Feeling a bit out a touch...
After weaving my little way around this interesting net, I have come to some interesting conclusions, if you don't mind a bit of back story. To make a long explanation short, I am a Doctor Who fan (If you haven't noticed that by now, I'll be forced to hit you with something), however, I'm not the rabid kind. In fact, I haven't seen many episodes of it, though I have read many of the books. On a lark, I started searching around this fine web of ours to see if there were any others who shared my love for the insane show (ha ha ha...). Well, I certainly found sites, live-journal communities, everything a devoted fan could wish for. But nearly all of them had something in common.
They were all arguing.
It was a free-for-all! Some people liked the first doctor best, some the tenth, others the fifth...and don't get me started on his companions! There was companion bashing all across the board; some thought that Rose, a tenth doctor era character should come back, and others thought she was a 'Mary Sue'*, and both sides were delving into the fight with relish. Now, I don't mind a bit of debate over a common-loved subject, but some of these posts/writings/conversations were just nasty, not just towards the character, but towards the people who held the opinions. It reminded me slightly of a political campaign, but even more personal. And the truly sad part of it all is: this is over a television show!
My only question is: is it something in human nature to take any other opinion over anything as a threat to whatever they hold sacred, god, object, or fandom? It certainly seems that way, based on the fans of Doctor Who.
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It occurs to me that the people doing the postings etc. have allowed the fan-dom to take over their lives, and not in a healthy way. Sometimes, having a love of creation, even if it's not your own, can allow a person to try new things, get to know people, and to grow. It's almost like a trellis for morning glories. I've never really had the overwhelming worship, probably due to having my own creations as my personal crutch, but I can say at least in my case it is fun to enjoy a creation along with others. But...this arguing...it just doesn't seem worth it. Everyone has separate opinions, even over a television show, and they should be respected as opinions, not as calls to flame wars.
The really sad part of all this: I'm just as bad when it comes to my own worlds
And I'm defrosting flounder on our dryer.
Whatta world.
*The sad part is, I'm not too sure what that means...
They were all arguing.
It was a free-for-all! Some people liked the first doctor best, some the tenth, others the fifth...and don't get me started on his companions! There was companion bashing all across the board; some thought that Rose, a tenth doctor era character should come back, and others thought she was a 'Mary Sue'*, and both sides were delving into the fight with relish. Now, I don't mind a bit of debate over a common-loved subject, but some of these posts/writings/conversations were just nasty, not just towards the character, but towards the people who held the opinions. It reminded me slightly of a political campaign, but even more personal. And the truly sad part of it all is: this is over a television show!
My only question is: is it something in human nature to take any other opinion over anything as a threat to whatever they hold sacred, god, object, or fandom? It certainly seems that way, based on the fans of Doctor Who.
-
It occurs to me that the people doing the postings etc. have allowed the fan-dom to take over their lives, and not in a healthy way. Sometimes, having a love of creation, even if it's not your own, can allow a person to try new things, get to know people, and to grow. It's almost like a trellis for morning glories. I've never really had the overwhelming worship, probably due to having my own creations as my personal crutch, but I can say at least in my case it is fun to enjoy a creation along with others. But...this arguing...it just doesn't seem worth it. Everyone has separate opinions, even over a television show, and they should be respected as opinions, not as calls to flame wars.
The really sad part of all this: I'm just as bad when it comes to my own worlds
And I'm defrosting flounder on our dryer.
Whatta world.
*The sad part is, I'm not too sure what that means...