

Some alt.startrek.creative Posts Containing Comments

Fans are strongly urged to delve into the many, many comments on these Usenet groups! Be aware that some of these links go to posts that have multiple pages.

1998

1999

Some alt.tv.x-files.creative Posts Containing Comments

1998

1998

Some rec.arts.sf.written Posts Containing Comments

Further Reading and Context

References

  1. ^ The Woodwards. The Ordover Files, 01 January 1999. (Accessed 30 October 2010)
  2. ^ a poem by Kim, Archived version
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