Diversity of viewpoints among firefly fans

POSTED BY: Diego
UPDATED: Thursday, June 7, 2018 10:35
VIEWED: 13821
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DIEGO

Wednesday, August 11, 2004 12:16 AM

Hello all,

I just wanted to comment on one of the things I find fascinating about reading the discussions here in Browncoat World. That is the diversity of the fans who post here. It seems to me, although this is a very subjective observation, that Firefy Fans are amongst the more heterogeneous groups in sci-fi fandom.

I mean no offense to other science-fiction fans, but I think that many of them get into a very follower-oriented mind-set. Many seem to act like sheep always ready to believe what is told them or to end arguments with appeals to authority. It's the liveliness of the debates here is a wonderful thing that seems to set this group apart and to keep minds open. Case in point- the recent thread about the morality of the Independents. It's good to question the "good guys". I rather doubt that anyone who questioned the perfect benevolence of the Federation would receive a warm welcome on a Star Trek site.

A lot of the divergence in our beliefs are over interpretations of the show we all love. Is there one system, or multiple star systems? Is the Alliance really as evil as our heroes seem to believe? But some of our differences are about the real world. It looks like we have a full spectrum of political views with many sides making intelligent and passionate points about their deeply held beliefs. Sometimes it gets dirty or even petty, but I'm glad we browncoats can have these discussions.

Anway, I just wanted to share my pride in our eclectic little community. Feel free to argue the point if you like! ;)

DIEGO

Wednesday, August 11, 2004 12:18 AM

Oops. There are far too many grammatical snafus in that post. I guess my sweeping pride distracted me from proper editing!! ;)

BRUISERSMOM

Thursday, August 12, 2004 6:20 PM

Deapite you grammar mistake, I got your point anyway. It's a good point. I like it when people disagree with each other. It makes the discussion much more interesting than if someone makes a comment and everyone agrees or keeps their opinions to themselves if they disagree.

FREMDFIRMA

Thursday, August 12, 2004 7:01 PM

A perfect utopia would immediately become less than perfect as boredom would cause mass suicide simple for the (admittedly VERY short) entertainment value.

Without conflict, there is no progress, without progress there is stagnation, and stagnation becomes decay and ultimately destruction.

Kiss an anarchist today.

-F

DIEGO

Thursday, August 12, 2004 7:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BruisersMom:
Deapite you grammar mistake, I got your point anyway. It's a good point. I like it when people disagree with each other. It makes the discussion much more interesting than if someone makes a comment and everyone agrees or keeps their opinions to themselves if they disagree.

Thanks. The predilection for debate is one of the truly attractive things about the Firefly community as it is in the scientific community. I'm glad to be a member of both.

Of course, I'm not surprised that there is little response to this thread. It's kind of a logical trap. People could respond "Yup, that's a good sentiment, it's nice to argue." But that would be the sort of agreeing that would be most boring.

On the other hand one could disagree and say that it's a bad thing to disagree which would then reflect poorly on whoever posted that message. Hmm, next time I'll have to start a more controversial or otherwise objectionable thread!

TRUTHSEEKER

Friday, August 13, 2004 12:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diego:
Of course, I'm not surprised that there is little response to this thread. It's kind of a logical trap. People could respond "Yup, that's a good sentiment, it's nice to argue." But that would be the sort of agreeing that would be most boring.

On the other hand one could disagree and say that it's a bad thing to disagree which would then reflect poorly on whoever posted that message. Hmm, next time I'll have to start a more controversial or otherwise objectionable thread!

How about I neatly sidestep your logic trap by hypothesizing on why people of such diverse beliefs/ backgrounds/ etc. would all be drawn to Firefly, and why they would also be inclined to carry on intelligent conversations about their differences?

My theory is that because FF is, at its center, about widely diverse people who come together and form a family, the audience base is widely diverse because we can all find someone to identify with, or we identify with multiple characters for different reasons.

Also, I think one of the aspects that the FF audience is drawn to is the very fact that in the FF 'verse, there are no easy answers. At some level we all seem to respond to the intellectual challenges and moral ambiguities of the 'verse.

So, appreciating the complexities of the FF 'verse, we are also stimulated by the opportunity to explore the complexities of our own through our debates.

On the other hand, the nature of cyberspace also allows us to preserve the civility of our dialog by deciding how much we want to join in. There are some threads, say in the Real World section, which I haven't read at all because I know I'd probably disagree too strongly with someone, and it would annoy me too much to debate the issue intelligently. There may be others who stick strictly to polls and threads about favorite scenes, lines, etc. depending on their comfort level.

To summarize: diverse characters in a complex world + a diverse audience who appreciate complexity and enjoy engaging in stimulating conversations at a level comfortable for them = FFF.net
QED

The woods are the only place where I can see a clear path.

DIEGO

Friday, August 13, 2004 2:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by truthseeker:

To summarize: diverse characters in a complex world + a diverse audience who appreciate complexity and enjoy engaging in stimulating conversations at a level comfortable for them = FFF.net
QED

The woods are the only place where I can see a clear path.

Beautifully put, truthseeker. Those points are largely coincident with my beliefs about the fans here. But you articulated it far better than I could.

SUCCATASH

Friday, August 13, 2004 3:23 AM

I think most of the people here are assholes.

JK

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

KUKOO

Friday, August 13, 2004 3:35 AM

I had actually posted this a while back on another political thread, where it was suggested I put it on its own thread because it was off topic as it talks about the differences amoungst firefly fans viewpoints.

"This may be slightly off-topic, but I have always thought it was interesting how Firefly Fans seem to be at such opposite ends of the political spectrum. I believe the reason why is in the way Fans view the Alliance.

Liberals tend to view the Alliance as the end result of the path the Bush Administration has set us on. Declaring that the Geneva Convention isn't applicable to the war, creating a new name for prisoners and criminals so they can throw the Bill of Rights out the window and hold them indefinetly, being able to shroud key policy meetings in a viel of secrecy so that the public cannot determine how decisions were made and the build-up and reckless use of the Armed Forces. Under this theory, River and Simon were probably listed as "enemy combatants" by the Alliance.

Conservatives tend to view the Alliance as the end result of too big a government with too much control over our daily lives. i.e. too many social programs and laws regulating behavior and business. Mals quote about governments being there to get in a mans way would support this theory.

I think the Alliance is a mixture of both. It is the worst aspects of the two current parties rolled into one. It is as if the special interests (maybe the forerunners to the Blue Sun Group) took over both parties and pushed them into one. The point of a 2 party system is to balance each other out, and the absence of a second party is what makes the Alliance so scary and powerful. "

MACBAKER

Friday, August 13, 2004 5:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by kukoo:
I think the Alliance is a mixture of both. It is the worst aspects of the two current parties rolled into one. It is as if the special interests (maybe the forerunners to the Blue Sun Group) took over both parties and pushed them into one. The point of a 2 party system is to balance each other out, and the absence of a second party is what makes the Alliance so scary and powerful. "

I agree with you, but I also feel the current two party system is deadlocked and stagnant. We need a viable moderate third party to shake things up and swing votes between the partisan "liberal" and "conservative" parties that have the country's voters so divided.

It amazes me how tight the current election seems to be heading, and how close the last one was. My problem with most presidental elections in my lifetime is, I'm voting for the lessor of two poor choices, instead of the best person for the job! Does anyone really feel Bush or Kerry is the best choice to lead our country? Many voters that will vote for Kerry, are really voting against Bush, and vice versa. They won't be placing their vote FOR a candidate, but voting against the candidate they feel is the bigger risk.

The real winner here, isn't the voters, it's "The Blue Sun" (the corps and special interest groups) that both parties cater to like the whores they really are! We are heading towards that "Alliance", and the only way to really avoid it, is to demand a third party that makes sense, and one that represents the voter, not big money contributors and special interest groups!

BTW: Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore aren't the cure, they are symtoms of the desease!

I think we all want pretty much the same thing, but we don't really know if our government is capable of meeting those needs. Some believe the Democrats, while others put their hopes with the Republicians, and some (like me) don't think either party is capable of the leadership we need, or really cares what the average American thinks. We get divided over issues, but we all want a world that is safe! Where jobs are secure, and inflation and taxes don't bury us! Where our children get good educations and have the opportunity to live peaceful happy productive lives. We aren't really that different. We all want what Mal wants! Freedom and "Serenity"!

Quoting Dennis Miller: "That's just my opinion, I could be wrong!"

I'd given some thought to movin' off the edge -- not an ideal location -- thinkin' a place in the middle.

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