Supernatural is not the Jersey Shore of Fandom (An Essay)
This started out as a simple comment reply to the post referenced below, but it kept growing until it felt tangential enough to warrant a post on my own journal, rather than monopolizing someone else's. If anyone's a lover of irony, it should be noted that the last time I posted was back on June 3, which was to rec a story with the pairing (which
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Comments 49
The wank is the reason why I mostly keep to my tiny little corner and don't engage in much discussion with anyone about ANY of my fandoms. And it's a good reason to be multi-fandom because when things go off the rails (as they always do) I can shift my focus to something else until it gets quiet again.
I don't think people in SPN fandom are nuts. I think people in fandom are nuts. We've all just got varying degrees of the crazy and express it in different ways.
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I like your thoughts about being multi-fandom. And I think it's just what to expect going forward. Just as younger people are constantly receiving input from multiple sources (watching TV while texting with an iPad nearby), I think they're going to be multi-tasking in fandom in much the same manner.
The above description applies to me, btw, but I think I'm an anomoly for my age group.
"I don't think people in SPN fandom are nuts. I think people in fandom are nuts."
Yeah, see, that's why you're an editor. I could have saved myself 900+ words and just said what you said. ;)
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I remember the viciousness that was Beauty and the Beast fandom (and of all things to be in TOTAL opposition to the messages of its source...).
Old mimeographed letterzines had letters with strongly-worded disagreement in them when they were sent out on paper.
It's like you said: this is not new, and it tends to be magnified in whatever the current largest fandom is. So...would I say "I'm steering clear of SPN fandom"? Definitely. But that's because it's the Current Hot Spot, not because SPN is inherently likely to bring the wank.
Disclaimer: I also don't watch the show, because I am All About The Girls, and this show didn't offer that. I also saw its ( ... )
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I understand the steering clear of hot spots. I chose to do that with fandoms in the past as well. And you gotta wonder: how many strongly worded letters there would actually be if we all still had to do them by snail-mail?
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until we really get that and believe as a community that tearing each other down behind closed doors isn't as fun as building each other up in public? Nothing will change. this, so much! I get so much joy fropm squeeing with others and betaing and telling people how wonderful I think something is, and I honestly feel for those who can't take pleasure in those things, but only in belittling others - often anonymously.
I am a relative baby in terms of fandom, but agree with everything you've said. I tell my son everyday, "treat others the way you want to be treated." I've been doing business online since before shopping carts were common and the behavior is not new, but I do believe that every person who says they don't want it in their yard makes a difference.
♥
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No bullying allowed on MY porch!
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"That doesn't mean it's not a sad to see fandom energies being concentrated into such negative activities..."
Can you imagine how much more awesome fic and art there would be if all that effort was redirected into creation instead of destruction?
Thanks for stopping in...meeting new people has been an unexpected pleasurable outcome of making this post. :)
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That's EXACTLY what I'm talking about! "Make Art, Not Wank", I was just quoting to dot, but I can't for the life of me remember who that came from. One of the Buffy veterans, I'm sure. Whatever it's a good thing to live by. Say no to destruction, fandom! (Falling on dead ears already, I know!
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