My first trip to WDW and DH's first time being arrested (Dec 2009)

[DisneyLurker]

I am a longtime lurker who has never posted, but this TR and the debate surrounding it has driven me to come out.

RigLee, it is evident that you have many people who are whole-heartily enjoying your trip report and would love for you to continue writing it. Much to your cheerleaders' delight, it seems as though you will. Good for you.

However, those who do not believe in its validity have a right to say so.

For those who don't care whether it is fiction or non-fiction, tell the same thing to the readers who shelled out money for James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, and other works of fiction that were presented as non-fiction. It's dishonest.

Some have said that RigLee never said this TR was real. Well, no one begins a TR with a disclaimer that the contents that follow are real. It is implied. Apparently, there were enough things about this TR for people to question its validity. There are a number of things that makes this story read as if it is just that, a story. The minutia of detail, the word-for-word dialogue; just the style and voice in which it is written.

For those who read the TR for pure entertainment value, this is like getting a free ebook without the expense of buying a Kindle. Read and enjoy. For those who are looking for more than Disney Fan Fiction, they should probably look somewhere else.

 

[norybell]

I am a longtime lurker who has never posted, but this TR and the debate surrounding it has driven me to come out.

RigLee, it is evident that you have many people who are whole-heartily enjoying your trip report and would love for you to continue writing it. Much to your cheerleaders' delight, it seems as though you will. Good for you.

However, those who do not believe in its validity have a right to say so.

For those who don't care whether it is fiction or non-fiction, tell the same thing to the readers who shelled out money for James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, and other works of fiction that were presented as non-fiction. It's dishonest.

Some have said that RigLee never said this TR was real. Well, no one begins a TR with a disclaimer that the contents that follow are real. It is implied. Apparently, there were enough things about this TR for people to question its validity. There are a number of things that makes this story read as if it is just that, a story. The minutia of detail, the word-for-word dialogue; just the style and voice in which it is written.

For those who read the TR for pure entertainment value, this is like getting a free ebook without the expense of buying a Kindle. Read and enjoy. For those who are looking for more than Disney Fan Fiction, they should probably look somewhere else.

Personally, I don't hugely care whether RigLee's story is true or not, but I do agree that TRs are, by definition, intended to be nonfiction (though I have often wished some of my favorite posters here could write fictional TRs!).

I don't think the doubters (myself included) are doubting because we don't believe in true love or cowboys, but because there's an overwhelming number of cliches in this story. Which doesn't necessarily mean they're not true -- cliches are cliches for a reason, after all! -- but there is a tipping point, after which a cliche-laden story becomes completely unbelievable (whether its fiction or nonfiction).

As someone who's worked in book publishing for years (fiction and nonfiction), I would urge you, RigLee, to take some formal writing classes if you have access to any, or to study some books about writing -- The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner and Stephen King's On Writing are both excellent. You clearly have a natural sense of pacing!

 

[mr.bungle]

Maybe at the end we will be told if it was true or not?


...waiting for the DUN DUN DUN...

 

[Explodo]

MAybe these guys will show up and use the Comfy chair on her...

 

[Liberty Belle]

A little "Pop vs. Soda" enlightenment:

Now, does anyone else here call a drinking fountain a "bubbler"?

How strange Alaska is. Weird.

 

[hildyp]

This is the best trip report I've ever read

I can't wait for the next installement

 

[Mosca]

I just want to say again, I have never asked or told anybody to believe my story, if you enjoy reading it, thank you, if you don't, that is ok too. You don't have to believe something to enjoy it.

Here is what I we leave you with. My name is Lee. You can picture me to be an 80 year old woman as ohmari said, or picture me to be a 35 year old man. You can think what you want, you are free to do that, and I should be free to write this story in peace. All I ask is that you let me do that, please.

Write on, sistah!

 

[teacher2525]

amazing story

 

[kenaiwitch]

How strange Alaska is. Weird.

Alaska Is weird. I should know I live here

 

[Disneybuckeye]

wait a dern second....is that a BLUE AREA I see in MY state of LOUISIANA??? NO WAY! Someone had to have fiddled with that map because no one from Louisiana calls it "Pop". We call it a coke. You'll pull up to a gas station...."Honey, can you grab me a coke inside?" "What kind do you want?" "Dr. Pepper"




But that's a really neat map, thanks for posting!

Too funny. I am a pop girl which I should be in Cincinnati.

Lee, I am so glad Rig made it back to you. I know you were upset, but please don't ever sleep on the floor of a hotel room ever again. Way too dirty. I am sorry the reunion with his brother went so poorly. I hope the rest of you trip makes up for these problems. Looking forward to your next post.

 

[RigLee]

I know you were upset, but please don't ever sleep on the floor of a hotel room ever again. Way too dirty. QUOTE] Yeah, I kind of lost my common sense that night.
thank you this made me laugh, I think if I head read in sombodys trip report that they slept on the hotel floor I would have been like, EW!

 

[kenaiwitch]

I think I would have been worried and crying myself sick. I would have been right there with! but yeah eek

 

[jwwi]

Very interesting TR, thanks for writing Lee.

 

[Cayenne]

First let me say that I come from that little tiny pink-ish square in central northern OK. I called it Coke until I moved to WA - now, no one gets that I might not want a Coke even if I say Coke, so I've resorted to saying soda because 'pop' sounds weird to me. Like a kind of music.

Second, I'm sorry, but I have to comment on the comment about Lee's writing skill not matching her age. I am fifteen, and am often mistaken on the internet for someone much older. Although I'm not familiar with Risky Business myself, I think it's incredibly silly that SOME young people not knowing it, is considered a valid reason to doubt the truth of someone's words because they're young and they do. Also, the age of a person's parents has a lot to do with the sort of things they know. My mother was thirty-five and my father fourty-three when I was born, so I know about a lot of older things (movies, music, books) that other kids my age have no clue about. (The day I said something about Gilligan's Island and a classmate described back Lost to me, or when I mentioned Cats and the same classmate asked me what that was about come to mind).

Third, this is actually probably an argument for the other side, but there are actually LOTS of very talented fiction writers who happily put their work on the internet for free, especially when it involves copyrighted subjects. There are lots of amazing writers on 'Fanfiction.net' where stories are published using the plots or characters of an already published work. It's worth checking out, anyway - there's some good Disney stories around, I believe!

Finally, Lee, I'm loving this TR! I believe you, and I hope you don't let these people doubting you get you down! Enjoy the process of writing, even though I'm sure it must be hard for you to write about some of it. Consider it free (if controversial) therapy. I'm rooting for you!

 

[tankgirl427]

Off topic of whether the story is true or not... don't care its a good story either way.

But Lee this Big Brother is intense and so good! I can't wait to hear what you thought of tonight's episode.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I just spent the last 2 plus hours here. All I can say is wow! Fact or fiction, I don't care. I just want to hear more. I'm a romantic at heart so I am truly enjoying this TR.

 

[tinkgurl]

Wow, I felt like I was right there with you in the room all by yourself Lee. You describe things so well. You really should write books. And I'm so glad Rig made it back. Did he say how it was in jail?

 

[mousetravel]

I am a longtime lurker who has never posted, but this TR and the debate surrounding it has driven me to come out.

RigLee, it is evident that you have many people who are whole-heartily enjoying your trip report and would love for you to continue writing it. Much to your cheerleaders' delight, it seems as though you will. Good for you.

However, those who do not believe in its validity have a right to say so.

For those who don't care whether it is fiction or non-fiction, tell the same thing to the readers who shelled out money for James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, and other works of fiction that were presented as non-fiction. It's dishonest.

Some have said that RigLee never said this TR was real. Well, no one begins a TR with a disclaimer that the contents that follow are real. It is implied. Apparently, there were enough things about this TR for people to question its validity. There are a number of things that makes this story read as if it is just that, a story. The minutia of detail, the word-for-word dialogue; just the style and voice in which it is written.

For those who read the TR for pure entertainment value, this is like getting a free ebook without the expense of buying a Kindle. Read and enjoy. For those who are looking for more than Disney Fan Fiction, they should probably look somewhere else.

RigLee, Is this you??? New Dis'er, 1st post.....

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

Wow! I just found your TR but by jolly you are a great writer. One of the best introductions I've read in a TR! I'm going back to catch up on the rest!

 

[huey duey & luey]

Disney Lurker,
I believe the moderator repectively asked that the fact or fiction debate end. Please don't dredge it back up and get the thread closed.
Thanks