Das Wasser soll dein Spiegel sein
Ever get embarrassed by your fandom? Like physically cringe when reading comments or watching videos from conventions and the like? I find that happening to me quite a bit lately. The Supernatural fandom is a big one. Back when it was a year or two old, I was proud to be a part of it and found it was full of some super awesome people and amazing authors. Then, as the popularity of the show grew, so to did the fandom, naturally. It started being less of an exclusive crowd and filled with, apparently adolescent females cooing over how cute Jensen and Jared are. There was a time when I could have a proper discussion with other fans about the direction of the story, the writing, and the acting of the boys without getting interrupted by someone going: "OMG! Liek, Jared was SO cute in that episode!! Lol!"
Yeah, the boys are good looking, and I'm not going to sit here and claim that I don't think they're hot and make mention of their looks from time to time, but it's not why I started watching the show (despite what some people might think) and it's not the only thing that people should focus on.
Take Norman Reedus for example (this was actually touched on in the Norman Daily community on here and I'm super happy to see people there thinking the same way). Clearly the man is good looking and clearly I've got a celebrity crush for him, but the guy is more than just his looks. He's an amazing artist (I'd be thrilled to have one of his works), an accomplished and extremely talented actor, a director, producer, and model. Obviously he's a man of many talents but whenever he puts a photo up on TwitPic or whatever other thing, the only comments I ever see are things like: "UR SO HOT!!"
Now, I'm not saying having one's looks complimented is a bad thing, quite the opposite, but I would think that at least once in a while an artist would like to hear compliments or even critisisms about their work, not genetics that they had no say in.
That's not the worst of it though, and really I wouldn't be making a big deal out of just internet comments...
Back to the Supernatural fandom, I was horrified in hearing about that one fan that actually jumped on Jensen Ackles from the escalator or the floor above or whatever. What person in their right mind has a thought process like that and goes: "You know what? That's an awesome idea!" Especially when it's no secret to the fans that he's a rather shy individual.
Or then there's the infamous "PETA" incident during whatever convention that was. Again, what kind of thought process does a person have to have that makes them think confronting a person about an organization that they support and reading off statistics about how many of the animals they save are killed. Don't you think that someone who supports that organization would know that kind of information already? And why would you go all that way and waste everyone's time by asking a question like that? What makes people think those kinds of actions are appropriate?
Maybe if you didn't realize it would upset the person, I can understand that, but it's pretty obvious when something upsets someone so in that case, why wouldn't you stop rather than continuing on?
*flail* \o/ I don't understand people sometime.
This thought actually stemmed from my watching the Q&A of the Boondock Saints Boys at Monster Mania 15 last night. It was an offhand comment that was innocent enough (the portion where the woman is asking about tattoos and then there's the joking comment of 'can you show us?' or something), but the look on Reedus' face looked like he was uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had gone. Granted Sean Patrick Flanery took it and ran with it, but it was done in a way to make light of the situation I think. Plus we all know how much he likes to tease Norman. Haha. I could also have totally misread things.
Whether I misread that situation or not, it still sparked the thought about the conduct of fans. I mean, just 'cause someone's famous why does that seem to make people think they can, or indeed have to act differently around them?
When I met Yoav for the second time after one of his shows, I was disgusted by the way some of the women would be pawing all over him, he took it like a champ though and remained polite. When it was my turn to get his signature and all I just talked to him as I would anyone else (which is stuttery and pathetic 'cause my conversation skills suck). Sure I'm nervous, but I am with anyone I meet. Yeah I ask for a picture with him, but I shake his hand and congratulate him on his new album. I don't feel him up and scream and cry and go: "YOU'RE SO HOT!"
... WHY DO PEOPLE SCREAM AND CRY WHEN MEETING FAMOUS PEOPLE!?!
That gets capslock abuse 'cause I really can't understand that one. Who wants their idol to see them all red faced with their makeup smeared and snot running down their face?
When I met KMFDM we hung out and drank and things were good.
I'd like to think that if I ever meet the Supernatural or Boondock Saints boys it would be much the same.
Perhaps some of this embarrassment I feel could be linked to jealousy in a way, I'll admit that, but at the same time, I don't want people to think that everyone in the fandom is a complete jerk, you know? Those people who have the opportunity to meet these actors or singers, or whatever celebrity are, in effect, representing the rest of the fans. So be on your best behaviour! *fingerwag*
Yeah, the boys are good looking, and I'm not going to sit here and claim that I don't think they're hot and make mention of their looks from time to time, but it's not why I started watching the show (despite what some people might think) and it's not the only thing that people should focus on.
Take Norman Reedus for example (this was actually touched on in the Norman Daily community on here and I'm super happy to see people there thinking the same way). Clearly the man is good looking and clearly I've got a celebrity crush for him, but the guy is more than just his looks. He's an amazing artist (I'd be thrilled to have one of his works), an accomplished and extremely talented actor, a director, producer, and model. Obviously he's a man of many talents but whenever he puts a photo up on TwitPic or whatever other thing, the only comments I ever see are things like: "UR SO HOT!!"
Now, I'm not saying having one's looks complimented is a bad thing, quite the opposite, but I would think that at least once in a while an artist would like to hear compliments or even critisisms about their work, not genetics that they had no say in.
That's not the worst of it though, and really I wouldn't be making a big deal out of just internet comments...
Back to the Supernatural fandom, I was horrified in hearing about that one fan that actually jumped on Jensen Ackles from the escalator or the floor above or whatever. What person in their right mind has a thought process like that and goes: "You know what? That's an awesome idea!" Especially when it's no secret to the fans that he's a rather shy individual.
Or then there's the infamous "PETA" incident during whatever convention that was. Again, what kind of thought process does a person have to have that makes them think confronting a person about an organization that they support and reading off statistics about how many of the animals they save are killed. Don't you think that someone who supports that organization would know that kind of information already? And why would you go all that way and waste everyone's time by asking a question like that? What makes people think those kinds of actions are appropriate?
Maybe if you didn't realize it would upset the person, I can understand that, but it's pretty obvious when something upsets someone so in that case, why wouldn't you stop rather than continuing on?
*flail* \o/ I don't understand people sometime.
This thought actually stemmed from my watching the Q&A of the Boondock Saints Boys at Monster Mania 15 last night. It was an offhand comment that was innocent enough (the portion where the woman is asking about tattoos and then there's the joking comment of 'can you show us?' or something), but the look on Reedus' face looked like he was uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had gone. Granted Sean Patrick Flanery took it and ran with it, but it was done in a way to make light of the situation I think. Plus we all know how much he likes to tease Norman. Haha. I could also have totally misread things.
Whether I misread that situation or not, it still sparked the thought about the conduct of fans. I mean, just 'cause someone's famous why does that seem to make people think they can, or indeed have to act differently around them?
When I met Yoav for the second time after one of his shows, I was disgusted by the way some of the women would be pawing all over him, he took it like a champ though and remained polite. When it was my turn to get his signature and all I just talked to him as I would anyone else (which is stuttery and pathetic 'cause my conversation skills suck). Sure I'm nervous, but I am with anyone I meet. Yeah I ask for a picture with him, but I shake his hand and congratulate him on his new album. I don't feel him up and scream and cry and go: "YOU'RE SO HOT!"
... WHY DO PEOPLE SCREAM AND CRY WHEN MEETING FAMOUS PEOPLE!?!
That gets capslock abuse 'cause I really can't understand that one. Who wants their idol to see them all red faced with their makeup smeared and snot running down their face?
When I met KMFDM we hung out and drank and things were good.
I'd like to think that if I ever meet the Supernatural or Boondock Saints boys it would be much the same.
Perhaps some of this embarrassment I feel could be linked to jealousy in a way, I'll admit that, but at the same time, I don't want people to think that everyone in the fandom is a complete jerk, you know? Those people who have the opportunity to meet these actors or singers, or whatever celebrity are, in effect, representing the rest of the fans. So be on your best behaviour! *fingerwag*