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

[olivia-circe.livejournal.com]

NO YOU.

I just - it's really hard to watch, because I really like people on both sides, and it sucks that they're fighting, especially when there is no right side. I like misspamela's post, too, and I agree with her, which helps. On the other hand, I also found myself a lot more willing to listen to quettaser and impertinence than monkeycrackmary, because I do a lot better with rational defense than with righteous anger. Sigh. I also hope people calm down quickly and just, like, enjoy bandombigbang and shit.

I am listening to Bullets right now. What does that say about me? :D

[reflectedeve.livejournal.com]

especially when there is no right side.
Yes, this. Though it comforts me a bit, because I don't have to . . . get up there, declare allegiances, defriend, etc.

I know what you mean about the righteous anger turn-off. Fandom has actually conditioned me that way (Fandom Wank being no small contributor), because I've seen that doing that--even though it can be understandable and sometimes even necessary--tends to shut down discussion entirely. The bandflesh folks are the ones who sound a lot more open to dissent just now, and that works better with me, even though I feel bad for the people who have been hurt.

But yes. Fic! And love!