Epiphany about fans

[sqbr]

So I've read a bunch of online fannish arguments where people go "These sorts of fans are crazy" and give examples, and then talk about the way fans should actually think, and end up conflating "Crazy fans" and "People whose attitudes are rational, but different to mine". And I had thought about where one should draw the line.

Some examples of sane attitudes for a fan (most people won't have all of these at once):

• The one true text (such as it is) is the canon. Fanfic can be fun and all (maybe even better than the original text), but it's not the way the story actually happens;
  
• There are infinitely many possible interpretations and offshoots of canon, all valid and interesting, and potentially as worthy of being taken seriously as the original source;
  
• It's the authors perogative to write whatever they like, but we're under no obligation to like it;
  
• You can enjoy something while also enjoying picking it apart and looking at all it's flaws, but that's not the only way to enjoy something;
  
• If the author wants to be any good they should pay attention to constructive criticism (especially on stuff like unconscious bias).
  

Crazy attitudes for a fan:

• There is One True Version of the text. Anyone who doesn't see this is a fool. Anyone criticises the One True Text is an evil heathen. Anyone who enjoys thinking about or writing different versions of the story is an evil heretic who Misses the Point;
  
• ..and that one true text is imperfectly reflected by the "canon", meaning that the author is an evil heretic too, who must be made to see the light about how their story actually goes.
  

I feel a bit weird using the words "crazy" and "sane", but no better ones come to mind. Also, I banged my elbow this morning and it still hurts :( (Yeah, ok, so those of you who know sonnlich may not see my mild twinges as all that terrible. I don't care, I like whining!)

Comments

Re: (wank wonk)

[alias_sqbr]

I think you're right about fan-communities (and subcultures in general) creating their own little hierarchy and value system, and that those who forget that there's more to life than fandom (or Tekken etc :)) can become too involved in this separate world and lose contact with reality.

Also Big Name Fans (like Secret Masters of Fandom), generally very popular fanfic writers, can become dominant in what is theoretically an egalitarian social structure. There's all kinds of genuinely crazy stuff that grows out of this, e.g. the Msscribe affair (a woman created multiple accounts to take over a chunk of Harry Potter fandom and become friends with the BNFs)

But I think there's more to it than that. I kept trying and failing to articulate what, so asked a bunch of fanficcy types, I hope you don't mind (I'm mainly worried I did that "express argument I disagree with so that it sounds much worse than it actually is" thing) I'm happy to edit the post to a better articulation of your point, or of course you could join in the discussion yourself if you can be bothered (I imagine the question is more interesting to me than you) and you don't mind the danger of a lot of angry fanficcers coming after you with pitchforks for denigrating fanfic/Joss Whedon etc :D (This danger is why I didn't just like to your comment)

Re: (wank wonk)

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I jumped in with boots on ... hopefully I might get someone's goat, that's pretty much why I post in your comments anyway, you understand ;-)

Re: (wank wonk)

[alias_sqbr]

Pfft, if you REALLY wanted to get someones goat you'd post on the ljs of more vehement and cantankerous (and less passive-aggressive) fanfic-fans than me...oh wait you just did. And they're so far ignoring your jibes to thoughtfully answer my question, nerr to you :)

I must say I find it hard to tell the difference betwen you as troll and you being sincere but brusque. I'm not sure if this reflects badly on you or on me (possibly it reflects well on your inability to not make interesting points, even when trolling).

Also, while I like fanfic, I haven't reached the same blase attitude to it's wierdness that I have with wider sff fandom. One reason I don't have sparate lj's for my different interests (beyond laziness) is that this way if I get into anything too odd I know you guys will be there going "Ewww" at me. I realise that wanting people to express disagreement with me means I may have to have my internet rights revoked :)

Re: (wank wonk)

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was pretty mild ... I even opened with a disclaimer! I guess fans don't care that they're only in fandom because they can't kick people around with overpowering domain knowledge and undeserved status in real life. Or maybe they just can't do it as well ;-)

I'm probably a very mild troll, or an unusually "brusque" person all the time. I wouldn't seriously come here and try to piss you or your commenters off ...

I'm glad you're still out of the deeper abyss of weirdness. Don't start writing all your comments in coded capitals.

OK I ARE NOT USIN LOLCATSPAEK FOR TALKING ON TEH INTARWEBZ

[alias_sqbr]

Heh. Yeah, you weren't that bad. I get the impression from the repetitive responses that many of the commenters didn't bother reading any of the comments above them, because they are people, on the internet.