Willow's a fascinating character. She may not be my favorite, but objectively I have to admit that her story arc is amazing. It's when we judge people by their favorites that we get into problems.
I think really all it boils down to is live and let live. Unfortunately, fandom being the hothouse it is, that often doesn't work. People are just too ready to jump to judgement of others' preferences.
'Shipping has existed in fandom since fandom was invented (and I have no idea when that was), and always will. It does get a bad press, but it's certainly not just 'shippers who are guilty of the abovementioned lack of tolerance.
Shippers do get a bad rap. And I wish we could all just live and let live. I know in the past I've been brash and mouthy when it comes to what I like and dislike, but I've come to realize that it's just added stress to get worked up over those things. That doesn't mean I'm never going to get mouthy again; I'm human and a very passionate person. But it's worth trying to be that way.
What bothers me is when people dismiss shippers as all being "problematic" or "troublesome" or "the reason why fandom is so terrible."
I always want these people to explain how and why these fans are any less legitimate than the ones who obsess over other aspects? Seriously, why is focusing on a fictional relationship any less legit than trying to figure out a convoluted (made-on-the-fly) fictional mythology? Or strategy in a fictional war? Or the "rules" of magic, souling, whatever? Or hyper-obsessing over friends at fifteen needing to be the only signficant people in your whole LIFE. Or how the entirity of life is 'just like high school' or what fictional 'plan' the Cylons "really" have?
All of these are focus on some --usually quite small -- area of particular interest to one individual. So why exactly are the ones who focus on the relationship dynamics of a couple of issues any less 'legitimate' than any of the other fans?
I admit I have no idea what the heckity-heck is going on except: Sarah outed herself as a Bangel, shippers of every stripe went a little nuts and starting into the "those people are crazy" thing they do; then apparently - the anti-shipper crowd came out (like the person who responded here no names mentioned) and the battle lines shifted again so now the shippers are all "we love one another hold hands kumbaya?"
Or - something like that? And we wonder why there's no peace in the middle east - I suspect the human animal isn't entirely happy unless there is an enemy to rally around.
Nothing unites people more than a common enemy - that's why shippers are in kumbaya kissy-face mode (that was an expression the love of my life when I was eighteen used to say, btw). It's kind of funny in its predictability.
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'Shipping has existed in fandom since fandom was invented (and I have no idea when that was), and always will. It does get a bad press, but it's certainly not just 'shippers who are guilty of the abovementioned lack of tolerance.
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ETA: Also, you might want to consider locking this thread.
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Exactly. Is it all right to link to this?
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I always want these people to explain how and why these fans are any less legitimate than the ones who obsess over other aspects? Seriously, why is focusing on a fictional relationship any less legit than trying to figure out a convoluted (made-on-the-fly) fictional mythology? Or strategy in a fictional war? Or the "rules" of magic, souling, whatever? Or hyper-obsessing over friends at fifteen needing to be the only signficant people in your whole LIFE. Or how the entirity of life is 'just like high school' or what fictional 'plan' the Cylons "really" have?
All of these are focus on some --usually quite small -- area of particular interest to one individual. So why exactly are the ones who focus on the relationship dynamics of a couple of issues any less 'legitimate' than any of the other fans?
Reply
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I admit I have no idea what the heckity-heck is going on except: Sarah outed herself as a Bangel, shippers of every stripe went a little nuts and starting into the "those people are crazy" thing they do; then apparently - the anti-shipper crowd came out (like the person who responded here no names mentioned) and the battle lines shifted again so now the shippers are all "we love one another hold hands kumbaya?"
Or - something like that? And we wonder why there's no peace in the middle east - I suspect the human animal isn't entirely happy unless there is an enemy to rally around.
Reply
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