How do you deal with the "bad" part of your fandom?

[Eric the Orange]

It's an unfortunate truth that when any group gets large enough it gets, well, assholes, in it. Or sometimes there not exactly jerks but, in general people you are embarrassed to be associated with.

So how do you deal with the "bad" part of your fandom?

For example as a fan of games, I have to deal with being lumped in with the XBL trolls. Or for a more specific case, as a fan of old school final fantasy, I get lumped in with the "newer" final fantasy crowd.

It's not just Vidja games either. You tell someone you support "x political party" you then are associated with the more. extreme, members of said party.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

As a metalhead, the bad ones call almost every non-metal band "a bunch of faggots!".

I tell them that Rob fucking Halford is gay, so shut your goddamn stupidity spout.

Seriously though, at least half the negative reviews on Encyclopedia Metallum call the band "gay" at one point. It pisses me off. Say you don't like a band. Here's how you insult them, "As a satire of quality music, (band) are excellent. As actual music, I've heard better in elevators. Service elevators." "The singer seems to have been inspired in equal parts by dying cats and tv static. And he's not as good as either of them." You know, that kind of thing.

 

[spartan231490]

ignore them. I am not my group, I am me. I define myself by my own actions and decisions, not those of thoes who happen to like the same things i do.

 

[Staskala]

Ignore them by any means.
When I watch a video on youtube I hide comments, when there is an argument I never join in, etc.. It just makes me cringe to see random people completely bastardizing stuff I enjoy.

 

[the_bearpelt]

All you really can do without becoming an asshole yourself is to calmly explain to people that those are the few, not the many, and you are not one of them.

 

[Something Amyss]

I tell them that Rob fucking Halford was gay, so shut your goddamn stupidity spout.

Pretty sure he still is.

 

[Grand_Arcana]

I pretty much ignore them. I don't tend to mix myself with the worst of the lot.

 

[Padwolf]

I just ignore them and do not let myself get mixed in with them and do not associate myself with them

 

[badgersprite]

I'm usually in fandoms for TV shows. Shippers are generally the worst, or have the worst attitude, but sometimes people will get catty over the smallest things. I tend to just ignore it and go about my business, or, in some cases, just won't go on forums for shows at all. I get sick of overemotional fans acting like they're going to jump off the ledge every time a new episode comes out, so I just stick to myself and lurk.

 

[Kenko]

ignore them. I am not my group, I am me. I define myself by my own actions and decisions, not those of thoes who happen to like the same things i do.

Yeah, what he said pretty sums up what I wanted to say (Got ninja'd for the first time in his life)

 

[F-I-D-O]

By not giving them any attention whatsoever.
I play on the PS3. On the PSblog, when someone makes a comment that Xbox users are "entitled,"
"stupid," etc. I have to sigh. I hate those on the extremes of most things. They ruin it for the mild people.

ignore them. I am not my group, I am me. I define myself by my own actions and decisions, not those of those who happen to like the same things i do.

Oh...you ninja...*prepares to stereotype

 

[FakingVanity]

I'm quiet about what I'm into, I don't get on particularly well with other fans so I avoid them. It means there's no friction and arguing over pointless stuff and I get away happy and content without having to deal with someone I'd normally want to punch in the face. It works nicely.

 

[FalloutJack]

You can't lump me in with bad things/people. I behave too awesomely to be considered part of the bad crowd.

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

I am a Shipper, and I hate when people hate me for it >.> Some ships are ment to happen and they just don't believe that.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

I
Hate
Shippers
Keep your demented fantasies to yourself.

I agree as long as it has no place in canon. If there's even an inkling of it and it's left open ended, then I let 'em ship to their heart's content, granted begrudgingly.
However if they drag in two characters who have no business being together, then I get eye twitchy about it.

 

[Sun Flash]

Ignorance is bliss.

Anytime there is overt fanboyism, just back away slowly, so as not to alert your presence to the wildlife.

EDIT: Also Smugleaf's post directly followed by Sarah Kerrigan's made me giggle.

 

[Axeli]

Depends. Often I just walk out. It's kind of funny when you realize you can have fun without getting mixed up with the whole fandom thing, and somehow that also makes you a lot more objective. I don't know why, but every time I stop considering myself a fan of something, it becomes a lot easier to admit the its faults even if I (still) like it.

Seriously, the whole concept of fandom blows. You don't need to devote yourself to enjoy stuff.