Why in God's name do people care about POV so much?

Point of view is a somewhat important aspect, so I can see why people spend a little time dwelling on it. The problem is that the people asking on here, want to know what other people like or what is going to sell better, instead of looking at their own strengths and weaknesses. But if this is a beginner writer who has never written a book before, they don't know their strengths and weaknesses yet. So because they don't have a preference they're asking for other people's preference instead. I honestly don't see a problem with this, as they need to start somewhere. The only way they're going to figure out which is best for them is by writing in more than one pov style anyway.

I think most questioners that ask this haven't figured out how to plan yet, so they're spending way too much time on pov, tenses, and character names, thinking that these aspects are important. And while they are important, it really isn't what should be dwelled upon the in the planning process.

There is no pov revolution, just beginner writers unsure about how to write a novel. And yes, of course they can change it later if it isn't working for them. But I think a lot of them probably believe they're going to write a great first draft that won't need much fixing.

As they gain experience, they'll begin to discover what works for them and won't need to ask.

BQ: Sorry, I don't see an issue with multiple first person point of view. Like anything else, if it's well written and executed, I think it's just as good as any. I honestly fail to see why no one else should be able to use it because you don't like it.

I cared, because I had to pair my choice of perspective with my skills in writing. I am lousy at omni. I have never tried to write one, and whole purpose of the novel I've been working on for three years is to get it published, so I'm not doing something I have no skills to do.

I also killed off 2nd person as a choice, because doing that well is harder than doing omni, and I don't know how to do that well, or even what makes it work at times.

I could have done multiple-POVs but I'm not that skilled yet either, and frankly I'm getting close to 60 years old, so practicing before doing means I may never get to the doing phase.

I chose third-person intimate along with some deep-third, because, although it is one character's story, the character is a very sheltered nine year old, so misses many queues less-sheltered and older people would catch easily. (Young and naive makes for an interesting character, but not the type of character you want telling the story. lol)

And, I chose him out of a larger cast, because he was there when most things happened, and the one time he wasn't, he is close enough to the one that it happened to that he could find out by asking.

I could have done multiple-POVs but I'm not that skilled yet either, and frankly I'm getting close to 60 years old, so practicing before doing means I may never get to the doing phase.

So, YES! It takes a lot of thinking and a lot of work to pick the right POV for the story based on who we are, our skill sets, and the story itself. It really does matter.

Just because some kids decided by conducting a poll on what others like best, doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It merely means their story won't be publishable when "finished." (And likely never to finish it too.) If you don't know why it's important, what's the difference?

And, no. Simply because you don't know anything about the basics of writing doesn't mean there's some new revolution. (You remind me of my POV character. lol) Understanding POV has been important to writers for at least 600 years. Maybe longer. (YA is a new marketing ploy, not a genre, and this has been important way before that ploy came along.)

BQ: Kathryn Stockett and her publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Feel free to write that sternly-worded letter. Who knows? Maybe they'll frame it for many more laughs. Just think. Every time someone new reads it, in the owner's office, they can laugh at you for thinking you know better than anyone else. lol

Amen, amen, and amen, Davirk. What caused it? Probably a feedback loop of crap fanfic on websites written by kiddies who've never read an actual novel, just other crap fanfic on websites.

But hey, it's not ALL obsession about POV. There's a little obsession about tense ("Tell me which tense I should write in, but don't answer anything but 'present' or I'll report you") and some about "posh middle names that mean 'something no one would ever name their child after'" too. It's not like there's no variety in the kiddies' stupidity.

Beginners all want to do first person, not comprehending how limiting that is for actual storytelling. And they do it very badly most of the time, too.