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Oh you funny people! Yes, we love to see you commenting here on our blog and on social media and by email. But you can also exasperate us. These are some of the comments that drive us batty…
People Who Want Us to Do Their Homework
Sometimes this is literal — like, “hi, I’m looking for info on 1845 French evening gown fashion plates, can you help me?” C’mon, use the fucking Google, folks. We don’t have a secret stash of costume history resources that we’ll dole out if you ask nicely. We have access to most of the same libraries and internets as you do (OK, Kendra is an actual research librarian for her dayjob, but she’s not going to spend her free time looking shit up for randos who write into us, #sorrynotsorry).
Other homework-y questions are actually related to Frock Flicks. Such as — “Have you reviewed XYX frock flick?” SEARCH OUR FUCKING SITE, PPL!!! Why do you think we put three search boxes on the homepage and right sidebar?
Another too-basic question — “Where can I watch XYZ frock flick you reviewed?” As if we know 1) where you live, 2) what TV options you have 3) what media players you have 4) how much you’re willing to spend, & oh yeah 5) we have time and are willing to do the work to track the title down for you. We don’t know shit like if a certain movie is available on Netflix in Canada or a show on PBS in our town has played yet in your town or if the vintage movie we found on DVD is available in VHS at your library.
People Unclear on Our Concept
We have FAQs for a reason. Yes, we realize nobody ‘frequently asks’ these exact questions — it’s a rhetorical device. But the general topics come up over and over again, so if you’re wondering about something on a site, why not check if it has a FAQ? We do!
Topics we address include, but are not limited to, yes, we realize costume designers aren’t always the ones calling the shots in regards to historical accuracy; yes, we realize filmmakers often have a goal that deviates from historical accuracy; historically inaccurate is a simple fact, not an emotional judgement; and we are movie critics, that’s what we do.
Related — anyone who wanders in new during Snark Week or finds a Snark Week article through web search. Sweet baby jesus, why do they comment?!?
Comments on Really Old Posts
We’ve been writing this blog since 2014, and it’s always been a question among the three of us whether or not to turn off comments on posts after some period of time. We didn’t, so maybe it’s our own fault that when people do search the site (or more often, find an individual article through a web search), they comment on something two or four years old.
If the comment is a simple statement, no big deal. But what’s annoying is when someone jumps into a long-dead debate or to complain about something that happened ages ago. Y’know, there IS a date on the post up at the top…
Tech Support Comments
We get it, the blog or Facebook page may not work on every computer or phone. That’s just life. And we’ll try to help troubleshoot things if and when we can, but ya gotta work with us too!
If you have a tech support comment, first EMAIL us directly. Tell us what type of device you’re using, what web browser and version, what page you’re looking at, and what’s happening. If you can include a screencap, even better.
You Left One Out!
Especially on MCM and WCW posts, people love to tell us we left out one particular historical costume movie or TV role of said actor. Y’know what? It’s extremely unlikely we didn’t know about that one you’re mentioning. We’re working from IMDB.com, which lists every single screen credit.
But, as we typically say at the top of these posts, we’re giving the highlights of a person’s career. Sometimes we’re going for broke and listing every single historical thing the actor has been in, but unless we say so, we aren’t. If we didn’t list it, we meant not to list it.
Most of the time, we couldn’t find a decent photo (and hey, when we try to use the only blurry photo from that early ’70s TV series that seems like it’s the actor, it might not be, and you’ll point that out, dammit!). But sometimes, we’re just hella tired after working on this post after (or during) our real paying job. Or we just didn’t care about that one dinky-ass little role as much as you do.
Give us a break, m’kay? (Oh and don’t get us started on you requesting an actor’s sci-fi/fantasy or modern roles, grrrr…)
Any Comment Saying “You Need to…”
No, we don’t NEED to do jack shit, buckko. We write this blog in our spare time for our amusement. If it’s not up to snuff for someone else, there’s the figurative door, don’t let it hit ’em as they leave.
True fact: As soon as someone says we “need” to do XYZ, we will refuse to do it on principle.
How Dare You Have a Patreon!
At least one person got REALLY bitchy about us putting a measly one post per month behind a paywall.
“Well I used to love your blog but holding content hostage on Patreon and expecting me to pay to read and see it? Fuck you. This is an outrage. I am so done with this blog. This Patreon thing is getting ridiculous. Seriously FUCK YOU. You should be ashamed, you could have just asked for donations or something, but holding content hostage and demanding we pay to see it is beyond tacky. Go to hell.”
Poor widdle baby. First, she clearly didn’t notice that you can just fucking donate — we’ve had that option all along, with extra promotion about it every Snark Week. Second, we’re only ‘holding hostage’ about 30 posts on Patreon as of January 2018 vs. over 1,400 posts free here on the blog, and the minimum donation on Patreon is just $1. We don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of nor much of an outrage.
So thanks to the 232 fabulous people who are currently supporting us on Patreon, who pay for the enormous cost of our web hosting and help us buy additional films to review!
Comments can be fabulous, and we love the little community of like-minded frock flickers here! It’s just a few little things that add to our stress levels.
Everybody say love!
Just the fact that there was someone with the temerity to protest the use of Patreon is enough to finally push me over the edge. Donating out of sheer spite!
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! SPITE DONATIONS FTW!!! <3 <3 <3
SAME HERE. I say fuck them and I’m saying with with a small recurring monthly donation. I bet they also try to book bands by promising them exposure.
I’ve always thought the delay on Patreon posts (watch the f** autocorrect change it back to patron while it’s sending) was a lagniappe to those who donate. Gosh! How selfish some can be.
Woo! Great response, toranut97!
That “How dare you have a Patreon” comment – Sheesh! Clearly 232 people were happy to support this site!
Thank you for all the excellent work that you do, ladies!
Thank you for calling out those who ask the ‘hive mind’ to do their research/homework. No, I am not going to give you the results of my years of academic research; and DO IT YOURSELF. Thank you from the bottom of my teeny, tiny heart.
This always reminds me of the time I was looking for a particular journal article on tablet woven braids. I knew the name of the article, the journal and volume, and even which libraries in Australia had it. Trouble is none of those libraries were within easy driving distance or had electronic resources I could access. So I put a call out offering to pay photocopy and postage if I had to. People were lining up to help, and I was able to get an electronic copy from a friend of a friend.
Someone else put up a request on the same email list asking for “stuff about Vikings” and was told to try Google.
Srsly. If we know about something & it’s relevant, we’ll post it here! If we don’t, we’re not looking it up for someone. Or if it’s not relevant for this blog, maybe we’re using it for our own purposes & if so, we may be publishing it elsewhere, so use the googles like everyone else.
… well, I feel like I’ve probably been guilty of a “what about this film” one. Sorry! Also, duly noted for the future.
Also, how dare you guys run things as you like on your website! And not doing other people’s googling for them—preposterous. ;-)
This is a random comment no doubt spurred by my insomnia (it’s 2am in Australia).
In real life, Scarlett would probably ingested enough arsenic to kill her as she made the green dress from the curtains.
That’s the kind of deep analysis I appreciate. Although now I will never look at GWTW the same way.
OMG! Never thought of that!
Honestly, that’s low-key how I want to leave this world
All comes down to one thing: RTFM*
*Read the f**king manual!
Keep it up! :-)
As a former tech writer of TFM, I salute you!
I’m a member of a few professional community costume groups and the amount of posts that clearly should have been a Google or cursory search of group archives is obnoxious there, I can only imagine on how annoying it is on a blog of pure enjoyment.
Nolite te Bastardes Carborund!
I loved this post but what made me laugh out loud was all the tags at the bottom. Bless y’all and your collective snark!
curtsey
There’s patterns etal to make period clothes and there’s CostumeCon and other ways to source material and museums like the Met, LACMA, Les Arts Decoratifs, V&A, NGA, with online digital photos to form a basis to begin research. Asking for help is okay, but asking someone else to DO your work is obnoxious and shows a lack of real interest.
I actually think your idea to put things behind a Patreon wall for a year is brilliant. Sure it’s mildly annoying for those of us who aren’t able to support you on Patreon, but I applaud you for your genius way of generating content for your supporters.
It’s $2 a month for getting the articles on patreon. It just makes me think when Jessie Royce Landis exasperatedly says to Cary Grant in North by Northwest “Pay the two dollars!” I drop more in a vending machine at work a day than that (because I live a healthy lifestyle!) People are so easily bent out of shape.
you NEED to know, how much I enjoy what you write and how much enjoyment I get out of your views. some folks just need to take a deep breathe, and relax. as well as do their own research, which I know some simply do not know how to do as their parents wrote ALL their papers while they attended school (and I mean from Jr. High to college.)
I got one! A You Missed Out one! Because it’s one of my fave movies with the actor in question. And Richard III. You should totally switch than one off.
Anyhow, yes, do it yourself. I write novels for a living (barely). I thought we had the best stupid questions, but maybe not.
“Love!”
And the person with the negative Patreon comments is seriously in need of a life or something.
Yeesh that Patreon person is sad. Why do they care so much?! You guys create great, free content year round! People are so annoying.
YOU NEED TO…keep doing a brilliant job! Thanks!
Heh, thanks ;)
When people in the comments complain that film/series creators got something wrong when actually they got it right! Or vice versa – they praise a film/series for getting something right that is actually horribly wrong and inaccurate. Drives me batty.
Nasty and/or arrogant personal attacks on you guys when the expert opinion provider has a different opinion or taste. This REALLY chaps me and makes me want to respond with equal nastiness, but I hold back grimly to show that I’ma better person.
Everything you gals do and write is a gift. Thank you for everything. I will make one demand! Keep it up :)
I just want to say how awesome you guys are. I’ve been reading for well over a year now, and the information I’ve gotten has proven to be quite invaluable as I write my own fantasy novel! French historical dress (mens), women’s riding outfits from 1867…everything I need, I can find a jumping off point from here (and from there, I know what to search for). Hell, I had a friend who was asking what the damned ruffled collar thing was called, and through here, I was able to not only tell her, but give her a link to this blog!
Seriously, you guys are awesome!