obs or stories ?

[countless]

Just wanted to know ...

[tma]

I'm kind of picky. I really like good writing.

So obs by good writers are Awesome. I love where I can "hear" what is going on in the person's head and if they have good descriptions and such. The whole "internal dialogue" thing is fun.

I personally can't write an ob worth anything. So I never do.

When I "re-play" an obs.... it is replayed more as a feeling then a "play by play" and is Really hard for me to discribe.

Whereas if I am writing a story I can slow the "action" down until I have the description and the sound a Lot closer to how I have it in my head.

Not sure if that makes any sense, but...

[atchoum]

Interesting poll. At the beginning of the forum I tried to persuade the moderators to separate observations and stories, because I don't think it's a good idea to mix fact and fiction, but it seems to be working out well enough as the two varieties are clearly labelled.

I prefer observations, just as I prefer clips or films of real sneezes. Acted sneezes and stories about sneezing are all right, but it's nothing like the real thing - fact often wilder than fiction!

As to whether most of the observations are made up, well, the though hadn't really crossed my mind. I don't think they are. I know when I write accounts of sneezes I've seen, I try to be as accurate as I can, so that others can get some of the thrill I felt at the time. Probably others who post observations do the same.

[Niceguy]

I can't vote on the first part, because the answer is "It depends."

There are boring obs and mindblowing obs.

Fictions can be better, unless they're really long (with no sneezy scenes in the beginning) and you're not interested in all the back ground stuff.

I've read obs & fics I've liked, and obs & fics I felt indifferent about.

As for the second part - real life beats reading a obs/fic any time!

[Sneesee]

Well, this was a difficult poll, because I do like both stories and observations a lot. But for some reason, I tend to read every single observation I can, perhaps knowing that it really happened makes it that much more exciting! And I don't think most observations are made up. I know that when I write one, it definitely was a real event. I save my made up stuff for my stories!

I also prefer live to reading about stuff. There's nothing like seeing someone sneeze right in front of you! It's still kind of fun reading about them, too, though, and letting my imagination run wild. But, I would definitely rather see it live!

[vote_for_pedro]

Tough call on both questions. I voted for liking stories over obs, but I'm like tma about being picky. I like the option about obs being invented. *hehe* I don't think most obs are invented, but there's a few, especially self obs, that sound like someone is trying to star in their own porno. Those annoy me. But I've bitched enough about those in the blogs section.

For second question, I voted that I like both. Generally I prefer the real thing, but I don't have Sneesee's amazing luck for witnessing this stuff! So if someone wants to tell me about it, I'll happily take it.

[Bondi]

I can enjoy either one as long as they are written well.

[Aisha]

Interesting poll! I prefer obs every time. I think knowing it really happened makes all the difference. When I read an ob, I never know where it is going or what to expect. Real life is full of bizzare twists and I like suprises! Many fics I have read are either predictable, or fail by trying too hard to create a perfect 'fantasy' situation. The story then becomes unrealistic and less enjoyable. But maybe I just haven't read a good one yet...

As for the question of whether obs are made up.... I personally doubt it, though maybe some are exaggerated for the pleasure of the reader (which is fine with me!), but in the end, I actually don't think it matters whether the ob is made up, the fact that I can THINK it's real is usually good enough. With stories you know right from the start it's made up, and somehow that kills the mood for me.

Real life sneezing is usually better than reading about it....but well written obs (particularily SELF OBS!!) and some imagination can be a wonderful thing!!

[Geist]

I prefer stories, but a well-written obs that has some "meat" to it can grab my interest as well.

And for the record, I don't think that most obs are "made up." I've seen a handful in all the years I've been around that made me go "hmmm..." but most seem genuine.

~Aku

[Sneesee]

Generally I prefer the real thing, but I don't have Sneesee's amazing luck for witnessing this stuff!

He he he, I'd give my luck at witnessing some really awesome sneezes, for my hubby to induce for me like yours, VFP! Not that I'm complaining about some of the amazing stuff I've been able to witness, it's just that it would be nice to have a partner who teased me with it.

[Guest WalterDESneeze]

It was hard for me to generalize as some obs make me want to die, but stories are usually more fetish loaded.

[army-girl]

I can understand the background for this poll, but for me, well I expect different things from obs than I do from fictions. Add to that the fact that I normally take my fiction readings outside the forum, the mix between them feels unnatural for me and I fully support the claim to have them seperated *cough cough cough*.

To psychoanalyze myself a bit more, or otherwise to explain a bit more of my point of view, I avoid stories on the forum mostly because of the forum format and concept, I'd feel bad reading something and not writing what I thought about it, you know? and sometimes ("not often by the looks of it..." - she assumed you all thought) I like keeping what I think to myself

This has been my 2 cents.

[countless]

Well, very interesting to have those opinions ! Thanks for your contributions.

[sneezinglover]

I dont have a preference as long as they are written good and have good descriptions

[countless]

May I ask Countless, what your views on this are?

Sure !

Hard to decide, but I think I have a slight preference for stories - like most of you.

And I prefer the real thing too.

But, as mentioned : it all depends ...

[Guest Clare]

That's an interesting question. I guess reading wise I like stories a little better because there's a story line going along with it, that makes it more interesting but a good ob can be just as satisfying.

BUT: Between real life and reading (obs/stories) real life definetly wins, because you can really see and hear it. (no offense to any of the writers-your descriptions are amazing but it's just not the same as actually being there).

[tma]

No offense taken. I'd rather see/hear something amazing in person.

And I definately agree that I good descriptive obs can be just as fun to read as a story. The thing that does it for me with an ob is really if the person makes me feel like I'm really there, and writes their reactions or aside comments and you really get to hear their personality come through.

[Guest alohajoe77]

I like obs. but with a story, it depends who it's about.