Okay, see, this basically confirms for me (with a bit more clarification than before) what I suspected about the consensus of opinion on the "gen" label (which is not a bad thing, I'm rather glad to be less confused :D) So, to many people "gen" means a story that doesn't focus on any of the CANON relationships, either (Daniel/Sha're, Teal'c/Ishta, etc.) in the course of the story, even to the degree to which they've been portrayed on the show. To me, I think I expect "gen" to mean "canonesque", or, something that could easily be approved for an actual script on the show. Something that is both plotty and has a degree and amount of character interaction or relationship that does not step outside of the established canon (meaning, if you were writing during the Sam/Pete months, the whole story wouldn't be about them going on a date and waking up together, but it might include a snatch of breakfast with a brief comment about the night before and a kiss goodbye before the mission, or Jack going back to save Sam (or Daniel) when he really should have handled the situation differently but just couldn't do the rational thing over the emotional, or Daniel having a storyline involving mainly having flashbacks due to something in the plot and emoting over Sha're) Which really does make sense why "gen" can carry the reputation of being fans who are "anti-ship" (and most often anti-S/J, because that's the most constantly present one to be dealt with, since they're part of the core team).
But I think, then, much of the controversy is coming between this discrepency in definition.
Often, anti-S/J folk feel that the 'shippiness has been "forced" on the show, and so they don't really accept it as part of canon. That's fine. However, whether you feel it worked or was contrived or either or both, it WAS put there on the show, and is part of canon. There are no universes in which Sam and Daniel were married or engaged.:) But I do think the fact it was THERE, like it or not, makes it canon, whereas many other 'ships are complete subtext. Even most hardcore Sam/Janet 'shippers won't try to convince you TPTB meant it to be there.:)
I tend to avoid "gen", because, truly, a story isn't that interesting to me if there isn't some deep connection between the characters who are going through the adventure. This does NOT need be sexual in nature, deep friendship is fine, but the minute you focus on the friendship, someone will inevitably start screaming UST, just as you said about hugs between Jack and Daniel, etc..
This was why, when I created GateShip, the only thing I required was that the stories include or focus on some kind of 'ship between the characters, be it friendship, teamship, whatever. Because that's what interest me or holds me to a story (on screen, as well). (This does NOT mean, I have anything AGAINST stories without these features, just that they're not my personal favorite).
And, fear not, I will continue to label my fic as UST.:) Everyone should be able to find the fic that suits them best and enjoy it.:)
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But I think, then, much of the controversy is coming between this discrepency in definition.
Often, anti-S/J folk feel that the 'shippiness has been "forced" on the show, and so they don't really accept it as part of canon. That's fine. However, whether you feel it worked or was contrived or either or both, it WAS put there on the show, and is part of canon. There are no universes in which Sam and Daniel were married or engaged.:) But I do think the fact it was THERE, like it or not, makes it canon, whereas many other 'ships are complete subtext. Even most hardcore Sam/Janet 'shippers won't try to convince you TPTB meant it to be there.:)
I tend to avoid "gen", because, truly, a story isn't that interesting to me if there isn't some deep connection between the characters who are going through the adventure. This does NOT need be sexual in nature, deep friendship is fine, but the minute you focus on the friendship, someone will inevitably start screaming UST, just as you said about hugs between Jack and Daniel, etc..
This was why, when I created GateShip, the only thing I required was that the stories include or focus on some kind of 'ship between the characters, be it friendship, teamship, whatever. Because that's what interest me or holds me to a story (on screen, as well). (This does NOT mean, I have anything AGAINST stories without these features, just that they're not my personal favorite).
And, fear not, I will continue to label my fic as UST.:) Everyone should be able to find the fic that suits them best and enjoy it.:)