humorous breakdown of the fandom labels
Mar. 22nd, 2003 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockSo, I've been thinking about 2 recent LJ things, one of which was from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lordshiva, about being a Spike fan or being a shipper, and what that means in one's attitude toward fandom.
So, I took one of my replies from one of these converations, and embellished it a bit, and have put it up for everyone's fun.
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As I understand it, Spike fans break down to these 10 categories, which are not exclusive in and of themselves:
**drumbeat*******
1. Evilistas: liked Spike evil, and that's really all you need to know. They like him mostly with Drusilla, sometimes with Angelus. They look down on redemptionistas and any Spuffy that's not evil in nature. Because helllloooo, Vampire. Evil. I wish I could write darkfic like theirs--except the stupid ones of course.
2. Slashers: like Spike in any variety of forms, with any other guy. As they watch the show, they usually also have their own (hidden) preferences for canon Het pairings too, varying with each individual though not manifested in their main fandom outlook. They don't have to get into many flame wars (except the old is/isn't the character gay war, or internal wars), because they either grudgingly accept, cheerfully include, or utterly ignore all the Het shippers.
3. Spike-only fans: they like Spike and want him to be happy. Because Spike on the show wants Buffy, most hope he gets her because that would make him happy. They might or might not be Redemptionistas. Some like Spike with everyone-- Buffy, Angel, Xander, Giles, Dawn, Willow, Faith, etc, or no one. Some like Buffy well enough but don't consider themselves B/S shippers, and other don't really care about Buffy at all and only want Spike, in any way shape or form. There’s a portion of this group that frequently thinks that Buffy's a total B*tch and doesn't deserve him, and that he should leave her and move his hot too-good-for-the-slayer butt onto someone nicer (if they’re 13 or younger, that means straight into the arms of a Mary Sue). The Buffyhaters among them tend to look down on Spuffers.
4. Spuffy or B/S fans: they like Spike and like Buffy, and love them together. They tend to hate any suggestions of Angel reunion, unless it's a threesome of which B/S are the extra-loving pair. They respect Spike's history with Dru and Buffy's history with Angel because those relationships directly led to the B/S relationship, but forbid the thoughts of other pairings. They think Harmony's a hoot and most agree that Spike's one time with Anya was grudgingly acceptable (even highly emotional) because it was all about the Buffy!angst and Xander!angst, and not indicative of future S/Anya. Some are Redemptionistas and some are not. They often look down on the Spike-only fans that hate Buffy, and generally ridicule B/X at all opportunities.
5. Spillow fans: I, uh, have little experience talking w/ these guys. Not much analysis converation, and I've hardly read any Spillow fanfic. In fact, I've read more crossovers with Willow/Angel than I've read BTVS fics with Willow/Spike.
But they seem nice, and fairly flexible/adaptable.
6. Redmptionistas: Believe in the redemption of Spike. Interpretation therein being fluid and subject to change.
7. Anti-Soul fans: They fit into any number of the above categories, and are only distinguished by their utter refusal/hate of the season 6 cliffhanger. Whether this is because they think he could be redeemed without a soul, or because they liked him evil, is personal choice. They look down on everyone who likes the soul arc.
8. Fans 14 years old or younger: They love his cheekbones and that’s usually the extent of their netspeak vocabulary. Everyone looks down on them, except the random worthy exception who types in clear English like everyone else—but people assume those ones are older anyway, so it’s a moot point.
9. Equal Opportunity Spike Addicts: They don’t discriminate. Pairing? Bah! If it’s got the name “Spike” in it they’ll read it, or look at it, or watch it—-even if it means resorting to Cowboy Bebop fanfic because they’ve exhausted everything else.
10. And then there's the...uh... Spike/crypt-door shippers, and the Spike/invisible-air shippers, Spike/microwave shippers, Spike/television shippers, Spike/Mr.Gordo shippers, and the Spike/duster shippers...
Yeah, they're kooky, but they write the funniest smut you've ever seen. o.O
Anyway, That's meant as a humorous sum-up (or break-down?) of Spike fandom.
lordshiva, about being a Spike fan or being a shipper, and what that means in one's attitude toward fandom.So, I took one of my replies from one of these converations, and embellished it a bit, and have put it up for everyone's fun.
--------------------------------------------------------------
As I understand it, Spike fans break down to these 10 categories, which are not exclusive in and of themselves:
**drumbeat*******
1. Evilistas: liked Spike evil, and that's really all you need to know. They like him mostly with Drusilla, sometimes with Angelus. They look down on redemptionistas and any Spuffy that's not evil in nature. Because helllloooo, Vampire. Evil. I wish I could write darkfic like theirs--except the stupid ones of course.
2. Slashers: like Spike in any variety of forms, with any other guy. As they watch the show, they usually also have their own (hidden) preferences for canon Het pairings too, varying with each individual though not manifested in their main fandom outlook. They don't have to get into many flame wars (except the old is/isn't the character gay war, or internal wars), because they either grudgingly accept, cheerfully include, or utterly ignore all the Het shippers.
3. Spike-only fans: they like Spike and want him to be happy. Because Spike on the show wants Buffy, most hope he gets her because that would make him happy. They might or might not be Redemptionistas. Some like Spike with everyone-- Buffy, Angel, Xander, Giles, Dawn, Willow, Faith, etc, or no one. Some like Buffy well enough but don't consider themselves B/S shippers, and other don't really care about Buffy at all and only want Spike, in any way shape or form. There’s a portion of this group that frequently thinks that Buffy's a total B*tch and doesn't deserve him, and that he should leave her and move his hot too-good-for-the-slayer butt onto someone nicer (if they’re 13 or younger, that means straight into the arms of a Mary Sue). The Buffyhaters among them tend to look down on Spuffers.
4. Spuffy or B/S fans: they like Spike and like Buffy, and love them together. They tend to hate any suggestions of Angel reunion, unless it's a threesome of which B/S are the extra-loving pair. They respect Spike's history with Dru and Buffy's history with Angel because those relationships directly led to the B/S relationship, but forbid the thoughts of other pairings. They think Harmony's a hoot and most agree that Spike's one time with Anya was grudgingly acceptable (even highly emotional) because it was all about the Buffy!angst and Xander!angst, and not indicative of future S/Anya. Some are Redemptionistas and some are not. They often look down on the Spike-only fans that hate Buffy, and generally ridicule B/X at all opportunities.
5. Spillow fans: I, uh, have little experience talking w/ these guys. Not much analysis converation, and I've hardly read any Spillow fanfic. In fact, I've read more crossovers with Willow/Angel than I've read BTVS fics with Willow/Spike.
But they seem nice, and fairly flexible/adaptable.
6. Redmptionistas: Believe in the redemption of Spike. Interpretation therein being fluid and subject to change.
7. Anti-Soul fans: They fit into any number of the above categories, and are only distinguished by their utter refusal/hate of the season 6 cliffhanger. Whether this is because they think he could be redeemed without a soul, or because they liked him evil, is personal choice. They look down on everyone who likes the soul arc.
8. Fans 14 years old or younger: They love his cheekbones and that’s usually the extent of their netspeak vocabulary. Everyone looks down on them, except the random worthy exception who types in clear English like everyone else—but people assume those ones are older anyway, so it’s a moot point.
9. Equal Opportunity Spike Addicts: They don’t discriminate. Pairing? Bah! If it’s got the name “Spike” in it they’ll read it, or look at it, or watch it—-even if it means resorting to Cowboy Bebop fanfic because they’ve exhausted everything else.
10. And then there's the...uh... Spike/crypt-door shippers, and the Spike/invisible-air shippers, Spike/microwave shippers, Spike/television shippers, Spike/Mr.Gordo shippers, and the Spike/duster shippers...
Yeah, they're kooky, but they write the funniest smut you've ever seen. o.O
Anyway, That's meant as a humorous sum-up (or break-down?) of Spike fandom.
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hangs head in shame
Date: 2003-03-23 12:15 am (UTC)man was I disappointed...
;P
Re: hangs head in shame
Date: 2003-03-23 11:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-23 01:15 am (UTC)This is probably a sub-set of the Spike-Only fans...St. Spike Fans, who doubt that Spike was ever really evil, and that he only committed mayhem because Drusilla really, really wanted him to, and his love for her was so profound that he just had to do it, but he never enjoyed it. Also, when he had sex with Buffy, that brought the total number of women with whom he'd done it to two, because he was loyal and true to Drusilla, and that predatory stuff he tried to get Buffy to believe in "Never Leave Me"? Just the First talkin'. What can I tell you: he's always been good.
Re:
Date: 2003-03-23 01:41 am (UTC)St. Spike. :snert:
*snicker*
Date: 2003-03-23 03:06 am (UTC)says this Equal-Opportunity Redemptionista Spuffy.
& :-P
Heard you're doing a Spoiler Free Campaign--
just wanted to give you my whole-hearted support and ask if there's anything I can do-- been spoiled for two major plot points already by some dipshit spoilery icons and non-marked such comments.
It ain't easy being a spoiler virgin these sad, last days...
Respectfully and all that rot,
Mona
Re: *snicker*
Date: 2003-03-23 11:07 am (UTC)You "heard"? I wonder if that qualifies as growing popularity? Hmmm.... my minions are obviously doing their job well then... yes, I'll give them a bonus at the end of the month, I think...
just wanted to give you my whole-hearted support and ask if there's anything I can do-- been spoiled for two major plot points already by some dipshit spoilery icons and non-marked such comments.
Thank you! Actually, if you go to my LJ Memories, I've saved all the things related to spoiler-free icons there in one group. It has icons sets people have responded with, as well as the original challenge with suggsted icon captions. If could could make some icons, that'd be wonderful! Or if you had suggested for things icons could say, that's cool too. Or just take one and thank the guys who made them. ;)
Sadly,
Date: 2003-03-23 11:19 am (UTC)Back to my books...6 test exams in the coming two weeks...
Cheers,
Mona
no subject
Date: 2003-03-23 08:14 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-03-23 11:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-23 11:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-23 11:40 pm (UTC)I resist labels. ;)
Happy B-Day brain twin!
Re:
Date: 2003-03-24 12:28 am (UTC)