sholio: sun on winter trees (Teyla Ronon happy)
Sholio ([personal profile] sholio) wrote2008-12-23 02:25 am

Thank you, guys

I'll be going through and responding to the rest of the individual comments as time permits, but I wanted to thank you all for being supportive of my little fannish meltdown in the last post. I feel like I'm being a drama queen, throwing fits in my LJ, but I hadn't realized how much fandom-related hurt and frustration I'd been bottling up over the last month or so.

But just writing it all out, and backing out of my future ficathon commitments so that I didn't have the stress of feeling like I *had* to stay in the fandom even if I didn't want to, and then reading all of your wonderful and sympathetic comments, made me feel one hell of a lot better. *hugs you all* The fandom isn't perfect any more than the show is, but it's pretty damned awesome sometimes, and you people are the best f'list ever. ^_^ I can't really tell you how much better I feel right now than I have lately. I think just knowing that I *can* walk away if I need to, and I won't have lost most of the relationships that I've built during the last two years, is doing wonders for my peace of mind.

And right now, I'm paradoxically feeling more positive about the show than I have in a while. The sheppard-hc stories will be out in a few days, and someone will be writing a story for *my* prompt too, which is something that I'd totally forgotten in all of my recent fan-angst. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what they do with that. And there are other fannish things to look forward to (Yuletide!) as well as my new shiny fandom thing, Wiseguy, which we'll be marathoning more in the next few days.

So, yeah. I'll be around. I'll probably be pretty quiet on the SGA front, but I do feel a lot better about the show and the fandom right now, and a lot more confident of my ability to come back to the fandom after the series ends and things calm down a bit. Thank you again for listening. :)

Edited to add, upon further reflection, that I want to make clear I certainly feel everyone else is entitled to their own anger, hurt and disillusionment with the show, for whatever reason. You have every right to feel that way and to vent about it, and I really don't want to imply otherwise; my fannish comfort does not trump your own, especially in your own space. This might be too obvious to bear mentioning, but fandom being what it is, I thought I should. I hope that my earlier post doesn't seem like condemnation or invalidation of your viewpoint.

[identity profile] spike21.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't read all of your last post -- mostly because I get quite squirrely myself when a show/fandom is going through a big transition and mostly can't bear to read anything but fic posts, but I think I got the gist of it and... if you're not too pissed off with me for blowing hot and cold on SGA, I just want to add my *hugs* to the pile. I can only speak for myself, but any anger I've expressed toward the show has come out of loving it enough to get my stupid feelings hurt. I'm really sorry if that's added to your unhappiness -- your fic has been a great source of enjoyment for me over these last few years. And if it means anything, I still love the show, even when I'm mad at it.
leesa_perrie: black and white image of a wolf's head, side on (Wolf 2)

[personal profile] leesa_perrie 2008-12-23 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I feel bad that I didn't respond to your post, I fully intended to. Anyway, I'll not be defriending you or anything like that! I'm happy to read your posts about other shows and life and such like. I'd love to get to see Wiseguy, it sounds interesting, but I have a feeling getting it over here in the UK will be even harder than for you in the US!! Still, I'll give it a try sometime next year - when I've finished catching up with House (still on S3 atm)!

I've been keeping away from negativity in SGA fandom for a while now as I either a) got angry, which really isn't on as people are entitled to their opinions, and then I'd get angry at myself for getting annoyed at others - if that makes sense, or b) got dragged down and didn't like the feeling.

Glad to hear you feel better about things now. I hope you do return to the fandom one day (I love your stories), but fully understand if you don't.

[identity profile] scarym1.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I understand it can be a struggle some days to not have your squee squashed. Thankfully, like you, I have made a great group of friends in this fandom who will always be there for me even if the show that brought us together isn't.

I am glad you are feeling more positive about the show. What ever happens I will continue to pop in and see what new.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christma!!!!!!


aelfgyfu_mead: (Rodney&Carson)

[personal profile] aelfgyfu_mead 2008-12-23 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
The fandom isn't perfect any more than the show is
Might have to disagree on that one! The fandom isn't perfect, but some parts of it are better than the show! ;-)
ext_3572: (sga atlantis)

[identity profile] xparrot.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
*laughs* I second this!
(really, compared to some fandoms I've been in, SGA fandom is still even now a nicer and more positive place than many. And I think once the stress of the finale passes it'll calm down a lot...)
aelfgyfu_mead: Aelfgyfu as a South Park-style cartoon (Default)

[personal profile] aelfgyfu_mead 2008-12-25 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The fanfic isn't perfect, but there's some awfully good people in fandom.
cyanne: (SGA Atlantis city sunlit)

[personal profile] cyanne 2008-12-23 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry I didn't respond to your original post (fighting a really bad something) but I'm glad that you said it all. If you take nothing else, remember that you're not alone in this, and while it might be a particular fandom that brings us together, that's not what keeps us together.

And this
It's just frustrating that we get so emotionally involved with this silly, silly show that it *matters* this much to us!

rings so true to me because I've felt like this since the end of Season 3. I hate that it bothers me so much, I wish I didn't love it so much that it hurts because they went so far off the rails. But it does, and that's part of the price of falling in love.

I've probably never said it but thanks for all of your wonderful stories, I've always loved your take on the characters I love so much.

[identity profile] greyias.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you're feeling a little better today. I was going to reply to your other post yesterday, but the holidays are sucking up a lot more of my free time at home than I thought they would. It does sound like you need a break though, get a little bit of your headspace back from the fandom and show. I wound up taking a long one last summer, was pretty convinced we were broken up for good after I wrote a novella for another fandom, then somehow I got dragged back in. There's the teensy possibility finding your fic played some role in that.

I nearly did lose my love for the show a few weeks ago, so I definitely understand how you're feeling. I've been burying myself with all of the TV recs you guys gave me (♥!), and it really has helped because I finally wound up watching "Identity" last night and rather enjoyed it. Selfishly, I'm hoping you might come back and squee with us some more, but I understand if you're lured away by the wiles of Wiseguy. (Which I'm also really looking forward to seeing, provided I don't get distracted with more cookie decorating contests every time I come home.)

[identity profile] angw.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah fandom...it can be nasty and nice. The bashing, the squeeing, the jumping on band wagons to promote or demolish...There will always be a wide spectrum of fans but I wonder whether the end of a series makes it worse. Nonetheless I look forward to the movies.

I have absolutely loved your fics and will be sadden if the fandom has squashed your enthusiasm but it will be understandable. ((hugs))

[identity profile] argosy.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, you're stuck with me, whatever you decide to fan in the future. Just so you know. :)

[identity profile] alessandriana.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Same here. ♥

And it sounds like I may need to start watching Wiseguy now.

[identity profile] trystings.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Just adding my well wishes to the other comments. I think everyone who invested even an tiny bit in this show has gone through the same phase in the past few months. I certainly have - to the point where I had to ask myself if the cancellation of a TV show was worth getting depressed about. And hey, it's not.

I do hope to see you around, I always read your posts on any subject. And thank you for some of the most awesome fics in this fandom. Yours are among my favorites.

Happy holidays. :)
naye: A cartoon of a woman with red hair and glasses in front of a progressive pride flag. (one piece - optimism)

[personal profile] naye 2008-12-23 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
♥ ♥ ♥

*hugs*

Time to collapse in sleep after writing unrelated Jump Festa post of DOOM, but I wanted to let you know that, you know. I'm so happy you're happy! ♥

[identity profile] parisntripfan.livejournal.com 2008-12-23 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry I didn't reply to your last post. Real life had been particularly hectic for the past few days - and as a result I haven't had a lot of free time and when I been able to spend time online I was to tired to come up with a good response.

If I had been able to respond I would have said something along the lines that I was sorry to see that you were dropping out of Atlantis fandom. Not only did I enjoy your fanfics, I liked reading the discussions and meta on your page. I didn't always agree with everything you said, but I pretty much always found your opinions interesting and well thought out.

No fandom is prefect. No matter how good a show is, there are always going to be people who are not happy with the choices the writers make over the course of a series. It is just part of life. And then there is the fact that different people have different ways of enjoying a show. Some just like the squee. Some like to deconstruct the plot - see what the writers did right and where they went wrong. Some like to look for nitpicks and find plotholes. Some love the characters and are all about them, others are all about the plots and the stories.

And even with all the Kellerhate - I have found SGA fandom very sane and calm. Yeah, it can get nasty at times, but it is nothing compared to what I have seen in other fandoms. And I have yet to see the overbearing egos or fan-wars I have seen in the past. Not to scare you off of other fandoms. :-D



[identity profile] sgatazmy.livejournal.com 2008-12-24 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
*hugs*


I think I feel a lot like you do.

[identity profile] flingslass.livejournal.com 2008-12-24 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
I'm fanning on a show that I watched when I was a kid. Monkey or Monkey Magic as it was known was a dubbed into English Japanese show based on a Chinese legend. It was so bad it was good. Out of sync and loads of violence for little kids to eat up :D I wish I could afford the $100 for the box set :(

I guess the point with SGA is to get out of it what you want. Keller annoys me but that problem is more with the writers than the actress. (Really, I'm just too lazy to vent :D). I've hardly watched the Gilmore Girls but I love [livejournal.com profile] kodiak_bear's Physics of the Spin.

[identity profile] mcalex22.livejournal.com 2008-12-24 09:47 am (UTC)(link)
EEE, Monkey Magic!!!! Hee, I don't know many people who don't like it!!!

:DDD

I loved it too as a kid. I remember always thinking, "But that's a man" about that priest they were travelling with.

Who didn't do a Monkey impression when they were young? Or the cloud flying and magic using hand moments????

[identity profile] flingslass.livejournal.com 2008-12-26 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
I still can't whistle :P And yes, Tripitaka was very much the girly boy, if you know what I mean ;-)

[identity profile] jimandblair.livejournal.com 2008-12-24 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
I superficially scanned your previous post; I pretty much avoid the majority of meta / gateworld blog posts, people's episode reviews as it can affect my enjoyment of a series. I'm here for the fic and fanart and friends *g*

You can't predict how and when you can go off a series. I will admit to an insy winsy pang of dismay that there'll be no more Whaleverse, but I respect your decision and need for space.

Not defriending! even though I haven’t got a clue what Wiseman is.

[identity profile] mcalex22.livejournal.com 2008-12-24 09:44 am (UTC)(link)
I saw your post yesterday morning when I woke up and just before I headed out to work and so I didn't respond to it. It was just one of those things where I wouldn't rush a comment. Ironically it was also at the same time that I had seen a certain post by someone on my flist about the certain episodes you were referring to.


For me, I still enjoy the show but I haven't really been "in" the fandom in a long time. I think I can say in all honesty that I started drifting away 3 months ago at the same time I started watching anime and it hit me one day that I'd gone for months without even looking at SGA newsletter or even having the urge to read any SGA fics. I didn't really have problems with the canon but I just haven't invested any time into thinking about it. I simply found something new and shiny and became involved in it.

I first joined LJ because of SGA! So when I realised that I didn't seem to see eye to eye with a lot of people about SGA or that SGA is ending, I had a "So... what do I do now?" moment. SGA is the only fandom I've ever really invested in or felt inspired to do something about. I feel like I can hear that Boyz2Men song "The end of the road playing" right now when I think that it's ending; both the show and my "relationship" with the fandom.


But I suppose I take away from it the many tears of laughter and warm moments I've had and the people I've met through it.

I'm a bit sad that you have lost your love for the show and I understand the bitterness. And I agree wholeheartedly with your decision; you have to do what you need to or you'll go insane. And taking a break is what you need. If it's a permanent, then that's it really... after all, you need your sanity.

And again you raise a good point; people are entitled to voice their opinions in their own journals. It's probably one of my reasons for stepping away. I liked a lot of the people on my flist who had opinions that differed from mine (about SGA) and though I didn't agree with some of their comments, I genuinely felt for their hurt and anger at the development of the show. I couldn't feel it myself but I was sad that there were others who couldn't find enjoyment in it.


ON the flip side, I'm happy for ya that you have a new fandom to be happy about. Is this a new show? When you said Wiseguy, I thought of that 80s series starring Ken Wahl or something like that. It was a detective series too I think :)

Again, I hope I don't bring up old issues you have resolved, I just wanted to say that well, everyone is entitled to fall out of fandom and that I'm glad you have some new and shiny to play with! LOL - look at me, anime is now my life! I even started Japanese lessons because of it!

BTW, Merry Xmas!!!
tielan: (Default)

[personal profile] tielan 2008-12-31 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
I know you've already unfriended me, which is okay, since I suspected I was one of the people always harping on about how the show wasn't what I wanted.

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the time when we were interacting and I understand about withdrawing from the fandom and the show. And best wishes for whichever new fandom you end up in.