... because, yeah, the "Mr. Bland" cliche is one of my very least favorites. The Asshole Boyfriend one bothers me mostly because it takes all the ambiguity out of the situation and, usually, makes me want to kick the heroine for being such an airhead that she's even in doubt. But the Mr. Bland one is just completely unfair.
I also think you're spot-on about the big fandom-ness of SGA. After reading your comment, I got to thinking about it and realized that, as many fandoms as I've been in, I've actually only ever been in one other big fandom -- SG1, which I got into when it was small and left because of, basically, Big Fandom Syndrome around seasons 4/5. Other than that, all my fandoms have been small fandoms, and even when they were big (like DBZ) I was always in the "micro" parts of them (i.e. gen DBZ fandom) and never really crossed paths with the "average" fan in those fandoms.
And I think you have a great point, too, that SGA fandom really was pleasant for its size for a long time.
I think it can become so again; SG1 fandom was awful when I left, but my understanding now (from skirting the borders) is that it's become very mellow and pleasant again, post-cancellation, much more like I remember it being in the early days.
Perhaps I just came back from my fannish vacation too soon. :D
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... because, yeah, the "Mr. Bland" cliche is one of my very least favorites. The Asshole Boyfriend one bothers me mostly because it takes all the ambiguity out of the situation and, usually, makes me want to kick the heroine for being such an airhead that she's even in doubt. But the Mr. Bland one is just completely unfair.
I also think you're spot-on about the big fandom-ness of SGA. After reading your comment, I got to thinking about it and realized that, as many fandoms as I've been in, I've actually only ever been in one other big fandom -- SG1, which I got into when it was small and left because of, basically, Big Fandom Syndrome around seasons 4/5. Other than that, all my fandoms have been small fandoms, and even when they were big (like DBZ) I was always in the "micro" parts of them (i.e. gen DBZ fandom) and never really crossed paths with the "average" fan in those fandoms.
And I think you have a great point, too, that SGA fandom really was pleasant for its size for a long time.
I think it can become so again; SG1 fandom was awful when I left, but my understanding now (from skirting the borders) is that it's become very mellow and pleasant again, post-cancellation, much more like I remember it being in the early days.
Perhaps I just came back from my fannish vacation too soon. :D