a shyness that is criminally vulgar

[reflectedeve]

There is wank in my fandom today. People I like and respect (but mostly do not know, because I am new and quiet) are all over the fence (both sides, sitting-on, perilously attempting to balance as they walk along the top of).

My response is apparently to go around randomly friending more bandom people. (People who I think are on various sides of the fence; that is not my criteria. I have no particular criteria.) Oh hi, I think you're all cool and stuff but I'm shy and faily and don't post much so I'm just going to sit here and watch you like a lurker freak.

So really, it's a day like any other day.

(For the record? Anon memes used to make me really uncomfortable, but I changed my mind somewhere along the line. I've always been pretty cool with Fandom Wank, for all that it sometimes gets out of hand--or just lame--so I guess that means that I'm not always about fandom being warm fuzzies . . . just most of the time. 80% warm fuzzies, 20% intelligent snark! That would be my ideal.

Anyway, it seems to me that people on both sides are getting upset and defensive because they feel that their happy space is being attacked. For some of them, a fannish happy space is a space without anon memes; for others, anon memes are their fannish happy spaces. You know what? Follow your joy, bbs. I'm sad that people have to stop being friends over this, but otherwise, I don't think it matters. Fandom is what it is for each of us, and I'm generally okay with that.)

Comments

[fuschia.livejournal.com]

I'm upset, too, and kind of bewildered. This fandom continues to make me so happy just for existing, to the point where I don't understand how people can be mean, angry, sad, upset, etc., in a world in which something like this can bring us together. I know how simplistic my thinking is right there, and I certainly never felt surprised that there could be the amount of wankery that there was in my children's book fandom, but I guess I don't ever want to leave this happy place where just seeing Frank Iero's face or listening to Amanda Palmer's lyrics or reading Pete Wentz's blog can make me happy. These concerts have all been amazing and open experiences for me, too, but maybe I'm just a ridiculous Pollyanna in the end? I don't know.

I want the fighting to stop, too. :/

[olivia-circe.livejournal.com]

LET'S BE RIDICULOUS POLLYANNAS TOGETHER, OKAY? <333333

[fuschia.livejournal.com]

YOU AND ME AND FRANK, BB!! ALL RIDIC POLLYANNAS! <333333

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, I love you for your Pollyanna-ness. <3 You're always reminding me of the real reason I'm in fandom in the first place . . . the sheer love of the material. Your posts tend to be both gushy and thoughtful and I'm always left feeling happy and squeeful and a little inarticulate (by comparison).

I've tended to lean a bit too far towards the snarky and critical, the last few years, so it's really wonderful to have you around. <3 (Well, and you're generally fabulous.)

I want the fighting to stop too. It will, though! Tons of new longfic every day . . . I'm confident that the wank can't hold sway for long in the face of that. :D

[fuschia.livejournal.com]

I know! BBB is delighting me, and I wish I had more time to read...

Part of what I'm feeling right now is the contrast between how unbelievably open and friendly and chatty and cool Frank was Saturday night, when he has every reason to be some sort of stand-offish diva, and how mean and conflicted bandom is being right now.

Bandom, Frank says to cut it out. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Y9EEWtmbQ)

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

Me too, this is actually totally the worst week for it, for me. ^^; But I'll probably want to do some wallowing next week, so I'll have it then.

Much as I absolutely love fans, most of the time . . . we're never going to live up to our fan-objects, not in this fandom. Oh, Frank. <3