Weβre pausing today to discuss a trend in behavior by fans whether itβs fans of
authors, movies, music or television. Fans are passionate about what they like
and what they donβt like. Unfortunately, the anonymous nature of the Internet
means that fans can spew every thought they have without filter or regard for
whom will read it. Recently, Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer, writer and
all around interesting guy involved in the
Stargate franchise
particularly
Stargate:Universe posted a blog about the SG:U fans that are
going too far.
Rude is Never Right
It seems many fans dislike the direction of the show or the intensity or the
fact that it is so radically different from
Stargate:SG-1 or
Stargate:Atlantis. They are up in arms over the sex scenes, which were
lacking in the earlier projects and rather than intense and bloody violence, we
have intense, dark and scripted moments of survival against an environment, that
while not hostile, is definitely not warm and fuzzy.
The vitriol posted by some fans goes over the line to calling for the death of
characters, calling some whores and more. You can read Mallozziβs blogs for the
explicit details. The point is, there is a fine line between being a fan, being
critical and just being downright rude. Rude is never right, no matter what
your opinion is.
There are some shows and some authors and even some genres that I just canβt
stand. But I have a choice to vote with my feet or to sit here and needlessly
bash the hard work of others. Now, seriously, what would the point of the latter
be? It wonβt change the existence of the work or the fact that I donβt like it.
The creators behind the work are not going to sit up and go, hey, you know that
blogger has a point, I should just change my entire vision to suit her.
Yeah.
Seriously.
Entertainment is About Being Different
If every author, television producer and movie script writer catered exclusively
to my tastes, well the rest of you would probably be pretty bored and sooner or
later, so would I. The confluence of different ideas, different writing styles
and even the evolution of some characters, are what we β and I do mean we β
authors and writers and creators want to do. The goal is to nurture an idea
until it takes on a life of its own.
I have loved series that I ended up hating because they went in a direction I
didnβt like. Now I could post until Iβm blue in the face, bashing the author,
but why? Itβs his or her creative vision. He or she has followed it down the
rabbit hole on the magical journey to see where it goes. Iβve been highly
skeptical about other shows or books, because the idea of it sounded β too
different β too changed β too unfamiliar.
But when I gave them the chance, some truly startled me by how much I enjoyed
them. I enjoyed the fact that they were different and radically unlike anything
I would have done. Now, arguably, I havenβt liked everything, but I can vote
with my feet. I donβt have to watch it. I donβt have to read it. No one forces
me too.
Vote with Your Feet
As a soap opera fan for going on three decades, I have the power to turn it off
when I donβt like it. The writers, they are doing their job. They are creating
their vision. The actors, they are doing their job and playing a part. They are
not responsible for whether you tune in or tune out. So donβt take your
frustrations out on them.
Or as my grandmother used to say, if you donβt have anything constructive to
say, then donβt say it. You can discuss, intelligently, what you donβt like
without resorting to name calling and hair pulling. Authors, writers, creative
types of all ilk β we like to hear what youβre thinking. We want that feedback.
What we donβt want is to be attacked, vilified or made to feel horrible. I donβt
expect that every word Iβve written will be enjoyed by all. Heck, my mother
couldnβt finish my first book, bless her heart, she tried three times and has
never been able to get through it. My sister-in-law canβt stand the genre and
didnβt bother to try.
But neither one tried to make me feel bad for writing it even if they didnβt
like it. So whether you love something or you hate it or you just canβt get
into it β be respectful and be polite. The more vitriol you spill, the less
likely anyone is to take you seriously β but present an intelligent, compelling
and well-thought out dissent and you just might make your point.
A lifelong writer turned author,
Heather Long's first book
Remembering Ashby is
available for purchase at Sapphire Blue Publishing. Coming soon is the urban
fantasy:
Prime Evil.
The
Daily Dose explores books, television, writing and more -- all topics
that Heather enjoys.
1 comment posted.