Winchester Family BusinessTV's Craziest Fanbases - Guess Who Scored The Highest?
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 19:58 | 
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Tim Surette of TV.com, a writer who's made no secret of his love for Supernatural, came out today with something both wildly entertaining yet at the same time completely disturbing.
He picked several shall we say, "motivated" TV fanbases out there and rated them based on craziness. In his words, "It's difficult to say why, but some shows simply attract a different breed of supporters. Creepy, scary, insane supporters."
Um, yeah, I'm not sure what you're talking about there Tim...(shifts eyes). No that's not me tossing aside my latest concept, which requires me to burn one or more of those weekends he mentioned in the intro. Some of my other favorite shows are on this list too, like Lost and Chuck, but it's my affiliation with the only fandom that scored a 10 out of 10 that either has me beaming with pride or rethinking my priorities. Here's a little of what he had to say about the Supernatural fandom:
Listen, I love Supernatural, I really do. But some fans out there really love Supernatural, to almost clinical levels. Ahem: The show's weirdest fans are known for writing tales about a little something called "Wincest," a play on the main characters' surname (they're known as the Winchester brothers) and that taboo where siblings get it on. And as much as I enjoy watching Sam and Dean Winchester battle demons, I do not have any inclination to see them (or read about them) having sex with each other.
... In the meantime, please enjoy this Supernatural drinking game video, which should provide a better idea of what the show's "normal" fans are like. And by normal I mean completely bats*** insane.
Either way, each fandom analysis comes with a fun video and Supernatural is no exception. Below is the link to this great article and I'm embedding the video link here too just in case you don't want to play it on TV.com or Youtube. After all, we need a Supernatural drinking game right about now.
http://www.tv.com/tvs-craziest-fan-bases...-with-video-proof%0D/story/21826.html?page=1&tag=news_story;1
Um, yeah, I'm not sure what you're talking about there Tim...(shifts eyes). No that's not me tossing aside my latest concept, which requires me to burn one or more of those weekends he mentioned in the intro. Some of my other favorite shows are on this list too, like Lost and Chuck, but it's my affiliation with the only fandom that scored a 10 out of 10 that either has me beaming with pride or rethinking my priorities. Here's a little of what he had to say about the Supernatural fandom:
Supernatural
Insanity Level: 10 out of 10, call the National GuardListen, I love Supernatural, I really do. But some fans out there really love Supernatural, to almost clinical levels. Ahem: The show's weirdest fans are known for writing tales about a little something called "Wincest," a play on the main characters' surname (they're known as the Winchester brothers) and that taboo where siblings get it on. And as much as I enjoy watching Sam and Dean Winchester battle demons, I do not have any inclination to see them (or read about them) having sex with each other.
... In the meantime, please enjoy this Supernatural drinking game video, which should provide a better idea of what the show's "normal" fans are like. And by normal I mean completely bats*** insane.
Either way, each fandom analysis comes with a fun video and Supernatural is no exception. Below is the link to this great article and I'm embedding the video link here too just in case you don't want to play it on TV.com or Youtube. After all, we need a Supernatural drinking game right about now.
http://www.tv.com/tvs-craziest-fan-bases...-with-video-proof%0D/story/21826.html?page=1&tag=news_story;1
Last Updated (Wednesday, 10 March 2010 20:20)
We scored a 10? We're the nuttiest?? I'm so SHOCKED! I deny all allegations!
I deny all allegations too!
Those drinking games videos (yes, there's more than one) are some of the funniest videos the fans do
It's true in some ways, but I can't take this too seriously. I mean, some of the fans are kinda wacko but hey, as long as they aren't stalking people or attacking them physically or verbally... I can come up with plenty of worse ways to spend time.
It's funny, because it's true
Worryingly I scored 19 out of 20 on the Nutometer as I'm part of a bi-weekly Watch-Tru-Blood-Whilst-Getting-Smashed-And-Then-Maunder-On-About-It-Far-Into-The-Night-Girly-Gang ... Someone round up Jas, quick ... We need a friendly professional to reassure us we're all normal!
( Well, normal-ish, anyway ... )
I swear, I always have to put on my normal hat when I saunter on over here.
This whole wincest thing doesn’t creep me out at all, I find it sick, though, but it’s nothing but fantasies of probably lonely hearts and more or less harmless (I won’t get started on that subject when it becomes an indeed clinical or forensic/criminal matter)….
I have known some Trekkies, and Kirk-and-Spock stories, as far as I’ve heard from them, have always been a big deal there. I guess we’ll find these kinds of stories in every fandom (though it’s mostly homosexual pairings there, less incest).
In my mind, the ‘nuttiest’ label does apply to those fans, however, that forget their manners and taste and behave in a way that – allow me to say it again – I get my vicarious embarrassment attacks. We’ve talked about those a few times.
Those fans easily score a 10, but I don’t think that it exclusively reserved for Supernatural fans.
I like other shows ,too, like True Blood, but doing what I do here on our site is as hardcore as it gets for me.
I feel sometimes that it might be somewhat nuts to invest so much time in a tv show, since writing is a very time consuming effort, if you want to get it right, you know that. But since I invest even more time in my work, my friends and the other parts of my life I love, I feel entitled to the kind of fun Supernatural and this site provides.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Alice, I wouldn’t have read about it otherwise.
This friendly professional (I hear ya, Suze), tells you – hey, you’re perfectly alright. Who wants to be normal, anyway?! That drinking game is hilarious, eh?
Let's not take this too seriously...
Love Jas
But serioulsy couldn't this guy list some better reasons? He only mentioned stuff that all fandoms have. Sure, not all have the Wincest but .... those guys are harmless compared to all those Sam vs Dean fighters on the messageboards who think the characters need protection from the writers. Those guys are really scary!!!
There are some pretty nutjob SPN fans out there, but I really think that this site is a haven for the level-headed but still serious fans, a place where everyone is very respectful when we disagree on certain things in the show. So there are definitely some 10/10 fans out there, but no one here that I have met!
Can't really say much about fandom, this is the first and only one I know, thou I got a glimpse on the Star Trek fans ones and it struck me as odd. Avidly following and adoring a tv show had always made me wonder. But bashing each other and the tv show's cast, posing as the actors and attacking them, like some SPN fans do, well, that made me wondering about the fans' state of mind.
Still, the Supernatural fandom was a revelation for me. Because there are people out there who express their interest in a tv show in a fun and non-harming way, even an educational way (man, I could graduate on mythology now
We may have a certain dose of insanity, Mr. Surette, but I think we're adoreable.
I am ADVERTISING the show, for God's sake! That doesn't make me some kind of nut job! Plus, Jensen and Jared love the shirt and always thank me!
Excuse me, the med cart is coming around, and I have to tell Jensen and Jared, "I love ya!"
Love ya all,
Robin
Is the drinking game really so wacky, Tim?
Robin--
Dude, they are brothers.
Nuff said.
10/10 doesn`t that mean we`re all perfect!
I know they probably intended this to be fun, but I'm kind of tired of people bagging on supernatural fans, it's getting really old. I will admit that there are some very avid fans out there, and if I was going to point out something wrong with this fandom it would be Sam v Dean Girls (I think Dean is awesome, but I don't think it's worth starting WWIII because someone thinks Sam is more awesome than Dean), same for the Jensen v Jared acting debate, or fiction where the guys are secretly a couple in real life (I think that's probably creepier), not Wincest. I think the very vocal people are in the minority, but they post on the internet so it seems like a more widespread problem. My guess is that most supernatural fans are like people who participate in this site, passionate about this tv show, but fairly level headed. But what I think this article fails to grasp is that all of this stuff exists elsewhere in other fandoms, Smallville (RPS), American Idol, Heroes has Incest Pairings too, FYI did you know that there is Sports RPS. The type of supernatural fanfiction out there is not really unique. Heck even Rome had a brother and sister sleep with each other during an episode. I just don't think that the people who make articles like this have latched onto other fandoms as a punching bag like they have Supernatural.
I guess what angers me is that I'm most likely one of these fans that their making fun of. I will on occasion read Wincest Fanfiction, and I will admit that most of it is really off-putting (underage and rape is not okay), but I find some of it interesting if it's well written. I think the whole taboo aspect of it is intriguing. I recognize it's weird. I also read RPS when the setting is something completely different from this reality (movie retellings, sci-fi, spy, different occupations), I'm even starting to write some. But since fanfiction is mainly anonymous and know one really knows anything about the authors, no one really recognizes that these people have lives, I know i do, and most of them aren't "bat shit crazy" for writing this stuff. It's just an anonymous outlet for peoples creative impulse to write within the context of their favorite tv show. I think it's an aspect of the modern fan culture and people need to stop bagging on others for exorcising this creative impulse, they are not hurting anyone. Also it's FICTION get over it, if it's not your cup of tea don't read.
Your complaints are most welcome here! This is a passionate fandom and opinions of all sorts are encouraged.
Yeah, I do agree with everything you say here. I did take this article to be more tongue-in-cheek than anything though so I didn't take it too seriously. I also VERY much agree, the fighting between the Sam girls and Dean girls is far worse and really puts a black mark on this fandom. When it stretches into Jensen vs. Jared, it makes me embarrassed to be part of this fandom sometimes. That's creepy.
I think that for the rest of the world out there though, those that are only somewhat familiar with the show, it doesn't get any nuttier than Wincest. It's even moreso since Kripke and Co came out about it too in The Monster At The End of This Book. So, I'm sure that's what Tim Surette chose to run with in his limited space. I'm certain he doesn't read Wincest at all.
Once I wrote an article speaking out against Wincest and a very level headed fan explained to me that the rationale behind it is these are two guys that spend a lot of time in close quarters so it isn't so far fetched. She also pointed out that there is some very well done fiction about it. I can't argue there so I don't condemn those that read it or write it, but it's definitely not for me!
Thanks for your well worded opinion!