In a message dated 2/14/01 3:26:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, pennydreadful@powersurfr.com writes:

<< .I speculate that perhaps Annie means it would be very difficult to accurately transcribe "body language", in comparison to speech, as a means of communication...how

would

you go about writing out the Buster Keaton movie playing in your head

(well

I know *I've* always got one rolling) to make it ROTFL amusing? Better off converting into a more dialogue-oriented format. "'X,' said Y [Z-ly]" gets the point across succinctly, if not always terrifically aesthetically; where a list of Y's bodily contortions (which in real life or a Buster Keaton movie *could* communicate "X, Z-ly" very efficiently) will have the reader skimming ahead for the next period/paragraph break/dirty word. >>

Yes, but in B7, particularly with certain characters, their behavior is certainly more communicative than any bit of dialogue. While I agree that there should be a happy medium, I personally like fiction (fanfic or other) that shows the behavior and lets the reader interpret. I find dialogue that explains everything, particularly motivation, to be implausible and it wrecks the story for me.

Morrigan "When I get a little money I buy zines; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." (apologies to Erasmus)