love and hate, and also just like

[jlh]

I was tipped off this morning that someone posted the prologue to A Dream That Could Not Last on one of those idol-hating sites. So I girded my loins and went over there—and you know, I sort of don't care. Is this the thing that has all this idolfic locked up, that someone who spends all their time hating Idol fans might make fun of your story?

This sort of thing goes on in fandom all the time. It's sort of like the people who go to opening night of a sf-f-comic movie and make fun of the people in costume. Dude, you're the one standing in line for two hours on opening day. I checked out the site, and there was an actual list of rules for how to not be a "crazy" idol fan. It's a distancing tactic: You are the crazy fan because you are doing this crazy thing. I am not a crazy fan not only because I'm not doing the crazy thing, but also because I recognize that this thing is crazy. I used to do that and you know, I had a lot less fun in fandom when I was worrying about crazy people and whether I was one of them. I have friends who are doing some of those so-called "crazy" things (like going to multiple concerts) and you know, they're having a lot of fun and meeting great people!

I was reading a piece earlier this week about public figure hate sites at Jezebel, prompted by another piece in the Guardian, which itself was probably prompted by the closing of RachelRaySucks:

I am still not a Rachael Ray fan. I find the woman to be extremely annoying and overexposed, but now I choose to just change the channel. I've become a much happier person now that I no longer dwell on someone who irritates the shit out of me. Life is too short to be so negative and mean-spirited. Besides, in this crappy economy, the last thing on my mind is Rachael Ray.

Sadie at Jezebel says:

However much you justify the forums as a means of venting or a joke that earnest people can't appreciate, it's hard to forget that they can easily become repositories of misogyny, hate and real ugliness, and even the site founders admit that the vitriol of some of their readers takes them aback. At the end of the day, however lighthearted the motivation, you're running something fueled entirely by negativity.

The Idol-hate sites I've seen seem to be obsessed with the way Idol funnels the "wrong" kinds of fans to shows—older women who are not hot, apparently. It's strange how ageist and misogynist they get. Mostly, though, you have to feel sorry for these people, that they hate something so much that they'll spend a lot of time on it.

So if you've come here from there to laugh at my story, then I'm glad I was able to write something that entertains you, even if your attitude is mean-spirited. There are worse things than being featured on a site making fun of someone who made a cake to look like Constantine's ass. You'll probably also notice that I talk about a lot of other things, like race in fandom, or HIMYM, or BSG. Anonymous comments are screened, as they always have been, so don't bother to make trouble.

Me, I'd rather spend my time on things I love, and making things for other people, because positive energy is positive!

Comments

[locumtenens.livejournal.com]

There are worse things than being featured on a site making fun of someone who made a cake to look like Constantine's ass

This almost made me snort my cereal up my nose.

♥

(Also? I can't stop picturing said cake! I can't imagine it'd be very flattering. Ha.)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

The cake was actually really awesome. I mean, you can see how making a cake that looks like a round ass is a thing to see. Like those x-rated cakes. I wish I'd kept that picture, because it was really cool!

They also made fun of someone's macro that was really just a pic of Constantine that said "let's rock!" which like, who cares? It's like kicking puppies over there. They seem to spend a lot of time on the fan message boards for particular singers. I hate message boards anyway, but seriously, who cares about those people? They also make a lot of fun of the big overlap of Idol and serious Christianity, which I also can't really worry about. I think they think the Jesus poisons the rock or something? Yes, that led to the Claymates having blinders on about his sexuality, but whatever.

[locumtenens.livejournal.com]

I can't believe they don't see the irony of making fun of idol-fandomers, yet they spend more time scouring the internet for idol-fandom ilk than anyone else!

[sisterpandora.livejournal.com]

GOOD ON YOU! Love this stance, love you, love that you posted this! ♥!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was surprised that was my reaction, but they were so pathetic that I just felt sorry for them.

[calloocallay.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about meanspirited sites generally, but I have great love for cakewrecks.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Cakewrecks limit themselves to pros, though, so I think that's entirely different for a lot of reasons. It isn't like, ugh, there are fat old people at my rock concert, and they posted pictures of themselves. Most of these people are doing something fairly innocuous, actually.

[illogicalvulcan.livejournal.com]

I swear, I don't even have time to comment as much as I'd liked on the things I do like. I surely don't have the time to hate on things I dislike. I can just...not go there.

Kinda reminds me of the scene in Galaxy Quest with the guys mocking the con-goers in the bathroom. Dudes! Why are you at the con??

That said, I do derive great joy from CakeWrecks, and a few tech support sites.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

CakeWrecks are pros, so that's different. It's more, why would someone want a cake like that, and wow, they actually made a cake like that. But it isn't like, let's make fun of stuff people do as a hobby. I think that's a huge difference.

But yes, it's exactly like that scene.

[americonedream.livejournal.com]

Good on you, because you have absolutely the right attitude - you rock, hon. I'm sorry it happened to you. I'm off to read the first part of the fic now ♥

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have to say, I was surprised, as I get upset about plenty of things! I don't think of myself as being thick-skinned as a general rule.

[dreamerren.livejournal.com]

Love your attitude :) As always your thoughts are refreshing, thoughtful and food for thought. I love you for being you...just so you know :)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

<3 Thanks! I surprised myself, I have to say; I don't think of myself as being thick-skinned!

And me too—miss you during your not-online-as-much period!

[havenstar.livejournal.com]

...huh. Wandered over to check on fic updates and came across this. I hope you haven't actually had people bothering you, because that would be deeply stupid of them. The sci-fi comparison is perfect, actually, it totally reminds me of going to see Revenge of the Sith at a midnight release and watching all the guys trying to pretend they were too cool for it. If you care enough to be there, or blog about it, or whatever, then you are in no position to judge!

It's certainly possible to push things too far (stalking comes to mind) but being a part of fandom, writing fic, making videos, whatever... that doesn't even come close to crossing the line. That's just being a fan. Some people take themselves way too seriously, and miss out on a lot of fun and joy in life. :\

(...and also, okay, on a very slightly petty note, if someone wanted to mock the AI fandom there are plenty of actually bad fics to choose from. I'm rather biased but even putting that aside, your fics are always wonderfully written, and this one's got a ton of depth and research behind it besides. What exactly is there to make fun of in that, other than the general concept of RPS or AU? people are deeply stupid sometimes.)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Nope, no one has bothered me at all, and one person left an anon comment on the fic, a nice one, and I have to say with the timing that I suspect that they came from that comm, haha! But the post didn't link to me anyway.

I think mostly they were mocking the AU concept, and said something about USO fantasies. I think they felt it was MarySue territory. Then they said a bunch of inaccurate things about the period while accusing me of not having done my research, thereby basically using up all the irony in the universe. I think the fact that the crit was crap helped, because what they were making fun of wasn't actually my fic.

Thanks so much! <3 I'm really pleased that you like the stories I write. I just coded it, so the new chapter will be up in the morning!