Earth calling Fandom ...
Mar. 13th, 2014 07:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dizzojayWe 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2014-03-13 02:28 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-13 06:16 pm (UTC)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 :)