217: Get a Life

[Generic_Dave]

There's also a tribal element, an "us and them" mentality that leads to this sort of thing. If you feel you belong to a certain group, you fight for that group. And the less you're exposed to other views the more extreme views tend to get. So it feeds on itself.

I mean I love the Trek, but I wouldn't be a Trekkie, and the opinion of Trekkies that's held by people in general makes me hesitant to mention this. But I could definitely see that people could be pushed the other way by the same reaction. So that even when they're not being attacked they're on a constant defense. But I would resist the temptation to Trek is the archetype, surely politicians and political parties get that cake for this?

 

[Ericb]

Enough drive to actually get things done competently and honestly is always welcome. But to much of it and you do get the sort of fanatical fanboy that the dude in the article spoke about. And mediocrity is just the other end of the coin.

Extreme mediocrity? Let me wrap my head around that...

Yeah, dictionary-wise it doesn't make that much sense, I know. =P

But I always felt that calling something you produced "average" to be much lighter than "mediocre"... so yeah.

 

[voidmonk]

I think I'll turn this article into an object of obsession.

I know that if I delve deeply enough into its mysteries I will finally achieve that last kernel of satisfaction, a lasting euphoria that doesn't tire with time and constantly demand escalation of activity. I can be forever freed from spirituality, materialism, gaming, sex, philosophy, Yahtzee and all other false prophets. I think we've found the Real Thing here. Get a Life will bring salvation to the masses and if it doesn't it's because they are flawed. Maybe I can expound on it enough to change them and bring them to their senses! No one will ever need to watch another movie or TV show or play another game ever again!

Wait. Why do I still want to watch Star Trek?
stupid article.

 

[Jirlond]

I think this is an excellent article - obsession can be dangerous. Some people get so wrapped up in their hobbied and fandoms they forget why they originally liked whatever it is they are fans of.

I don't need the author to explain to me the difference between angry fandom and regular fandom because they are one and the same. It's like asking for an explanation between a person and an angry person.

Good work colin.

 

[Warstratigier]

Interesting how genuine beliefs can get as I see it, lost in translation, when it reaches others isn't it? It can be anything, from small things like TV/games to larger things like ethics/religion, since the only requirements for it to happen are time and people.

Really I ain't so interested in wrapping my head too tightly around some things because my mind is a fickle one, blessing in disguise i suppose when it comes to this. Some take longer, World of Warcraft for 2 years being the example, but when its finally gone....its time to move on.

 

[Strazdas]

very good article. now i know i wasn't the only one raging about firefly cancellation. however i just moved one unlike the mailing campaign. oh well guess im not that extreme.

 

[chiefohara]

yeah....

All i could think about reading this article is that football fans and football hooliganism is pretty much the same thing, Constantly attired in your teams strip, constantly bitching about how they could manage the team better, and the more stupid football fan/jock will physically attack a fan of an opposing team.

The angry 'Fanboi' phenomenon didn't originate with Star Trek

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Get a Life

Star Trek gave us phasers, warp drives and a host of alien cultures. But its most enduring legacy might be the image of Trekkies themselves. Colin Rowsell discusses the toxic influence that hardcore fans can have on their beloved entertainment property.

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It might have something to do with everyone call us Communists when we express the desire to live in something like the Federation so we latched onto the minutae instead.