So it IS a contest, after all
Dec. 30th, 2007 07:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
veronica_richOld fandom mindset: A bunch of geeks and nerds who liked something make friends with one another over common discussions and swaps of fiction, art, and "what ifs?" They argued and quibbled loudly and endlessly over who was the better captain - Kirk or Picard? Or maybe it was Sisko? Janeway? - as well as how fast the saucer section could separate from the drive section, or whether the android Data really *was* capable of shooting a human who was not threatening his own life, but certainly goading him into it. At the end of it, though, they slapped each other on the shoulder and went out for a beer and mutual admirations for the actors and crew who gave us these characters to love and hate.
New fandom mindset: Everything is a contest. One "side" has to one-up and trample the other, or it's no fun. There is no agreement alternating with thoughtful dissention, just fragmentation, yelling, and "I and what I like are smarter/deeper/darker/better than you and your preferences."
You don't believe me? Direct quote taken from a comment to a sparrabeth story (ignore the poor spelling; I assure you it's not mine, though the emphasis on the phrasing is): There is a great point there. Will loves Elizabeth, I never doubted that, but he can still bare being with her one time every ten years.
Jack, on the other hand, most certainly cannot and here, my Willabeth friends, is where the Sparrabeth ship sinks yours with all cannons blazing.
Add this to the quote I found from yet another sparrabeth fan a few weeks ago about how all slash is "bad" and many, many other insulting, derogatory, and snide things spewed over the past 18 months, and you may understand why my online persona is so crabby over it. THIS IS NOT THE FANDOM I SIGNED UP FOR, Y'ALL.
New fandom mindset: Everything is a contest. One "side" has to one-up and trample the other, or it's no fun. There is no agreement alternating with thoughtful dissention, just fragmentation, yelling, and "I and what I like are smarter/deeper/darker/better than you and your preferences."
You don't believe me? Direct quote taken from a comment to a sparrabeth story (ignore the poor spelling; I assure you it's not mine, though the emphasis on the phrasing is): There is a great point there. Will loves Elizabeth, I never doubted that, but he can still bare being with her one time every ten years.
Jack, on the other hand, most certainly cannot and here, my Willabeth friends, is where the Sparrabeth ship sinks yours with all cannons blazing.
Add this to the quote I found from yet another sparrabeth fan a few weeks ago about how all slash is "bad" and many, many other insulting, derogatory, and snide things spewed over the past 18 months, and you may understand why my online persona is so crabby over it. THIS IS NOT THE FANDOM I SIGNED UP FOR, Y'ALL.
