Bad Fans?

From io9: 10 Ways Self-Hating Fans Make Genre Entertainment Worse

Not all of these apply to the topics covered by this blog.  But, I like numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 in particular.  (Can't help but criticize Twilight fans, and I frequently make fun of Amazon reviewers, so I'm certainly guilty of number 3.)

I won't repeat everything here, just the main headings I want to discuss.  Click the link above to read more.

5. Not speaking up and defending our favorite stories when people launch unfair critiques.

If I don't think a critique is fair, I say so.  While reasonable people can disagree, and I can acknowledge when there may be merits to an opposing argument, that sure as hell doesn't stop me from sounding off.  Usually here in this blog, because let's face it, I need things to talk about.  It's hard coming up with 10 posts a week.

4. Getting squirrelly when people want to analyze what's really going on in these stories.

If you don't like hearing criticism of your favorite books, don't read it.  I enjoy reading a lot of books that have major critical flaws.  I've never actually put a novel down without finishing it, either.  I can still enjoy a story about a kitchen boy who's really the son of the dead king, even as I bemoan the fact that I'm seeing that trope yet again.

2. Not being able to appreciate cheesy, old-school stuff on its own terms.

In fact, sometimes this is the ONLY way to appreciate a work.  I recently reviewed Seven Princes by John R. Fultz; this book was heavily influenced by old-school sword and sorcery and is a fun read if you consider it in that light.

1. Not recognizing when we're being enablers.

I wonder if I'm an enabler if I keep buying these thief/assassin in a dark, dingy city kind of books.  Though I usually then trash them on this blog.  Regardless of whether I liked the book or not, I did pay for it.

Anyway, kind of fun to consider your own tastes in light of the list.