About the Mark Watches Meltdown...

[annapurna_2]

I didn't join the Buffy fandom online until after the show ended, so I missed those infamous fandom wars. Not at all sorry about that.

I only recently started reading Mark Watches (off and on as I could) and enjoyed it. It was fun re-experiencing the show for the "first" time vicariously through Mark and those commenting. I usually didn't have

Comments

[zanthinegirl]

Well said. common decency toward fellow human beings has been a little thin on the ground; absurd overreaction has been the rule of the day.

I pretty much stopped reading Mark as his OTT emotionalism got a little old, but this current kerfuffle is just (to use a forbidden term!) crazy. I've been in fandom long enough to remember the Spike Wars, though I mostly just lurked at the time.

[annapurna_2]

I pretty much stopped reading Mark as his OTT emotionalism got a little old,

Heh. I originally found it amusing and even a little endearing, but that probably would have changed with time.

I've been in fandom long enough to remember the Spike Wars, though I mostly just lurked at the time.

You are obviously wise beyond your years, grasshopper! ::g::

[kathyh]

Speaking as another lurker from Spike Wars days I decided not to follow Mark Watches as I had a very strong inkling as to what would happen. Sadly I was right!

a general attempt at common decency toward fellow human beings

Yes, "do as you would be done by" seems to go out of the window when these sort of meltdowns occur. Sigh... Sorry you've had to experience this after avoiding the Spike Wars.

[annapurna_2]

Sadly I was right!

History does have a way of repeating itself, yes? ::shakes head::

Yes, "do as you would be done by" seems to go out of the window when these sort of meltdowns occur.

People do seem to get caught up in the feeding frenzy, so to speak. Mob mentality and the relative anonymity of the Internet makes it far too easy these days.

Sigh... Sorry you've had to experience this after avoiding the Spike Wars.

Thank you. But I suppose you really haven't lived until you've experienced a big kerfuffle. I guess this would qualify. Heh.

[elisi]

I stayed up late reading through the "Smashed" comments and was absolutely appalled.
You are braver than me. Well, I didn't have the time, but I don't think I would have done it anyway. Ugly, ugly stuff. I missed the original wars too, but have read enough fandom history to know how bad it was. :(

He's perfectly within his rights to ban anyone he wants to ban from his site for whatever reasons he chooses. But don't pretend that you're creating a "safe" environment for superior-minded people by doing so. Just make it easy and be honest and upfront: Anyone with differing opinions from his are simply not welcome there.
Word. I've decided to stop reading - my final comment one where I linked to The Educated Fan Girl's Guide to the Spike Wars, as well as to Derailing for Dummies, cause boy, if ever there was a poster boy...

I can try to dig out links to Arbitrar of Quality's reviews if you'd like someone else 'Watching For the First Time'. AOQ had some odd opinions, but was genuine and straightforward. And not at all emotional.

[annapurna_2]

You are braver than me.

Or just more masochistic. ::g::

my final comment one where I linked to The Educated Fan Girl's Guide to the Spike Wars, as well as to Derailing for Dummies, cause boy, if ever there was a poster boy...

Oooh, I just checked those out. Too funny! (And true.) I especially LOVE that Educated Fan Girl's Guide. lol!

I can try to dig out links to Arbitrar of Quality's reviews if you'd like someone else 'Watching For the First Time'. AOQ had some odd opinions, but was genuine and straightforward. And not at all emotional.

If it's not too much trouble, please do. I'd love to check it out! Or I could probably google it in a bit. Either way, thanks for the heads up!

[elisi]

He posted on alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (a Goggle Group) and as far as I know there's no kind of proper tagging system. (I might be wrong, but it's an old (and rather peculiar) set up, so your best bet is to quite simply google the episodes in the right order along with his user name - it should lead you straight there. TONS of comments in rot-13 with all KINDS of people (it's where I found stormwreath and enticed him onto LJ. He was just Stephen T then). Some of them horrible, some of them funny, but AOQ was never swayed by people's opinions, which was nice. And he was upfront about knowing a few spoilers, although he didn't say which. Learned how to argue in rot-13 back then. :)

[annapurna_2]

Thanks! I'll look them up.

I didn't know what rot-13 was or that it even existed before I started reading Mark Watches. I was totally mystified until I finally saw a comment answering someone's question about how to read the rot-13. lol!

[rebcake]

I'm really bummed out about the whole thing. :-/

I'm sorry it's affected you that way. Lousy interwebs, ruining people's moods. I can't say that I'm happy about people being abused and ganged up on, but I found it surprisingly easy to detach myself from it, emotionally. I've had a lot of experience with tantrums, I guess. ;-)

I get why this episode is such a game changer, now. I had always thought that it was "Seeing Red" that broke things, but people have such different interpretations of Buffy, the character, that I really don't see how the "she's really just a girl" and the "she's really The Slayer" camps can ever reconciled. Educational, really. But, bottom line, it's kind of cool that people continue to care so much about this show.

Anyway, I'd like to offer copious hugs {{{♥}}}, and anything else I can to make you feel better. Tequila shots?

[annapurna_2]

I'm sorry it's affected you that way. Lousy interwebs, ruining people's moods.

You're so sweet. :-)

But I remind myself that it's really a very small thing compared to what really counts, like that terrible tragedy in Colorado.

I can't say that I'm happy about people being abused and ganged up on,

That's what bothers me. Not that they don't like Spike or Spuffy or that they interpret things differently. It's how they responded...or didn't respond. There was one post I found especially affecting, someone who was brave enough to reveal a horrific childhood (but not in a pity-me way) and then proceed to explain why the character of Spike meant so much to her, and no one (at least at that time) bothered to acknowledge her or show compassion. Just the sound of crickets.

I'm tempted to sign up long enough to at least thank her for putting herself out there that way.

I've had a lot of experience with tantrums, I guess. ;-)

I guess there's an upside to everything! ;-)
I get why this episode is such a game changer, now. I had always

[ms_scarletibis]

I'm tempted to sign up long enough to at least thank her for putting herself out there that way.

If you're talking about Spikesjojo (and I think you are), she was sadly banned too after that ep review. I'm guessing you saw Mark's comments to her about being the worst commenter in Mark Watches history, or something along those lines (and I never understood why that was, exactly, except that he and his flunkies might very well be a gang on PCP ;).

[spikesjojo]

Banned, burned, beaten and abused - but I wrote him a letter and pointed out that he was a classic abuser - blaming his victims for forcing him to abuse them. Maybe I planted a seed. Mostly I feel sorry for someone who can't seem to grow up past the point of identifying himself as a victim and feeling that entitles him to victimize, while excusing it as being triggered.

It took me a couple of days, actually, to figure out why I wasn't able to drop it, even though I was willing. I too was an abuse victim, but I took responsibility when I was an adult, got counseling when I needed it, and medication as well. And then I devoted years to helping any kids in my life who needed it - because it made me feel good. The best revenge is living well. So why was this pissant still bugging me?

I finally realized I had something to say. I said it. I let go. Maybe I planted a seed that will someday grow into self awareness.

[rahirah]

I was lucky to get bored with the exclamation point abuse and stop reading early on. :P

[annapurna_2]

Wise woman. ::g::