If you find a site where you feel this story would be appropriate, and post it, could you let us know, so those enjoying it could continue reading?

Yours,

JohnBobMead

The work you put into your stories makes them well worth reading, and I look forward to all that you have placed on this site so far. However I tend to wait to the end of a series before reading otherwise I find myself having to reread chapters to regain that sense of where I was in the story. As an aside this most likely means that I will not read a certain story with the chapter count above a thousand as I know I will never have enough time to catch up.

If you story does not continue here would it be on your own site? or perhaps Fictioner? or only for sale?

If you want to post it to Fictioneer, even just switch over in the middle and start posting there, it's fine with me. I created Fictioneer to have a little more room for things, like non-tg stories, that people might not feel were appropriate for BC. The commenting standards there are more liberal, too; I don't remove things for just being unfriendly.

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

Maybe put it on your own site?

Rose

I must say I'm very disappointed to hear that. I was VERY much enjoying that story. You told it very well and it involves subject matter that interests me greatly. I was sad when I stopped seeing postings for it and now it's gone altogether?

I don't appreciate that a couple of jerks stopped you from posting it. I was very much invested in the characters. Don't let a bunch of immature and rude people stop you from posting your material. It's a TG story, this is a TG site... I don't really know what other criteria you're missing.

So it's not some sappy happy lovey dovey tale involving a voluntary change and the main character gets a fluffy kitten to hug and cuddle. It's a darker story and it's a legitimate story and a REALLY well written one. People need to grow up.

Please, post it somewhere. Make it available. I know I'm not the only one who enjoyed that story. I really want to finish it.

I didn't think it was a mistake. The protagonist is living a different sex then they were born, so I think it fits the theme of the site. Sure, it's not all unicorns and rainbows, as some have described some stories here, but that's not a bad, thing, and many stories here lack those, too. I read the chapter you posted this morning, and clicked the kudo button because it was well written and interesting. I'm sorry to see it gone.

I do hope you find a place you're comfortable posting it, and let us know where, so we can follow it there.

Wire was one of the only stories I looked forward to reading and wondered why it had taken so long for you to post. It wasn't your normal TG story, but it had substance. A lot of TG stories don't, mine included and I realize this site has readers looking to escape reality and when a story such as this is posted, it jolts them back to reality. A story such as this takes them out of their soft fuzzy cocoon and reminds them that things like this really happen in the world. History is not to be forgotten or we'll end up repeating the same mistakes. A good author is able to make a person part of the story and as I read this story I would become very uneasy with where it was going, but that was the reality of Germany during the war years. Please keep us informed if you decide to post it or sell it elsewhere, Arecee

Nancy,

Please bring the story back,it is one that i was really looking forward to every new chapter that came along,

As Erin said post it on Fictioneer, I for one will read and comment favorably on it

Hugs Roo

ROO

I join the many others at being dismayed by your decision, and it's so sad that you should be subjected to such pressure. I can only guess at the negative feedback you’ve received; certainly the public comments have been somewhat filtered. You don’t owe them a thing—you don’t owe anybody anything except yourself, for your fine writing.

It staggers me that people will criticize a story, a book, a movie or TV show …when all they need to do is stop reading! (or stop watching). The idea that an author or creator should pander to every sensibility is, sadly, a form of censorship.

I’m not a fan of furry characters so I’m certainly not going to read those stories; even if I did, what would I post? “How dare you write a story about characters I don’t care for—that I chose to read anyway?”

There is a knee-jerk reaction to Nazism that transcends the evil and outrages of that era. It blinds people to the substance or issue; some people are so sensitized that the moment the words ‘Hitler’ or ‘Nazi’ appear, all rational discussion ends. If we are so traumatized by the mere words that we are blind to the reality--the causes, the mindset, the "How could it happen?" of it all--it may happen again, under different names.

As to "The Other Side of the Wire," readers that are upset should try applying the substitution test: Instead of Germany, substitute the planet Anduron. Instead of Nazis, substitute the green-skinned Brangis. Make it a science-fiction story, and the discussion will be over the plot, characters, and issues, as it should be. The “How Dare You!” discussion disappears.

...of course, then there will be people who comment that Brangis are not really green ...

But I join others in wanting to know where the complete story can be found, and please keep writing your wonderful stories!

Just let people know whether you are putting it on sale or put somewhere else. Just to let you know there are people with more critical thinking abilities than others here who are only looking for fluff.

Nothing against Sue Brown who delights in writing wonderful positive light story, which I like a lot but there is room for other aspects and reality of the human condition.

Kim

I have to second (and maybe even third, fourth, etc.) what the other commenters have posted allready.

The main protagonist, Hannah, is a boy living as a girl. So the TG element is there, and the place of OSW here on BCTS is rightfull. Given that, this story belongs here on BCTS!!

If some people can not keep their comments within the guidlines set forth by Erin et.al., as owner and operators of this website, that is NOT your problem or responsability. They need to be warned, deleted and stopped! Not you, a conscientous and serious author, who invests a WHOLE LOT of time in research to make sure that the context of the story is as historicaly accurate as possible!!!

If the commenters can not refrain from flaming "half the world", I understand that there is a possibility of turning the comment feature off!

As others have also stated before me, real life is note all the color of roses. As a matter of fact, the plants producing all those beautifull roses (an alegory for lovey dovey fluf) is full of thorns! I distinctly remember pricking my fingers and hands on the roses we gave my mom for mothers day when I was a small child. And it just did not make sense to me, that such a nasty flower was supposed to be the symbol of love. ;-)

So if some people do not like how the author has developed the plot line in the story, it is the responsability of the READER to stop reading what THEY do not like! NOT of the author to remove from many what few do not like!

If a few commenters, who can not be civil, cause many of us to miss out on the enjoyment of the wonderfull work of a serious and conscientous author, that means in my book that THEY are engagin in bullying and mobing (a seriously UN-friendly behaviour).

My personal opinion is that even in fiction there is a place for serious, thought provoking writing. All of us have our personal bias on how we like to see the world. One commonality most of us share is a gender non-conformity, and the struggle we have with getting accepted. Well the time from 1933 to 1945 in Germany was analogous, in that if you did not conform to the mainstream, you not only risked non-acceptance but also you very life.

Maybe it might be helpfull to re-listen to the Pete Seeger songs "My Name Is Liza Kalvelage" and "Last Train To Nuremberg" both from the album "A Link in the Chain" by Pete Seeger.

So, please Nancy, post this very important story "The Other Side of the Wire" (and others set during the same time period) here on BCTS. Or, at the very least, post a link where we can go to read your stories.

Jessica

Nancy -- As someone who's had more than her fair share of reading the history of Germany leading into WW2 and the propaganda films of the era, I can honestly say I am NOT in any way, shape of form offended by the story, or where you've been taking it.

This is a time where millions were going hungry, inflation was wildly out of control, and along comes this charismatic psychopath who had this delusion of him becoming ruler of the world.

People didn't know that Hitler was coached extensively by actors and other advisers who taught him how to hold a mass audience spellbound through broad gestures and the way he spoke.

This story as far as *I'm* concerned belongs here at BCTS, and had I lived in Germany at the time, I would've been one of those put in extermination/concentration camps wearing a uniform with either a pink or black triangle on it -- maybe even both.

So what if people are disturbed about where you're taking little Hannah? That's what this story is supposed to do! This story is no different that watching one of the most disturbing horror movies of all time -- Jesus Camp, even though it's a documentary!

When I saw OSW Chapter 9 disappear, I was worried I had somehow offended you with my critique regarding the pagan traditions of the winter solstice being stolen by the early Christian church. If this was part of the reason why you pulled it, I deeply and humbly apologize, because that wasn't my intention whatsoever.

If you find somewhere to post the story, I do hope you will at least post a link to it here - so those of us who want to see where you take things, can follow the story. Your characters are engaging, the setup is strong. The time in history has so much - both good and bad - I really looked forward to reading the story. (I've been looking for a new chapter for a while.)

I won't say I expected to have "fun" reading all of it. But then, I din't have "fun" in several other stories I've read and was glad I read. (Authors include Leon Uris, James Michner and Piere Boulle come to mind...)

Thank you for sharing as much as you did of the story. I DO believe it was appropriate here. But, I also think I understand your decision. If there were some way to post it, without comment (that there is) and to preclude Attack PMs over it as well... *sighs*

I will miss the story. Thank you for explaining. I am so sorry people could accept the story/time for what it was.

Anne

P.S. I wonder what many of the detractors think about the American Concentration Camps of WWII... Where Asians (primarily Japanese) were rounded up and interred for the duration...

That's sad to hear Nancy, but it's your story. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to read, but it was comeplling and had much value. If the firestorm of discussion is the concern, perhaps Erin can just turn off the comments and only allow kudos and read counts.