Hm, I read some of it, but I'm still totally confused. Whatever.
I've been in fandom since long before the internet, and the 'net just makes it easier for people to stir things up quickly. There's always going to be weird stuff going on in fandom, many, many times due to people's ego issues. It becomes less about the fandom itself, and more about taking sides. You get the people who go, "How DARE you say anything mean about my friend," no matter what said friend might have said originally that caused offense. Then it often becomes a popularity contest, does the instigator have more friends (or friends with louder voices) than the rest. Eventually the fandom divides, not over anything Beloved Show has done, or Revered Creator has done, or Adored Actors have done. It ends up having nothing whatsoever to do with fandom, and it's all about fans sniping at other fans. Sometimes it gets so vicious that innocent bystanders decide to leave because they don't want to get hit by any flying shrapnel (or bullshit, as the case may be). Lather, rinse, repeat.
It's a shame this kind of thing happens so often, but fans are people first and foremost, and people, as Dean has observed, are crazy. I prefer to stand back and enjoy the show, the fic, whatever other creative endeavors people come up with, contribute some of my own, and stay the hell away from the politics and the wank. I'm happier here on the banks of Denial.
P.S. The infighting is STUPID, and it always ESCALATES. Can't everyone in fandom just agree, no more arguing for the next hundred miles, or days, or months? Thanks!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
winterfish
no subject
Date: 2007-11-24 09:59 pm (UTC)I've been in fandom since long before the internet, and the 'net just makes it easier for people to stir things up quickly. There's always going to be weird stuff going on in fandom, many, many times due to people's ego issues. It becomes less about the fandom itself, and more about taking sides. You get the people who go, "How DARE you say anything mean about my friend," no matter what said friend might have said originally that caused offense. Then it often becomes a popularity contest, does the instigator have more friends (or friends with louder voices) than the rest. Eventually the fandom divides, not over anything Beloved Show has done, or Revered Creator has done, or Adored Actors have done. It ends up having nothing whatsoever to do with fandom, and it's all about fans sniping at other fans. Sometimes it gets so vicious that innocent bystanders decide to leave because they don't want to get hit by any flying shrapnel (or bullshit, as the case may be). Lather, rinse, repeat.
It's a shame this kind of thing happens so often, but fans are people first and foremost, and people, as Dean has observed, are crazy. I prefer to stand back and enjoy the show, the fic, whatever other creative endeavors people come up with, contribute some of my own, and stay the hell away from the politics and the wank. I'm happier here on the banks of Denial.
P.S. The infighting is STUPID, and it always ESCALATES. Can't everyone in fandom just agree, no more arguing for the next hundred miles, or days, or months? Thanks!