------------------------------------------------------------- | 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: majordomo@neylonpc.engin.umich.edu with the message "subscribe dibslist []" 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 (stephenratliff@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 ****************************************************************