Supernatural: The Dark Side of Fandom
Since I fell in love with Supernatural in the fall of 2009, I have engaged in various activities related to the show: I have read a multitude of forum posts, watched loads of videos on YouTube, voted in many polls, bought books, magazines, and all the seasons on DVD, travelled to conventions, read countless articles, and even authored some of my own as a staff writer for The Winchester Family Business. In short, I am a fan.
Supernatural Fans. We are a diverse group of individuals, brought together by our love for the show. The reasons that brought us to Supernatural are as varied as the personality and life experience of each fan. Over the years, I have read many different accounts of how people found the show. The common thread within those stories, though, is that each of us found something about Supernatural that deeply resonated with us. Whether we were moved by the complex themes, the otherworldly universe, the relationships of the characters, or just by watching the trials of the human experience play out on screen, we ended up loving this little show about two demon-hunting brothers. Having this bond in common has created a community that is the Supernatural fandom. We are a passionate, loyal, energetic group that adores the show, but that doesn’t always see eye to eye – to say the least. But hey, get any group that is passionate about something together and disagreements are going to occur, with tempers bound to flare. But why, despite our love for the show, is our behavior regarding it (and with regard to each other) so volatile? There is no one answer; fandom is a very complex entity. And even though we are the entity, what we are a part of is difficult to truly understand.
For decades, scholars have attempted to answer questions about how fans are created and why we feel so strongly about our text. They have examined our motivation, behavior, and influence inside these fan communities, and our ever growing impact outside them as well. Originally, many academics looked upon fans – particularly those of the science fiction/fantasy genre – in a negative light. They saw fans as emotionally immature outsiders, awkward and even unstable, longing for acceptance and finally finding it in fandom, thus immersing themselves in it. Movies like Trekkies and even parodies of fans (such as the infamous Saturday Night Live skit depicting fans of Star Trek) didn’t help that unenlightened view. Those perspectives have changed in the last couple of decades, however, as our true identities have been expressed through creative, artistic, and intellectual endeavors, and our influence on the text has become more widely acknowledged and appreciated.
Recently, I, too, have delved into this topic, and have done a large amount of research on the subject of fan studies. Despite all that I learned, however, I’m not sure I understand more than I did when I started. People are all very different, so it’s difficult to put them under one umbrella term like “fan,” much less attempt to find reasons for the behavior displayed under that label. Ultimately, the reasons we fans invest in our beloved – whatever it is – are varied and complex. One of those reasons is obviously for enjoyment. Sometimes, though, that enjoyment gives way to dissatisfaction when the fandom is not operating at a healthy level. How fandom behavior transforms from lighthearted fun to conduct that is sometimes inappropriate, and occasionally even potentially dangerous, is also complicated. Throughout my research, however, some reasons (suggested by those infinitely more versed in the topic than I am) did seem to emerge. Certain concepts tended to keep popping up, making sense of that slippery slope between passion and pathology. Although detailed examinations of each topic are well beyond the scope of this essay, I will briefly discuss some core concepts and attempt to provide at least some food for thought on how fandom, in this case specifically Supernatural fans, can sometimes get caught up in the “dark side” and end up displaying unbecoming behavior. I will also attempt to provide some thought provoking questions which may be helpful in avoiding these pitfalls of fandom.
One caveat to the following, however: There is the risk that within these paragraphs we may see – even just a tiny bit – of ourselves. And if so, things might get sticky. We may have to call into question our own motivations, our own actions, and the effect those actions have on other people. And that’s never easy. We don’t like to look at, or judge, our own conduct. Of course, we are great at judging other people’s behavior. But looking at our own is much harder. If we’re willing to be as objective as we can, however, we may come to some self-revelations, and discover that just by making a small shift in our viewpoints, we are able to enjoy fandom (and perhaps the show) a whole lot more.
Having said that, here are some areas that may lead a fan astray, and some suggestions for questions to ask ourselves to make sure we don’t wander into questionable territory.
Aggression/Anger
We all know by now how passionate Supernatural fans are, but isn’t that part of the draw of fandom? We love to engage in discussion with people who enjoy something as much as we do. We also understand that fan forums can sometimes get heated as we debate points about our favorite show. When that passion leads to fury, however, things can get a bit out of control: Character and actor wars break out, show writers get angry tweets, fans feel marginalized, blogs get filled with hateful comments, and things are no longer fun.
Aggressive behavior happens in all fandoms. Sports fans, for instance, are infamous for their out of control behavior inside and outside stadiums. Regarding Supernatural (and for other TV shows with heavy mythology or serialized drama) it is often discontent over a storyline or character action that can quickly breed frustration, which can morph into resentment and anger. Initially our expectations aren’t met, and we get frustrated. We realize that we don’t have control over the storyline, so we do the only thing we can – we vent on forums. All that is reasonable and to be expected, but sometimes when we encounter those that disagree with our assessment of the situation, frustration increases, and quickly turns to anger. Now that many of the creative team of Supernatural are on Twitter we can even take it one step further. And because anger tends to have a snowball effect, once we get going, it’s hard to stop. Posts to one another get angrier, comments thrown at writers get harsher, and the situation gets progressively worse.
In addition, fandoms that take place online are subject to aggression from cyberbullies. Anonymity breeds a lack of accountability. People can hide behind a computer or iPhone screen and be more daring. The sense of power that comes from being able to say outrageous things without consequences fuels some of this behavior.
Even though this may seem excessive to us, sometimes we might even jump on the bandwagon. We post an aggressive comment or send just one angry tweet to a writer. Or maybe we’re at a convention and we boo an attendee for saying something awkward during a panel. This can happen, despite our best intentions, because of a phenomenon called deindividuation. In an internet article at the Sports Networker, (“The Psychology of Social Sports Fans: What Makes them so Crazy”) author Thomas Van Schaik discussed the term, which social psychologists describe as losing a sense of self when in a group (physically or online), thereby taking less responsibility for our individual behavior. Maybe it’s easier for us to tweet a writer aggressively if we know so many other fans are doing it. Perhaps we don’t feel responsible for booing an audience member at a convention if the whole crowd seems to be engaging in the same behavior. Although there will always be online bullies and people who like to start trouble, we can take a look at our own behavior and make sure any frustration we feel doesn’t turn into excessive anger or aggression. And we can also take an honest look at our actions and determine if we ever develop a “mob mentality” as fans.
The first question that we might then ask ourselves when feeling consistently irritated with Supernatural is this: Is the enjoyment we get from watching the show outweighing the frustration we may have with it? Once we come up with the answer, we can either choose to leave or try and manage our expectations in order to keep frustration to a minimum. Second, regarding deindividuation, we can ask ourselves: Would we would engage in the specific behavior (whatever it may be) if we were the only ones to carry it out? Our answers will then inform our choices to proceed or reconsider our own behavior.
Lack of Boundaries
These days, we have easier access to many of those involved in the making of Supernatural. That’s great, and it gives us the opportunity to interact with actors, writers, or directors and ask questions about the show as they come up – with the possibility of instant answers. However, that doesn’t mean the writers (or anyone involved with the show) are our friends. Social media breeds familiarity. That is, we interact as if we know these people really well. Often, what we say to those we are close to (for better or for worse), we wouldn’t say to those we don’t know well. That’s because with family and friends, there’s a history together where we have come to know each other’s motivations, mannerisms, and the nuances of our relationships. None of that exists when we interact with writers, actors, or directors of Supernatural (especially when we can’t gage tone or mannerisms online). Yet we still somehow feel comfortable saying things we normally wouldn’t ever say in person to these people (and these things aren’t necessarily aggressive, though they often are, but are sometimes just too familiar or inappropriate in certain contexts).
The question to ask ourselves then, is this: Would we say the same thing to these individuals’ faces? If not, then why not? Once we have our answers, we can then decide if we still want to tweet/write/post it.
Sometimes that lack of boundaries shows itself when face to face with those involved in the making of the show. I have witnessed fans at conventions making highly suggestive comments to Jared and Jensen (and other cast members), asking for kisses, and actually asking them to touch their private body parts. Now, I’m the type of person who wouldn’t do this even if Creation Entertainment were to put up for auction 60 seconds of ass grabbing the Js or Misha. I swear I wouldn’t bid on it. It would just seem too intimate to do to someone I didn’t know. But that’s just me. More power to you if you could. However, barring Creation coming up with the new greet and grab, maybe we need to look at if it’s actually appropriate to behave that way with people we barely know.
One reason this type of behavior might occur is because of the rush of being in such close proximity to the objects of our “fanned” desires. When all of those neurons are firing and the endorphins come rushing in, it’s easy to forget to pull on the reigns of manners and respectability. This phenomenon is called disinhibition (which is a concept also covered in TheSports Networker article). The result of this process is that when in the fan moment, we don’t control our impulses and end up doing things we never would do otherwise.
One of the other reasons we might attempt to engage in inappropriately intimate behavior with the cast is because in many ways, we feel like we know these guys. And the reason we feel that way is because we are, in reality, engaged in parasocial relationships with them. These mostly one-sided relationships can occur between people in the public eye, such as actors, or even with fictional characters, and the people who admire/watch them. Michael Joseph Gross addresses this concept in his book Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame (Bloomsbury 2005). He writes that research shows there is a sense of intimacy that exists in these type of relationships. That is, even though the interaction is not (for the most part) two-sided, the non-famous (or nonfictional) person feels a sense of kinship by consistently watching the actors on TV (or reading about them, etc.) and experiencing emotions along with their characters. And in the case of those involved with Supernatural, when we may watch convention panels of the guys or even meet and briefly chat with them ourselves, that parasocial/real relationship line becomes blurred, and we may feel even more justified with overly friendly/inappropriate behavior. We may also feel like we can speak about their motivations and thought processes (we all have seen the posts “Jared or Jensen feel this way…”) even when in reality, we can’t.
To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with parasocial relationships. We all have them, be it with an actor, singer, athlete, or even fictional character. It’s just that we should probably ask ourselves some questions when interacting with those involved with the show (whether in person or through social media sites). First, what do we hope to get out of the interaction? Second, is that expectation realistic? And third, are we respecting boundaries? If we feel comfortable with our answers, then we will most likely stay on the right track.
Idolization
When we really adore somebody as fans, we sometimes elevate them and put them on a pedestal. We love Jared and Jensen, and other members of the cast. That’s a good thing. So how can something so positive lead to bad behavior? When we treat other fans poorly because of it. This can include aggression hurled at people who criticize an episode or the show, pushy/inconsiderate behavior at conventions in order to get our “fair share” of the guests, or even death threats to fans for perceived slights to the actors.
That’s not to say we can’t love the show or the cast. On the contrary, it’s quite impressive that fans care so much about Supernatural – its characters and the actors who embody those characters. But problems may arise when those feelings make us needlessly overprotective and end up causing us to treat people badly.
Sometimes this behavior comes out in online discussion about the show. Just as aggressive posts hurling insults at writers, actors or other fans due to dissatisfaction with an episode (or a season) occurs, sometimes the opposite extreme is seen as well. We might get overly sensitive if someone doesn’t love an episode as much as we do, or maybe we tear into a fan who resolutely, though respectfully, critiques a character’s actions, actor’s performance or season-long storyline. And though we all know the viewing experience is subjective, sometimes we get so protective about the show and its characters that we fail to tolerate dissenting opinions that don’t laud what we think should be lauded.
Beyond rude online behavior, it’s very upsetting to read about or observe bullying of Supernatural fans (by fellow fans) out of righteous indignation for Jared and Jensen. I have seen vicious, sometimes violent (to the point of death threats made) comments when fans feel Jared, Jensen or Misha may have been slighted, or when a minor incident at a convention occurs. Even if we feel we would never engage in that kind of behavior, we have to ask ourselves this question: Have we put these guys on so high a pedestal that we sometimes don’t want to condemn, or even look at, this kind of conduct?
Specifically regarding conventions, it should be noted that even though Jared, Jensen, and all the other actors are really sweet with fans (and I have witnessed some very touching moments between fans and the guys during meet and greets or in autograph lines), they are getting paid for attending. They don’t just decide to fly around the country and talk with fans. They have contracts with Creation that place them at conventions. That’s not a bad thing. But maybe we should keep it in mind when we are just a little too outraged for the boys if a fellow fan makes an awkward joke or asks a question that makes the guys slightly uncomfortable for two seconds. They can handle it. They’re getting paid to handle it.
Admiring these actors is not bad in and of itself. Most everyone admires talented, creative people. In the case of Jared and Jensen, our admiration stems from how we are so often moved by their performances. And the fact that they seem to be genuinely nice, down to earth guys just makes us love them even more. But there are countless talented, imaginative people. I’m sure we all know some. However, we tend to treat celebrities as somehow more special then all of those others. In the book Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths behind America’s Favorite Addiction (Mariner Books, 2008), author Jake Halpern addresses the topic of idolization. He discusses the general public’s notion that celebrities seem to live on a different, more exciting (and therefore seemingly more meaningful) plane of existence than the rest of us. And if we consistently hold that view, then admiration can often turn into worship.
Now, the actors on Supernatural work very hard, and they’re great at what they do. But are they somehow more exceptional than the rest of the population that share those attributes? In the Supernatural fandom alone, I have seen the work of artists, writers, and others whose talent rivals that of our beloved boys. And I personally know, as many of us probably do, people who work extremely hard in very difficult, sometimes life threatening jobs that don’t get a tenth of the recognition that actors do. That’s not to take anything away from Jared and Jensen. They have brought vast amounts of happiness to people’s lives, and have even been credited with saving people’s lives. That’s no small feat.
Perhaps, though, we might still want to ask ourselves the following questions: Do we ever hold the attitude that Jared, Jensen, or any other celebrity, is more worthy – of anything – than the rest of us are? And does our admiration of them ever cross the line to idolization? Sometimes just asking the questions can lead us to new insights about ideas we might not realize we even hold.
Identity
This concept is related to idolization in some ways, but it tends to be seen more in relation to other fans and the actual story versus the people who act in it. Fandom brings a sense of identity to people, which is great. There’s camaraderie when discussing the same show with others, even if those people are located all over the globe. There’s also a great sense of acceptance and acknowledgment when someone reads something we’ve written, appreciates a video we made, or compliments a piece of art we created. But even without the fandom, our talent and creativity still exist. Sometimes the sense of community found in fandom is a catalyst to help us express it outwardly, but fandom does not create or sustain it.
In regard to the narrative, it feels good when we can relate to a character or we find meaning for our own lives in a storyline. Let’s face it, we’re all looking for validation of some sort, and we often like to see something of ourselves in the people we watch on TV. However, even though that relatability is helpful in our enjoyment of the show, we don’t really need it. Who we are is not defined by the characters on a TV show. Likewise, the direction we want an episode, or the entire series to go in, doesn’t have to be endorsed by all (or any) of the fandom. Speaking even more specifically, whether we loved an episode or hated it doesn’t have to be contingent on what others thought of it. Supernatural and its fandom doesn’t have the power to tell us who we are and what we like, and more importantly, shouldn’t have the power to give us permission to be who we are and like what we like. Of course we all know this intellectually, but it’s sometimes difficult to stand alone with our own views, even for something as innocuous as a TV show.
The questions to ask ourselves then, are the following: Do we need people to agree with us about the story, or the show itself, in order to enjoy it? And do we need others to agree with what we say in order to be comfortable participating in the fandom? Hopefully we’ll answer no to both of these questions. Because in the end, despite our different views and preferences about the show, we all share a passion for it and have something to say about it.
Lack of Perspective
Now, nobody who feels passionately about Supernatural wants to hear “It’s just a TV show!” Because obviously, it has come to mean more than that to all of us. However, the more meaningful effects (friendships, new interests, renewed passions, emotional comfort) have been brought about by our involvement with a fictional entity. And though these meaningful outcomes are worthy of our intense emotions, sometimes it’s the fictional story that gets them instead. Of course, sometimes we’re going to get emotional over our show. All good fiction makes us feel; that’s why we like it. And sometimes those emotions won’t all be positive if we’re disappointed over a storyline. It’s just often times, the intensity of the emotions are disproportionate to the situation.
When you take a look at posts about Supernatural, either in relation to the show and its characters or about Jared/Jensen/Misha, the emotion behind the words is sometimes very intense. The level of disappointment, anger, and distress experienced by fans in regard to losing online polls, reactions to interviews or articles (or even just to the title of an article), or during Sam/Dean wars, is often extremely high. Sometimes a dose of perspective is helpful.
Now, many things influence our perspectives. Our personalities, life experiences, and where we are on the continuum of life will alter our perspective. But everyone can benefit from a reality check sometimes. Nothing about Supernatural needs to get us into emotional turmoil. There is enough in the world to worry about and fret over instead of a TV show with an imaginary story. I’m sure most of us know what real sadness, heartache, struggle, and fear look like. And if for some reason you haven’t experienced these yet in your life – well, unfortunately, you will. If we are blessed not to be having to deal with any significant stresses at this moment in time, then in the whole scheme of things, how much negative emotion should we be investing in Supernatural? The show, and the fandom, should be a refuge from the daily stress of life; a place for us to take a break and recharge while doing something we enjoy. So, when we feel ourselves reacting to something in a negative way in the fandom, maybe we can ask ourselves the following questions: Is what we’re feeling proportional to the situation, and even if we think it is, is the issue surrounding a fictional story worth making us feel this way? Often, just being more aware of our feelings can give us a change in perspective.
Conclusion
In the end, this is all just food for thought. How do we know what will ultimately solve the problems of fandom? I wish I could say there was an easy answer. It would be a bit naïve to say we can all just hold hands and sing “Carry on Wayward Son” and never get upset again. For the remaining run of the show, it will probably still be like this. In the end, we can’t change other fans’ negative behavior. But for each and every one of us, we can take a look at our own behavior. And when we do, we can (hopefully) choose to hold onto what we love about the show, limit our distress over what we don’t, speak our minds calmly, let others speak theirs, and avoid the temptation to immediately act when something (or someone) pushes our buttons. If we do that, maybe Supernatural and its fandom can give us what it was always meant to: a story worth exploring and a safe community in which to do it. Because when this story is over and we all move on, wouldn’t it be nice to look back at our time as fans of this little show and say that all of us – from every corner of the world and every walk of life – took this crazy ride together?
I just wanted to congratulate you Metamorphic Rocks for this enlighting post not only for our SPN fans but all fans in this crazy little world… We really should look within ourselves and make these questions. See if we are happiy with the way we are acting not only out tv shows but other things that we all love as welll.
Supernatural helped me pass through difficult times in my life, made me hold on and hope that things could get better and that sun always rises in the next day. It made me hope. See the Winchesters and the life they take and still keep holding on to something good, to each other, to famliy and people they love, fighting for their ideals made me realize literally I can carry on, I can make it through. I’m soldier. Even if I got wounded a lot, I’m still a soldier.
So,I just wanted to thank them, your awesome fandom, which I adore to read and your posts. Thank you.
Well-said! Discovering the online fandom of Supernatural was life-changing for me. This fandom brought amazing people and experiences into my world and I’ve learned a great many things along the way. I believe I’m a better person for it. Lately, I have withdrawn from fandom interaction to a degree, because I see so many people spitting venom at every turn, remarking on one type of “hater” or another with every post, tweet, or comment. Frankly, I find this behavior juvenile and boring. I try to stay in a positive place with fandom but it has become more and more difficult. I hope a change is coming.
This is such a well written and persuasive article. It should be on the official curriculum for all SPN fans.
If I could add anything, it would be that many fans read between the lines (or scenes) too much. It’s fanon versus canon all the time. So many times I read fans suppositions about what the character really meant, what went on after the scene ended, what must have happened prior, during or after an event. So we hear endless cries of “Why did (insert character here) say that? Do that?”, to which someone replies with a completely made up interlude or insight into said character which never happened.
The basic premise of watching television is this. If they didn’t show it, it never happened. If they didn’t say it, it was never said. The scene does not continue after the fade out. The writers, directors and actors show and say precisely what is needed to progress the story that they have written. The vast world of fan made fictions does not overlap into the ‘show’ world. But if you’re a fan who’s become invested in fanon, maybe even contributing to it, then you have a sense of ownership that frequently tolerates no insult in the slightest degree, because it’s yours and thereby a reflection of you.
I’m probably not explaining very well, but perhaps if fans took a moment to consider when they are having an emotional response to something another has said, could they ask themselves if they are speaking about the reality of the show (what is SEEN, what is SAID, what is SHOWN), or the sometimes murky between the scenes world that springs from our thoughts after the credits have rolled.
Can I marry this post? Seriously, I think everyone in fandom needs to take some time out of their day to read this and have a long, hard think about some things. I’ve been in other fandoms before, and certain patterns of behavior are definitely present, to varying degrees, all across the board. But I am consistently astounded how, with certain fandoms in particular, all human decency manages to fly out of the window at times. And I get that it can be an emotional experience, and that it’s easy to lose yourself in the moment sometimes, but the unapologetic, uncompromising nature of some is almost frightening. =/
Bunyip: You’ve explained yourself perfectly and I totally agree with you. I’ve long ago lost patience with that sort of thing and I’m often baffled by it.
What you say is correct. I’ve seen a lot of these types of arguments and couldn’t understand why such conversations were so exasperating. Thank you for making it clear.
Thanks Metamorphic Rocks. I have been waiting to read an article like this but worried about reaction to it. I fear that fans who should read this either won’t or will only see it relating to those who disagree with them. My hope is that fans on the fringes of negative reactions will see how they add to the situation even though they are by no means the worst offenders.
I personally reread my posts a number of times aware that others may misread my intent. Even so, I’ve been surprised by strong reaction to what I say. I’m not saying that I always use perfect phrasing & am above reproach but I believe there is no TV show or opinion about it which is more important than an actual human being’s feelings and try to post accordingly. Can’t we embrace the diversity of opinion? I don’t mean we can’t disagree but we don’t need to argue points ad nauseam. Agree to disagree. There probably isn’t one true answer or at least not one that has been disclosed or there wouldn’t be so many differing opinions.
Like the brothers, fans probably have much more common ground than we always acknowledge.
Excellent article. It has continually astounded me what the internet has brought out in people. The question for me is, did the anonymity of the internet breed the way people are willing to act, or were the feelings always there in those people? Does that seemingly innocuous mother of two in the grocery store sit on her computer in the dark at night and post “I hope you die a horrible death” messages to people she doesn’t even know?
I read earlier this week on someone’s blog, something DJ Qualls said at Vegas Con this weekend. He said that he’d gotten hate tweets when the CW promoted him as the “New Bobby” and actually called Jared saying he didn’t want to be on the show. Jared showed him whole twitter accounts dedicated to hating him and it made him feel better. If this is true, then it makes me want to cry. That DJ and Jared have to deal with this and that Jared actually knows that there are actually people out there who don’t know him personally and yet they take the time to make twitter accounts dedicated to hating him. How is that possible? And yet, look how wonderful he is to fans. It just…..I can’t find words.
As passionate as I am about the show and as grateful as I am to have places like WFB to come to, to read about it and talk about it and hear other’s opinions about it, I have seriously considered just dropping out of the fandom and watching without reading because of some of the venom. I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it yet, and I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it hurts my soul that something I love so much also makes me feel so negative at times.
I do hope this article makes people think about their actions. Thanks for posting.
I so agree with this article. Thank you for writing it. Sylvie just remember the online fandom is a very small percentage of the worldwide fandom. The anonymity of the internet emboldens fans to say things they would never say to a complete strangers face. I love this website just because there is freedom to express your opinions with the safety net of knowing that attacks will not be tolerated. Sometimes the fans get a little verbose but there are few occasions that anyone posting here will hate on any of the characters or each other. If I do venture outside of the WFB I do so at my own peril. This is definitely my safe place. 🙂
Bunyip: I both agree and disagree with you here. ” If they didn’t show it, it never happened. If they didn’t say it, it was never said.” This is a decent rule of thumb to follow, but it is also true that what we see on screen is a (sometimes purposefully) edited and simplified scope of what is meant to be going on in the universe. Nothing officially “exists” til we see it on screen, but we are also asked, as an audience, to believe that there *are* other things going on outside the scope of our knowledge at all times. This is why the show is able to bring in past acquaintances whom we have never actually met before, for instance, or refer to past events or conversations we’ve never seen (The boys are rarely seen watching movies or TV, yet we know Dean, especially, has seen plenty!) In the case of side characters, especially, (Castiel being a very notable example), quite a lot if happening off-screen that we, the audience, are not privy to for several episodes until the show finally decides to clue us in, and even then, there may be significant gaps in explanation. If we all took the very literal assumption that nothing actually happened between those points because we didn’t see it (which some people seem to), the show would make even less sense that it already does. I would even go so far as to argue that much of the speculative discussion that occurs as of late is a direct byproduct of people trying to fill in those gaps or to make sense of things that don’t seem to be lining up at first glance. In short, while something we have not been shown cannot definitively be considered “canon”, it is not necessarily going against canon to propose that certain things have happened or could have happened off screen. And it is more than fair for all fans to so speculate on the Unknown, if they so choose.
It is also completely fair–and, in fact, a necessary and accepted part of both literary and other media analysis–to analyse character motivations, universe mythology, underlying themes, etc, which does involve quite a bit of reading into things. I do think that, as with off-screen events, people need to learn to be more flexible in their viewpoints to allow for new information that may stand to alter previous readings of the text, instead of immediately writing off anything that doesn’t fit with their prior established ideas, and to enable healthier discussions on such topics without delving into mudslinging over what is actually a giant gray area. I would also say that I have seen some discussions where the parties involved could actually stand to read a bit *more* into certain words and actions, allowing for the characters, themselves, to have different perspectives, and to not always take certain sentiments to their literal extreme. There are multiple ways to interpret even the simplest piece of dialogue, even with the additional tonal and visual cues for context. And, just as in real life, people can have misunderstandings and don’t always say what they mean or manage to communicate clearly.
Basically, I find the problem you speak of to be rooted less in “reading too much into things”, which can actually prove useful in fandom discussions and overall comprehension, and more in the rigidity with which these views are held.
Excellent article. In my case Season 3 ended my interest in fan-related “stuff.” Fandom began to get too overblown and thoughtless. Now, I essentially just watch this wonderful show and ignore everything else swirling around it from the “faniverse.” There is occasionally some seepage, but it usually boils down to my buying a calendar every year. My deep admiration of Supernatural’s quality and the work done by its wonderful writers, directors, cast, crew, producers, and staff is all the enjoyment and fulfillment I need.
Thanks so much for putting this article out there. I’m a “lurker” who comes by every now and then for a safe place to view chatter from other fans. I admire the commitment you all have to maintaining this site as a place to discuss/share in a civilized manner. On behalf of the fans who are more committed to living Real Life, i.e., living/working with/speaking face to face with real people, my sympathies and appreciation to the WFB team who put themselves out here to give us thought-provoking pieces.
Ashley: Yes, you are correct in that their is a whole imagined universe connected to the show, and how could there not be in a show that has been on air for so long? The writers probably count on the viewers thinking outside the box because there’s only so much they can cram into a 1 hour episode. I just don’t see the value of a fan getting so involved in this background noise to the extent that some do (shippers are a prime example, and many of them fully intend to go down with their vessels!).
In a quote from the movie “Dogma” – “Its better to have ideas than beliefs”. Ideas are fluid and changeable. Beliefs, not so much.
Also, the story isn’t over yet. Why kick up such a fuss when the end game is nowhere in sight?
[i]”But maybe we should keep it in mind when we are just a little too outraged for the boys if a fellow fan makes an awkward joke or asks a question that makes the guys slightly uncomfortable for two seconds. They can handle it. They’re getting paid to handle it.”
[/i]
They [b]choose[/b] to sign the contracts with Creation. They [b]choose[/b] to interact with the fans at the level they do. Regardless of whether they are being paid or whether “they can handle it” there is absolutely never any excuse for being rude to them or to anyone else. Getting paid or otherwise.
Hi Sweetondean, good to hear from you and thanks for reading and commenting. The “They’re getting paid to handle it,” comment is stated right after “but maybe we should keep it in mind when we are just a little too outraged for the boys…” meaning perhaps fans should keep their level of fury (as in making death threats to fans or bullying a fan) in check because the boys are professionals and know how to handle those situations.
I completely agree that people shouldn’t be rude to the boys, or anyone involved in Supernatural – my whole “Anger/Aggression” portion was all about that, as was some of the “Lack of Boundaries” section. I just felt compelled to mention the other extreme, which does happen, and can be just as damaging. I have read vicious comments from fans after someone does something awkward or silly, from berating the fan to literal death statements. For example, after the incident with the young girl who was trying to joke with Jared about the “I blame Jared Padalecki for everything” fansite, many comments in many places were pretty cruel, some suggesting the girl should just die (I actually viewed these). Something similar happened to Alice’s daughter after she made a joke to Jared about his hair.
That type of behavior in the name of defending Jared and Jensen was what I was referring to when I stated they are getting paid to handle it . Many of these comments that fans get bashed for aren’t meant to be rude, but they might make Jared or Jensen confused or uncomfortable momentarily if they don’t “get” the joke. There’s a difference between rude fan behavior, which I condemned in this article several times, and behavior that might be momentarily awkward for the boys. My point was that sometimes fans take any perceived slight (intentional or not) to the extreme. I hope that makes things clearer.
Again, good to see you on here!
I used to write a while ago “Reality Checks” any time the fandom went a little off the rails or something. Sometimes it’s necessary to just look at fan behavior and question, “Do you really realize what you’re doing here?” I was so thrilled to get this article from Metamorphic Rocks, because this fandom has been weighing me down a lot lately. Even I need to step back and take stock in what’s happening in my fandom world and this article helped a lot.
It’s been really, really hard for the established Supernatural bloggers in the last year or two. We can’t do much anymore without finding ourselves in the thick of fan insults or just plain fighting. It has soured my love of the show. When I speak out about had bad things have gotten, well, that makes me a bad fan. To some fans that means I’m supposed to be all happy and “rah, rah Supernatural” and not offer a critical opinion. I’m supposed to be the cheerleader and ignore the elephant in the room. Others just bully and tell me I’m a bad fan because I love one character more over another(which I don’t). I just respond anymore by not responding.
When social media gives fans such easy access to the writers, producers, and actors, that “entitlement” that was mentioned in this article kicks in. In my opinion, that access has not been good for this fandom. Fans have removed filters and will say anything to anyone now. You do realize a lot of high profile celebrities are quitting Twitter these days from just that reason. It’s exactly why Jensen will never join Twitter. People need to treat others the same way online as they would in person. I’ve had fans tells me they would say such things to me in person. If they’re that bold, they’re either psychotic or have had a few stints in jail.
In other words, it’s not normal social behavior.
I know there are good fans out there, and they are a majority. Those are the ones that now gingerly read without spending too much time getting involved online because it’s gotten too crazy. We’ve been overrun by too much crap, and eventually the celebrities, writers, and producers will pull away. It’s already happened with the SPN writers. The good bloggers/journalists eventually will too. It really has hurt our ability to offer good discussion about the show. This golden age of social media as a TV promotional tool is headed for failure because the celebrity/fan relationship can never be on equal terms. When fans demand it should be and there’s no reality checks to stop them, chaos takes over eventually. We Supernatural fans are in the chaos stage. By next season, I wouldn’t be surprised if our access is cutoff completely.
Alice, I agree with you so much on where all this interaction is heading. I’ve been swimming against the current in most of fandom ever since the writers so publicly got on twitter and invited interaction. I don’t think it’s good for the show or for fandom. SPN writers were actually late adopters of twitter interaction. Many of the early adopters have left the platform because it encourages toxic interactions which eventually do impact the creativity of the people involved. It becomes a distraction from the actual job of telling stories. I don’t think our writers are immune to that.
I think Steven Moffat has it right when he pays respect to the creativity of fandom, but says he does not look to fandom for creative direction. The access fans now have to SPN writers has left many fans feeling they can now directly influence the story and all I see coming from that is a level of entitlement which is getting more and more toxic. The social media contact makes some fans feels they have a relationship with the creative team which is unrealistic and when that inevitably becomes clear, there’s a backlash that affects the whole tenor of the fandom. Social media also lends itself to anonymous group attacks on writers, other fans, bloggers . . . there’s a current right now that being a fan excuses the kind of behaviour most people would be ashamed of in their in person life.
My feeling is: if an action is something you would be ashamed to do to someone in real life, it’s not acceptable in fandom, either. There are lines. There’s so much talk about fanshaming, and that is indeed a valid topic, but what seems to have replaced that is a sense that as long as you are a fan, no behaviour should cause shame. It’s all good if you’re a fan, because, hey, fans are passionate. That attitude isn’t leading anywhere good and eventually the pendulum regarding fandom will end up somewhere in the middle. And I think it will be somewhere with a lot less access, because toxicity is tough to work in for any length of time.
It is really interesting that there is a perception of so much negativity in the fandom. I don’t venture into the really negative or one brother over the other fansites so I really don’t have an idea of how bad it is. I just saw comments and videos from VegasCon and it looks like the J’s couldn’t be happier with the show and seem to be totally on board with continuing on past S10. I think it would be better for the writers (JC isn’t on social media either is he?) if they weren’t on twitter. Maybe if the so called fans didn’t feel so entitled there wouldn’t be such a backlash against the show and possibly having access to the writers is making the line between show and reality a little fuzzy. I know it wouldn’t ruin my enjoyment of the show if I didn’t know why each scene was filmed the way it was or that one of the J’s wasn’t on set that day. When it ceases to be fun then that defeats the purpose of the access. I want the show to continue for as long as SPN wants to go. If I don’t have fansites to visit and share my enjoyment well that would suck but I would get over it and continue to enjoy the show. I know it is very difficult for those who do run websites, especially one like this, to have to wade through all the negativity. I get to come here read wonderful reviews whether the reviewer liked the episode or not and I get to make what I hope is a respectful comment maybe get into a discussion with other fans and generally have a good time. If I see a post going too negative I get to skip past it. I know that the adminstrators don’t have the luxury. It has to be overwhelming at times. I am still enjoying the show, I love the articles and reviews on the WFB, I love most of the discussions and I will miss it when it is gone.
Well, that would be “administrator” aka me. I’m all that’s left. So yes, moderating all these comments by myself, especially when it gets heated, is a rather maddening process. But as long as there are people like you that get joy out of this site, I’ll keep doing it! Thanks for the show of confidence.
Going on past season ten? Cheryl, why are you teasing me like this?;)
You can blame Jensen and Jared for that tease. We can only hope.
Considering the guest star of tonight’s episode commented on the amount of hate she was getting from the SPN fans ‘Talk about ruthless fans’ I think the reputation the fans of the show have is already pretty tarnished. Add to that, I think I read somewhere that this past weekend DJ Qualls made comment that JP showed him the copious amount of twitter accounts sending hate his (JP’s) way, to make DJ Qualls feel better about the hate that was being sent [i]his[/i] way (?). If that’s true then it’s pretty disturbing. Was it always like this or is this a consequence of the show getting bigger?
When I first broke into the fandom around the beginning of season three, Twitter was not a thing. Neither was Tumblr. Facebook was around, but it wasn’t a Publicity tool. It was how you kept in touch with friends and family. MySpace was a big thing, but that was mostly music. People went to forums and fan sites for TV. There was no easy access to writers or celebrities. Even cons were just getting started. You lived vicariously through interviews and other spoilers that would come out. The vocal nature, the bitching, it stayed isolated.
I think all of that started to change around season six. Jeremy Carver and Jensen still aren’t on Twitter or Facebook or anything. I hope they never, ever, decide to get involved with social media. It’s too dangerous to careers and livelihood.
And let’s not forget the “Lets get Misha fired,” Contingent of the fandom. I was so astonished and appalled by that I couldn’t even formulate an articulate opinion. I do not remember it being like this in the beginning ,seasons one thru five, for example, but I’m not a good gauge for that sort of thing.
I think one other salient point is the idea of simply deeply identifying with one character over the other. I don’t know if that could contribute to crazy Con behaviour, but it’s definitely a factor in internet ugliness.
For example: I tend to identify quite a bit with Sam (though I love me my Dean too). I’m quiet, rational, introverted, bookish IRL, and I like to think i’m intelligent too! I also have a well-meaning but at times overbearing older brother, as well as a rebellious younger brother, though we’re not nearly as close as the boys! And I’ve only recently fully realized that when I see Sam bashing online, I react viscerally because *I* feel insulted! I’m not hugely active online and am generally sane :p so I try not go get into it much, but every now and the I do bite back, and boom! Sam vs. Dean war.
I know it gets even more extreme for other people. I’ve seen some fans who are raising children really identify with Dean, and basically consider Sam an ungrateful brat. I’ve seen other fans who have overbearing parents or older siblings who deeply get Sam, but have real issues with Dean. But those are just the posters who explain about their own lives. Many people don’t, but just post something awful about one of the characters, and that’s where you get the fan wars and the “What show are you watching?!” issue.
Thank you so much for writing this article!
I have never, ever understood why people feel the need to be so ugly, mean and hateful to people they will never know or meet online.
It is one of the reasons I came so late to the SPN online fandom, I lurked on another site for over a year and never could bring myself to join because of the hate that certain posters leveled at others.
I think people forget how to behave when they think they can get by with nasty behavior so they take it out on others.
I try to be positive about the show, because after 9 seasons we still have it, and will for at least 1 more year. I don’t like all the storylines, or dialogue, or writers, or even all the characters but that is a personal opinion and I should keep that to myself. I think it is wonderful that the whole SPN family (cast and crew) are all so welcoming and seem to enjoy interacting with the fans, though I personally think that we shouldn’t be able to. I would hate for the way a few fans act or the things that they say to affect or change a storyline, it should be what the creators and writers and cast and crew want to show us, not what we want.
Yes, I would like to see certain things on the show, but I know it is up to the producers, writers and show runner to make the show as they want.
I also want to say thank you to Alice for keeping this site going, you and the others who put in a lot of time here with articles and reviews deserve a round of applause for all your hard work, I appreciate the incredibly hard work that you do, and for putting up with us fans.
I also want to thank Alice for keeping this site going. She has an enormous job and it must be awful listening to the mean people. I have been worried about you, Alice. I’m so sorry things turned out so stressfully.
When I finally began using my computer for something other than paying bills (!) I came here during Season 7. I was really surprised, confused and distressed that people were fighting. After a couple of months I resolved that in my mind. I don’t care what the mean people think or say. I LOVE Supernatural. I want the show to go on as long as possible! I love Sam and Dean! I will follow their stories just like I always did – raptly, and starry-eyed. Agenda-less. Bi-bro. I am a content rabid viewer. Let the writers take me where they will.
Thank you, Alice. Thank you, SPN. Thank you, Jared and Jensen. I love you all. (Hmm. Little emotional this morning? Love is in the air.)
Hi Metamorphic Rocks
Thank you for this in-depth article. I feel many if not all of us should ask ourselves these questions you have posed to us.
I can understand the passion that can sometimes overwhelm us and how we can get us caught up in a frenzy.
However there is never an excuse for attacking or threatening anyone, no matter what the situation is.
Who can blame any of the writers and actors of the show for either backing off or not being apart of the social media.
When I hear of these threats and attacks, it makes me cringe and embarrassed to admit I’m apart of the fandom.
Freedom Of Speech does not give us the Right to become bullies.
I love this show and have been a Supernatural Addict since viewing my first episode ‘Nightmare’. Because of my addiction I believe I was driving both my husband and daughter crazy with constantly referencing the show. My daughter introduced me to the Supernatural Websites to help , hoping I would be able to share my love for the show with others. To which I did with the WFB. I made some great friends and enjoyed the variety of articles presented. I enjoyed it so much I started contributing article myself, something I would never have dreamed I would do. Unfortunately overtime some of those friends have moved on and with changes in my own life my commenting has dwindled. I also have to admit that I started to back off due to the atmosphere becoming more and more negative. I don’t mind reading the issues that people have with an episode or the direction of the show itself, it gives me a better understanding of them. However it would be nice to see what they did like, what does work for them. When all I see is the same complaints and dissatisfaction over again and again I do start to wonder if they even like the show anymore.
I guess like everything else out there, where there is good there is also the bad.
Cheers!
Hi Metamorphic Rocks
Thank you for this in-depth article. I feel many if not all of us should ask ourselves these questions you have posed to us.
I can understand the passion that can sometimes overwhelm us and how we can get us caught up in a frenzy.
However there is never an excuse for attacking or threatening anyone, no matter what the situation is.
Who can blame any of the writers and actors of the show for either backing off or not being apart of the social media.
When I hear of these threats and attacks, it makes me cringe and embarrassed to admit I’m apart of the fandom.
Freedom Of Speech does not give us the Right to become bullies.
I love this show and have been a Supernatural Addict since viewing my first episode ‘Nightmare’. Because of my addiction I believe I was driving both my husband and daughter crazy with constantly referencing the show. My daughter introduced me to the Supernatural Websites to help , hoping I would be able to share my love for the show with others. To which I did with the WFB. I made some great friends and enjoyed the variety of articles presented. I enjoyed it so much I started contributing article myself, something I would never have dreamed I would do. Unfortunately overtime some of those friends have moved on and with changes in my own life my commenting has dwindled. I also have to admit that I started to back off due to the atmosphere becoming more and more negative. I don’t mind reading the issues that people have with an episode or the direction of the show itself, it gives me a better understanding of them. However it would be nice to see what they did like, what does work for them. When all I see is the same complaints and dissatisfaction over again and again I do start to wonder if they even like the show anymore.
I guess like everything else out there, where there is good there is also the bad.
Cheers!