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[krickets]

→ You know what I don't understand? Fandom. I may or may not be talking about something specific here. [Hmm.] I just feel a lot of posturing and pretense going on in a lot of places. You know when you were a kid and you wanted to be the first one on the block to have the newest Nickelodeon toy [or whatever]? It's kind of like that. Only now, in fandom, we want to be the most enlightened, the most forward-thinking, the one who really "gets it" -- etc. But you know? I don't know if people actually get it. Something about the way fandom behaves at times like this, and yes, individuals within fandom, just seems so fake to me. When there are canned phrases that everybody seems to be repeating ad nauseum, it makes me question the authenticity of those spouting them. It all just feels so rehearsed and because of it, what they're really telling me is, "this is what I'm supposed to say, so I'm saying it." I'm not sure that people are as enlightened as they pretend to be. Or maybe they are, but their reactions don't really reflect how they feel or what they really would like to say. [Nevermind what they understand.] Maybe the sentiment is somewhat authentic, but the handling of it, the wording, whatever, just feels so formulaic and disingenuous. And okay, well what's new? These are human beings we're talking about. But still. Fandom? Why so serious?

→ An ETA: to the above. I understand that there are important discussions to be had and serious issues to deal with, but let's leave a little room for, I don't know, humanness and compassion and for people to make mistakes without having to adopt some false Stepford personality after the fact.

Sorry all of this is so vague.

→ I also don't get when people don't e-mail you back. I mean just in general. Not even related to anybody or anything specific. My e-mails are not forwards. Why do my friends sometimes treat them like ignorable garbage? I would really like to know what causes this type of behavior. That's like saying hello to a close friend in the hall as you pass by and they don't even wave back. Come on, folks. Give me a wave!

[I won't say I've never forgotten to respond to an e-mail or taken too long, but at least I try not to make a habit out of it. What gives?]

→ Keep calm and carry on. ← That? Right there? That's a period. As in "the end." As in "STOP." Don't make me hate this phrase, people. Resist the urge. I beg of you.

→ I'm sure I'll have a more cheerful post later.

Comments

[colourmayfade.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm not sure if I get what you're saying, it's all vaaaaague but I think I see a little of that - not on the discussions that much, maybe because I stay away from discussions anywhere but on my flist (well, aside from The Quill Station) - in people's eagerness to be the first to picspam. I see this ALL THE TIME and though I understand that sometimes you're really excited and everything looks so pretty so you just start right away, so much of it I see as a "need to be the first, get most comments" and whatever. Not sure if this is what you mean though? Oh, I don't know. I honestly don't (or try not to) delve too deep into fandom, I just stick to talking to my friends.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THE EMAILS. I ALWAYS EMAIL BACK, I JUST TAKE LONGER. For me, it's because I have my email forwarded to an application, like Outlook, so sometimes I receive them and read them but I'm busy and can't answer them right at that minute... and then later I end up forgetting to.

(sorry about the edits, I realized that some of what I'd written didn't make sense... not sure that it does, yet.)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Not really what my conversation was directed at but I totally know what you mean by that as well. But that's a part of fandom that I can kind of live with. Even though it's kind of... I don't know... upsetting that instead of genuine enthusiasm, people are motivated by... idk, popularity? Popularity is not something I've ever really cared much about, so I can't really understand the motivation there. But whatever, it's kind of a hazard of the community.

Don't worry about the e-mails. That's honestly not what I was referring to. I have this friend back home, high school pal. And he like never answers my e-mails. It's so frustrating. But it's not just him, it's like an epidemic. It's not when people "take a while" to get back to you. It's when they just literally never respond to your e-mail. [Whether that be in person "Oh, I got your e-mail!" or on the phone or in chat or whatever.] That's when it bugs me.