chippers87 | Fandom rant, let me show you it.

I love the idea of the House internet fandom. Every week, it is honestly fun to get together and compare notes on what we thought of the new episode. In the past few years in which I've been involved in this fandom, I've met the most amazing people from all over the world. Many of you have become part of my support system, and I know that I couldn't deal with the show and with life nearly as much as I do if I didn't have y'all around.

Except. Except, except, except. Fandom has gotten out of control. I more than understand that this show is not the exact same show as the one that premiered five years ago. Focuses have changed. Characters have become revealed, and new characters have been added. Relationships have emerged. It happens on every show, and that's one of the oddities of a television series versus movies or books or plays; it is constantly in flux. And... there's nothing fans can do about that. Absolutely nothing. Yet somehow, by virtue of this thing called the internet, we think we should have a say. We have become desktop quarterbacks.

Many fans have come to personalize the show. Nicknames like "my baby Wilson," "my Cammy," "my Cuddles," and so forth are common. Many posts to LJ comms and other message boards start with "I want" or "I don't want." And if a show runner or an actor hints that something one may want is possible for the future, and then doesn't follow through in canon, a fan may feel that he or she has been "lied to." Bitterness ensues.

ETA: And it's hard to have a discussion with the "I want" people. Because when you disagree with their views, it's taken personally when it's not meant to be. When someone disagrees with one's view of a ship or a character, it doesn't mean that he or she is being called less of a fan; it's just disagreeing. And so long as someone isn't personally attacking you (and so long as you're not personally attacking anyone else), it's. not. personal.

Shipping dominates this fandom. I'm just as guilty of it as anyone. Generally speaking, it's harmless. It's fun. It's even natural. But, we have factioned ourselves off into groups and generally refuse to interact. Then when we do interact, it's to put down the "competing" character for House's affections and ever so occasionally, those characters' fans. Well, I have news for everyone: HOUSE IS NEVER GOING TO HAVE A LONG-TERM ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP. With anyone. Not Cuddy. Not Wilson. Not Cameron. No one. It doesn't matter how good the fanfiction is written; good fanfiction does not necessarily translate to good "canon." That's not to say House can't have romantic encounters with these characters. He's human, his potential partners are human, and sex is a part of television -- it happens. It's a part of exploring fictional relationships, but sex does not necessarily equal a permanent relationship. It certainly doesn't on House.

What should we expect and demand from the show? Good entertainment. What shouldn't we expect and demand from the show? That entertainment to fit our individual views of what the show should be like. I, personally, wouldn't mind demanding that Hugh Laurie wear those sexy reading glasses all show, every show, and making out with Cuddy AND Wilson during DDX sessions. Luckily for everyone here, I'm not in a position to demand anything that I personally want from "The Powers That Be." And neither are you.

Internet fandom exists for squee and criticism. But too often these days, in every segment of this crazy place, constructive criticism seems to be replaced by borderline if not full on temper tantrums, and squeeing looks more like the bashing of characters, actors, show runners, and fans. No wonder people are leaving.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think there are things that at least reasonable fans would naturally come to expect from a show they've been watching for a long period of time. You, as a long-term consistent viewer, get to know the quality, the style, the themes, the attention given to characters and plots, etc. I think fans are more than allowed to expect quality writing, consistency--things that help the show remain what it's been and true to its form (I'm not, as it might seem, advocating that show not evolve, but that it keeps its standards and "mission", so to speak, keep it's focus and artistic integrity--all other things would naturally, I believe, flow from that, and the fans would reasonably be able to expect the writers to give due justice to their investigation of characters and their relationships, and medical aspects and "mysteries", which are all established as things that the audience should and could "expect" from the show). I think that viewers/critics/etc. can bring up when those kinds of expectations aren't being met, or how they thought the show perhaps deviated from its standard for quality or perhaps have included elements that seem less than fitting, or criticize a plot's structure and why it has or hasn't succeeded from a storytelling perspective--more like concrit for the show. Whining and bitching about ships and whatnot...yeah, that's really not the same, and it's sad that it extends into fandom the way it does.

The domination of shipping in this fandom to this degree is...it's not a good thing, as you point out. It's what's made me lose a lot of faith in this fandom, and it's made me much less active. Almost afraid to visit certain places--certain forums, comms. There are just places I don't go, because it's like walking into an insane asylum. And then it makes me insane, and I have to get out. And you're right, this fandom has lost serious touch with what makes (or at least what I alwas found to make) a fandom great. Being able to squee with the people who enjoy it, too. Or being able to have some really great discussion with level-headed people. Like, okay, I got into fandom less for the squee (even though I love doing it when I can or feel compelled to), and more for the discussion, to have a safe forum (in the general sense) to discuss and learn and exchange interpretations and ideas about themes, and plots, and characters on the show. I was drawn to the show itself for how brilliant it was, and how interesting and developed and it just had so many awesome things to discuss, and I thought, "I wonder if anyone else thinks this, too." And behold! There were. And it was amazing for a while, and sometimes it still can be, but I know that I can only go to certain people to discuss, because...over time, something shifted. And comms weren't safe anymore. If I tried to dicuss House and Cuddy from a more distant or objective point of view, and didn't add OMG, BUT HOUSE AND CUDDY ARE SO DOING IT AND ARE MEANT TO BE AND WILL HAVE GORGEOUS BLUE-EYED BABIES or something, then I was either ignored or blasted for hating the "ship". Or something. I know serious discussion isn't everyone's thing, and that's fine, and I know everyone won't agree and that's fine, too. (I mean, sure, I love being "right", but because that's not really possible in any form of art interpretation, what I like more is to be listened to, and respected, and have someone say to me, "That's a good point, and really interesting. Let's discuss. I may not agree, but this is great. Let's work out ideas." And learn things, and talk. And that never happens for me except with certain people on my f-list that I've come to know.) And not to be able to exchange ideas in a civilized and intelligent way, and really have some kind of satisfying interaction with fandom at large is, and mostly because people have drugged themselves with their "OTP" and are blind to and will accept nothing else, I find really...disheartening. For a show that's never been about ships or hooking people up romantically (as a focus in general), it's bizarre that that's all people can talk about, spoiler reporters in the media and amateur online reviewers included. So, yeah, when I felt unsafe to do that with fandom in general, I stopped watching comms, I stopped posting (for the most part) on forums, and try really hard to just keep to certain people, and it is sad that I have to do that. Because people shouldn't just be insane and ridiculous like that. I'm not trying to be arrogant, but...it's just...been my experience and this rant set this off. LOL Sorry about that.

My long-winded way of saying I'm with you here. Thanks for being sane and awesome.

Fandom rant, let me show you it.

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