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to preface, I am a proponent of the "just let them fuck" dynamic in fic/art, but I noticed something weird about ao3 tagging in this fandom today: thread
if you're unfamiliar with the logic of ao3 tags, the tagging system allows for ao3 tag wranglers to mark 2 or more tags as "synonyms" of each other.
let's take the example of "coffeeshop au" and "café au" and assume the tag wranglers have marked them as synonyms
let's take the example of "coffeeshop au" and "café au" and assume the tag wranglers have marked them as synonyms
if you tag your work "coffeeshop au" it will show up when ao3 users filter by "café au".
if you tag your work "café au" it will show up when ao3 users filter by "coffeeshop au".
this is useful! bc most people agree that coffeeshops = cafés
if you tag your work "café au" it will show up when ao3 users filter by "coffeeshop au".
this is useful! bc most people agree that coffeeshops = cafés
as an... observation, there is a lot of disagreement in the english-language fandom about whether "bjyx" as a tag for fic/art should refer to "ship with xz and yb" or "ship where wyb tops xz"
like, a LOT of disagreement lmao
like, a LOT of disagreement lmao
BUT, and here is the important thing, the ao3 tags as they are currently wrangled don't reflect this disagreement.
on ao3, "bjyx" has been wrangled as a synonym of "top wyb / bottom xz"
why does this matter? I'm so glad you asked
on ao3, "bjyx" has been wrangled as a synonym of "top wyb / bottom xz"
why does this matter? I'm so glad you asked
when you filter by "top wyb / bottom xz", ao3 does NOT only show you works tagged "top wyb / bottom xz"!
ao3 ALSO shows you works tagged with any of its synonyms as defined by ao3 tag wranglers... including "bjyx"
ao3 ALSO shows you works tagged with any of its synonyms as defined by ao3 tag wranglers... including "bjyx"
I can see how it's frustrating to have a tag that literally spells out the t/b dynamic ("top wyb / bottom xz") but it's bound to a tag ("bjyx") that other ppl use to refer to the entire ship.
it actually makes it impossible to filter by t/b dynamic despite the tag existing!
it actually makes it impossible to filter by t/b dynamic despite the tag existing!
two different possible resolutions for the situation:
everyone stops using "bjyx" for the general ship, and only uses "bjyx" for a specific t/b dynamic
or
contact ao3 tag wranglers requesting that "bjyx" is no longer marked as a synonym of "top wyb / bottom xz"
everyone stops using "bjyx" for the general ship, and only uses "bjyx" for a specific t/b dynamic
or
contact ao3 tag wranglers requesting that "bjyx" is no longer marked as a synonym of "top wyb / bottom xz"
maybe there are other potential solutions? I don't know.
what's the right solution? I have my opinion, but I'm mostly a spectator since I have very little skin in the game: I don't write fic and I don't try to filter fics I read based on who tops.
what's the right solution? I have my opinion, but I'm mostly a spectator since I have very little skin in the game: I don't write fic and I don't try to filter fics I read based on who tops.
mostly I just thought the ao3 tag synonyms thing was interesting and wanted to clear up some confusion I've seen around that point. sorry for the thesis and thanks for reading 
