That Unpopular Fandom Opinions Meme

[crankyoldman]

What the hell. I'll keep it general, though, and not turn it into something that's obviously skewed to one fandom.



- 35 is not old. Seriously. Just because anime and video games seem to think 15 is the right age to save the world doesn't mean this is by any means normal. Folklore speaking, it makes sense because 15 was adult back in the day, but these are no longer the times for this. And characters over the age of 35 are not boring, you're just not expanding your mind enough. They're complicated.

- I cannot for the life of me ever get Old Dead/Mutated/Whatever Guy and Young Spunky/Hyper/Whatever Girl pairings. Mostly because they tend to be turned into caricatures the instant this happens. In every fandom I've ever been in. Unless it's canon. And even then, the fanfiction tends to be awful there. And I like those types of characters. Just not together. I think it's only a couple steps away from a Bella/Edward most of the time, really.

- The best way to keep me out of your fandom? Is to tell me it's better than one of mine. I don't care if you like it better, just there is no universal scale of awesome and not. I don't mind opinion, but I find, "my stuff is better than yours!" to be immature and rude.

- I don't like Evangelion. I don't dislike anyone for liking it, but if you treat it like the Most Amazing Anime Evar I may raise an eyebrow and scoot away slowly. As far as deconstruction goes, I found it sloppy and no one was likeable at all, not even in the "I don't care about likabiliy" way. And the random Christian symbolism? Made no sense. And I study Ethics for fun, it's not a matter of not "getting it" I just found the message to be depressingly bleak.

- I probably like most of the books you were forced to read in school. Likely because I'm in the sciences and not forced to read them. There are exceptions, of course.

- I like het and slash equally. Because everyone's a little gay or a little straight. And who cares. Character interaction is always fun, why should it matter if they're screwing or not?

- I actually like gen better than anything else. Particularly family gen. Dysfunctional or not. There's a ridiculously huge range of human interaction out there that's missed. And I know it's hard, too, so I don't blame people for not writing it much.

- I tend to lose respect for people that use the term "Mary Sue" too much. Mostly because the definition has turned into "female character I either don't like or identify with". And it's nearly always female. This does not sit well with my creepy feelings I get about misogyny in fandom. Furthermore, I find it a stupid double standard that female characters tend to have to be a lot of different things, when a similar male character gets a hand wave a lot. I'm cool if it's a certain type of cliche across the board you don't like, though (like I don't actually really like theives/rogues much).

- I don't get into a lot of current teenagery stuff because I'm a snob, mostly just because I can't identify with it. I'll watch 80s and 90s teen movies forever though.

- I am more squicked by bad power dynamics played romantic than by mind control. Mostly because I've lived it, likely.

- I don't read longfic anymore because I'd rather just go read a book by a published author if I'm going to invest that much time in something. Not that published authors are any better, I just know there's a lot of decent books out there I haven't read, and I always hate getting into a longfic only to realize three very long chapters in that I'm probably going to want to bang my head on a wall.

- I like poetry, and lyrical prose. If it makes sense? I REALLY like it.

- FF7 and FFX have my favorite main parties of all. For completely opposite reasons and mostly because of the female members. Other unpopular FF things include: I wish FF8 were about Rinoa instead of Squall, I couldn't get into FF9, I thought Yuna was the hero of FFX, I didn't like Locke in FF6, Tellah rocks in FF4 even if his magic sucks, I'm glad FF13 is going to be sci-fi, FF4's Cecil is my favorite hero and I relate to him a lot, and I hate FF7's Zack, but mostly his creepy as hell fanboys.

- I think anti-fandoms are worse than any rabid fandom out there. Do you realize how much time you waste on something you supposedly don't like? Seriously.

- Lancelot and any character modeled after him is a douche.

- If you're writing the same characters and pairings based on type in various fandoms, you need a break. I've been guilty of this too. We like what we like, but if your female lead sounds the same across the board? You may just want to take a break and write some crack.

Comments

[lassarina]

Word, word, word about older characters. YES. (This becomes more relevant as I edge closer to 30...)

[safety-caesars.livejournal.com]

I've noticed my perception of certain ages of characters change as I get older. I've been aware of it the entire time, too - like, when I was 13, I created original characters who were 15-19 years old and this was a perfect "mature" age to take on the world. Now at 22 I'd be more inclined to create original characters who are in their mid-late 20s and 30s, and it's hard for me to be as "into" characters in their mid-teens. I'll refrain from bringing up specific fandoms throughout this comment but one thing I love about Metalocalypse is that it's about a bunch of (generally unattractive) guys who are obviously in their 30s and 40s and that's awesome XD

As I mentioned in my comments to Jamie's post, I'm really only into pairings that at least make some bit of sense. I realize this is all about suspension of disbelief, but like you were saying about the old messed-up dude paired with the young spunky girl, at some point I don't like to have to work to make a pairing seem feasible. I'm perfectly okay with the obvious pairing, like Cecil and Rosa 6_6 Throw Kain in for an affair with Rosa when I'm feeling kinky. I'm all for like, Cid/Edward crack, but I'm never going to be "into" all these contrived pairings, either het or slash XD

Eva wasn't bad, but it kind of made me want to cut my wrists at the end. I enjoyed it; definitely not the Greatest Anime of All Time though.

Amen to the Mary Sue comment!

[churched.livejournal.com]

Word to the "I cannot for the life of me ever get Old Dead/Mutated/Whatever Guy and Young Spunky/Hyper/Whatever Girl pairings." bit. I've never ever seen the appeal. I like a good age difference, but what ever happened to happy people finding each other? It doesn't always need to be two polar opposites to balance each other out - especially when the guy broods a great deal of the time. That's just annoying.

[churched.livejournal.com]

I also agree about the FFX bit - even without Yuna being made into a powerhouse by the end (which I do anyway!), it's pretty much her tale as being told by Tidus.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Which is why that game made me hyperventilate a few times. I didn't want her to die!

I'm really quite squishy deep down.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I mean, if you have to pair up a messed up old guy with anyone, it'd prolly be someone either just as messed up, or patient; something that the stereotypical hyper girl doesn't have.

And exactly, can't happy people be together? ^^

[churched.livejournal.com]

Either they should be happy smiley together or screwed up together, I agree. Sometimes a messed up old person needs another messed up old person to lean on, and vice versa!

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

The funny thing? Is growing up, I ALWAYS liked the old dude. Like, always. Gandalf and Galadriel? Heroes of mine. I didn't get into Harry Potter because she kept KILLING OFF ALL THE INTERESTING OLDER ONES. The first character I ever wrote? Was 45. I was eleven.

So it's been a lifelong obsession of mine. And I'm glad I'm getting older myself because more people are aware.

'm perfectly okay with the obvious pairing, like Cecil and Rosa

Them and Cid and Edea are probably my favorites in the FF series. It's just.... cute. Oh and Locke/Celes, because it makes Locke less annoying. XD I LIKE YOU AS LOCKE THOUGH. I just have a great aversion to Heroic Thieves.

[safety-caesars.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, if I ever met someone who acted like Locke in real life I would pound his ass to the ground XD He IS annoying! I probably only like him now because I was in love with him when I was 8 or whatever XD But generally I find hopeless romantics like him sickening, haha.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

LOLZ.

It's ok. I used to have a crush on Wesley Crusher.

We all have something.

[darcenciel.livejournal.com]

Locke/Celes is just cute.

[anima-mecanique.livejournal.com]

Aw, I love Heroic Thieves. When I was three years old I decided I was Robin Hood for upwards of two months, and now I am obsessed with Arséne Lupin. I own every single volume of some shitty yaoi manga because it featured a gentleman thief in a top hat. It's like "dashing + heists = cool" is engraved on my DNA.

The thing you have to remember about Locke is that he is fucking crazy. I mean, seriously, he has his dead girlfriend preserved in a basement. That is serious hardcore nuts.

Which is why I like him, honestly.

[celes-grant.livejournal.com]

You noticed that about girls in fandom, too, eh?

And I also like het and slash equally-- but I feel like a damn minority or a sore thumb if I ever mention it to people.

I mean, why is fandom all slashlashlash!? It's not all, but I wonder why people feel more comfortable with two guys doing it more than they are two girls, or a girl and a guy--

/rant

Aw, I'll love Locke for you XD I tend to like the theives/rogues

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

Are there that many characters inspired by Lancelot?

I’ve guiltily started finding longer fanfic more appealing than books since it’s been awhile I’ve bought a book I’ve liked, the price is right, and you can drop it without having it sitting around taking up space.

Gen stories are outside of my main fandom is generally what I read. I enjoy romance and appreciated it as it add layers to characters, then there’s the fun of getting to squeal at the cute parts, outside of that I don’t much care for it as anything other than a side thing. Expect in the final fantasy VII fandom where I have trouble with reading stories that don’t have vague mention of my favorite pairing. It’s odd really.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Not tons, but there are Lancelotian tendencies in a lot of romantic comedy guys.

I like having diverse opinions with my friends. It is opinion after all, I won't suddenly disown you. Don't feel guily. ^^ Sorry I haven't had the time/attention to write some longer things for you. XD

Hell, in a few weeks my tastes will prolly change anyway.

[darcenciel.livejournal.com]

Anti-fandom bugs the hell out of me. I used to be in the Gundam Wing fandom, and if you know anything about the Gundam Wing fandom, you know how bad it was. Anti-Relena Peacecraft fans bug me worse of all, because they act even less mature than Relena does in the beginning of the show, and then have the nerve to say that they hate her.

And Yuna is totally the hero of FFX.

[drakonlily.livejournal.com]

Oh well what the hell, I'll do it. What's the worst that can happen?

Also AMEN on Lancelot!! But we ranted about this at length.