Fandom, does your opinion really matter????

                So to start off my very first blog, I may piss some people off early, and well that’s OK, because like I’ve said before you don’t have to agree with me. But something that has really been grinding my gears lately, and getting under my skin so much that it’s caused me to write this segment, is this thing called Fandom. Now I know Fandom is just a word to describe fans of a specific team, or brand, or really anything, and means no harm, I get it. But what I don’t get is when did we become this culture of self-righteous, egotistical, narcissistic fans that you see everywhere now a days(Specifically on the internet). Alright let me explain before people start jumping down my throat and break this down.

What I am specifically talking about is these guys or fans if you will who act like they are the BIGGEST and BEST fan ever, because they are OBSESSED with something so much, that no matter what you say, they know all about it and you know nothing and should stop being a fan immediately! You know because you don’t know how to “fan” right obviously. Let me give you some examples I have seen that actually directly relate to me, even though these situations haven’t happened to me personally. Ok so I like WWE wrestling, it’s no secret, and I love it in fact. I would say I am a HUGE fan of WWE pro wrestling, if you’re not that’s cool, just bear with me because there’s a point to be made here. I was surfing Facebook the other day and this post from WWE is about these 2 new guys down in their NXT show (a developmental program for new talent to the WWE) and a comment on the post is just a dude saying something about how one of these new guys looks like yada yada, I don’t remember exactly what he said, but he was making an innocent comment. Nothing to be upset about, but oh boy were a lot people! You know why? Because apparently one of those guys is a huge deal in the pro wrestling industry overall (not in WWE yet), and this guy isn’t a REAL FAN!? He was told to stop watching, and that he sucks, and that he’s obviously not a “real” wrestling fan, and all of this just crazy...hmm what did I say before... oh yeah SELF RIGHTEUOUS, EGOTISTICAL, NARCISSISTIC  “fans” coming down on him. Which brings me to my point, what is up with the lack of disrespect amongst fellow fans these days? Seriously why is it we can’t be just fans of something nowadays without everyone ruining it for us, and trying to make us feel like shit because we aren’t so into something like they are? Now this specific example resonates with me personally, because I do in fact consider myself a big fan of WWE. I have been watching for nearly 15 years. Now I don’t say I’m a huge pro wrestling fan, why? Because of shit like this, guys jump down your throat and actually ask you to stop watching, when you are both supporting the same thing!? How does that make any sense?

It’s not just wrestling, look at music for example too, we all like music right? I’m sure this one applies to a lot of people, but specifically ,for me I’m going with rock music, because that’s my jam. I love hard rock, and metal. Oh shit wait here comes the raining down of “Well you don’t listen to real metal!” that’s exactly what I mean again. People acting like these weird hipsters of their own self interests. Why does it offend you so much if I say I like metal and I say I like Five finger death punch, Slipknot, or Avatar. It just immediately starts a fire in you, “NO THAT’S NOT REAL METAL!” It almost sounds laughable when I think about people getting genuinely upset over something so trivial. But again people say things like that and these “Kings of their own little fandom world” get out of control.

Let’s go with Marvel and DC films. They are huge right now, it’s no secret. I also am a really big fan of Marvel movies, shows, and DC content. You go online and try to talk about your thoughts on a movie, and what do you get slammed with? Shit from “real” fans because they read the comics! Every issue there’s ever been. Some of these guys are pros right, they must have a job of reading comics since they want to shove that in your face constantly. Now if you’re a comic fan, that’s great, we wouldn’t have these films without them. No disrespect towards you. However what’s the big deal if more and more people love the movies but not the comics. Why are we not allowed to have opinions because you somehow have more rights to something than us, because you’ve delved deeper into it than others. Don’t get me wrong, I see no issues being a big fan of something, hell even being obsessed. That’s your right, go ahead. But why put others down who also are enjoying it alongside you? Sure if somebody’s challenging you about the history of for example A Marvel character, and you’ve read every comic issue, and they’ve only seen the movies, then yes go right ahead and take them to school on it. They started a war they can’t win. But why can’t I simply go on a post and be like you know “I didn’t care for Batman V superman because of the confusing storyline” and then get bombarded with “Well if you’re a real fan! If you’d read the comics”. Like why? You do you and I’ll do me.

 I get it, it’s the internet and some might say after this article, “don’t go on the internet if you don’t wanna be offended!” and I just don’t understand that mentality. Like when did the internet become the jungle, this “survival of the fittest” mentality? Where we have to expect to be ridiculed and ostracized for our opinions and beliefs. We literally have created this other world where people go on and become just these animals. There’s no respect amongst fellow fans most the time, or really anyone for that matter. The fan part really gets me going because I just don’t get it, where does it make you feel satisfied inside that you have” one upped” someone because of what you like.  And the crazy part is for ex. Marvel again, I’ve never read a comic, but damn I pay to see every film of theirs in theaters and I buy every film on DVD. I buy merchandise all the time. Like we are on the same side here, why be like that. WHY!??

 My Solution would be you should really stop singling fans out of whatever the subject is, no matter what because hey you have a common interest right? Not just that but you both support that particular thing, and without the other that thing might not strive. And you may no longer see it. I Love the band Hollywood Undead and I have liked them before they blew up, yes I understand when I was in 8^th grade I too also got mad when something went mainstream that I loved first. But now that they are bigger, I couldn’t be happier to be see them do great. I’m going to keep getting records because people keep loving what I love, and isn’t that the most important thing. So join up with your fellow fans! Show some comradery; maybe give them more insight if you can offer more on the subject than they can, and most of all just stop with the massively inflated egos pertaining to your fandom.