Re: Doctor Who Fourth Season Casting (no spoilers in this post)

[eponymous_rose]

Dear Doctor Who fandom,

Plz 2 b growing up nao.

Thank you,
Me.

(This fandom drives. me. up. the. wall.  See?  *points to wall*  I'm up there!  Right up at the top!  Near the ceiling!  I keep bumping my head when I get up in the morning!  When it... rains, um.  My hair gets wet!  I think I just lost that whole analogy!  But that's okay!  Because I'm feeling internet-shouty, anyway!  And exclamation points are fun!)

*calms down*

*un-calms for a second*

And if I have to listen to another old!school fan say "I watched the entire series in chronological order, therefore your opinion on absolutely everything values lower than mine despite the gaping inconsistences in canon anyway", I will track 'em down and hit them over the head with something heavy.  And then they'll owe me a new fencing sword.  It's a great show, yes, and iconic and lovely and absolutely fantastic.  That does not make it the be-all and end-all.   You should be thrilled that the show's back, that another generation's rediscovering it.  Seriously, it's like the stuffy Sherlock Holmes fan stereotype.  On speed.  And it's all about time-travelling police boxes.

No wonder fandom's got such a bad name.

*points to Holmesian.net*  This is fandom done right.  It's not that hard.  Be nice, be accepting of new fans, and most of all... be ready to mock your fandom.  You need a sense of humour to survive the idea that you're obsessing over something fictional that at the same time manages to be wonderfully real (*coughs*  Um.  Sorry, fellow Game-players.  Dunno what came over me there.  Obviously there's nothing fictional about Holmes.  I meant, um... *flees*).  Otherwise, you're just a stereotype, and a bitter one at that, making life miserable for everyone around you who's just trying to seriously (or not-so-seriously) discuss the show without fear of getting their heads bitten off.

*calms down again*

Heehee... a post like this is generally a prelude to a "Goodbye cruel fandom :(" set of rants and raves and whatnot, but I really just wanted to get it out in the open - I'm not planning on doing anything about it.  I love this sort of thing, to tell the truth - the weird little communities and rituals that pop up in fandom.  Fanwank's not fun, but it is interesting.  And I like interesting.

Besides, I've met the neatest people through fandom.  *gives flist cookies*

So.  Um.  Yes.  Pointless rant. Enjoying the chaos.

Anyone else for popcorn?

Comments

[eponymous-rose.livejournal.com]

Y'know, when I say "grow up, fandom!", I think what I really mean is the opposite.

...

And I should probably stop commenting on my own entries. But that would be less silly than I'm used to, and I need my late-night silly or I can't get up in the morning! *pouts*

[imsanehonest.livejournal.com]

Word on the wonky fandom. That's thing with a creature as complex and long-lasting as Who. Some old fans, not entirely without reason, feel a definite sense of protectiveness over the show, and why shouldn't they? It's been their baby for a very long while. It's just unfortunate when some of said folk get a bit hostile in their desire to preserve what they love.

... Of course, some of the new fans are just as hostile, in their own way, and completely unwilling to look to the past and take joy in all of the show's past.

*sigh*

The humor you mentioned really is any fandom's saving grace. Honestly, what better thing is there to bond over than the rather ridiculous (and yet so wonderful) nature of the show from it's conception? Come on! Alien traveling through space and time in a police box? This wonderful show never would have gotten off of the ground unless some people were willing to have it laughed at it a bit! Isn't that sort of the point?

Not that I'm any authority on the matter, but still...

In any case, I'm just going to continue to sit in my nice little corner and munch happily on cheese whilst the madness ensues.

*nibbles on cheese*

And are you as thrilled about said casting spoilers for season 4 as I am? Or are you more on the displeased end of the wonky-fandom-spectrum? Do share! *poke*

[eponymous-rose.livejournal.com]

Ooh, cheese! *steals*

Actually, that was a big part of my annoyance at the whole kerfuffle - I'm really excited about said casting spoiler. Really really excited. Want-the-new-season-now excited. I think it could be an excellent change-up. Besides, she's already seen the Doctor be both vulnerable and merciless. That's half a series of awkward characterization out of the way! *wink*

Of course, I've only seen "Runaway Bride" once. I'd better rectify that, pronto. :D

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

I agree; Who fandom is tying itself in knots over one episode! (Plus casting spoilers.)

House fandom, which is crazy anyway, seems to go more crazy in the summers when there are no new shows, but the current Who phenomenon is just - wow.

[eponymous-rose.livejournal.com]

House fandom is indeed on the crazy side (I lurk on LJ but used to be pretty talkative in some of the more laid-back Yahoo groups).

I think the Who fandom's gone beyond tying itself in knots. Someone's broken out the Möbius strips, dangit, and I'm stuck feeling like my Knot Theory's gone all rusty. But it's kinda fun.

I did have something more interesting (and less convoluted) to say, but your icon sort of killed me dead. So, um. Yes.

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

Möbius strips

Yes; exactly! The mod on dwicons actually had to step in and stop the Martha vs. Rose war. On an icon community; not even a discussion comm!

I loved the Master in his evil!bathrobe with his sexy evil!bedhair. :D John Simm was fabulous.

[vampire-cookies.livejournal.com]

*points to Holmesian.net* This is fandom done right. It's not that hard. Be nice, be accepting of new fans, and most of all... be ready to mock your fandom. You need a sense of humour to survive the idea that you're obsessing over something fictional...

Shameless plug!

*makes virtual loff to her Goosey*