Have you ever noticed that when you get pissed off, and are really just VENTING about something that language takes a back burner to emotion. How we say what we're feeling is very informal, sometimes loaded with profanity (like mine, *pulls face*) and we're not a whole lot concerned with how other people are gonna react. Mostly because we're not thinking about other people's reactions to our own vitriole. Really. I mean, when I get pissed or offended at something and want to vent about it, I really just don't even THINK about other people; I guess I'm just not that good a person.

BUT, when someone points out that "ummm, dude. You might be hurtin' peeps feelings here," we get formal. Like, "Oh! I do apologize. That certainly did not even cross my mind." We're sincere in our remorse, but it's so stiff and stilted, it gets taken for "How dare you imply that I would be so stupid as to hurt people!"

Sometimes I wonder if we make a situation worse when pulling back and trying to retract what WAS said by offering apologies and the like. *shrug*

Just wondering....

This won't be long or overly thinky. I just have a couple of observations I'd like to put out into the fandom ether.

I wonder why there are some shows I watch religiously and love, but don't get 'fannish' about, and why there are others that I mourn for, that I grieve for when they're done. What is it about certain shows that makes us devoted to them? Is it the writing? The scenery? The pretty faces? The characters? I don't know, honestly. But I was thinking about the first show I remember being REALLY fannish about.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. There are so many scenes I remember from that show. The Princesses Roller Disco ship and the glowy electric jump ropes. I remember the 'Star gates' the four bright stars that they had to activate in order to jump into hyperspace. I remember Tweeky, Dr. Thermopolis, Erin Gray, and Gil Gerard. The Space Vampire with the HUGE bald head and red jewel that was his power center, and the morgue. I remember the dumbbell ship, Hawk. But mostly I remember wanting Buck and Linda to just get together already. I wanted to snatch Princes Aamada by her gorgeous brunette waves and beat her senseless for trying to steal Buck from Linda. Then, in the revamped one, I remember being totally in love with Hawk and the friendship (sort of) that he and Buck shared.

My next fannish obsession? You're totally not going to believe this, but it was G.I. Joe. For Lady Jay and Flint. Not so much Scarlett and Duke. Then there was Dusty and the Pirate dude, I forget his name, and Snake Eyes. There were so many relationships on that show, it wasn't funny. Even Destro and the Baronness. Dude. I felt so bad for Cobra Commander, because he wanted the Baronness so bad, but he was so inept compared to Destro. *sigh* And when Flint and Lady Jay were on the case, OMG. The heat! and from a cartoon, no less!

I mean, I watched Family Ties and loved Alex. I watched My Two Dads, Cheers, and all that. But wasn't fannish about any of them. I Liked the characters, even scheduled my tv watching around when those shows were on, but I didn't get invested in them like I did those first two.

cut to ten years later. Mid 90s to current tv. I can tell you that I watched ER, Friends, chicago Hope. Dawson's Creek, Felicity, gilmore Girls. And while I loved those shows, LOVED them, I didn't get into the fandom of them like I did Buffy and Angel. Buffy and Angel I literally grieved over. It felt like people in my life had died when those shows ended. I mourned for them. Sobbed bitter tears for two days when Buffy ended. Was a nasty, grieving bitch for a little ovver two weeks. Ask my college roommates! I had to be consoled!

Now, it's Supernatural and Stargate Atlantis, and Leverage - new, but also well worth the tv time. I watch Bones and Fringe, even House. but SPN, SGA and Leverage are MY SHOWS. And I think, very seriously, looking at each of them, it's the way the relationships are played out. SPN, of course has Sam and Dean. But there are others too, the Boys and Bobby, the boys and John, John and Mary. All of those relationships - wven though they're not focused on explicitly, have some influence on the action of the story. I want to know how John met Mary. What Sam did in the years away from his family. Those things are important to me, and I love that there are people on the internet that will explore those questions and 'ships. On SGA, I love all of the dynamics of that show, from John and Rodney to Team, to Elizabeth and Caldwell. There are hidden stories that the actors have put into their performances, that the writers have hinted at, that directors and ediors have fleshed out with shots and specific cuts of scenes. Those RELATIONSHIPS keep me tuning in. Leverage is doing that, having Eliot and Sophie so protective of Nate. Nate protective of Parker and Alec just in the midst of it all.

I don't know the intangible that makes Leverage, SPN and SGA more enticing than, say House - with it House/wislon 'ship going on - or Bones - with Booth and Brennan, Angela and Hodgins, Sweets and Seeley and Bones. Even Fringe with Peter and his father, which is a fascinating relationship, yes, but not so compelling as say Dean and John, hasn't managed to reel me in so steadfastly.

I think it is a combination of things, an amalgamation of actor, character, situations, chemistry, story, and direction that have created the relationships that I can't live without. It's just a fascinating world, fandom, and I love being involved in the ones I am a part of.

So what are your thoughts on the subject? What do you think it is about certain shows that create that connection for you?

Okies.

I have bitten the big bullets and begun writing in two (yes two) new fandoms. There may possibly be a third when New Amsterdam premiers, because HOLY COW! Cool concept. But what I'd like from you guys is a list of your fandom comms, outside the buffyverse.

I'm looking for SGA and SPN comms specifically. But Firefly comms are welcome too. I dabble with Mal and Simon and Jane, so I'd love to have some access to good authors in that fandom as well. So, flisties! Lay it on me with the new comms.

Pretty please?

I know she's probably getting bombarded with comments from people both on and off her flist, but liz_marcs has begun something - not quite a campaign - against those people that would see LJs all over the place suspended or shut down.

PLEASE go over to her journal and read what she has to say on the topic. I can't suggest you comment, because, like I said, she's getting bombarded, but read the last several of her posts. THEN go back to your OWN LJ and spread this to your flist.

We NEED to be proactive about what is happening, and protect ourselves.

THIS is the post that has links back to the whole thing.

THIS is the post that has the response from Warriors for Innocence and Liz's second reply.

Please, people, be informed. This is serious business for those of us who love our LJ and the friends we've met here.