Fandom grievance

[woodface]

So, splash_the_cat asked me if I would be good while she is off to Boston. I answered her no. So I thought I'd get it over and done with. Apparently I'm blunt so a lot of bluntness ahead.

This is to all those happy shippers out there who are declaring ship dead every five minutes.

I shall admit, I'm having problems with my muse. Part of that is to blame on my thesis. The other part is to blame on fandom.

I have utterly had it with all the negativity around. It started with Pete trashing, moved over to Sam trashing (which developed further into AT trashing) and now there is a new form; the "let's say we want them to get Sam married so we can all move on but continue whining about losing our ship" movement.

I have seen some nice drama about the apocalyps of fandom and how shippers are moving on to other fandoms and pairings. They like to explain it by saying that TPTB have screwed up ship by introducing Pete but not killing off the ship entirely. No one is interested in it anymore, apparently.

Now watch me shake my head and let me tell you what exactly has made me reluctant writing SJ. It's *you* (no not you but them, you know what I mean! Don't take this too personal ;o). It's the whining, it's the bashing and the idiocy that has made me not want to not add anything positive to this online crappiness. It's the bitching and the bashing and the narrow mindedness that has dragged people down in general.

It is hard to have any good feelings about something if all you read is the bitching that has been going around shipdom lately (and dom is dumb in dutch which so suits it right now). I love my OTP to pieces but all I've been doing lately is defending the right of someone to make their own choices and mistakes. I don't like Pete but I don't even bother to put down my thoughts because it will end up in that same negative spiral that I don't want to be a part of.

It is very hard to remain positive about something if all you see is people tearing it down. Sometimes even people you respect. Frankly, I have lost a lot of respect for a lot of people these last few months. I always try to be respectful in arguments and I give everyone the right to an opinion. I've just come to realise that some opinions don't deserve my respect. Sounds very dictorial but *egh*.

And yes, I am on no mail on samandjack. I read very few posts on it but I don't even have to go to the lists to read this crap.

Comments

[matt1969.livejournal.com]

I - and others - saw and heard first hand the negativity of shippers at Gatecon. AT mentioned Pete and out of politeness and respect, I and several others applauded. Unfortunately, the boos came across as louder. I had a good mind to thwap the one woman behind me.

And I still say, "it's a tv show, not real life" - it's the only way I can still enjoy it. And I also have taken to blocking out the negativity.

Heck, George Lucas can't write romance for toffee... and the Amidala/Anakin scenes were the worst romance scenes I've ever come across. But despite all that in Episode 2, I still plan on watching Episode 3 on the first day it comes out!!

[woodface]

Oh man, that completely sucks. I so want to hit these people over the head. Geez! *knuffels AT*

And Star Wars has to be seen! Dude, Han/Leia kicked ass!

[imthelobster.livejournal.com]

You know what I think?

I think you're reading the wrong circles...

See, I've only experienced Sam/Pete bashing second-handed, from you and several other people on my flist... I haven't actually SEEN any...

So... I think you're in the wrong cricles...

*poke* Didn't I ask you to remind me to do something... I don't remember what, but it was on Neopets...

[woodface]

Maybe I am. I seek annoyance?;o)

Pete bashing has taken a back seat to Sam and AT bashing though at the moment.

And yes, go make me my S7 Sam lay out!! *sprods*

[imthelobster.livejournal.com]

*poke* *poke*

You should have poked me earlier about that!! *poke*

[woodface]

Sorry! Been a bit absent minded.

*pokes*

[tv-elf.livejournal.com]

What I don't get...

The classic plot line is: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl like each other, but are kept apart by outside sources. Girl is forced to move on with life. They rebell. Love beats all.

Hmmm. Change Sam's name to Juliet. Jack's to Romeo. And Pete's to Paris.

Pete is a bloody plot point people! He is another wall to separate Sam and Jack. It tests their love. Will she surmount it, or let it stop her?

[woodface]

Yeah, exactly. But I think that the negativity has really become visible to AT and TPTB too. I wonder if it won't come back to bite them in the ass. Here's to TPTB and hoping they ignore online fandom completely.

[tv-elf.livejournal.com]

And that's just sad. I'm a big actor geek, but I never felt the need or the importance to tell actors how to interpret their characters. I may get giggly when (like today) Jeffrey Combs' name shows up on a Trek ep. But I just know he's a good actor so fun time is coming. I don't want to tell him how to play a part, because it takes the joy out of seeing where he'll go with the character.

But that's the difference. You, me, some others get a joy out of seeing what'll happen next. How the actor will read the line.

The others see the show as their own puppet theater, and the actors as marionettes.

[surreallis.livejournal.com]

I think some of these people haven't enjoyed Stargate in a very, very long time, but they can't seem to move on. When I read all about how the ptb "betrayed" them and how it's just like all the other shows they've watched, I know I should just discredit them immediately, but it's hard. You just want to talk about the ship with someone who isn't going to get all looney about it or turn everything into a dramatic event. You can't do that on the "list" without the naysayers interjecting and ruining everything. Unfortunately, that list is the one that has the most conversation... and is the most visible.

Maybe we should invite TPTB into the LJ world...

:(

[woodface]

Yeah. Well, I never really went to the list to talk about fandom, just to post fic. Lj is a much happier playground, most of the time.

Actually JM is on lj (unless the whole thing was a joke of course). But he never uses the account. I wonder if he is keeping an eye on things.

[woodface]

*nods* That's pretty much a part of letting TPTB write the story how they want to as well. I said it with that poll thingie; the show would suck if they would listen to all the fans. It'd be Soapgate: Opera if they had their way.

[splash-the-cat.livejournal.com]

*looks at clock* Wow. That took, what, five hours? :)

*smooooooooooooooooooooooooch*

[debs7.livejournal.com]

The spoilers that you mention - how far into season 8 are we talking? I don't want to get spopiled but I still want to read your post :)

[11nine73.livejournal.com]

*hangs head in shame* They dragged me in. I've stopped now okay?

Actually Pete is not the problem where I'm concerned. Yes I'd love J/S, I'm also aware that it's possibly not going to happen. But I don't rule anything out (because I'm a sap, lol).

What bugs me that TPTB have seemly introduced Pete solely as a romantic [aside] for Sam. Now I haven't seen any of season 8, but this scares me. I cannot see how Pete can contribute anything to the show other than being Sam's... whatever.

When PTB start doing this, I get nervous. I have lost one fandom because the arrogance of TPTB made it unwatchable.

But when bashing starts on the actors. Gah. It's stupid and unfair. AT is not going to marry RDA, so what's the point. They have lives. Actor bashers should do likewise.

[11nine73.livejournal.com]

I've just realised that 'actor bashing' reads very wrong. But you know what I mean, lol.

[fairygnomes.livejournal.com]

I - and others - saw and heard first hand the negativity of shippers at Gatecon. AT mentioned Pete and out of politeness and respect, I and several others applauded. Unfortunately, the boos came across as louder. I had a good mind to thwap the one woman behind me.

See, where we were sitting, the cheers were a lot louder than the boos (and not just from us!) And when we spoke to Amanda she seemed positive about the shippers, she just giggled when we said we liked Pete (we dooooooooooo) and she said Sam had to have some fun whilst she was waiting for Jack. She gets the whole Intergalactic Hussy thing as well, which I think is a good sign!

[woodface]

What bugs me that TPTB have seemly introduced Pete solely as a romantic [aside] for Sam. Now I haven't seen any of season 8, but this scares me. I cannot see how Pete can contribute anything to the show other than being Sam's... whatever.

Well it doesn't make me jump with you but I do think that Pete is a way to open Sam up. Dude, she has to much to learn about relationships and Pete might help.

And TPTB aren't stupid. They have great character development going on that is spread out over seasons but stays true to them (except for Teal'c sadly enough). I trust them to get ship right, even if the ending isn't exactly what I'd wish for.

[woodface]

Actually, there isn't anything specific in this. Might allude a bit to affinity but even then it's not outright said.

[woodface]

*laughs* Thought I get rid of this so I can do other things while you're gone.

Dude, I got the mag! *drooooooooools*

THANK YOU! *smoooooooooooooooooch*

[alliesings.livejournal.com]

Duuude! I like your line of thinking :D

[matt1969.livejournal.com]

Let's just say the silly bint behind got a good few stares! I decided not to start a fight because I wanted to see the entire panel ;)

[matt1969.livejournal.com]

you must have been sat in a good section *g*

I'm glad Amanda realises there are some non-demented ship folks out there - was worrying for a time