Earth calling Fandom ...

[dizzojay]

We call ourselves the Supernatural Family, and in many positive ways that is so appropriate; just like a family we support, respect and defend each other - there's a lot of love in this Family.  Unfortunately, however, family can occasionally exasperate and disappoint you, and in that negative respect, this 'Family' is no different there, too.

I am simply astounded - and not in a good way - at the Sam hate that's been doing the rounds recently.  It seems to be a side effect of the goings-on in season 9, and also seems to have been amplified by Jensen's recent podcast, but I'm at a loss to understand why!  Jensen referred to Sam as 'a selfish asshole'; and even though the tone of his voice and the reaction of the DJ's made it clear that it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, there has also been a certain level of Dean/Jensen hate stirred up, presumably by him making the comment in the first place.

Jensen must be mortified that he's somehow brought this level of vitriol down on his best friend's head, especially when some of the Sam hate is spilling over into Jared hate. Why do certain portions of our fandom feel the need to do this to the very people they purport to love?  I really don't get it.

The fact is that both of the Winchester boys can be selfish in certain scenarios.  Sam has always had a sense of superiority and  righteousness about him.  Dean has always been impetuous, reckless and infuriatingly stubborn.  They are both deeply flawed characters and that's why we love them; because they are imperfect, intensely layered characters that we can all relate to and sympathise with.

I may be a Dean girl, but I love both our boys.  I may want to smack their heads together and knock some sense into them sometimes, but it doesn't stop me from loving them.  And this sort of character hate makes me sad.  When it bleeds over into actor hate it makes me angry.  That's totally and wholly indefensible, and this fandom should be ashamed that it's going on within our ranks.

I keep telling myself to avoid Tumblr, because that's where most of this hate and unpleasantness seems to be lurking, but I can't - there's just too much pretty to be had over there inamongst all the weirdness; it's like trainwreck TV; you know you shouldn't look ... but you just can't help it!

*sighs*

Right, rant over - time for tea.



See, Dean's displeased.  Told you so.

Comments

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'm staying off tumblr, I cannot be doing with this childish school-kid ranting and raving and pettiness. I will stick to LJ where generally speaking the rational people (who still have strong opinions but who also listen to other people's points of view) hang out.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I keep saying I will too ... then the pretty calls!
Is there a Tumblr withdrawal group?

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I get my pretty elsewhere...

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you so much for the complimentary Jensen - very much appreciated :)

I guess it's the price of fame, but it hurts to see our boys being criticised when they say something perfectly innocuous; I live in fear that onbe day they'll have enought and say 'screw this' and just withdraw from interacting with the fans - and after some of the crap I've seen, I wouldn't blame them if they did.

And, given that Jensen is ten years younger than me and Jared is fourteen years younger than me, they'll always be boys as far as I'm concerned! :)

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I am simply astounded - and not in a good way - at the Sam hate that's been doing the rounds recently. It seems to be a side effect of the goings-on in season 9, and also seems to have been amplified by Jensen's recent podcast, but I'm at a loss to understand why! Jensen referred to Sam as 'a selfish asshole'; and even though the tone of his voice and the reaction of the DJ's made it clear that it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, there has also been a certain level of Dean/Jensen hate stirred up, presumably by him making the comment in the first place.

I am totally and utterly there with you sweets.

We're meant to be a family, and yes, family bickers and has blow outs but come on people...

I see it like this, bare with me, it's rambly..

A) Sam is still the man we fell for, he's just having his own issues at the moment, and if anyone is deserving of a little scorn (however misplaced) it's actually the writers for taking Sam on a path that no one really believes he'd take.

B) It's gotta work itself out, because we have a season 10 in the bag :)

C) I have never understood the Sam!Girls against Dean!Girls...Okay, I'm a switch hitter, I'm a Dean!Girl with Sam-Curious tendencies so maybe it's different from my point of view, but the wank that goes on, the utter wank!

I have faith in the fandom that we'll pull through the bullshit that's going on at the moment. And no one deserves what happens in their show to leak over into their real lives. Especially seen as Jay and Jen are so hard working when it comes to interacting with the fandom. Do these poeple want them to withdraw their involvement in the fandom? Because if they get too much flak, that's what will happen.

*hugs*

And I haven't gone near tumblr since about episode 5...Not worth the horseshit you have to wade through to find the goodies, just not worth it.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

You're totally right, what is all this Samgirl versus Dean girl all about? Why do we have to split into tribes?

It's all one show and we should all pull together to support it. For instance, I'm not particularly fond of JDM's version of older John, that doesn't mean I have anything personal against JDM whatsoever, I just can't warm to the character; but I wouldn't dream of being abusive to someone who really liked him. I gave up that sort of behaviour when I was about five!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

*Nods* I get so sick of it to be honest, I know I'm about to sound very 5 year old hippy kid but, why can't everyone just get along!

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

Nothing but love over here BB. Come watch with me and we can squee at all the pretty together.

:)

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I love my F-list - we got more love than Woodstock!

[auntmo9.livejournal.com]

This is why when I do go over to Tumblr I only look at the pretty pictures and I don't stop to read. Don't people get fandom is supposed to be something fun and entertaining? There are so many bigger problems in the world. We shouldn't be fighting with each other. My heart was breaking yesterday at work over a little girl who lost her life (seven years ago but sadly I'm sure it still happens today) at the hands of her caregivers. But fandom has to tear itself apart over fictional characters.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think for some fans the lines between real life and fiction get totally blurred and they just lose all their rational parts of their brains (if they ever had any). I'd blame it on youth but I know that isn't the case, there are older supposedly more mature people who are just as bad. You can't fight the crazy, so best stay out of it.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Sage advice!

[auntmo9.livejournal.com]

You can't fight the crazy, so best stay out of it.

Which is why I am very careful about where and with whom I spend my fandom time.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Exactly; if these idiots in the fandom wanted to get abusive, they should find the bastards that abused that little child instead of two actors doing an honest job. They really need to find a sense of persepctive.

It's terrible to think things like that still happen still happen in today's world. My heart goes out to that poor little baby. I hope her so-called caregivers never know peace or love ever again in their miserable existence.

[auntmo9.livejournal.com]

Yes, but they dont have that level of maturity sadly.

[fanspired]

I've been thinking about it, and it's occurred to me that the key excgange in that podcast was probably the one right at the beginning where the interviewer told Jensen that Misha's interview got 35000 hits and Jensen's response was "so you're telling me that 35000 is the number to beat." On reflection, I think Jensen knew exactly what he was doing when he made those comments about Sam, and he's probably sitting back now, watching the hits go up and chuckling. And Jared and Misha are doubtless chuckling along with him. They've probably all got side bets going on whether Jensen can beat Misha's record.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I definitely wouldn't put it past them :)

[heavenli24.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I'm wondering if they got that number mixed up because the only two podcast interviews I can find with Misha on their site only have 3,752 hits and 2,583 hits... not 35,000 :P.

This one of Jensen's is currently at 13,917 hits and it has already had more than all but 4 other interviews: two with Sera Gamble, one with Lauren Cohen and Katie Cassidy, and one with Jamie Chambers.

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

I don't understand the hate and vitriol that goes around in the fandom at all. Some of it is downright nasty, and I have been subjected to it at one time or another, and it is not pleasant. You would think we could all get along, but emotions run high and we want to defend the character we love, and the nastiness can escalate so quickly. But yet, there are some that just like to spew the hate because that is just part of who they are. There really is no rhyme or reason behind any of it.

I'll admit, I have had my issues with Sam these past two years, but I haven't reached the point where I out and out hate him. I have tried very hard to understand his reasonings behind his actions and the things that he has said. My love for Sam may have waned a bit, but because Dean loves Sam, I have made an effort to try and understand him. I have mostly been successful with that, but there are still times I would love to smack that boy upside the head and knock some sense into him. But then, I think we all feel like doing that to people we love when we see them taking doofus actions.

The vitriol on Tumblr is pretty bad. It's just as bad on FB, and I have excised myself from those particular pages where the hate runs more rampant. But on Tumblr, like you, I am there for the pretties, and I mostly avoid any comments or lengthy posts just because I can't be sure whether or not it will be hate-spewed. So, I do my best to stay in my safe haven of LJ. And even here you do have to be careful. But it is easier to stay away from certain people that you know are questionable.

So, we'll just all stay in our happy places, and help each other out. Let all the haters hate between themselves. They deserve each other.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

The nastiness of some people amazes and saddens me. We all love our show and our characters, but at the end of the day it is just that; a show!

These people really need to get some perspective in their lives.

As you say, let them carry on spewing their hate in some dark corner of the internet, we'll just frolic here and celebrate the prettiness that we all love :)

[leighannwallace.livejournal.com]

I don't hang on Tumbler so I haven't seen any of that, but it doesn't surprise me. Some people can't survive unless they fomenting a lot of soap opera crazy.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Some people just need to get a life!

[sasha-dragon.livejournal.com]

Oh the joys of being a technophobe! For the most part Tumblr is a closed book, simply because I can't figure the bloody thing out.

But by the looks of it, it's probably for best I'm useless, I don't get the actor hate. If we must have issues with anyone aim it at the writers. Who I think need to be locked in a room with box sets of the first five seasons, and told to watch them repeatedly until they understand exactly who the Winchesters are.

I don't understand some of these 'fans'. I listened to the pod cast and I really enjoyed it. You could tell Jensen was taking the piss when he said that about Sam. But equally you could tell he hates the way the brothers are at the moment. And that is part of the reason I love him, he is really invested in the character of Dean.

Yes I want the bothers back to being brothers, but if and I mean if this leads to a proper resolution to the situation. Then I will forgive the writers for some of the more dickish comments Sam has made, otherwise....Hey Jeremy we really need to talk.

Right rant over, I think that sometimes we need to just step back and let our more crazy cousins froth at the mouth.

Me I'm here for the pretty, the epic man tear of pain, and the fun of being a fan girl,

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Oh indeed, I've had my Tumblr account over two years and I still can't figure out how the darn thing works; I just sit in the corner over there being ignored for the most part!

And I completely agree with what you said about the podcast, I get the impression that Jensen isn't happy about this whole Sam/Dean split - I wonder if that was part of the discussion they had with the writers a few months ago? Oh to be a fly on the wall in that meeting!!!

I think I'll remain over here in my safe, cosy cocoon of lovelies enjoying the pretty tears, and the fun of being a pervert, sorry, fan-girl ...