Bitchy Fans

[orikes]

Why are so many fan communities so… bitchy?

As some of you are aware, I’ve been highly addicted to Sims 2 lately. As a result, I’ve poked my nose into some fan communities. Some of them have been really helpful in getting me past some bugs, figuring out how to get more out of the game, and on what custom content to add. At the same time, I’ve been turned off by some of the complaining that goes on.

One community in particular has the Jeckyl and Hyde nature of being really really helpful with questions, but constantly having these posts full of nasty comments about Maxis, EA, and other fan communities. There was a new ‘Stuff Pack’ announced, and I stumbled across a two page post filled with negative comments about how horrible it would be.

I just don’t get how people can apparently hate something so much, but still play the damn game. Same thing goes for people who bitch about comic books, or tv shows, or rpgs. If it sucks that bad, why are they bothering?

I personally thought the ‘Glamour Life’ pack looked fun. Lots of new dress-up clothes, nifty furniture, and tons of new paintings and sculptures. I’ll buy it for sure. Maybe it’ll even have some more cool music (the last ‘Stuff Pack’ had some songs by Barenaked Ladies – sung in Simese, of course).

Comments

[elsewhere7.livejournal.com]

As another person online explained it to me, there's an unspoken Internet Law:

If you hate something popular, or even something that's vaguely mainstream, your Intellicock gets bigger.

And this is why I think fandom should be removed, or my generation should be reprogrammed. :)

[demiurgent.livejournal.com]

Are you looking for an actual answer?

http://www.websnark.com/archives/2004/10/entitlement_and.html is my take on it. It's not exactly the same as the communities you describe, but there is transference.

[jengagne.livejournal.com]

Ooh, GREAT summary. I agree totally! Now I have to start a Websnark Fandom...

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

You too can be a Snarkoleptic! (There's a livejournal community for it ;)

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

After I posted it, I realized it was a little ironic, since I had recently been grumbling about some webcomic creators being 'whiny' about their fans. Ultimately, there is similarity between almost any type of fan community, I guess. Growing up in a 'football family', I'd heard more than enough griping and barking at the television towards the same team that was currently decorating all the walls.

I will have to reread that article again. It was a good one.

[jengagne.livejournal.com]

I just don’t get how people can apparently hate something so much, but still play the damn game.

There's a sentiment I've voiced before. ;) I imagine it's akin to the attitude that makes people stick with their current boyfriend/girlfriend despite massive annoyances and a plan to dump said person "eventually".

It's like... it's too much trouble to find something BETTER to do, so instead they'll sink further into the couch and bitch about whatever-it-is for a false sense of jaded camraderie.

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

I guess in some ways, I just don't work that way. If I'm honestly not getting at least SOME enjoyment out of something, I move on. I mean, there are so many games out there. It's real easy to find something else to be a distraction. Why linger on something that's not fun anymore?

[jengagne.livejournal.com]

You've just quoted, nearly verbatim, the little speech I tended to give people on Nightscape in lieu of toading them. ;)

Seriously though, it's the truth! It baffles me.