Fandom and the Mob: a Rant

[kennahijja]

As much as I'm often proud of fandom – its collective creativity, courage and subversiveness – there are a few things about it I dislike. There's extreme shipping, which fills me with scared amusement and confusion; there's writers deleting their stories for other but serious RL reasons, which pains me almost as much as the random destruction of historical artefacts. Those are minor wibbles. There is, however, one thing that above all else that just plain disgusts me – and that is the rabid mob mentality fandom can exhibit from time to time.

I'm talking of the attack dog mentality that stampedes braying after a leading opinion, hurling insults and mindless approval without pausing to spare an individual thought or a shred of consideration that the 'other side' might have feelings, or reasons, or might on some level be acting in good faith. Perhaps there's something liberating about feeling in the right and being edged on by a crowd of others feeling the same way; maybe that provides the sort of anonymity that allows one to behave like an utter arse which one wouldn't get away with in any other situation. I don't know. I only know that it's perfectly disgusting to watch.

I'm by no means saying that there can't be disagreement, or strong disagreement, or even sharp arguments worth falling out over. But if there are no arguments, not the flimsiest attempt of questioning one's own point of view rationally before starting to scream, and not the tiniest bit of respect for other people and opinions – nothing but a virtual mob, yelling – then it's truly fandom at its very lowest.

I'm only talking about mob mentality here, not about right or wrong. This rant has been brought on, of course, by recent events, but I've been in fandom for a few years now and have seen it happen again and again. Sometimes over an opinion I agreed with, sometimes over one I disagreed with. Truth be told, it sickens me even more if I happen to agree with the side the mob is on, because it makes me want to be able to change my mind, or yell the old "get off of my side, you're making me look bad (and feel sick!)." But then I've always believed that it's preferable to lose well than win badly.

It just makes no difference whether you (or I) think the cause is a bad one or the most worthy of all or anything in between: if in order to make your point, you have to incite, or pander to, or rely on the mob (or, if you happen to stir it up by accident and fail to try and slap it down again), you've already damaged even the very best of causes beyond salvaging. Yeah, it means you can be right and still be made of fail.

Most of the time, fandom is a great place to be, but at times like this, it sickens me. I honestly wish we could be better people, a better community than that, but sometimes, it seems we can't. And that's a bloody shame!

Won't make a habit of ranting for sure, but this has been festering inside me for a very long time.

ETA: Apologies if I'm owing any of you replies still, but I won't be getting around to it. It's time for War, not Wank.

Comments

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. Agreed unquestioningly on the seriousness and dangerousness of opinions. although I don't think they can be parted from the people who hold them' in discussion. But if we approach said discussion with a few safeguards in place - being aware we're dealing with human beings who deserve respect, considering that they have their reasons/are acting in good faith, trying to see the issue from their angle - I think we're less likely to fly off the handle, or misread/misinterpret carelessly (or purposefully). Sure, we may still end up thinking they're totally wrong and perfect arses to boot, but chances are much greater we can actually trade opinions and come to a respectful disagreement. Or not, but we'll have at least tried and not jumped into the mudslinging from the start.

Though yes - there *is* the point when my core convictions are touched and my hair starts to rise and compromise just is out of the question. You know, the 'I'm right, you're wrong, no question' thing. That's the point where on the net, I have to walk away and where in RL I'm uncomfortably aware that I'm capable of violence. *Very* rare, but...

On the other hand, if *I* feel that way about some things, I can't deny that others can feel the same way, about other things where I go all 'you're so wrong/stupid/making a fuss over nothing'. Though I realise it's damn hard to say 'look, you should have a right to say that, if you truly believe it, even if it violates everything I hold dear, and I'm not going to scream and try to sic the mob on you'. It works on the net, where opinions are still one step removed from actions, but not in RL. I'm not that perfect :).

But ohyes, the 'you can't say that because it offends me' crowd! That's my very favourite intellectual suicide argument! :(

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I regret to have to tell you that the quotation was from you, to do with the Christian doctrine of the sexes and specifically with homosexual practice.