The real point of fandom

[kellinator]

Many if not most of you out there are involved in some sort of fandom. And I'm sure if I polled you on the purpose of fandom, I'd get a variety of answers. To share a common interest. To critique the material involved. To predict plot developments. To write lots and lots of slash.

But no. I have figured it out.

The purpose of fandom is to give fans a place to bitch about the characters they don't like, that no one likes, that were a lousy idea in the first place, that only exist so fans will be able to unite in their hatred.

Consider:

• The Homicide fandom bitches about Falsone. (Remember the "I Hate Falsone" webpage?)
• The Law and Order fandom bitches about Serena.
• The Law and Order: SVU fandom bitches about Casey.
• The Smallville fandom bitches about Lana.
• The Lord of the Rings fandom bitches about Arwen.
• The Star Trek: TNG fandom bitches about Wesley Crusher.
• The X-Files fandom bitches about Chris Carter. (No, he's not fictional... but that just goes to show you, truth is stranger than fiction.)

Comments

[gmslegion.livejournal.com]

I'd say it's an almost equal split between fandom hating a character and hating a producer or two. There were Lois & Clark fans who hated Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner, Doctor Who fans who hated JN-T, and honestly, the only reason I know the name of anyone who produces Star Trek is because so many people hate Rick Berman.

You see something similar in comics, with people hating Geoff Johns or Chuck Dixon or whoever. I've seen people go nuts over Grant Morrison "ruining" Xorn by revealing he was Magneto the whole time.