northern-sparrow:

Someone asked the fine folks at fandomnatural to describe the types of Supernatural fans. Okay, so I am new to all this and my picture of the SPN fandom is very warped and inaccurate, but this was my answer:

Naive Recruit (Casual version) - those mythical folks who idly watch the show but have never heard of shipping or cons, own no Supernatural stuff at all and are unaware a fandom exists. They don’t mind retcons and seem to like monster-of-the-week episodes.

Naive Recruit (Netflix version) - Have just watched 214 episodes in a row in the last 6.24 days and though they don’t even know the cast’s names, they have a better grasp on character history & canon than any of the show writers. They’re into the show enough to feel personally offended that reapers are now angels, but still haven’t found the fandom.

Truefanning Dudebros - a further developmental stage of some of the above; have found the fandom but had a violently allergic reaction, are personally offended by the existence of shippers, and live in constant dread of being infested with fangirl cooties.

Grizzled Wincestians - have been watching in real time for ten years, ship Dean with Sam, melt into a puddle of goo over brotherly hugs, used to walk uphill in the snow five miles both ways just to watch the season 1 premiere back in ought-four, and still are adjusting to the puzzling presence of that brand new whippersnapper Castiel.

Destielers - passionate fans of the Dean/Cas ship, fuzzily remember blazing through S1-S3 in about three days on Netflix and consider the show to have started with Lazarus Rising. Like magical goats they can devour any kind of garbage the show throws at them (“Dean picks up a beer bottle”) and transform it into Destiel gold (“Dean picks up a beer bottle… that says ‘Taste of Heaven’ and it’s SUPERIMPOSED ON CASTIEL FOR 1/10TH SECOND AND OMG THEY’RE SO IN LOOOOVE”). (edit: in case it wasn’t clear, this is me)

Rare Shippers - drink unique local microbrews, listen to obscure indie bands, and rather than the commoners’ Wincest and Destiel they go for the rare ships. From half-canon ships like Megstiel to the mysterious Crayowley (Crowley and his crayon) and things I’ve never even heard of like DonJodBriel.

Bromance Purists - take their coffee black, their burgers dry, their whiskey straight, and though they aren’t scared of fangirl cooties, they just happen to prefer the elegant simplicity of a Supernatural that has bromance but no romance. Gen fics only please!

The Sublime Exalted Fanon'ers - no longer watch the show because they have transformed into a state of pure energy and no longer need the crutch of petty mortal canon. They drift about in fanon Heaven thinking exalted thoughts and trading magnificent fics (typically Destiel A/U’s), which rain down on the rest of us like manna from above.

Cast Appreciation United - watch the show largely to study the cast’s eyebrows, hairstyle, and facial mannerisms; have articulate opinions about Jared’s hairline, Misha’s skin tone and the correct way to describe Jensen’s eye color; know the date of every con, have every possible cast t-shirt, and know every major cast member’s hometown, birthday, job history, wife’s name, wife’s birthday, wife’s job history, kids’ names, kids’ ages, kids’ birthdays, pets’ names and birthdays, probably the birthdays of the squirrels in their backyards too, and also have impressive knowledge about the cast’s favorite airlines and personal wardrobe. (“He really should’ve worn his leather jacket on that last American flight.”)

The Anthropologists - Are all busily finishing up their PhDs on the sociological implications of all the above.

SE Hinton - is a meanie.