I have been sitting on this entry for awhile. It has been whirling in the back of my mind. But I will post it with no regrets! Because these things need to be said. So feel free to comment as you'd like, anonymously or not. Say what you want. Get it all off your mind. If I don't have a suit of armor by now, then it's my own fault.
My message is:
- If you don't like something, don't do it.
- If you don't like it, move on.
- Just because it doesn't fit into your neatly packaged box of what you think is right, it doesn't mean it isn't right to someone else.
- Just because you don't see the need for something doesn't mean there's not a need for it.
I've been really happy to see that there are some people who are trying to make this fandom work--to revive it for people who have stuck around and new people who are coming in, seemingly daily! They're trying to band us all together more closely to create a really positive environment for everyone. I really respect that. Fandom needs those people. Two years ago it was like everybody was like that! Embracing people! Supporting people. What. A. Concept. Damn, fandom was so much more cohesive and friendly back then.
Oooh, I bet that makes me a Bitter Old Fanfic Queen, huh? I bet it does. Oh noes! Don't call me names! *weeps*
But then there are others who apparently don't understand this concept of creating a positive and supportive environment. I think it's because you just don't get it. If something doesn't fit into your little box, if it breaks any of your unspoken rules or doesn't fit your themes or what you think is right, you don't accept it and you actually actively campaign against it with negativity and underhanded comments. If it's associated with people you don't like, you detest it automatically. You are missing out on so much.
Don't think nobody's noticed. Even new people have noticed. Because that kind of attitude stinks and is damaging to fandom. It is also NO FUN. It's not the sole reason why people have moved on, obviously, but it is a reason. I can guarantee you it is.
Is this another "Can't everybody just play nicely?" entry? I guess we were past due for one of those. And of course, it's been proven that people can't just get along. So I would suggest that if you don't like the baseball game the kids are organizing on the block, ignore it and stick to your little sandbox where you can build canon castles that you deem acceptable.
In conclusion, I just want people to know there are still really good things going on in BSG fandom. The ones I know of off the top of my head:
bsg_epics is a great place to make fandom friends from all ships and factions of fandom. There are discussion posts daily and they're not just about writing--they're about characters and the series in general.
makebillhappy has eighteen fics up, ready to be read and commented and voted on.
dailyeddie and
dailymary have great pictures of those two... daily!
rememberlaura still has a community of active and awesome people who have great dialogue and fun with each other every day.
bsg_kink has a fun post every Friday and it is amazing because the people there are accepting and fun!
What places in BSG fandom are you enjoying? Let us know so we can go there and have fun too.
Um, thanks for reading. :)