Welcome

2010-04-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

We've been berated for using 'always' at the top of our LU page. That is a banner. It was made by TwoLostRoses a while back. We appreciate the gesture and will not allow one little mistake to lower the sentiment behind it.

What are we?

We are The LU.

What is the LU?

The LU -- The Literate Union -- is a society that helps to improve the quality of stories on FanFiction that either break the rules or are poorly written. In the case of the latter, we try to help the author, bringing their piece up to standard. Difficult cases are reported to the admins.

The LU consists of both flamers and concritters; we at the LU feel that keeping an open mind and employing a wide variety of reviewing methods is the most efficient way to clean up FFnet. Some members wish to purge their favourite fandoms; some are in it for the lulz. Everyone is motivated by a different reason, but all must follow the guidelines and code of conduct of the LU.

What sort of stories do you target?

-Smut/MA/graphic

- Chat/IM/script/Truth or Dare

- Stories with poor grammar/spelling/punctuation

- Interactive stories

- Stories that advertise

- Non-chapter stories (such as A/N chapters, polls, announcements etc.)

- List stories

How does the Union work?

The Union works through emails and online communication. An accepted member gives their email to either George or Maria and they are added to the LU email contacts list. Then, every Saturday, a mass email is sent out to all members containing details of the 'AKS' or 'Ass Kicking Subject.' By using this method, we organise a massed review on a particular story, usually with positive results. If not positive, then usually some sort of Anti-LU movement is created against us.

We'll get to that.

It is not a requirement to respond to every AKS email, although some level of activity is a necessity. Members are monitored to make sure they at least respond to some emails. If, after a certain amount of emails, a user has not reviewed, they will stop receiving emails and will be told they are no longer a member.

Are there rules?

Yes. The following are the rules:

1. Restrain Yourself

Try not to be a complete and utter moron in your reviews. "OMG, your commas suck and you shud die in the pits of FI-YAH foreverMOAR!!!" is not acceptable, unless you are using satire.

While you can be as immature as you want, being on the same level as those you are reviewing just makes you look like a twat to everyone else.

Also, take into consideration that while the LU doesn't mind immaturity, people will judge you depending on your behaviour. Don't expect the people you review to take you seriously or respect you if you act like a child.

2. Good Grammar

Unless you are indulging in sarcasm, please use good grammar, capitalisation, spelling, and punctuation.

3. No Troll/Copypasta Flaming

You must always include constructive criticism in your reviews, even if you are a flamer. If you fail to read a story and integrate valid criticism into your reviews, you will be warned. If you repeatedly ignore such warnings, you will be excluded from the LU until you learn to write reviews the way we want them.

4. Make your Signature

Sign every LU review with 'LU' at the bottom. This will spread around the word of the LU, and possibly irritate those we are reviewing in the process. Note, this is only for emailed subjects and the like. Anyone you review in your own time does not need a signature at the bottom if you do not wish for it.

So...uh, what was that 'Anti-LU Movement' thing you mentioned earlier?

The LU is controversial by nature and having stories deleted is hardly going to win friends amongst fandoms. Quite often we find ourselves against a collection of people who wish to destroy the LU.

Whilst we try to remain serious in our attempts to clean up FFnet, we are still human. Hate groups amuse us, as does hate mail. We like to fight. We like to debate. We like to argue. We love to prove you wrong. Hate mail is shared amongst us to laugh at and we eagerly await the next group of people to try and take us down.

Bear in mind that the LU is a close community. We talk at the LU forum and have made friends with other members. Attack one of us, attack all of us. If you post a hate story/hate group/revenge flame/hate mail, don't be surprised if you suddenly find a large number of flamers and concritters at your digital door wanting to get in on the fun.

Interested in joining?

Contact us here: Georgasaurus, Bitter Sea Light, or drop by at The Literate Union forum for more information. If you wish to join, PM us with your reasons for wanting to join.

If you have any questions, don't ask them in the comments! We can't reply to them here.