meta post summary
Ok, so it turns out that on some level I can't stand the idea of collecting so much data and not trying to summerize at least a little. If anyone else has been crazy enough to wade through that post and wants to help, no objections whatsoever on this end! (ok, so if you don't want to admit having read through the whole thing. help with parts).
So it seems that we're about done. I've still got to reply to a couple of people (which might keep things going a little bit longer), but essentially, no new comments for the past 24 hours, so I think i can safely post this up now.
So, from this extremely small (though it doesn't feel that way!), non-random, snowball sample of JE fandom, it seems that:
Most but not all Akame fans who answered read fic with other pairings to some degree; those who do not cited reasons of personal preference. [This is the answer to the main question, in case you didn't get that.]
People are percieved as being fans of certain pairings by others. (Nikki did not expect this in the least. She wishes she were kidding). Based on what criteria, Nikki's not exactly sure. Definitions of what it means to be a 'fan' may vary widely.
People don't like to be put in boxes, or have assumptions made about them based on little or no evidence (Nikki says: well duh).
Inside jokes and sarcasm can often be lost on people not privy to that insider knowledge and can create unfavourable opinions of other 'groups' which may or may not be as cohesive as they're assumed to be.
Some fans do worry that they may have been taken seriously when joking good naturedly with friends in public spaces.
There seems to be some kind of perceived opposition between Pin and Akame which is very much salient to most (if not all) of those who answered. Everyone seemed to comment, however, with how they don't feel that way about the other side, it's just that the other side seems to feel that way about them. So. There is a perception of opposition (with pro-Akame people being assumed to automatically be anti-Pin, and pro-Pin people being assumed to automatically be anti-Akame), but no one says they're purposefully responsible for it. Apparently, no one is entirely sure where these perceptions come from, everyone seems to have an awareness of them to some extent, and no one wants to cause them.
Pin fans are especially perceived to be anti-Kame; conversely, Akame fans are especially percieved to be anti-Pi. There is some general bitterness on all sides due to unpleasant previous personal experiences. People who have been labeled 'pin' fans by others and who do not really see themselves as pin fans primarily are upset that they have to 'prove' to new people that they don't necessarily have negative opinions of Kame or Akame; Akame fans are upset that they're assumed to be boring, or less intelligent, or more closeminded than other fans simply because they have a preference for Akame, and seem to feel the need--on occassion--to defend their in-group against hostile others in the rest of fandom.
Speculation (both from inside and out) on the motivations of some akame fans runs the gamut from psychological reasons (ie, they're attracted to the romantic fairytale ideal, they believe in the reality of akame, there is a need to protect kame) to anthropological/sociological reasons (because of percieved oppression from the larger fandom (either in the form of 'pin fans' or in the form of anonymous comments in hate memes or on je_secrets), banding around akame as a means of group solidarity (and a means to keep things that could weaken that solidarity out), a way to make friends (common interest), and as a kind of social identity where 'authenticity' and legitimacy may come into play) to personal reasons (personal interest, lack thereof, personal squicks)(one really interesting reason was the idea that all the rumor and interaction gives [writers] a lot of room to play with characters and 'reality' in the fic they write and read).
As most akame fans who answered did not fall into the category of those who only read Akame fic, the speculation in question did not really apply to them; nevertheless, fic reading preferences of akame fandom, like fandom in general is based primarily on personal interest, in terms of writing, characters, plot, and characterization of individuals and relationships (Nikki says: well duh). Those who did only read akame fic, again cited reasons of personal interest, or lack thereof, but did not offer any broader generalizations on the issue.
everyone likes a good writer (what exactly makes a good writer was not defined). good writers seem to be able to convince people to read anything.
badfic is blamed on young or otherwise inexperienced writers/people who may not have full access to the english language. In terms of pure numbers, Akame gets more badfic because it gets more fic in general--ratio-wise, it probably does not get more than other pairings. This data is, of course, anecdotal rather than statistically tested.
Nikki needs help on the OTP bit. The only thing she remembers is that it seems that a lot of people with an OTP will pair one side of that OTP around, but not the other side.
BNFs may exist in this fandom afterall. Don't ask who they are; Nikk still has no idea.
There are a lot of intelligent people in this fandom (not a surprise) who like to meta. who like to meta a lot (more surprising. at least for me).
We digress a lot too, while still keeping up the meta. We also digress a lot about really random things.
In conclusion: ♥♥♥♥ to you all.
edit: In case you don't see it, read this comment for a bit of interesting fandom history. It's worth it.
So it seems that we're about done. I've still got to reply to a couple of people (which might keep things going a little bit longer), but essentially, no new comments for the past 24 hours, so I think i can safely post this up now.
So, from this extremely small (though it doesn't feel that way!), non-random, snowball sample of JE fandom, it seems that:
Most but not all Akame fans who answered read fic with other pairings to some degree; those who do not cited reasons of personal preference. [This is the answer to the main question, in case you didn't get that.]
People are percieved as being fans of certain pairings by others. (Nikki did not expect this in the least. She wishes she were kidding). Based on what criteria, Nikki's not exactly sure. Definitions of what it means to be a 'fan' may vary widely.
People don't like to be put in boxes, or have assumptions made about them based on little or no evidence (Nikki says: well duh).
Inside jokes and sarcasm can often be lost on people not privy to that insider knowledge and can create unfavourable opinions of other 'groups' which may or may not be as cohesive as they're assumed to be.
Some fans do worry that they may have been taken seriously when joking good naturedly with friends in public spaces.
There seems to be some kind of perceived opposition between Pin and Akame which is very much salient to most (if not all) of those who answered. Everyone seemed to comment, however, with how they don't feel that way about the other side, it's just that the other side seems to feel that way about them. So. There is a perception of opposition (with pro-Akame people being assumed to automatically be anti-Pin, and pro-Pin people being assumed to automatically be anti-Akame), but no one says they're purposefully responsible for it. Apparently, no one is entirely sure where these perceptions come from, everyone seems to have an awareness of them to some extent, and no one wants to cause them.
Pin fans are especially perceived to be anti-Kame; conversely, Akame fans are especially percieved to be anti-Pi. There is some general bitterness on all sides due to unpleasant previous personal experiences. People who have been labeled 'pin' fans by others and who do not really see themselves as pin fans primarily are upset that they have to 'prove' to new people that they don't necessarily have negative opinions of Kame or Akame; Akame fans are upset that they're assumed to be boring, or less intelligent, or more closeminded than other fans simply because they have a preference for Akame, and seem to feel the need--on occassion--to defend their in-group against hostile others in the rest of fandom.
Speculation (both from inside and out) on the motivations of some akame fans runs the gamut from psychological reasons (ie, they're attracted to the romantic fairytale ideal, they believe in the reality of akame, there is a need to protect kame) to anthropological/sociological reasons (because of percieved oppression from the larger fandom (either in the form of 'pin fans' or in the form of anonymous comments in hate memes or on je_secrets), banding around akame as a means of group solidarity (and a means to keep things that could weaken that solidarity out), a way to make friends (common interest), and as a kind of social identity where 'authenticity' and legitimacy may come into play) to personal reasons (personal interest, lack thereof, personal squicks)(one really interesting reason was the idea that all the rumor and interaction gives [writers] a lot of room to play with characters and 'reality' in the fic they write and read).
As most akame fans who answered did not fall into the category of those who only read Akame fic, the speculation in question did not really apply to them; nevertheless, fic reading preferences of akame fandom, like fandom in general is based primarily on personal interest, in terms of writing, characters, plot, and characterization of individuals and relationships (Nikki says: well duh). Those who did only read akame fic, again cited reasons of personal interest, or lack thereof, but did not offer any broader generalizations on the issue.
everyone likes a good writer (what exactly makes a good writer was not defined). good writers seem to be able to convince people to read anything.
badfic is blamed on young or otherwise inexperienced writers/people who may not have full access to the english language. In terms of pure numbers, Akame gets more badfic because it gets more fic in general--ratio-wise, it probably does not get more than other pairings. This data is, of course, anecdotal rather than statistically tested.
Nikki needs help on the OTP bit. The only thing she remembers is that it seems that a lot of people with an OTP will pair one side of that OTP around, but not the other side.
BNFs may exist in this fandom afterall. Don't ask who they are; Nikk still has no idea.
There are a lot of intelligent people in this fandom (not a surprise) who like to meta. who like to meta a lot (more surprising. at least for me).
We digress a lot too, while still keeping up the meta. We also digress a lot about really random things.
In conclusion: ♥♥♥♥ to you all.
edit: In case you don't see it, read this comment for a bit of interesting fandom history. It's worth it.