Things About Fanboys That have Always Frustrate Me

[Rhaenys]

What irritates me are the subset of fanboys (and every forum has their resident one) that jump into threads only to complain about the particular show. I mean, it's okay to not like something, but to continually bitch about it again and again and again has the tendency to grind the nerves. It's like "Okay! We get it!"

I totally agree, I really hate that.
I like some ST series very much, I like some less, and I even don't like some, but I don't bitch them, I just don't visit or post on their forums


Oh, and I really liked "Faith of the Heart", until they ruined it in third season.

 

[Balthier the Great]

The one thing that really frosts my bonnet is the notion that disagreeing with someone about what they hate about Star Trek or even worse liking something that other fans hate somehow makes you less of a "true" fan.

I think it started back during the Rick Berman years, when we realized that the folks in charge of the franchise didn't really understand what Star Trek was supposed to be about, and were just milking the golden cow for as long as they could turn a profit. The attitude began to emerge that to be a really-and-truly dyed-in-the-wool Trekker you had to refuse to eagerly lap up the watered-down, inferior Star Trek that Paramount was pushing. New stuff like the TNG movies, Voyager, and later Enterprise had to be beneath you. It wasn't good enough to be a Star Trek fan, you had to be a Star Trek connoisseur. In fact, the depth of your devotion to Star Trek could be measured by how much of the franchise you disliked.

And now we've become a cynical lot who are skeptical of any new Star Trek project that comes down the pike and instantly look for any reason at all to dislike it. Even if the new movie turns out to be the most excellent, orgasmic piece of science-fiction filmmaking known to man and grosses $500 million dollars, hardcore Star Trek connoisseurs will emerge from the theater frothing with anger and will flood the Internet with hateful diatribes about how J.J. Abrams violated canon and his head should be placed on a pike outside CBS/Paramount/Viacom headquarters as an example to future canon violators.

I think people might tell themselves that, but really, it's about measuring your ST naughty bits. You get points for disliking anything popular -- double points for disliking it for messing with canon, and quadruple points if the canon in question was only mentioned once. It's a sport. Fairly harmless mostly. And sometimes fun. I've done that on other fora -- mostly suggesting that Square Enix was raping my childhood for changing the art style and so on.

Canon arguments are part of the Otaku Olympics, and Trekkers usually take gold.

Of course there are other contests -- collecting of the bling, making your room or vehicle look like something from your favourite series, producing pr0n based on character art. Us Otaku are a silly bunch, but no more than the guys who spend the entire next day argueing that they could run the local sports team better than the coach, and collecting cardinals stuff.

 

[M'Sharak]

Nobody likes Alexei Tolstoy, right?

Which one?

Nikolayevich, naturally.

Just checking. I'm not terribly familiar with either of them.

 

[darkshadow0001]

The biggest things that really gets me frustrated about fanboys is tha they just love to make sport on tearing things apart just to see if they can ruin. And they'll grasp at any tiny little straw they can to make it out like it's the worse thing to ever happen in the entire history of the world.

Example, one of the stupidest things to get all hostile over was the show "Enterprise" and it's theme song, "Faith Of The Heart". The fanbpoys were very upset over it simply because it had lyrics that were sung to it and that had never been done before. I mean they were so upset they were frothing at the mouth over this.

Every single tiny mistake, every single error, will betreated in this manner by the fanboys when the next movie comes out. They will be looking for these things and they will be very upset over it because to them it's just a sport to destroy a movie any way they can.

And I blame them for the demise of the franchise.

They are what's wrong with Trekdom.

And we can not let them win.

Thank you!!!! Finally someone who agrees with me!

 

[Kegek]

Which one?

Nikolayevich, naturally.

Just checking. I'm not terribly familiar with either of them.

Neither am I. Honestly, I've only just seen the film version of one of Tolstoy's science fiction novels. He was just the first guy who came to mind as 'author who surely nobody has heard of.'

 

[Andrew Harris]

I personally disliked "Faith of the Heart" because its a lame song, but unfortunately Enterprise's problems ran a lot deeper than that.

Agreed. "Enterprise" was a train wreck.

Not sure I agree with that. I'd probably watch a show called "Train Wreck".

 

[JuanBolio]

Enterprise had a lot of potential. It was a GREAT concept that fell short in execution. I liked many of the episodes, but overall it just wasn't enough. Great cast, great special effects, but re-hashed stories and lame writing let it down. Shame - it could've been the best Trek series ever. I just wish they'd let Manny Cotto and J. Michael Straczynski have it from day one.

 

[Jeri]

I think it started back during the Rick Berman years, when we realized that the folks in charge of the franchise didn't really understand what Star Trek was supposed to be about, and were just milking the golden cow for as long as they could turn a profit....

Their vitriol had no effect on the intended targets; but unfortunately, rather on other fans who enjoyed things they didn't.

And it's not as though a fan will stop liking something, because someone else says to. "Stop liking that!" is not a common command, for the simple reason that it's not useful.

Fans know when they sit down in front of the television whether they're having a good time or not; no amount of haranguing will change that. So these individuals have done little except engender ill will.

It's also futile to try to tell someone they're not a true fan; not only is it within no one else's purview, but fans already know how they feel, and what it achieves is resentment.

 

[Saul]

The only thing worse than irritating fanboys who can't seem to help themselves is people who get self righteous and pontificate about said fanboys.

QFTFT.

It's just Bitching about a bitch.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

Please define for the rest of us the term "Fanboy." Please bear in mind that the very fact that you post on this BBS means that, in the most commonly-accepted definition, you are part of that group.

Please define what rights of self-expression you believe anyone should have over various issues... ranging from "politics" to "morality" to far lesser issues like, say, "taste in entertainment."

Those things need to be established before any reasonable discussion on this topic can be held.

Otherwise, the only inference which may be taken from the OP's posting is "I think everyone else should think exactly the way I do." Which I'm sure isn't the actual INTENT... is it?

The biggest things that really gets me frustrated about fanboys is tha they just love to make sport on tearing things apart just to see if they can ruin. And they'll grasp at any tiny little straw they can to make it out like it's the worse thing to ever happen in the entire history of the world.

Example, one of the stupidest things to get all hostile over was the show "Enterprise" and it's theme song, "Faith Of The Heart". The fanbpoys were very upset over it simply because it had lyrics that were sung to it and that had never been done before. I mean they were so upset they were frothing at the mouth over this.

Every single tiny mistake, every single error, will betreated in this manner by the fanboys when the next movie comes out. They will be looking for these things and they will be very upset over it because to them it's just a sport to destroy a movie any way they can.

And I blame them for the demise of the franchise.

They are what's wrong with Trekdom.

And they need to go the way of the Dodo and just let things be,

But they can't.

They don't care about the show. It's just sport to them.

They only care about bringing things down.

And they will do their best to bring down the movie.

And we can not let them win.

 

[number6]

Please define for the rest of us the term "Fanboy." Please bear in mind that the very fact that you post on this BBS means that, in the most commonly-accepted definition, you are part of that group.

Please define what rights of self-expression you believe anyone should have over various issues... ranging from "politics" to "morality" to far lesser issues like, say, "taste in entertainment."

Those things need to be established before any reasonable discussion on this topic can be held.

Otherwise, the only inference which may be taken from the OP's posting is "I think everyone else should think exactly the way I do." Which I'm sure isn't the actual INTENT... is it?

The biggest things that really gets me frustrated about fanboys is tha they just love to make sport on tearing things apart just to see if they can ruin. And they'll grasp at any tiny little straw they can to make it out like it's the worse thing to ever happen in the entire history of the world.

Example, one of the stupidest things to get all hostile over was the show "Enterprise" and it's theme song, "Faith Of The Heart". The fanbpoys were very upset over it simply because it had lyrics that were sung to it and that had never been done before. I mean they were so upset they were frothing at the mouth over this.

Every single tiny mistake, every single error, will betreated in this manner by the fanboys when the next movie comes out. They will be looking for these things and they will be very upset over it because to them it's just a sport to destroy a movie any way they can.

And I blame them for the demise of the franchise.

They are what's wrong with Trekdom.

And they need to go the way of the Dodo and just let things be,

But they can't.

They don't care about the show. It's just sport to them.

They only care about bringing things down.

And they will do their best to bring down the movie.

And we can not let them win.

QFI

 

[RobertScorpio]

The only problem I had with FAITH OF THE HEART was that it wasn't even written for Star Trek...its from the movie Patch Adams. If they had to go with a song they should have used the one they were promoting the show with by the group THE CALLING. I even went out and bought that album because I liked that song,and they didn't even use it for the show.

Rob
Scorpio

 

[RobertScorpio]

Well, have to disagree with you on this one. Yes, I do believe that fans go overboard, but guess what? That isn't what caused TREK to fall. What caused TREK to fall was an inferior product. And when you have all of the upper-brass promising NEMESIS will be a great movie that will show Trek at its best and then the movie comes out, and it pretty much lays a turd, you can't blame fans for having 'issues' with those running the franchise.

We pay our money, and we devote our time. We have a right to have an opinion that is not in line with the official dogma. I do believe there are some who take it too far (especially those who hold Trek to it's over bearing canon) but hey...they have a right to say what they want.

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I don't quite get the big deal though. If you don't like an intro then can't you just mute it until it's over or fast forward if watching it recorded?

Sure. In fact, that's what I did.

Same here... of course, it was easy for me because I never saw "Enterprise" first-run... I only saw it on DVD. (I hate commercials far more than I've ever hated any opening sequence... )

The big deal is that I love good intros. Especially Star Trek ones. I've got fond memories of sitting right in front of a tiny TV screen, hearing Patrick Stewart's echoing voice say the opening monologue, with a blast of Jerry Goldsmith following, triumphant.

I'm still like that. I never fast forward through the Dexter intro (on tonight, yay!); nor did I do so during Charlie Jade. I enjoy intros.

Similarly, when watching "Firefly" I found myself singing along with the lyrics sometimes... Never hit "FF" once while watching the DVDs for that show.

"Faith of the Heart" wasn't BAD, and certainly wasn't enough to ruin the show for me (of course, I'm fairly neutral on the show... it's far better than, say, "Voyager" in my view!). It was just... uninspiring to me. Unrelated in either feel or concept to the show I was watching. It felt no more connected to the show than, say, a Bangles tune would've. Actually, at least with a Bangles tune I'd have gotten a chuckle out of it.

"Faith of the Heart" just felt like a "generic music" patch in. That's why I "FF" through it every time... it's not really part of the show.

So ENT having a bad intro was a disappointment.

I thoroughly enjoyed them, myself. Satisfying exploration of the Rama starship and it's universe.

Aw, darn. I'm going to have to come up with something either more obscure or more unpopular next time. Nobody likes Alexei Tolstoy, right?

I enjoyed the RAMA books as well, but there's no question, it's a different form of story than most of us are used to. Gentry Lee's writing pretty much makes him the "Anti-Cussler." Of course, I like stories that require some intellectual effort far more than I like "popcorn stories." So I can't bear to read Clive Cussler but I enjoy reading Gentry Lee's RAMA stuff.

Diff'rent strokes and all that, I s'pose!

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

The only problem I had with FAITH OF THE HEART was that it wasn't even written for Star Trek...its from the movie Patch Adams.

I always pictured Rick Berman at the dentist, with the dental dam still in his mouth. 'Faith of the Heart' starts playing on the piped-in music channel, and he says, "Issh! Issh ish herfect! Hut his zhuh nyame hof hish shong?!? I uv it!"

 

[Sharr Khan]

The only problem I had with FAITH OF THE HEART was that it wasn't even written for Star Trek...its from the movie Patch Adams. If they had to go with a song they should have used the one they were promoting the show with by the group THE CALLING. I even went out and bought that album because I liked that song,and they didn't even use it for the show.

Rob
Scorpio

I still love that song and yes do wish it had been used in the show!

Sharr

 

[RobertScorpio]

The only thing worse than irritating fanboys who can't seem to help themselves is people who get self righteous and pontificate about said fanboys.

Yeah, man. I hate those guys!!

Send them a memo

 

[RobertScorpio]

Anyone who comes here is, by definition, a fanboy. Anyone who comes here who doesn't think they are a fanboy is in denial.

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Sharr Khan]

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b23815_star_trek_scoop_romulan_speaks.html

The very first reply is the kind that bugs the hell out of me about "The Fanbois" who presume to speak for all fandom in an authoritative manner and also tend to show they think they know more about any given project or the follow through of siad project then they likely do. You know the kind who pronouce it a failure before its even arrived in your local threater.

Those who tend to call Trek XI "kiddie Trek" or assume Abrams is just screwing with them as a matter of course or hates GR or whatever.


Sharr

 

[ancient]

Anyone who comes here is, by definition, a fanboy. Anyone who comes here who doesn't think they are a fanboy is in denial.

I never swim in de Nial.

The biggest things that really gets me frustrated about fanboys is tha they just love to make sport on tearing things apart just to see if they can ruin. And they'll grasp at any tiny little straw they can to make it out like it's the worse thing to ever happen in the entire history of the world.

Well, when I was little Star Trek picked on me. So when it died, I kicked the body a few times. It's not a crime, technically. If the body is still warm.

Example, one of the stupidest things to get all hostile over was the show "Enterprise" and it's theme song, "Faith Of The Heart". The fanbpoys were very upset over it simply because it had lyrics that were sung to it and that had never been done before. I mean they were so upset they were frothing at the mouth over this.

Holy shit, all this time I thought it was called "Face of the Fart." Wow. The whole show suddenly makes sense. I hereby apologize for hurting the song's feelings. Sorry, song.

Oh wait, I think I just ignored it. Sorry for ignoring you, song!

Every single tiny mistake, every single error, will betreated in this manner by the fanboys when the next movie comes out.

...Errors? ERRORS?!

They will be looking for these things and they will be very upset over it because to them it's just a sport to destroy a movie any way they can.

If the film is actually somehow destroyed via internet bitching, it will finally be proof of the supernatural.

And I blame them for the demise of the franchise.

Which just goes to show, once you have fans, you are essentially doomed. The goal of any show should be to have as few fans as possible, because having fans kills the franchise.

They don't care about the show. It's just sport to them.

Just like the WWE, except in reverse.

They only care about bringing things down.

And they will do their best to bring down the movie.

And we can not let them win.

Do they really have a chance? Is there some secret handshake or something that we must learn? Where are their troops? Where is their multi-million dollar smear campaign?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?