Fandom and Viewer Issues: "Fan" Is Short for "Fanatic"

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Rumsy4 said:

Here's the thing. These were a deliberate writing choices. Not something the writers were clueless about. They wanted to set up a redux of the Marian/4A situation and fuel fandom drama over this. They probably think it's like Captain America vs Iron Man or something. A&E are probably patting themselves in the back for getting the fandom to engage in social media activity after the episode aired. They don;t care whether the engagement is positive or not. All they know is that those viewers will tune in to watch the finale. 

I agree its was deliberate.  That's why they suck.  I just wish fandom would focus dissatisfaction with it on the writers instead of fictional characters. 

[myril]

5 hours ago, Rumsy4 said:

Here's the thing. These were a deliberate writing choices. Not something the writers were clueless about. They wanted to set up a redux of the Marian/4A situation and fuel fandom drama over this. They probably think it's like Captain America vs Iron Man or something. A&E are probably patting themselves in the back for getting the fandom to engage in social media activity after the episode aired. They don;t care whether the engagement is positive or not. All they know is that those viewers will tune in to watch the finale. 

 

 

 

 

 

They probably do. It's the current hype. Captain America vs Iron Man though had some good stuff and worked as story quite good, different from Batman vs Superman. And different from this show.

I really like when something is not just superficial action/fantasy entertainment, but people are taking things way too serious. Maybe because frictions in society are deep at the moment, and sometimes it's easier to get worked up over something rather trivial than get to the roots of things. And it sounds in many arguments awfully like people falling back on eye for an eye ideas, purely emotionally driven views on justice. It's a kindergarten version of justice: you get that piece of cake so I deserve the same piece, or it has to look exactly the same, no matter what, doesn't even matter if I need it, you got it, so I have to get it. And more, some revenge might seem justified, if you only look at the past, and it feels understandable, but it's nevertheless destructive for the present and future. ( next something spoilery about the new Captain America movie)

Spoiler

Like Tony Stark could not let go of the thought of having to bring the murder of his parents to justice, no matter what, so in the end it became destructive. That was in the end what took me utterly off Team Stark, otherwise they had some points

 

 

 

Too many in this fandom taking things too seriously. Yes, I wish the writers of TV shows were more aware of many things and more thoughtful with their writing at times, but it's not just up to them. As much fans have to take steps back. There is no sole responsibility, we all have our share in things. That goes as well for the different factions inside fandoms. It's never just one side, but as long as we are stuck in the blame game, who has done worse, who has the more stupid arguments, who has to take more responsibility, things will stay ugly and deadlocked.

 

30 minutes ago, ParadoxLost said:

I agree its was deliberate.  That's why they suck.  I just wish fandom would focus dissatisfaction with it on the writers instead of fictional characters. 

 

 

 

 

 

Think, if people would focus on the writers, they would have to ask themselves, why they are really still watching the show. Why buy something of little satisfactions and little quality? But seems like many are so into the characters, they can't let go of it. If it were drugs like alcohol, would probably call it an addiction.

The good thing is: Like with other fandom drama, in time things will be forgotten. Or at least look in hindsight as not as nasty anymore, and present fandoms always look worse than any other before, but they barely are.

Edited May 11, 2016 by myril

[YaddaYadda]

In the end, the writers didn't care to develop Robin's character, and flesh him out. They didn't care to give him relationships outside Regina, and the clusterfuck with Zelena. The way they wrote Robin's death is the way they wrote him when he was alive. It was an afterthought, and meant to get them from point A to point B.

Even Arthur got a better send off with a noble quest, and a renewed purpose. Everyone can be as outraged as they want, and as pissed as they want, in the end, the writers gave zero fucks about Robin, and OQ. I think the way they handled everything, and the way they tried to create angst, and conflict became more of a nuisance to them than anything else. They cut their losses in a very brutal way, and yeah, I get why any Robin fan would be outraged. I'm not even a Robin fan, and I was shocked by what they did because it was so final, and just plain mean. 

Not only is Robin dead, but he doesn't get to move on to a better place when Henry Sr the enabler, Cora, the murderess, Liam, the sellout, get to have it better deal out of it. He doesn't get to be happy like Neal is wherever he is, or wait in the Underworld for his unfinished business. So yeah, for a show that's about hope, that's pretty much as bleak as it gets. 

But attacking people over it is just too much for my taste when the death seemed to resonate with everyone who has half a heart.

Besides, SQers are about to get something they've been asking for for a really long time, two strong women raising a child together.

Edited May 11, 2016 by YaddaYadda

[RedKeep]

Not that it'll make a difference with regards to what's happening on the show next season, but "Bring Robin Hood Back" is currently trending worldwide on Twitter.

[OnceUponAJen]

1 minute ago, RedKeep said:

Not that it'll make a difference with regards to what's happening on the show next season, but "Bring Robin Hood Back" is currently trending worldwide on Twitter.

Even if they wanted to, it sounded from his interviews that Sean is ready to go on to other projects.

[OnceUponAJen]

Very nice positive reinforcement!

[Camera One]

Hmm... I wonder if A&E will cave given the response.  This is way more outcry than when they killed Neal.

[Mathius]

As said above, I doubt they'll cave since there's too slim a chance that Sean will WANT to come back.

What would he even be coming back to?  More standing around doing nothing but prop Regina?

[Camera One]

I suppose it has only been a few days and it can blow over by next week, when the masses might find something else in the finale to get worked up about.

[Serena]

4 hours ago, Camera One said:

Hmm... I wonder if A&E will cave given the response.  This is way more outcry than when they killed Neal.

Is it really? It seems about the same to me. And yeah, it depends on if it blows over. The fan reaction to Ruby Slippers already did...

[RedKeep]

I doubt it'll blow over completely any time soon, if only because Robin's death seems to be the driving force between what they've promoted of the finale so far and Parrilla/Maguire will be attending cons together again during the summer months, while MRJ/Neal left the show behind quickly and quietly. I don't think they even set up any post-exit interview press rounds for MRJ? But I don't think Sean Maguire would want to come back unless there's a serious change in how they're writing for Robin either so... If anything, I imagine Horowitz and Kitsis might look into fixing the beyond cruel fate they saddled Robin with by finding a way his soul can be given some peace in an afterlife after all even without Maguire having to appear again.

Part of the reason why I brought this up is more about the fandom and how parts of it are capable of channeling their hurt by focusing on sending out a more positive message after all. I only scrolled through the "Bring Robin Hood Back" feed very briefly yesterday, but it seems like quite a few OQ fans were upset/annoyed with what happened the day before and from what I've seen they're also raising money for the Robin Hood Foundation, which is an organization that SM recently got very involved with.

[BoPeeps]

There is, reflecting society as of late, a gracelessly vocal, permeating ignorance and immaturity of a portion of online fandom that is hideously enabled by social media.  

Everyone has a"right" to be heard, and by gawd, when exercising that right, this faction just won't shut up.  Relentless stupidity, unaccountable rudeness and junk-yard-dog meanness are their norm.  Narcissist to the core.  Civil discussion and tempered discourse are foreign to them because it is ALL and only about the outrage.  Never mind if the outrage is empty headed or quite astute...it becomes the only message.

After a point, it becomes a waste of energy...and words.  "Trending" has no lasting substance.

It will come to nothing.  After the warranted commentary is noted, very little will change.  And killjoys will take their pitchforks and torches elsewhere.

To another point, A&E don't respect their characters or really, their viewers.  They have proven time and again their lack of fairness or consistency in their writing or their concern about the reactions.  Their public media treatment of the fans is laced with coy and patronizing one-liners while they jerk around with them (us).  Their true talent lies in planting pretty ideas then basically neglecting that part of the "garden" to dig up another "plot" of land, while the pretty ideas basically rot from that neglect.

In a way, they deserve the lunatic fanaticism they sow.  It just becomes very wearisome for those of us who remain fond of (addicted to?) their pretty ideas.

[Writing Wrongs]

I posted this in the podcast thread, but it seems like alot of fans are becoming disillusioned with the show. Greetings From Storybrooke podcast is quitting because:

Quote

Season 5

I don’t think it’s a secret we’ve been spilling a lot of Haterade this year. The show we Once loved just hasn’t held our interest as much in Season 5 as we would have hoped. As you know, we have a lot of other projects on top of Greetings from Storybrooke. We’ve spent a lot of time reassessing our lives and the way that we spend our time. We think that the time that we spend on GFS could be better, and more positively, spent elsewhere.

I don't see how this season is any worse than the recent ones. I still enjoy it.

[Curio]

Yeah, if a fan has already "suffered" through five seasons of this show, I don't see how this particular story arc is the one that breaks the camel's back. (Season 4B almost broke my camel's back, but...) Unless you're a really, really, really big Robin fan.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Curio

[BoPeeps]

When a show gets to the point that nothing about it provides you anything you value as entertainment, time to quit watching.  It's pretty cut and dried.  Hanging around moaning or trying to stomp all over those who ARE still invested in it is pretty much sour grapes and reeks of ...a certain lack of maturity.

They were right to close that particular shop.

[Rumsy4]

GFS is only going to stop podcasting about the Show. They said they were going to keep watching. I don't blame them. They haven't seemed happy since S4, tbh.

[mtsmvfn]

7 hours ago, Rumsy4 said:

GFS is only going to stop podcasting about the Show. They said they were going to keep watching. I don't blame them. They haven't seemed happy since S4, tbh.

I've listened to them on and off. I'm suprised that they decided to do this this  week since last week the female host was celebrating and loving the episode since she thought that Hook was dead(She is a rabid Swanfire shipper). They tend to not love episodes that the majority of the audience likes. They also  tend to get stuck in details that no one cares about. 

[Hookian]

You know I will say one thing. I think that if SQ shippers could respect the canon of the show then maybe the fandom would all get along but their failed mission to absolutely erase Hook is just so relentless and foul. 

For example, even after the episode where CS is confirmed TL on the show. It's now stated in canon that they are, they still relegate him to simply a boyfriend. Somebody that doesn't matter to anybody. 

Wrong, Killian has very much grown tons of relationships and it's very clear the Charming family sees him as a member of the family, especially because he's Emma's romantic TL. 

It's this kind of ignoring canon which is why CS shippers get very annoyed with them, or how they see the show through a clear color lens and ignore many many MANY things.

The complete disrespect for CS shippers. Calling them rape supports, supporters of abuse, Trump advocates(that's really low) is just skimming the surface. There's been so much bad blood from SQ to CS.

They've taken away the CS photo-ops at the ONLY con Jennifer ever attended because they didn't have a choice for a SQ photo-op. Probably at the request of Jennifer cause.... she and Lana aren't that close.

They completely ignroe the canon and when they don't like where things are going they are loud and harass the writers and actors calling them every single rude name in the book. As if that's gonna change anything.  Sean Maguire recently talked at a con about the online harassment he received from SQ shippers and how it almost drove him to cut off Twitter completely.

When the poster for S5 came out they isolated CS shippers and made a poster contest on how to fix the S5B poster, and we weren't allowed in it. Disgusting pieces of trash they've been to us.

So of course CS shippers despise them, call them delusional, and crack shippers cause that's what they are. And you know what at the end of day we don't do even a smidge of the crap they do.

They'll never respect the canon, they'll never respect Emma's relationship with Hook. They always degrade it, they will always mock it and that's never gonna change. But in the end of it all, CS shippers are the ones that win because we have the show. Whereas all they have is a pipe dream that's never gonna happen. As Snow said that's not something to pride yourself with, it's something to pity. I pity them.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Hookian

[Mathius]

How are SQers reacting to the finale?  

They probably feel angry that it baited them the whole way through, only to end with a kiss and re-affirmation of love from CS.

[RadioGirl27]

13 minutes ago, Mathius said:

How are SQers reacting to the finale?  

They probably feel angry that it baited them the whole way through, only to end with a kiss and re-affirmation of love from CS.

I try to stay away from them, but the few things I've seen are positive. The LOVED the episode because it was focused on the Swan-Mills family. But really, all the NYC stuff was written for them, of course they are happy.

[InsertWordHere]

From what I've seen, they are happy about the SQ roadtrip and long scene between Emma and Regina that was all about Regina. Emma said she was Regina's family and we know family is the most important thing ever. If you have no family (as Emma did for almost all of her life thanks to the curse), you are useless. Regina also included Emma in the friends she loves and we all know you can't love your friends without wanting to jump their bones. 

Hook showed up at the end and Emma felt guilty about having so much fun apologizing to Regina and getting put down by Regina that she had to tell him she loved him to make up for it out of fear of Hook's abusiveness. Never mind that the first hour was basically Regina abusing Emma.

Also, Emma acted better and looked better this episode than she did last episode and was also a better mother to Henry, the difference being that Hook wasn't present, forget that the difference probably is that Hook was dead up until the last minute of the last episode and now he's not and also Emma barely interacted with Henry last episode because of plot plot plot not because of Hook.

EQ is probably going to have the hots for Emma, causing Regina to realize that she does as well and has just buried it, and so the Evil Swan Queen OT3 is born. I can't judge them for this, as I wouldn't mind seeing Hook's Jekyll Juiced version but it's slightly different because we already know every version of Hook has a thing for Emma.

Also, Swan Mills Family, yay! Because happening to adopt someone's child means you are meant to be together romantically and step dads suck. Never mind that Regina herself is an abusive stepparent and abusive adopted parent. Good for Henry for calling Emma out on her foolishness. He's learning from his awesome Mom, Regina.

To each their own, I guess. I certainly don't mind that they're happy but I wish they would pay attention to actual onscreen events. And the idea that parents should be together romantically because it's less complicated than sharing custody of the child will always be gross to me. Gross with Swanfire and gross with Swan Queen. 

Edited May 17, 2016 by InsertWordHere

[Kktjones]

Oh InsertWord, how I wish I hadn't just read your post...

[sharky]

Oh for gods' sake. Adam posted a script from the finale that didn't match up with set pictures. So the script was from the scene where Emma and Hook are outside Granny's at night talking about his return. A fan took a picture of them kissing during that scene, but that wasn't in the script and never made it to air. It seems to have been improvised by the actors or director or whatever. Doesn't matter who because the creepy crazy fans are trying to interpret it as Jen and Colin having an affair and kissing each other on set as people and not actors in a scene. What the bloody buggering hell? Anyway, as usual, Twitter fans lost their damn minds or they're just morons, like this exchange:

Moron: So Jen and Colin were just kissing eachother? Non scripted ?
Adam, talking some reason: sometimes the director will try different versions of the scene

And then of course, there are these people who have no idea how television marketing campaigns work. In response to Adam posting a trailer for A&E's new show:

@AdamHorowitzLA @FreeformTV you keep pushing this new show. Is that why you burned #Once. Are you ready for it to go off the air after S6

I don't know. Maybe it would be a good thing to have it go off the air after S6 so I wouldn't be so bothered by the amount of idiocracy on the internet.

[Camera One]

I was wondering what that was about.  So Adam said:

Adam Horowitz @AdamHorowitzLA  
@JmosDocGal actors and directors use the script to create interpretations. We do many versions of every scene

Adam HorowitzV @AdamHorowitzLA  
@ncfIurry my guess is the director tried multiple versions

So I guess the Director decided to shoot the scene outside Granny's both with and without a kiss.  This means that the director does have some leeway, then?  I don't know why Adam had to be so adamant that it was never in the script.  That fanned the flames.  No pun intended.

Edited May 22, 2016 by Camera One

[Rumsy4]

Adam is always afraid of being blamed by ship fans. That's why he immediately disclaimed that the kiss in front of Granny's had ever been in the script. At least he took the time to explain about directing and acting choices this time. 

As for the unscripted NYCS CS hug, one of the paps kept harassing him about cutting the hug. Adam lost his temper and said it must have just been the actors hugging on-set. The pap's response was not nice, to say the least. 

[Stuffy]

It also doesn't help that people keep sharing the crazy tweets to call them out. So instead of it just being the initial idiots, it's everyone copying, pasting, and sharing them too. The more you put that stuff out there the more visible it is to everyone. It doesn't matter if it's CS trying to get them to chill or SQ pretending they're suddenly Jennifer's defenders. 

[YaddaYadda]

As much as I love spoilers, maybe it's time to cut access to the fans in Steveston.

[sharky]

I honestly don't know if they're allowed to block them or cut access to them since they're filming in public. I mean, they could politely ask fans not to record or take pictures, but that's about it. I think the bigger issue is fans just need to not jump to conclusions every time they see photos. It seems a few fans were disappointed when they found out the lift kiss wasn't actually a proposal, but then again, no one ever SAID it was going to be a proposal -- it was just the fans taking that theory and running with it.

[RedKeep]

11 hours ago, sharky said:

Doesn't matter who because the creepy crazy fans are trying to interpret it as Jen and Colin having an affair and kissing each other on set as people and not actors in a scene. What the bloody buggering hell?

Ugh, nothing creeps me out more than real person shipping. I know it's sadly a fairly common phenomenon that's not limited to the OUAT fandom, but I find it so incredibly disrespectful towards the very real people (as opposed to the fictional characters they play) those fans claim to love. Yikes. Between that and the constant over the top hate rooted in ship wars it's really no surprise so many actors took quite a few steps back from Twitter or stick to posting pictures and promo tweets instead of interacting with fans.

[mjgchick]

I can't stand fans who ship real life people. It's so awkward especially when you think of how the actors must feel themselves.

[OnceUponAJen]

1 hour ago, sharky said:

I honestly don't know if they're allowed to block them or cut access to them since they're filming in public. I mean, they could politely ask fans not to record or take pictures, but that's about it. I think the bigger issue is fans just need to not jump to conclusions every time they see photos. It seems a few fans were disappointed when they found out the lift kiss wasn't actually a proposal, but then again, no one ever SAID it was going to be a proposal -- it was just the fans taking that theory and running with it.

I think it was definitely set up to look like it could be a proposal.  Heck,  I was spoiled and when I saw the episode I held my breath a bit before she said the ILY. Especially with that wedding dress in the middle of the shot, it was a plausible conclusion.  Still, disappointment doesn't give anyone the right to bad behavior or temper tantrums on the Internet. I must have all the right people blocked,  since I usually hear about this stuff after the fact.

Edited May 22, 2016 by OnceUponAJen

[Jul 68]

So, am I the only one on this board tonight because I don't know what to do with myself on Sundays at 8pm?

[Watt]

Maybe it's my age or something... And dont get me wrong I've "shipped"  plenty in my day... Logan and Veronica, Angel and Buffy..

But I don't get why people are going to such extremes. I mean,  I guess social media has a big part in that.. The accessibility to complain or argue to people in charge/anyone who will listen. 

I don't feel bad for Adam or Eddy because they instigate shit but God I am so embarrassed for the actors. Poor Jen and Colin and Lana and Sean and everyone else harassed by crazy people who can't direct their issues to the right people.

I'm embarrassed to even BE a fan of this show sometimes. These "shipping"  wars full of terrible people saying terrible things, ruins it. If I were an actor I think I'd stay far away from projects like this.  Crazy.

I love my Captain Swan but not so much I'd go on Twitter and lose my damn mind.

[Hookian]

A+ SQ shippers for having so much common sense. Oh wait...you have none. So Lana was at a con and doing a bunch of pics with fans.

It was the time a SQ shipper decided was best to flip a book open during a pic and have Lana read along with her. What was the book?

It was a SQ porn fic. Way to freaking go. Of course Lana would be freaked out, as would anybody.

These people ask why Lana likes Shatner? Maybe cause he doesn't give her porn to read?

Edited May 23, 2016 by Hookian

[daxx]

How embarrassing that must have been for Lana. Although I'm sure she knows such things exist it's a whole other thing to have it forced on you in a public setting.

[mjgchick]

Yikes, I wouldn't have the courage to do such a thing. Not that I don't mind smut but I don't know I feel like their should be a fourth wall between us and the actor, crew and even A/E.

[RedKeep]

It looks like one of those self-published/self-printed fanfiction books to me and unless they made sure to open it at very, explicit page... I'm not sure an actor posing for a quick con picture like that would even notice much about what it is they're "reading". I totally agree about breaking the fourth wall though. I'm not sure why some fans are so desperate to do that every chance they get. Like, I understand being proud of something you've created, whether it's in writing or other forms art, but there are certain lines that shouldn't be crossed when trying to share it with the people that inspired you. And sharing R/NC-17 related material with them is definitely cringeworthy. I'd be way too shy and embarrased to even think about doing something like that too. #lol

On another note: I've also come to really dislike the social media "tactic" of hijacking posts/tweets that aren't about ones favorite character/ship. This is only one of the most recent examples that comes to mind, but on Friday Netflix UK/Ireland tweeted a gif of the Ruby/Dorothy pairing with the caption "handsome princes are so 2015". The immediate response? They were spammed with pics and tweets about Hook and "handsome pirates" who are totally swoonworthy and desired by the ladies, though. Granted, whoever's running that Netflix account then started engaging some of them too, but still... can we not. OUAT's attempt at LGBT representation certainly isn't all that great and noteworthy, to put it mildly, but I still think there are moments when fans should know when to take a step back instead of trying to make everything about their ultimate favorite instead. It's often bordering on poor taste, imo, and only furthers frustration and aggression among the various fan groups. And just to be clear here: I'm only using this as one example. I'm not claiming CS/Hook fans are the only ones who use that tactic. They clearly aren't. It's this very general idea that hijacking posts like that is a great tactic of showing support for ones favorites that's completely lost on me, regardless of who's doing it.

[sharky]

UGH! Ok, first of all, the second-hand embarrassment from that photo makes me physically cringe.

And second, and most important, THIS IS A BAD IDEA! I think one of the problems with moving fanfic to tumblr from LiveJournal is that somehow the copyright notices we put on fanfics (knowing full well they didn't really protect us) didn't translate over to tumblr. It was a good reminder when you posted your fanfics that what you were doing wasn't totally kosher and helped to keep the illusion of a wall between fanfic writers and the show intact. But then there's this. Someone wrote a fanfic and either published or had someone else publish in a print form. Whether they made money or not, that gives the illusion that you're making a profit off your fanfic, which likely makes Disney lawyers very upset. At the very least, I can guarantee there's a Disney lawyer doing some investigation on that book this morning. Guarantee. And that puts all fanfic writers at risk. I'm not saying Disney is going to shut it all down -- I don't think that would be smart of them. But they could if they wanted to. (Look no further than their shut down of Frozen-related items on etsy last year.) Imagine what would happen if someone as big as Disney started cracking down on fanfic based on their properties? All because you wanted to start shoving books in Lana's face based on Swan Queen.

ETA: @RedKeep regarding Twitter... I totally agree. I've seen this idea mentioned on tumblr quite a bit and I like the idea for Twitter as well. STAY IN YOUR LANE! And be honest about staying in your lane. Don't try and pass it off as, "Oh, I was just asking about Swan Queen because I thought this thread with a picture of Hook and Emma was an open discussion thread." No, you didn't. "Oh, Once is about true love and Ruby and Dorothy are true love just like Hook and Emma." Sure, but that's not what that post was about. Stay in your damn lane and own your damn lane.

Edited May 23, 2016 by sharky

[tri4335]

When I see a picture like this, I have to ask "where are the line handlers?"  Every signing I've been to (and granted they were book signings), the masses are clearly told the rules and personal stuff like this would not be allowed.  I've even been in lines where we were told that no personalizing allowed on the book we just bought (GRRM I'm looking at you). I mean even if this fan paid for the VIP treatment, there is ample reason for the "book" to be disallowed due to copy write infringement.

It is interesting to me that this shit always happens with Lana and not really anyone else on the cast.  It comes off to me that she only cares about herself and she caters to these fans, not because she is such a great LGBTQ advocate, but she is desperate to be a star and she does not want to lose any of her numbers regardless how messed up they become.  So now we have this image which will be used to say how LP supports SQ and it is all JMO's fault that it is not happening on screen, the weird snap chat instance where she turned the phone onto Jen who wasn't participating and then the fall out of JMO turning her back (there is no good reason for LP to do that to a co-worker), the stuff with Sean and the harassment rumors, which it took her over 12 hours to respond to but was clearly known at OUAT since A responded. That response also included the weird "sorry" at the end that I felt was put there to try and placate the same people who were trying ruin her coworker.  Maybe I'm overreaching but I really just feel that she's not a team player and it is all about her and she is willing to throw her co-workers under the bus.

[RedKeep]

26 minutes ago, tri4335 said:

Every signing I've been to (and granted they were book signings), the masses are clearly told the rules and personal stuff like this would not be allowed.

This sort of things happens at cons, not only those with OUAT cast participating, all the time, though. From what I understand it's very common for fans to come up with all sorts of poses and bring props or whatever to their photo ops with stars. I think it depends largely on the celeb if they're comfortable with these things and I'm sure some have rules about only doing your regular standing-next-to-each-other type of pics with no personalized stuff happening whatsoever, but from what I've seen the OUAT actors generally all seem fine with it. And lots of fans have actually come up with some super cute and funny pictures involving cosplay or recreating other aspects related to the show/movie/whatever they're referencing during con photo ops. So I really don't think this is something that only ever happens with one show/cast member and should be blamed first and foremost on Parrilla. I mean, even if we want to make this all about SQ, I'm absolutely sure Morrison has signed or posed with SQ "merchandise" of all sorts at cons too. This type of thing is really more on the fans who apparently need someone to seriously enforce certain lines for them instead of being aware of and respecting them out of their own accord. Which then might very well lead to some of the cast changing their minds about how they approach dealing with fans at cons in general in the future, who knows.

sharky: Well said, agree with you on both accounts.

[OnceUponAJen]

Yes, I've seen pictures with all sorts of props and it is great that the actors are willing to play along with that. However, that can take up a bit of time (more than your standard picture pose) and should probably be scrutinised before they get in front of the camera.

[Serena]

Bringing a prop or asking the actress to do a (normal) pose is one thing. Bringing sexual content and asking her to read it is another. If it was a dude asking a woman to read porn he wrote about her we would be calling it SEXUAL HARASSMENT. And I have no problem calling it that in this case.

BTW, I read that the latest fandom "controversy" is this tweet from Lana to Shatner. He's always getting into it with SQ fans, so I guess they've taken Lana writing that as a betrayal.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Serena
Adding that bit about Shatnet

[YaddaYadda]

The Rio con last year where the fans had Colin reenact some Captain Swan scenes like the hand bandaging from 2x06 was I thought all kinds of effin' embarrassing. 

[tri4335]

I don't go to CONS so I was not aware that they go along with all these requests, but if you allow one over the top request, how can you refuse others. This reminds me a little of the $ellebrity (Sellebrity) documentary.  If you contribute to the craziness and blurring of the lines, then you can't really complain about it when you're not in the mood for it. 

[mjgchick]

My ears are hot red just reading these cringe worthy moments in the fandom. I gotta go, I gotta go.

[Lii]

Ugh, it's like couples who argue loudly in the grocery store, or people who smack their kids in public, seriously. Do these people have no shame? Because I'm getting a severe case of secondhand shame just reading about this crap, and I don't even have Tumblr or Twitter or any of this stuff. Jesus, people. Do they have social rabies?

[Amerilla]

On Monday, May 23, 2016 at 10:10 AM, tri4335 said:

It is interesting to me that this shit always happens with Lana and not really anyone else on the cast.  It comes off to me that she only cares about herself and she caters to these fans, not because she is such a great LGBTQ advocate, but she is desperate to be a star and she does not want to lose any of her numbers regardless how messed up they become.

I'm not a Regina fan, nor really all that much of a Lana fan, but this is something that comes up in one form or another every few months on the forum, and the more I see it, the more I disagree with the way we often attribute some sort of bad faith on her part. 

We're criticizing a person for doing their job.

Actors / singers / writers / artists / models / dancers / politicians are basically small businesses. Advertising is the way any small business stays in business. Sure, Lana has a long-term interest in using the visibility she gets from being on a weirdly popular TV show to build her brand as a brassy, funny, outgoing persona who casting people can see fitting into other roles once Once is done. "Desperate to be a star?" Maybe. Or maybe, like a lot of actors, she put her time with bit parts and failed shows for years before finding a breakout role, and she's enjoying it. Wouldn't you? 

And this only benefits the show. Whatever her social media misfires (and she is by no means the only one of the cast who has had social media misfires), overall she is a tireless cheerleader for a entertainment vehicle that is getting harder and harder to cheer for. These big, loyal fanbases are one of the things keeping this zombie-show alive at this point, because the do engage and they do tune in.

As someone who wants to have a good reputation among fans, as an ambassador for the show, it's not really feasible for her to manage the SQ fanbase. No actor or author can fully control how others interpret their work. Pissing people off is not a good business model. 

Take the photo of Lana and her SQ fan. What's Lana going to do in that situation? Recoil in horror at someone's cherished rendering of Regina eating Emma's box? Refuse a photo because of "copyright"? How does that play on Tumblr or Twitter? How does potentially alienating that group hurt her LGBTQ advocacy - something that long predates her tenure on Once, something that's very personal for her - and to what end? It's a fine line for her to walk, and when in doubt, it's best just to be gracious to the fan, take the damn picture, and have them go away happy.

Like most here, I don't think that Lana and Jen are particularly close. I don't think that matters much. I haven't heard any rumors of backstage strife over the years; they don't talk smack about each other in interviews; they're professionals that work together, period. Neither one of them is under any obligation to support the other's interpretation of their individual characters or the relationship of those characters. If they don't want to coordinate a social media strategy, they don't have to. There's no "bus," there's no "team." They are simply independent operators who have chosen different ways of deal with a rowdy bunch of fans. 

(To me, RC and EdR are the other end of the spectrum: they've been pretty near perfect at cultivating their own rowdy fanbase. We can crap all over EdR's acting as much as we want, but her fans love her, in no small part because she's built her reputation as a wee basket of sunbeams who loves puppies and kittens and babies, and who goes to cons and tries to answer ever inane question like it's serious stuff. She and RC are the main cast members generally most likely to go out and work the rope lines and pose for pictures and sign autographs when they're on open set. However RC may feel about Rumbelle, on social media and when he's dragged to Comic Con, he's unfailingly gracious and thankful towards their fans. While I doubt they are friends in a meaningful sense, they always speak highly of each other and give the appearance of getting along very well on set and at events. That said: they are playing a white, straight couple in a kinda-sorta traditional white, straight relationship, so there aren't really as many places to trip that up.) 

Edited May 24, 2016 by Amerilla
Forgot a couple of words

[Mathius]

Quote

We can crap all over EdR's acting as much as we want, but her fans love her, in no small part because she's built her reputation as a wee basket of sunbeams who loves puppies and kittens and babies, and who goes to cons and tries to answer ever inane question like it's serious stuff. 

EdR has one of the most thankless roles on the show right now, and yet she still is able to tweet that she's glad to be coming back for another season and calling working with the rest of the cast and crew a "dream job".  That right there gives me mad respect for the lady.  To stay upbeat and gracious about a job despite all its drawbacks is something to be admired, I know that I sure as Hell wouldn't be able to manage it.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Mathius

[mjgchick]

seriously, I could never be EdR. Then again she's worked with Adam/Eddy before and Claire had a much bigger role than Belle has ever had. I think she honestly has her job in part because of them and the whole Rumbelle crap.

[Minneapple]

Someone once gave the Fred and George actors from the Harry Potter movies twincest fic. And once a group of fans gave Michael Rosenbaum (from Smallville) a big box of sex toys. I would be SO EMBARRASSED to give an actor sexual fanfic. Or fanfic at all. Or anything. I can't even comprehend it. If someone really did that to Lana and she managed to not die or run away screaming, well, kudos to her.

Quote

I feel like their should be a fourth wall between us and the actor, crew and even A/E.

The fourth wall came down a long time ago. Social media has basically eradicated it.

Edited May 25, 2016 by Minneapple