The State Of SPN Fandom

[raloria]

I told myself I was going to stay out of this issue. The best way to deal with fandom wank is to ignore it, right? And honsestly, I usually don't see all that much of it...except for today. I've see enough today to last me a lifetime. I'm sick of it. All of it. Why do we have to continue to fight amongst ourselves. This is not how this fandom was when I came into it over 2 years ago. It was fun and welcoming and generous. Now there's backstabbing, stealing, name calling, and nasty attacks at every turn. It's sickening.

Why can't we all just enjoy the show, be our creative selves if we have the ability (and the time and resources), share with each other, and cooperate like good fans should? Why does everything have to turn into so much drama that Broadway would find it hard to compete?

I don't take sides and I don't lay blame. Why? Few of us really know each other. We're all a bunch of relative strangers relying on pure words to communicate. We're battling against differences in culture and language. Yet we willingly jump down people's throats at the slightest provocation. And don't tell me that's just the way fangirls are. For one, there are a few guys around, too. For another, we don't have to be like this. But the people who spread such wank do it to hurt others and to get attention. Otherwise, they would deal with such matters privately and not involve whole communities. But they choose to stir up trouble and that's exactly what they achieve. Meanwhile, whatever truth there may have been in the beginning gets lost as the poison grows across the fandom. Others take over and pick up the cause.

"So-and-so did this!"
"So-and-so said that!"
"I'm right, you're wrong!"

In the end who knows who did what or said what. Who do you believe? Everybody takes a side, but what is the truth? Sure, proof of the wrong-doing can be provided, but everything can be doctored. Most of this fandom tweaks the images of SPN every day. So what is the truth? Only the individuals involved know for sure and as there's no lie detector built for the internet yet, there's no way to really know.

What I want to know is when we started turning on each other and fighting against ourselves when we should be concentrating on what brought us together: Supernatural. That used to be what this place called the fandom on LJ was all about. It's sad what it's now become. Maybe I'm a silly Pollyanna for wanting everyone to get along, but I'm sick of being in the middle of these feuds. I friend people, I join LJs and comms....then I find out they're both against each other. Peachy. I don't want to leave either one or have them leave me, so I stay and play moderator. It's tiring & stressful.

This whole situation of fandom wank now has me wishing that Supernatural had been canceled. It probably would be better than what we're dealing with now. No show, no reason to be at war with each other (although I'm sure somehow a way would be found). Look at me, wishing the show to end! It's insane! But this is how twisted this situation has become. This show isn't going to die from poor ratings....it's going to die because it's fandom imploded from all the infighting! So let's just kill the show, shoot ourselves in the foot and put an end to all this. Dean can continue to rot in hell and the fandom can just stay down there with him. That's where we are folks...in hell. Problem is, we put ourselves here. Don't you think it's about time we got ourselves out? Or maybe we just don't care anymore. We'd rather fight than love our show. So be it.

On a personal note...For the first time in over 2 years I'm considering leaving the fandom and closing down my LJ. WTH??? That was never even a thought in my mind before. Never. I love this show, every bit of it and I want to love this fandom. I do my best to provide lots of goodies, to fill my niche in LJ by being a provider. I work hard and I know there are those who appreciate it. *hugs flist like a lifeline* But to be honest? The comments aren't coming like they used to. I'd like to chalk it up to the summer hiatus, but I'm not sure that's the sole reason. But if people really don't care what I do here and if the fandom would rather fight itself, then maybe this isn't the place for me anymore.

Please, regard the last paragraph as the emotional outburst that it is. I'm afraid I'm not being terribly rational, but it's the way I feel right now. I'm sure I won't go anywhere, but for the first time I do feel like leaving and that's something I never expected to feel here. Sorry for the bigtime rant.