Coming Clean: 2009 & The End of Dumb Things

[2_perseph]

General Disclaimers: 1) It needs to be said that this does not apply to all fandoms, nor across the board to the ones it does apply. 2) This is how I experienced fandom on LiveJournal, where as far as I can tell, fandom has made its home.

PREMISE OF ARGUMENTOnce upon a time, there was a movement called “Bohemian.” This movement was made up of

Comments

[kelleigh]

Six years, and I still think you're fucking brilliant, m'lady. Somehow you say things that maybe others have mentioned before, but you're putting it together in a way that makes me, fairly disillusioned with fandom of late, determined to stay and find the enjoyment I once did while still navigating around the crazies.

Do you mind if I link to this?

[2_perseph]

Hiii Kelleeeeee. It's always so good to cuddle up next to you. *sigh*

Yes, definitely, link away. And thank you. It's a new year- I have fresh hopes for Fandom vs. the Crazies.

[2_perseph]

Thank you for the lovely New Year's wishes!

All the constant negativity, as far as I've seen, seems to come from t a constant frustration with not getting what they want from the outside world, whether it's from the actors or from the creators.

I constantly want to say, let it go, and just enjoy fandom.

[elaur]

Finally someone has had the guts to say it. Or at least the interest. I have had a checkered past in regards to fandom -- I've never been attached to it as a phenomenon per se. Just dove in where it was the hottest for me :D. But yes, I have to say, I probably would have stayed longer in certain fandoms if the scary fangirls hadn't made the good stuff dry up. (Either from sheer obnoxiousness and stupidity, or by the fascism you mentioned.)

And the GODFORSAKEN CELEBRITY WORSHIP! That's what gets me. It makes me want to VOMIT. And it's worse than just worship, like back in the day girls did with the Beatles or something. It's insidious and cold-hearted--more like stalking than "worship". If the object of their obsession is not behaving in a way that is "acceptable" *cough*OrlandoBloom'sclosetedhomosexuality*cough* they rip them apart. WTF is that? Batshit is what it is.

[2_perseph]

Yes, and I think the more a majority of us move aside and let them continue, the more space they'll own in our world. That's a thought I just can't stand.

So many comm mods try to keep the crazies out, or force them to develop basic manners while interacting in the comm, but as a whole I think we can actually help ourselves in fandom by not keeping silent in our own LJs when someone is making us ALL look bad.

[elaur]

Um. Your icon... *sweats*

[2_perseph]

Yeah. It's squishy over here, too.

[shrinetolust]

I've drifted away so much from fandom that I didn't actually realize how crazy it had gotten until I started to pick up on the Torchwood and Supernatural fandom links with creators. And while it seemed cool with SPN at first, a funny ha-ha moment, now it's starting to make me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed

[2_perseph]

You know, all that tinhattery and all around madness would be fine if they would just keep it in the family, so to speak. Be as crazy as you want--isn't that why you got an LJ? And we can handle you in here--but don't take it outside. And believe me, I've seen it up close and personal, sitting in the Supernatural panels at Comic Con for three years running. It gets worse every year. Many different types of fans are there, but you can always tell the ones from LJ. Even the other fans (male and female) are like wtf?

I think like everyone else I felt overwhelmed and helpless in the face of the madness. But now I feel quite rejuvenated. *eg* I'm over my shocked terror of them and am quite ready to take them on, all year long. Did you ever read Harry Potter? I just started. And I learned a new spell. When a dementor is coming towards you, you hold out your wand and with a flick of your wrist, you say, Riddikulus. And that turns them into.. I don't know.. floating pink elephants or something. Anyway, I'm gonna give it a try this year.

[shrinetolust]

I wanted to go to an SPN convention that came to Chicago recently, mostly just to set my eyes on Misha. *heart flutters* But hubby stared at me like I'd lost my mind, and I knew I didn't want to go into the den of lions alone...heh. I've never been to a fan con of any kind, so I only know what I've seen on TV. :P And what you've posted, of course!

And it's true. I don't tell my neighbors or my family about my fandom activities, because they just wouldn't understand. And I don't need them to. It would be nice to have a fannish friend in RL, but I don't need to impose it on people it's just not for.

I have read Harry Potter, and loved it to bits. And I just started giggling like mad about "Riddikulus", because that is so perfect. And it turns Alan Rickman into someone's grandmother, as I recall...*snerk* Which is just about as seriously as these folks should be taken. I'm glad you feel ready to take the nuts on...I'm still a-skeered. :P *squish*

[ladymalen]

I should probably make a longer reply, but to me it all boils down to this. Anything that is 'underground' or outside the norm/main loses it's inherent coolness when it starts getting popular. Be it a type of music, a style of dress, or something a liquid as fandom. Once it becomes something everyone wants a piece of, it's already dying.

[2_perseph]

Sure, but it's the difference between a type of fad, even if it's initially underground, and a mental place of being. The only comparison I can think of are speakeasys (as lazar_grrl once described it), or underground resistance movements. Fandom existed in disparate places and all the internet did was connect it. But now I think it's suffering from a lack of an articulated identity, or something. It's like saying, I'm a Democrat. Generally, everyone knows what that means, and knows what you won't be doing come election time, e.g. campaigning for Republicans.

[shrinetolust]

I'm sorry, you must stop using these sexy icons...we're drowning in our own drool over here!

*gurgle*

[2_perseph]

I have to share the pain! *angsts*