What just happened to this fanbase?

POSTED BY: Thrawn
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 18:14
VIEWED: 4695
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THRAWN

Monday, August 29, 2005 7:20 PM

Am I the only one that, over like the last week, has suddenly noticed a profusion of negative threads and flamewars? Can someone explain to me what's gone so wrong? I've loved coming here for a couple of years now, and lately I've been afraid to open any thread that concerns the BDM or the fanbase at all.

Mostly, what's really been bothering me falls into two categories, I guess.

1) We've waited a really long time - why can we not wait one more month without assuming Joss has actually decided to spontaneously ruin everything we loved about the series? So there are some negative reviews...so what? I've seen the movie. It's possibly the best movie I've ever seen. But it's different from the show, and there are going to be people that don't like it. You have to understand...it's a MOVIE, it's not an EPISODE. It's going to be different. But it's also quite possibly Joss's finest work to date, which is a strong thing to say.

I guarantee that at least 99.9% of the fanbase is going to adore it, especially after two or more viewings. But all people seem to see are the negative reviews.

And for y'all who've been badly spoiled and haven't seen the movie yet (you know who you are, and DON'T READ THIS IF YOU AREN'T)...

Select to view spoiler:

SHUT UP. Seriously. What is this "Firefly is dead for me now" crap? You haven't even SEEN THE MOVIE! I bet the number of times Joss has let you down can be counted on one hand - I personally guarantee this isn't one of them. So stop ruining it for everyone else just because you think you've heard bad news. Think about this - you're making everyone else curious what's so bad, they're going to get spoiled, and it'll ruin some of the finest dramatic material ever written in the movie. STOP IT.

And if you aren't antagonizing over the spoilers you've heard, I'm really sorry for this, but I've seen several people posting stuff like this, and it REALLY bothers me. Joss often does things that sound utterly terrible and turn out to be the greatest things ever. Keep that in mind.

2) I understand it's been a long journey, and during said journey we had to take everything very seriously, as it was seriously in doubt this would happen. But it HAS happened, we've WON. So stop acting like every negative review, and every single person that gets a bad impression of us, is the end of the world. The movie is MADE, everything else is little stuff. We're not going to lose our chances at a sequel because some website doesn't like us. Just...chill out a little bit, both sides of this argument.

I've spent upwards of two years on this messageboard, and been consistently amazed by the level of politeness and how wonderful people here constantly are. All the great lines and great moments thread constantly make me smile, Caption Tightpants and the other one are hilarious, and the news is always up to date and important. This last week has made me really uncomfortable, and that's never happened before.

One last note - I was really worried about this post, because I thought it might things worse, I really hope it doesn't. I just can't believe what's going on. We're a month away from the thing we've wanted for it feels like years and years - let's just relax and let it get here, ok?

PSYCHICRIVER

Monday, August 29, 2005 7:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Thrawn:
One last note - I was really worried about this post, because I thought it might things worse, I really hope it doesn't.

I'm sorry to say this, but I can't see how your post will help. I'm sorry.

Yes, you are right, there have been a few bad incidednts/posts recently. A few. And some of them, have been threads that started with people dwelling on these sorts of incidents.

I don't see how dwelling on any of this badness, or giving it it's own thread, can help at all.

I think it's best to ignore these few incidents and not blow them out of preportion.

Spread posts of love, not war!

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

Summer Glau to me - "You are so photogenic."

Me -

BROWNCOAT1

Monday, August 29, 2005 7:42 PM

I agree w/ you Thrawn.

The threads lately have given me a great deal of concern. I have been tempted to post many times, but have refrained from doing so in an effort to let some of the issues die off on their own.

It is my hope that things will settle out & that these problems have mostly stemmed from nerves & excitement as we get closer to the premiere.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

EMBERS

Monday, August 29, 2005 8:02 PM

wow, where have I been?
I don't think I've seen any of these posts;
I've seen the usual nonsense over at the Official Universal board, but that board is always a little wacky...better to not read most of the threads there.
But here?
I'm surprised.

PSYCHICRIVER

Monday, August 29, 2005 8:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by PsychicRiver:
Quote:
Originally posted by Thrawn:
One last note - I was really worried about this post, because I thought it might things worse, I really hope it doesn't.
I'm sorry to say this, but I can't see how your post will help. I'm sorry.

Yes, you are right, there have been a few bad incidednts/posts recently. A few. And some of them, have been threads that started with people dwelling on these sorts of incidents.

I don't see how dwelling on any of this badness, or giving it it's own thread, can help at all.

I think it's best to ignore these few incidents and not blow them out of preportion.

Spread posts of love, not war!

PsychicRiver

I'd just like to add that I do agree with what you're saying.

But, the people who will say that they agree with what you're saying, would more than likely be people that haven't been causing this kind of trouble.

People who read this post who have been causing this trouble...will probably just argue more... and I don't want anybody to argue! I love this forum, and I can clearly see that you do too.

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

Summer Glau to me - "You are so photogenic."

Me -

STILLSHINY

Monday, August 29, 2005 9:01 PM

What type of posts are you referring to specifically. I've not seen anything of such a contrary nature. Now, I will say I stay away from anything below the REAL WORLD FFF.NET line. I mean those topics are just asking for contreversery. Then again so does my spelling. I try to stay to the fun threads, muppets adored & villians be dang'ed! ha ha I said dang'ed ......oh right. The board seems pretty friendly to me. There are a few "groups" such as the "trees" & such that I don't fully comprehend, though some are "crews" and that makes sense. I figure the "trees" are just groups of Browncoats that most like chat together as well. No harm, I just get lost when I try to post or chatch up on the "latest" Now I have seen a few ruffled feathers at folk being too negative, or spoilery, or overly spoiler sensitive. But all this stems from being too extreme and possibly over-opinionated. Just stating my opinion. Disagree with me if you choose. I'm just stating my thoughts.

Hey, I call this place home.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again
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Listen to "The Signal" www.serenityfirefly.com

CHANNAIN

Monday, August 29, 2005 9:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
The threads lately have given me a great deal of concern. I have been tempted to post many times, but have refrained from doing so in an effort to let some of the issues die off on their own.

It is my hope that things will settle out & that these problems have mostly stemmed from nerves & excitement as we get closer to the premiere.

I'd like to think of it all as growing pains. Every good, prolific fandom has them, and this isn't the first time. It happened once already when the DVDs came out, then again when word of the movie started coming out and everyone was speculating about what was going to happen. Everyone has a viewpoint and an opinion, and if it wasn't for us, this movie would never have come to fruition - as Joss himself said, "movies don't get made from cancelled TV series." Yet ours has done that.

I just hope that in the long run, that's the one thing folks will keep in mind.

"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/Nora_Leverson
Live in Minnesota? Join the Group! Yahoo Group, that is...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly

VISITINGMYINTENTIONS

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 2:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Channain:
Everyone has a viewpoint and an opinion, and if it wasn't for us, this movie would never have come to fruition - as Joss himself said, "movies don't get made from cancelled TV series." Yet ours has done that.

I just hope that in the long run, that's the one thing folks will keep in mind.

"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

Yes, but what I'd like people to appreciate here is that it is not we who have done the impossible, but me. I singlehandedly defeated the FOX dragon (barehanded, no less), I lugged back the treasure from the garden of the Sun to fund the movie, and it was me that gave birth to all the browncoats running about these forums.

I expect some thanks for my heroic efforts, ladies and gents. (If you need any more reason to thank me, just remember who planted the concept of the show into Joss's dreams that night.)

---------------------------------------------------
Post-holer: for digging holes for posts.

AKUKODOGO

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 10:10 AM

Thank heavens someone has finally owned up to being the inspiration for this wonderful 'verse.
Re the negative threads, I have noticed a couple this week and I put it down to the last bit of excitment before the BDM goes out there to those folks who don't know as much as we do about this baby. However, the regular folks still seem to be polite to the 'dills' that have parked their manners at the door. This has got to be the most interesting site I have visited, now if I could just work out what this firefly thing is all about I am sure I will enjoy it even more. snigger snigger guffaw guffaw. (ps I'm talking to you from tomorrow, clever hey)

GONZAI

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 2:44 PM

Speaking as a moderator of a few Yahoo Groups, including a Lord of the Rings group...

I have noticed that in the 4 to 8 weeks before a major event (film release, DVD release) people get really, really short-tempered and touchy over the slightest things. Tell truth, I try to avoid spending too much time at fan sites as major events approach, too much negativity, hostility and other behaviors.

So, it ain't fun, but it ain't unique to Firefly either.

"I'm not a control freak. I'm a control enthusiast." - Joss Whedon

The Mid-Atlantic Browncoats are hiding from the Alliance at:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/Midatlanticbrowncoats

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