I put trashing in quotes, because I don't think that usually what we're doing...

But, when you get to the point of venom about another writer -- one that you don't know in person, so all you are objecting to is her writing, what do you think is your reason/motivation?

I ask this because the people we usually rail about are not by any means the worst writers out there: we rail about women who can write a sentence and punctuate it; women who can plot, and even tie most of the strings up at the end.

Yet, they bug us, bug us *more* than the 3rd grade dropouts that netfandom has in abundance.

Based at least partially on my own experience (there, that was vague enough), here's my guesses:

• Disappointment -- someone raved about this writer, and I read her stuff and didn't like it. So, I got my hopes up and then blamed my disappointment back directly on the writer.
• Disappointment 2 -- someone raved about this writer, and I read her stuff and didn't like it. But it's so close to the type of stories I like, it could be so good, but it's not--and when you find someone whose writing just the type of story you like (h/c, rape, elf stories, whatever), and yet you still  don't like them, it's depressing and makes you lash out.
• Wasted potential -- someone raved about this writer, and I read her stuff and didn't like it. But if she'd *just* work a little harder/take a little more time/care a little more... I think she could be great, and it pisses me off that she has more talent than most fanwriters and doesn't seem to do anything with it.
• Envy -- someone raved about this writer, and I read her stuff and didn't like it. There are only so many raves out there, and they're being wasted on this writer who isn't even any good.
• Annoyance -- someone raved about this writer, and I read her stuff and didn't like it. And, I'm annoyed that the writer is believing her press and thinks she's the best thing since sliced bread, and She. Is. Not.