I just finished reading this from Peter Coffin and I had a lot of thoughts. So many that I had to respond.

First of all I have to say kudos to Peter for being able to mention gamergate without losing his mind and devolving into yet another rambling screed about how we are literally sith. This is the type of level headed dialog that is sorely needed to heal this divide (I do think it can heal).

I do have disagreements but there is a lot that is spot on, and I really can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate the high minded tone the article takes.

That said I feel like in a lot of instances he projects his own view of the mechanisms of fandom onto other people and fails to realize that maybe other fans don’t really view those mechanisms the way he does. For instance, he mentions getting into internet arguments about The Force Awakens and strikes an apologetic tone as if he feels guilty for that. But not everyone who is getting into these internet “fights” is actually angry or bitter. Many of us actually find enjoyment in being challenged to defend our views to our peers. It is exhilarating to construct arguments for or against some minutia while at the same time cohabitating a shared experience. Some would view this as an exclusionary mechanic, but I view it as the opposite. It is one of the very ways in which we include people into our community. It is itself the act of participating in the community. Community doesn’t mean walking in lockstep. It is a give and take and these arguments are an important part of it. Those arguments are the weaving of the fabric of the community.

Another point where I disagree is thinking that fandom is only about consuming. This myopic focus on where fandom starts ignores where it ends, with a community of real life people. That community may have been built around games or movies to start but that’s not all it is. Fans own their interactions with one another. Disney can’t lay claim to the joy and sense of belonging that comes from getting into an impromptu lightsaber duel on a convention floor. That is all us.

Yes, people get defensive when those games and movies are attacked by outside groups. This is not because consumerism has replaced some other valuable part of their identity. We (the fans) are wary of these attacks because they come from the same people who made us feel so alone before finding fandom. By attacking the movies or games you are not only attacking the expression itself, but the glue that binds those communities together. Communities of people who have often been ostracized and excluded from many other groups before finding their particular niche. Is it really so strange to see the response get as heated as it does in this light? At least, I hope people can see how misguided it is to categorize the response as an overreaction to people criticizing art that we didn’t make.

Fandom is more than just watching the movie and playing the game. It’s about sharing that experience with others and the sense of relief that occurs when you finally find people with whom you belong. It’s about the experiences that we build together out of our mutual love for whatever it is we love.

Fandom isn’t toxic. It’s tragically misunderstood.