Why I Wish Fans Would Just Shut Up Already

[moeyknight]

I think that in my mind, I've been done discussing in fandom (any fandom) for a while. I mean, it started out really annoying over at HPforGU (AKA GRUMPS) and then we all found our own little nitches at sites and it was good. We had a good run where you could have great, in-depth discussions on the books without a whole lot of annoying bitching

Comments

[jediboadicea]

God, fandom. I mean, okay, I get a weird joy out of being critical. For all that I hate the deconstructionist mentality, I do get a weird thrill out of structurally taking something apart to admire the handiwork and the flaws. Complaints are well and good. But seriously? There is a limit. There is a point when you are just complaining in order to hear yourself complain, and to make yourself sound smart. (The irony being that you're just making yourself sound annoying.)

I admit that I get really emotionally involved in stories, and sometimes the very level of my emotional involvement makes me irrational. But most of the time, after I've gotten something off my chest, I can step back and say, "Yeah, but I guess that was just my issue, and anyway it doesn't change the fact that this is awesome!"

Because if it isn't awesome, why the hell are you watching it?Love it for what it is! I mean, do I think that the recent Bleach arcs have been pretty lame, and do I like to imagine that the fanfc I wrote about the past was cooler than what is

[moeyknight]

They are not your ex-boyfriend.LOLa;lskfj;alskdjf

[connielane]

who would rather have wooden characters running around with laser pistols shooting aliens in continually recycled plots than any kind of character development.

YES! Because, for many people, that allows them to characterize them however they want in a fanfic/discussion, and that's all that matters.

It kills me when people want less character detail and not more. It reminds me of that girl at a Harry Potter con who said that before HBP - before we even knew if he was male or female - that Blaise Zabini was the most interesting character in the books (for fanfic-writing purposes, she implied but did not say). Because you could do literally anything with him.

Sometimes I want to just give these people a doll house, because that's all they seem to want. An environment and some lifeless dolls to play with.

[chanel19]

This is why I don't really do the fandom thing outside of occasionally writing fanfiction. I don't do forums unless they're about my fic and I don't do fan lists or read fan sites. That way I stay in the happy place. Or in the case of some of my fic in the darker happy place, but it's still my place, you know?

[stereo_m]

Yes! Amen! Word!

I like something or I don't. If I like it, I want to talk about it. If I don't like it, I don't want to talk about it.

Exactly. But maybe that's why I don't understand or properly appreciate the whiners, or the thrill they get out of whining. Sigh.

Many fans - and I'm not excluded from this group - get all caught up with what particular part of our obsession that appeals to us the most, and create completely unrealistic expectations about this little piece of.. whatever it is we're obsessing about. When the creator understandably doesn't write in exactly what we've been yearning for, we get all annoyed and whiny. Instead of just enjoying it.

This is what I learned from HP. :p

It's really very pathetic. :D

[alexiscartwheel]

Hi, I'm here via friend's friends and just wanted to say amen to this post. I participate in fandom to celebrate how much I like something, not to rip it to shreds. HP fandom got not fun for me when everyone turned to the "Jo did this or that completely wrong" discussions. I don't think the books were absolutely perfect (I mean, what book ever is?) but I loved Deathly Hallows, so all the negativity took the fun out of fandom for me.

Luckily, my f-list is incredibly positive about DW, totally in love with Donna, and excited about Rose's return. I hate all the companion wars. I love Rose, I love Martha, and I love Donna, and I don't see why loving all three of them should be any sort of conflict. I've stopped reading doctorwho because the negativity was getting me down, so I just stick to discussion with my friends (some of whom actually have come up with some pretty cool theories--so that type of discussion does still exist some places!).

I hope keeping away from all the fandom critics will keep everything fun for you. :D

[piperx]

It came to a point where I just had to just back away so that they wouldn't ruin it for me

That was an important lesson I took with me from the HP fandom. I've just gotten into Doctor Who and saw right away the same potential there. It's almost worse in DW fandom because those fans go back decades. And there's always a shipping battle, which is silly because Rose and Martha are both awesome in their own way. I haven't seen the new Donna episodes but she sounds great too.

I don't post too much but would gladly join you in the DW love.