The other day someone was tweeting about how you should never let a toxic fanbase ruin your enjoyment of something. If you enjoy something, you should enjoy it no matter what other people think and for the most part I agree. However with that being said I started to think about it a little deeper. You shouldn’t let some dumb fan or hater ruin something you like but it can be frustrating when you like something and you have no one to talk to about it, in a meaningful manner. It was then I realized that in actuality sometimes experiencing something with likeminded individuals enhances the overall enjoyment of whatever you're reading, watching or playing etc.
For example, I don’t think Toriko is very good, but week after week, people on my timeline would band together and discuss the recent chapter. They made a community out of the manga and thus, they had a great experience with said particular narrative. Why? Because they were surrounded by good, positive fans that they could have meaningful discussions with. Back when Katekyo Hitman Reborn was being published and Onemanga.com shut down, a few of us from the Reborn discussion thread made our own forum called Katekyo Hitman Reboard. Everyday we’d come up with theories, talk about characters and such which I why I hold Reborn in such high regard even though in actuality, it’s just a bit above average.
Gamers do this too, especially back in the day before the interconnected webs. When you’d tell your friends at recess about a hidden whistle you found in Mario 3 or a cheat code you could use in some other game. Growing and experiencing that game with other people actually made you like it more. Now imagine everyone hating the thing you like. Does it make that, story or product inherently any worse? Of course not, but your experience won’t be the same. Chances are you’ll get defensive or just internalize it. This also holds true if you realize even the fans of the thing you like are…less than ideal.
An example of this for me personally is One Piece. I can talk to a few people about it, most of the fans are in my honest opinion, fucking stupid apes but I find myself not expressing my love for the series outwardly as much. I enjoy it in silence for the most part. But like I mentioned before, that doesn’t make the actually piece of art and literature that is One Piece any better or any worse. It is what it is at the end of the day.
Another thing I realized about this topic. Sometimes something is so game changing, you have to be there and a part of it when it's happening, not after. Let me give you a music example. The NWA was huge, a big movement and a historical part of the industry. And I can hear all the stories from my dad, watch, research and be a fan of the music but at the end of the day I wasn’t there when it was happening. I was not actually a part of it. Sometimes a game so revolutionary comes out it flips the whole industry on its head like Ocarina of Time. I was THERE, I was a part of that moment in history and it was amazing. Can you play it years later and love it, of course, some things in life are timeless and just that good. Still doesn’t change the fact you weren’t there when it was a big deal.
So to conclude because really, this is just a disorganized think piece I’m typing while drinking I just want to leave you with this. Love what you love and don’t let a hater or bad fan ruin your enjoyment but if you can, surround yourself with people who love the things you love too. You’ll come out of it having had a wonder time.
For example, I don’t think Toriko is very good, but week after week, people on my timeline would band together and discuss the recent chapter. They made a community out of the manga and thus, they had a great experience with said particular narrative. Why? Because they were surrounded by good, positive fans that they could have meaningful discussions with. Back when Katekyo Hitman Reborn was being published and Onemanga.com shut down, a few of us from the Reborn discussion thread made our own forum called Katekyo Hitman Reboard. Everyday we’d come up with theories, talk about characters and such which I why I hold Reborn in such high regard even though in actuality, it’s just a bit above average.
Gamers do this too, especially back in the day before the interconnected webs. When you’d tell your friends at recess about a hidden whistle you found in Mario 3 or a cheat code you could use in some other game. Growing and experiencing that game with other people actually made you like it more. Now imagine everyone hating the thing you like. Does it make that, story or product inherently any worse? Of course not, but your experience won’t be the same. Chances are you’ll get defensive or just internalize it. This also holds true if you realize even the fans of the thing you like are…less than ideal.
An example of this for me personally is One Piece. I can talk to a few people about it, most of the fans are in my honest opinion, fucking stupid apes but I find myself not expressing my love for the series outwardly as much. I enjoy it in silence for the most part. But like I mentioned before, that doesn’t make the actually piece of art and literature that is One Piece any better or any worse. It is what it is at the end of the day.
Another thing I realized about this topic. Sometimes something is so game changing, you have to be there and a part of it when it's happening, not after. Let me give you a music example. The NWA was huge, a big movement and a historical part of the industry. And I can hear all the stories from my dad, watch, research and be a fan of the music but at the end of the day I wasn’t there when it was happening. I was not actually a part of it. Sometimes a game so revolutionary comes out it flips the whole industry on its head like Ocarina of Time. I was THERE, I was a part of that moment in history and it was amazing. Can you play it years later and love it, of course, some things in life are timeless and just that good. Still doesn’t change the fact you weren’t there when it was a big deal.
So to conclude because really, this is just a disorganized think piece I’m typing while drinking I just want to leave you with this. Love what you love and don’t let a hater or bad fan ruin your enjoyment but if you can, surround yourself with people who love the things you love too. You’ll come out of it having had a wonder time.