fandom at its worst, and I hope also best

[rm]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/guede_mazaka/352550.html

I am now linking to guede_mazaka on this one as her post is the most neutral explication of the situation I can currently find. No doubt, it will still offend someone, and there's not a lot I can do about that, as I don't have the time or energy to read the entire thread, develop friendships with everyone involved, or otherwise divine the truth in a situation where absolute truth probably doesn't exist (as is the case in all situatios involving humans).

Every fandom is fucked up. And every online community has its dramas. And as we've seen (including on this journal in recent weeks) net "events" of this nature have a startling level of momentum. I'm not going to go on and on about it today, because you all _know_ how it works. I'll never be a BNF, and perhaps in all aspects of my life, fannish and not, the stories I have to tell may be too particular to make me the locus of any sort of stuff like this. Even so, a lot of people read this journal, and a lot of you are also well-read and great at disseminating information. I'm not asking anyone to do anything really, other than to read the linked to post above, consider it and if you have something to say, say it.

EDITED TO ADD:


don't think anyone should feel obligated to give money to anyone or any cause.

Nor do I think a writer or journaler should feel obligated to put up a link because someone asked.

Honestly, while I think both sides could have handled the intial contact better, it's just not that big a deal and is between two people. I have no real negative judgements for either Heidi or Christina, neither of whom I know.

The pile-on disgusts me though. And the people involved in that, I do have a lot of judgement for.

I'll write later about the Internet instigation of the changing definition of "public figure", and the dilemmas of comporting oneself as such.

Comments

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

This is the first time in ages that I have been even remotely part of fandom brouhaha, because I know, like, and have met Heidi in person, and I have also read extensively about Christina's problems. Heidi's offered to put a link up if Christina posted on fandom_help, but I understand why she might not want to instigate/link to a fundraiser for someone she doesn't know to have elective gastric bypass surgery.

I have given and will give money to Christina, because I like to think that I can make some small difference in the world. But there are plenty of people, like Dionne light_music, who would prefer to donate to organizations which fight cancer and do donate generously.

to clarify

[rm.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone should feel obligated to give money to anyone or any cause.

Nor do I think a writer or journaler should feel obligated to put up a link because someone asked.

Honestly, while I think both sides could have handled the intial contact better, it's just not that big a deal and is between tow people. I have no real negative judgements for either Heidi or Christina, neither of whom I know.

The pile-on disgusts me though. And the people involved in that, I do have alot of judgement for.

Re: to clarify

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I really don't think that anywhere was the appropriate place to debate whether or not Christina's surgery was necessary or not, especially IN HER JOURNAL.

And the fact it got wanked, IMHO, just made it worse.

Re: to clarify

[rm.livejournal.com]

That it got wanked in Fandom Wank doesn't really bother me that much -- that it's getting ugly and hateful in the journals concerned, does.

Re: to clarify

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Well, it seemed that the former in part augmented the latter. Usually Fandom Wank drama doesn't get this invasive or hurtful... well, not that I know of, anyway.

Re: to clarify

[rm.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Argh.. Harry Potter fandom. *hates*

Re: to clarify

[labellerose.livejournal.com]

Yes,indeed. Heidi has a perfect right to set boundaries reagrding her interactions with people she doesn't know personally. She is, I understand having another baby? Naturally that should come first.

This having been said, I think an "Ok girls, that's enough"-type comment to some of her more , um, strident supporters was in order and could have forstalled a good deal of the subsequent angst. Group dynamics, they're fascinating...

But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[ladyjaida.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to find the right way to respond since I know both heidi8 and light_music, both of whom are in their own ways heavily implicated in this total mess nightmare, and this seems to be a very good response. It seems to be a huge case of "Because Heidi is a BNF, let's use this as an excuse to vomit lingering and unrelated vitriol in her direction" and then that crap gets transmuted onto Christina (that is sapphsmum, yes? I'm not sure of any of this; I've tried to keep out of it) and her own actions/requests, which in term serves to fuel wankery from people completely uninvolved the likes of which I really have never seen before. It's crass, it's tacky, and it's totally ridiculous -- it has nothing to do with the initial actions of either people. Those who are quite uninformed seem to have no trouble making "big, informative" posts that are big, yes, but informative in ways that are either exaggerated, unfounded, confused, or simply untrue. This serves only to spread vitriol with no basis in What Actually Happened. So, I continue to have mixed feelings on the matter, but my main issue is, so many people who are involved at this point don't know either of the original people involved and are wanking to serve their own pre-conceived opinions, prejudices, and agendas. It really upsets me, because so much of the time people I know and really, really care about are caught in the flames of gross misjudgements based upon the fact that, on the internet, no one really has a face, so people all-too often forget they are dealing with human beings who become grossly distorted via the internet lens.

The whole laptop debacle, meanwhile, as it continues to inform subsequent wank with a total vengeance, makes me equally mad. Heidi instigated that charity as one to help out a very close friend after something incredibly shitty happened to her, and people, of their own volition, chose to help that friend out in her hour of need. Anything else was the fabrication of people who didn't like that friend to begin with. Really, really.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

The whole laptop thing is just... bleh. Whatever. As soon as people bring that up I automatically assume that their credibility is null. I didn't donate, but I don't know Cassie. (I did spare at her cleavage for ten minutes at Nimbus, trying to read her nametage and figure out who she was, but that's another story.) I think that what people chose to do for her was quite kind, however, and really has no bearing whatsoever on the current wanktastic state of fandom.

The best thing to do, really, is ignore the bad and hug the good.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[rm.livejournal.com]

Aside -- does anyone have a picture of Cassie? I have the increasing feeling that I know her from a previous professional incarnation.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

She keeps photos of herself offline to prevent people using them in obscene icons. Yes, it's happened. But she has red hair and is in her mid-20s and has been a journalist before she started working on original fiction. I'm not trying to be snarky in ducking the answer, but I am trying to protect her privacy.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[rm.livejournal.com]

Considering my profession, I'm certainly aware of the issues, no worries. It's a random curiousity, and since it seems we have mutual friends, I'll figure it out one day or other. No biggie.

Re: But all of this is just to say "Thank you for putting this so well."

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

By the way, your hair is way awesome.

[janoux.livejournal.com]

i completely understand heidi's choice not to put anything specific up. and she did do what she could to point saphsmum in a direction. kuddo to her.

but i think that it's petty beyond belief (and a few other words that i will not say in this journal) that they are flaming her. my god, the woman is more than likely dying, her husband has lost his job, she has has to go back to the hospital and her daughter, who apparently has cerebral palsy, is having to deal with all this.

all i can say is *grow up.*