the fandom scandal rant
Jun. 8th, 2003 04:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
percivalThis is a post that was inspired by the current fandom scandal, in particular ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
acemyth's posts.
Let me begin by stating my prejudices: I'm a Quiller, one of the GT mods is a good friend (waves topinkfluffyllama), and I really liked stolensocks when I met her. I also like to study people and what makes them tick. Finally, I belong to an organisation that has brought much suffering to the world because of its dogmas - but I still believe that it has an inherently good core. (Answers on a postcard ...)
Now the rant:
Separatism and factionism are nothing new under the sun. It's riven even the best communities - there are plenty of examples in Buddhism and Christianity, even though the main teachers of those two religions were amazing, truly enlightened people.
Fortunately, we all seem to agree that harassment, stalking, and personal vendettas are Bad Things. People have apologised for what they did and explained that they did it to defend people who had been viciously attacked. People have made it clear that they felt deeply hurt by what others saw as just some snarky fun.
I guess the worst thing we could do now would be to entrench ourselves in sides - "holier-than-thou", "I wuz wronged (TM)", "what a terrible fandom", or, worst of all, "I or people from my fan site would never do this".
Well, the fandom consists of lots and lots of different people, from high-brow analysts to squeeing fan girls. There will be some of each on every site. There will also be some loons, and some people who don't have a clear sense of the boundaries of good taste. As Simon, the FA admin, said - you can't control the thousands (or tens of thousands) of people who visit your site.
But the fandom also consists of you, the HP fan who happens to be reading this entry. What about yourself? Can you forgive and move on? Can you behave responsibly, so that scandals like these won't occur again? It's our responsibility not just to moan about the state of this fandom, but to do something about it - by intelligent discussion and open and fair communication.
Because we are the fandom, we are the only people who can make sure it stays sane and tolerant and who can heal the rifts.
Don't dream it, be it.
::cue Hippie music::
::steps off soapbox::
acemyth's posts. Let me begin by stating my prejudices: I'm a Quiller, one of the GT mods is a good friend (waves to
pinkfluffyllama), and I really liked stolensocks when I met her. I also like to study people and what makes them tick. Finally, I belong to an organisation that has brought much suffering to the world because of its dogmas - but I still believe that it has an inherently good core. (Answers on a postcard ...) Now the rant:
Separatism and factionism are nothing new under the sun. It's riven even the best communities - there are plenty of examples in Buddhism and Christianity, even though the main teachers of those two religions were amazing, truly enlightened people.
Fortunately, we all seem to agree that harassment, stalking, and personal vendettas are Bad Things. People have apologised for what they did and explained that they did it to defend people who had been viciously attacked. People have made it clear that they felt deeply hurt by what others saw as just some snarky fun.
I guess the worst thing we could do now would be to entrench ourselves in sides - "holier-than-thou", "I wuz wronged (TM)", "what a terrible fandom", or, worst of all, "I or people from my fan site would never do this".
Well, the fandom consists of lots and lots of different people, from high-brow analysts to squeeing fan girls. There will be some of each on every site. There will also be some loons, and some people who don't have a clear sense of the boundaries of good taste. As Simon, the FA admin, said - you can't control the thousands (or tens of thousands) of people who visit your site.
But the fandom also consists of you, the HP fan who happens to be reading this entry. What about yourself? Can you forgive and move on? Can you behave responsibly, so that scandals like these won't occur again? It's our responsibility not just to moan about the state of this fandom, but to do something about it - by intelligent discussion and open and fair communication.
Because we are the fandom, we are the only people who can make sure it stays sane and tolerant and who can heal the rifts.
Don't dream it, be it.
::cue Hippie music::
::steps off soapbox::
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-06-10 03:08 pm (UTC)Nor do I wish to. I only (or really 'Only FA') want FA users to act in a mature way on the site (i.e. follow the rules we set) and remember that if they say anything offsite then they are never speaking for FA, which only a few of the site Admins will ever do.
Wishing to control large groups or people and getting them to think in one specific way only make me think of Big Brother and 1984. A rather good book, though scary in some ways. Especially when some of the ideas and themes in the book seem evident in the modern world.
Because we are the fandom, we are the only people who can make sure it stays sane and tolerant and who can heal the rifts.
Indeed and at the heart of it all is taking responsibilities for ones actions. It is possible, but involves starting at home; something that many are reluctant to do.
I do have periods where I am hopeful that things could be ok, but then something happens to shake that away. Tonight is one of those nights. I have seen one group of HP fandom people 'have decided to wage a sort of war on '. It saddens me to see such comments, but all too often I do.
no subject
Date: 2003-06-10 11:24 pm (UTC)I guess the only way to make sure any fandom wars come to a speedy end is to refuse to be roped in.
I do have periods where I am hopeful that things could be ok, but then something happens to shake that away. Tonight is one of those nights.
I hope yesterday night wasn't too bad ::hugs::
no subject
Date: 2003-06-12 08:18 am (UTC)Far too much to do and to little time to do it to even consider getting involved in this stupidity. Have to go reserve myself a copy of some book at some stage soon. The fifth book in a septology. You may have heard of it...
no subject
Date: 2003-06-12 08:45 am (UTC)You know, I really like that minor character, what was her name, Hermione. The one with the straight shiny hair and the perfect teeth.