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From Alice: Well, I'm not exactly sure what's going on lately, but at Chicago Con this weekend while trying to share reports from the con, I got to see the uglier side of the online fandom. And that was after seeing that ugly side for a few weeks before, and hoping that I would find some solace at the con. I did, but it came from a guy named Jared Padalecki, who gave some incredible words of encouragement to a fan that had dealt with thoughts of suicide. I'm not suicidal, but those words could be applied to anyone who was suffering from a bad situation. One like this. Because of all the insanity, I was sent three pieces to consider for publication. Two were from staff writers, Far Away Eyes and Bookdal. The other comes from Sauyma, who's done guest pieces for us. I've decided to share them all here in one article, or what I call one big reality check. Because SPN Family, we need one.
This first part is an open letter from Far Away Eyes:
Open Letter To The Supernatural Family
Dear Supernatural Family,
I tend to hang out on the fringes of things, happily avoiding much of the conflict and fray within this fandom. But lately, I feel as if I can't simply do that without tripping over all the fighting---and so I must say something because in so many ways silence implies complacency. Silence implies agreement. Silence does not stop things.
I am not going to expound on the idea of shipping---ship, don't ship, I don't really care. I'm not going to tell you how to enjoy the show. That's been part of the problem in this fandom lately. So many vocal fans are telling so many other fans that this or that view is the only view of the show and that any other view is wrong or blind to the truth or however it is worded that ends up with blow ups. And that has to stop. That's what I care about. I care about the fandom wars and about who is right and who is wrong and how there's this line in the sand and if you cross it to one side or the other you're labeled as being for or against this or that and therefore less of a fan. I think it needs to stop and stop right now.
Even more, we have some vocal members of fandom taking it not just to other fans, but to the creative team. That. Has. To. Stop. Right. Now.
We are very blessed in the Supernatural Family to have the access that we do to our cast and crew. Not many fans in other fandoms can say that they have had the opportunity to meet the stars of their show. Not many other fans can say that they've had the chance to meet and hang out with the crew that works its magic behind the scenes for their favorite show. Not many fans in other fandoms can say that they have had conversations on Twitter so easily as we have had with various cast and crew members as we have had with our show. It's special. This relationship should be treated with the utmost respect. We should approach this relationship between us the fan and the creative team behind Supernatural with gratitude and love---not demanding this or that or being angry in voicing our opinions. We should always be respectful when we talk with them---even if we're voicing a criticism. It's only right and fair. We, the fan, have no right to demand anything from them or anyone on the show. So stop it.
In the blink of an eye, we could see the open relationship we share with them disappear. They could leave Twitter. They could decide to no longer attend conventions for fears of facing hostility or anger or never ending demands. And that would be the greatest tragedy of it all. We're lucky. Beyond lucky. We have something that is so special and so wonderful. Why are we allowing our worst to taint what is our best? We should be championing the better side of our Family. The side that makes me proud to be a part of it.
Our Supernatural Family is a generous, smart, kind, and beautiful fandom with many different views and passions and beliefs. When we are a united force, we can accomplish anything. ANYTHING. We can get our boys on the People's Choice Awards and win Best Fandom. We can raise over $30,000 for St. Jude's in honor of Thomas Padalecki's birth. We can rally around one another to help Gabriel Tigerman when he's in his time of need after his wife and child struggled. We can break world records with GISHWHES and help Random Acts build an orphanage in Haiti. We can do so much good in this Family. As they say, once you're in the Supernatural Family, you're IN to stay.
I am blown away by our talents, too. So many of us produce fantastic art. Or writing. Or videos. Or other various projects that are inspired by this show. We're talented. We have so much to offer to the world and to one another. Instead, we're allowing the negative side and the fighting to take things over and taint what wonderful potential we all have to make this fandom and world a bit better. Sure, Supernatural is only a TV show, but you know what? We in the Supernatural Family know that it is more than that---not simply because what it puts on our screens---but how it brought so many of us together. So many of us have beautiful friendships and memories that were forged because of this show---and that's the legacy that we should celebrate instead. That's where our fandom is powerful. In Family.
And let's be real for a moment. Supernatural is in its ninth season. ITS NINTH SEASON. We did that. Us. The Supernatural Family is why we have the ninth season---and possibly more. We didn't get this show this far by fighting so viciously with one another. No. We did it together, supporting the show with everything we've got. And while we've never all seen it the same way, we can remember to be respectful of one another, of those who make the show, and ourselves.
Please, Supernatural Family, let's stop fighting. Let's remember that “family don't end with blood” and set aside the anger. This show is about love. Let's honor that.
Sincerely,
Far Away Eyes
Comments
They have given us 9 years of an absolutely amazing show and we have showered them with love in return!Supernat ural is like a family to me.I made great friends by virtue of this show only!its an achievement and I don't want it to get marred by some petty misunderstanding!
Lastly,thank you once again for the beautiful article!
Your words give me some hope, that this ugliness that is spreading arround will finaly end.
Actually I'm not that sensitiv, but now something wet is running down my face.
Sorry for my english I'm not in the mood to correct it.
greetz from Berlin
I’ve been part of this fandom for long enough to know that the squabbling and in-fighting have always been there, and always will be. I’ve seen appalling things being said to and about people.
But I’ve also seen how special this fandom can be. How it has managed to bring together people from all over the world and from so many walks of life through our mutual love for two demon-hunting brothers. I’ve seen, and more than once been in awe of, how powerful we can be when we rally together; the charity work, the numerous online polls and competitions we’ve dominated, the awards we’ve won, both for the show and for ourselves.
We have a reputation online. Sure, it occasionally paints most of us as bat-shit crazy, but that’s okay because we can be a force to be reckoned with when we want to. We can do-have done-great things. Things to be proud of. Because the bad has never come anywhere close to outweighing the good.
And I hope it never does, because next time we win an award for this fandom, I want to do what I did last year, and scare anything within a 3-mile radius of me with my cheering. Not just because we earned it, but because we deserve it.
Thanks.
But how will it end? The entire Supernatural fandom will be seen like those extremists. Sorry but that is just not right.
Quoting Saumya: "For past a few weeks I have been seeing reports where it has been said that Destiel fans are pressuring the writers and showrunner of Supernatural to incorporate Destiel storyline in the show. Some have supposedly written a letter to CW head Mark Pedowitz regarding this matter."
Quoting Bookdal: "I tend to hang out on the fringes of things, happily avoiding much of the conflict and fray within this fandom. But lately, I feel as if I can't simply do that without tripping over all the fighting---and so I must say something because in so many ways silence implies complacency. Silence implies agreement. Silence does not stop things."
Bookdal is right. Being silent doesn't help anything really. I am one of those who is largely silent: I don't participate in social media; I come here to WFB to discuss my favorite show and that's it; this is the only place that I make my opinions about this show known. I don't post comments on other sites, I don't have twitter or tumbler, my Facebook is for family only. But I would put my name to a letter to the Cast and Crew of our favorite show that gave our UNCONDITIONAL support and encouragement to help combat this craziness. Perhaps we, the few, the sane, the supportive, could write our own open letter to Mark Pedowitz saying "Hey, we love ya! We love the direction of the show no matter what that direction may be! Keep up the good work! We'll support you unconditionally to the end!" if for no other reason than to show TPTB, the crew, guest directors and actors that the majority of us fans are sane, rational and committed to their process whatever that might end up being and that we are most importantly and above all appreciative. It galls me to think that the cast and crew of Supernatural might in any way think that the fire storm of crazy happening recently is in ANY WAY a representation of the majority of fans when I think it's actually a very small and unbalanced minority who just happen to be loud. Maybe its time to make a little noise of our own?
I don't know what "shipping" is. I don't really understand "fandom" and I have never heard of "FanFic". But a few years ago I started watching a television show because my daughter liked it and it made the fact that she was dying a little easier to bear. Before I knew it, I was "hooked" on this show, too. It was a fictional event that made her feel like she would be "ok". But herein lies the key - It's fictional. It's a tv show! Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are very real people, but Dean and Sam are not! So forgive me for being an outsider, but the fact that there are hateful words on Twitter, nasty letters to the crew and infighting absolutely baffles me.
I once wrote a letter to Jared and Jensen. I doubt if they ever read it, but it was part of my healing process, and something I had never done before, so there was nothing to lose. It was during whatever season Dean was going to Hell and how he handled "dying" helped my daughter to not fear death. The acting, writing,and portrayal of that whole season was so moving that I wrote to thank them for this show and what it brought to my daughter and our lives. So does that make me a fan because I watch the show and write letters to the cast? Or do I need to start complaining about what the show is not providing based on characters I have never heard of and stories I have never read? I assume "Wincest" is some twist of the relationship between the brothers and I don't have a clue who Destiel or any of those other named people are. Again - it's a tv show! Please do not ruin it for those who watch and enjoy the entertainment value of what it is. Leave well enough alone and if you don't like the show, please write you own.
I like visiting this website on occasion and I will continue to watch Supernatural because it's fun. But so were Buffy, Angel, Charmed, and the likes of those shows. They are "cult classics" and have a following, but generally it's all for fun and not life enveloping. Supernatural is a television phenomenon like Star Trek was in the 60's and will probably be around in several decades. So please let it be what it is and move on.
I'm not saying I don't have my preferences and characters I like to see come back (eg Missouri). But they are very much secondary to my desire to watch an interesting, fun and intelligent TV show.
I never want the people who work so hard to produce this show and who deliver quality product week after week to believe that we, the fans, have devolved to unappreciative, demanding and rabid. This does not represent me, the perspective from which I view and love the show or way I approach this wonderful community. I'm so grateful for this show and the community it's brought me - especially this site - I don't watch every week looking for reasons to hate. When that happens with a show, it's time to step back and take a breather. I watch for laughs, brotherhood and adventure - all the things this show started out with. I think we need to remember how it started and how this great community came to be - and appreciate what is - not hate for what has never been.
If you don't like the way the book is being written put it down.
I am beyond blown away that a small letter I wrote after a few hours of sleep to vent some frustrations has made it this far! Thank you to everyone who has read this and passed it on. I hope it makes a real difference in our fandom relationships.
Thank you to Alice, too, for giving us a place to hang our hats in this fandom and allowing us to have open discussions with fellow fans. This website is so awesome, and I know it's been a challenge this past year, but I am so grateful that it is here. I love being a writer for this website.
Thanks again to everyone and let's have a blast supporting our Little Show that Could!
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I couldn't agree more E! I would gladly support anything that would reinforce the idea that most of us are same rational people who love the show and appreciate all the hard work everybody involved puts into it.
Leah FFFC= Fed-up, Frustrated, Fan for Civility!!
E, totally agree (and with the rest too). I would sign a letter of support. And winning them the People's Choice to me is a really good way of showing them that they still have a lot support out there, regardless of a small amount of rude, vocal fans.
It's definitely PAST time for everyone to behave civilly and treat each other well. (And that includes interactions with those who create/work on SPN.)