....o.O

[reenka]

Okay, I really don't get this.

What's an 'other, lesser mortal'?? o_0 What is an 'insignificant' person? Why do people, uh, refer that way [as 'small'] to themselves in all seriousness without any apparent joking self-deprecation or realization this is the height of just... y'know, self-esteem issues? Eh? Whuh? Did I miss something?

Yeah, so apparently there's some sort of... thing going on in the meta-circles currently about Big Bad BNFs & their anti-communist ways or whatever and it's just sort of... funny?? heh.

What I find most amusing is how ready people are to perpetuate such a meaningless hierarchy in every aspect of their lives, including their online hobby. It's like, the person can't truly be a 'BNF', not -really-, unless you accept -yourself- as 'non-BNF'-- ie, a plebe, 'just' a lurker, and/or pathetic loser wannabe [or whatever]. It's funny I even say this 'cause I'm not one of those people big on self-confidence myself, in real life or online-- I'm totally constantly aware what a sad lamer I am. But. There's a difference between not being self-confident and being a willing Tool of the Man, while [of course] bitching at said Man [who, btw, doesn't exist because basically... THIS IS FANDOM, OKAY, NOT WORLD POLITICS] :P

I'm sorry I locked this, but. Wank = inconvenient, even though this is -my- lj, which means [generally] no one ever wanks here unless they like me, but still. Uh. -.- And now I go to sleep.

Comments

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

This is like trying to understand a mass-delusion. My huge ego has obviously served me well in fandom, because I never thought anybody was really better than I was. Even if they were more well-known etc., that didn't keep me from doing what I wanted--whether anybody was interested in reading it was up to them. Anyway, whatever the reaction to me was I didn't think it would have anything to do with anyone else.

But I swear sometimes it's impossible to make people see this. You're like, "But you realize this person doesn't really have power, right?" because you think they must be kidding but...they're not. Even though it's the internet where everybody has exactly the same access to a public forum, somehow other people are something else.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

...maybe I got into fandom when HP BNFs still walked among us lesser mortals [sort of like Greek gods used to], so I shouldn't say anything 'cause I don't understand their righteous pain. Or something. But yeah, you're probably on to something with the mass-delusion thing. Still, when anyone goes so far as to be afraid of adding 'famous' people to their lj flists 'cause it would be so demoralizing when said godlike being didn't talk to them much... it's just... *facepalm* I think this is just one of those parts of universal human nature I'll have to... observe further, from a great distance :>

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what you're talking about. And I'm so glad I don't. :D

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

This is good-- I really have no idea what I'm talking about either :D

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just saw the link on the Snitch now.

I... um.

o.o

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

There are actually several on metafandom, which I didn't link to before so as not to scar you... :> Metafandom was better when they only posted vaguely intelligently written things. *cough*

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

I accept that I have become one of the cool kids.
No words. Dying.

I notice that these aren't HP people, though, so it could be just baby fandom growing pains. I was in the Matrix fandom from day one and while I didn't hang out with any ficcers in that fandom (because let's face it, a lot of this sort of drama llama ding dong happens predominantly around fic writers -- who generally have a higher likelihood of taking themselves way too seriously), there were definitely declarations of "board popularity". Where some of the more vocal members would preface their threads with things like "I know you all expect me to say such-and-such because everyone knows I believe in such-and-such, but--". Which would then lead to other people mocking them for it and a whole lot of metawank on whether we should judge ideas independently from their sources and whether that was even possible, etc etc. But that sort of thing lasted for about 6 months in all.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Maaaan, there is sooooo much [old] BNF wank in HP when it was already big, it's not even funny-- I mean, I think we -invented- BNF wank, really :D People tell -me- they're scared to talk to me 'cause I'm so cool/intimidating/well-known/etc, so imagine how they feel about someone who's actually popular :)) ahahaha oh man. It's not so much the ficcers as people's -reactions- to the ficcers (they seem saner about artists for some reason, maybe because more people are either aspiring writers or feel inadequate if they're not & think they're 'intelligent' or... have issues....). The thing that totally befuddles me is just the whole idea people have of themselves as 'small fry' or whatever, 'unworthy' to even friend a popular fic-writer ON LJ, ahafalskjfldakjad;kjldagsg. Oh man. There are of course tons of silent people who friend -only- well-known people, but the people going on about how oppressed they are because the Big Girls won't talk to them & hold their hand is... I mea... the ENTITLEMENT... it's...*cracks up*

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but did you see the equally wtf post about the beta/writer relationship? Fandom has made me lose all hope today.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't-- it's not on metafandom, right? Where is it?

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

http://calanthe-fics.livejournal.com/23739.html?style=mine

This new crowd of H/D writers take themselves Very Seriously.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Hahahah yeah I saw that weeks ago :)) *cracks up*
You’re the author who wrote one fantastic fic once, and it’s earned you a reputation for greatness that none of the Slytherin authors think you deserve.
Oh man. :)) This sort of thing always makes me wonder why I ever thought H/D was a good idea :))

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize it was such an old post. Ignorance truly is bliss.

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Heheh yeah... this is why even though I read fics in other fandoms, I'd never dream of really joining them. Well, but that particular H/D author is of the sensitive-is-best crowd with Rubymoth, eheheheheheh. Although I feel a little bad that only one of my HP fics was like, ever beta'd :D

[cellia.livejournal.com]

I think I lose for comparing fandom to high school... but I'll compare fandom to high school. And in some people's minds BNFs="popular" crowd. Which, yeah, but *insert insightful commentary on social structures here*

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

You know, it probably says more about me than HS, but I didn't even -know- who was popular in my [big & not-so-big] HS. I mean, I kinda knew vaguely in the smaller one but it was like 'ugh, those are the outgoing loud people who they're always making... noise... about. next!'. I mean, yeah, theoretically I do understand it, but... on a personal level I don't get making yourself be The Oppressed Uncool Ones if it doesn't even give you indie cred or whatever, hahah. I mean, I always thought being one of the 'freaks-n-geeks' was cooler, otherwise I'd never have liked the idea. Or something. I dunno, this is why I never really got HS when I was there, I suspect :>

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I think fandom does absolutely often work like that...which is why I can't understand why people don't realize they're not in high school and stop it, you know? I guess I can get people who are just out of high school, but imagine being some 37 year old human resources person in Tennessee and you're sitting in your office wishing you could be as good as that therapist in Miami...wtf, people??

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Well, to be fair, most of us in HP, at least -are- in college or HS or at least in our 20s... heh. I sometimes feel unworthy of the writers I think are great [ie, too shy to talk, though I still review and... stuff] but this has nothing to do with how popular they are or aren't. Then again, I actually distrust/dislike people who're too popular 'cause usually it's 'cause they write to the lowest common denominator & actually suck :))