aria: ([due south] smirky fraser)
valinor spider party ([personal profile] aria) wrote2009-07-01 12:00 pm

what the hell kind of name is benton

Okay, BURNING QUESTION TIME, because I'm trying to write Fraser POV things and I keep tripping over and second-guessing the damn pronouns. When in doubt, consult the internet!

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 20


When reading a Fraser POV story, I like/don't mind him referring to himself as

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Fraser
11 (57.9%)

Benton
14 (73.7%)

Ben
3 (15.8%)

When reading a Fraser POV story, I will allow, under certain circumstances and depending on the skill of the writer, him referring to himself as

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Fraser
12 (63.2%)

Benton
11 (57.9%)

Ben
9 (47.4%)

When reading a Fraser POV story, I really don't like him referring to himself as

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Fraser
4 (28.6%)

Benton
2 (14.3%)

Ben
12 (85.7%)


Me personally, 'Fraser' is invisible to me when I read it but I kind of feel weird having the guy refer to himself by his last name inside his own head when I'm writing him. My default is 'Benton' because I assume that's the name he uses in his head, and at this point when I read it, it also comes up invisible. I actually hate 'Ben' except in exceptional circumstances ie when the narrative starts when he's a child, because plenty of old friends call him Ben without it making me twitch. ('Benny' is not even an option, although if you're writing Vecchio-POV I find it mad charming.) The problem is that this makes sense to me but I imagine that 'Benton' is not invisible to other people and possibly even annoying, and having some raw numbers might be nice.
labellementeuse: a girl sits at a desk in front of a window, chewing a pencil (raise your voice)

[personal profile] labellementeuse 2009-07-01 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I am such a minority here but I HATE it when he calls himself Fraser. Maybe this is just my prejudice but people just don't do that, and I know Fraser's an alien but - argh! People do not go around thinking of themselves as their surname! No.

I actually quite like Ben but I'm comfortable with Benton. I feel that since old friends and his dad (I think?) call him Ben that's how he usually goes to his intimates and the Rays are exceptional because their primary interactions with him are all professional.

Reading your comments I know feel like I have an Unpopular Fannish Opinion. Um.