The Energon Pub

I don't read the comics - ergo I'm not a true fan.

Is everyone who thought The Combiner Wars Webseries was trash - not a true fan too then ?

Are you a true fan if you like or only if you dislike Kiss Players ?

RAR wrote:I don't read the comics - ergo I'm not a true fan.

Is everyone who thought The Combiner Wars Webseries was trash - not a true fan too then ?

Are you a true fan if you like or only if you dislike Kiss Players ?

You win the 'Taking This Too Seriously' prize!


Here's a true TF fan:

This is a really ridiculous discussion for adults to have about a hobby. Anyone can be a "true" fan, whether they only watch the Michael Bay movies, collect Beast Machines, are 4 years old playing with Rescue Bots, only read the James Roberts comics, just collect Mini-Cons, and so on. Any other definition looks really bad on the person who is seeking a level of eliteness because they are highly interested in a brand of toy products. We collect toys. We enjoy this hobby. All of us, including the guy who is obsessed with Michael Bay's Transformers films and doesn't even know what a Mini-Con is, are true fans.

You're a true fan if you're only into Transformers because you found Micromaster Flak to be really, really sexy.

Seibertron wrote:This is a really ridiculous discussion for adults to have about a hobby.

That is the consensus among all of us except the person who started the thread and then conveniently didn't return to defend his argument. Don't worry, in case you didn't read the 1st page, this thread has become a mockery of itself a long time ago.

All of us, including the guy who is obsessed with Michael Bay's Transformers films and doesn't even know what a Mini-Con is, are true fans.

So you've met Sly.

Scotty, I will never think of BW Rampage the same way again. Thanks.

Va'al, that can't be a true fan, because Nemesis Prime wasn't a true Prime.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Va'al, that can't be a true fan, because Nemesis Prime wasn't a true Prime.

Nightwatch Optimus Prime

Kurona wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Va'al, that can't be a true fan, because Nemesis Prime wasn't a true Prime.

Nightwatch Optimus Prime

He was dark blue not black the fan Va'al is such a fan of is black.

I consider myself a true fan because ever since I was a kid I wanted to see Brick Springstern in concert.

I considered myself a true fan when, as a kid, I hated Armada Optimus' super mode because it had no leg articulation.

This "true fan" thing always comes up at some point in my many online fandoms I routinely haunt and really, I'm going to totally level here about my feelings, "true fan" arguments annoy me to no end to the point I feel like a love child of Grimlock and The Hulk and wanting to smash things because of it.

Basically we know that everybody is diverse, everybody shows their fandom in their own specific ways. We know everybody's situation is different socially or otherwise. That said we know that some are more passionate, some are less so and obviously not. Case in point, some will get an Autobot/Decepticon T-shirt to show off their fandom. Others will get a tattoo of their favorite faction symbol or whatever. It doesn't make someone less or more of a fan. Expression is just one of the many ways to show said fandom. You can still be a "true fan" and not be very expressive at all even!

The problem with the "true fan" argument is it's always attached with some sort of qualification or almost near "blind devotion" quality while making it an elitist deal. You can know the faults with something and still enjoy it I've found, so blind devotion is definitely not a requirement. Take the Jurassic Park continuity and the mess with extended properties that get licensed. It counts for a hot minute before the next film comes out and everybody is focused on that then as it completely undoes what the licensed tie-in game, comic, etc. did previously. Some people will even swear that if you don't have blind devotion to something that is critically a failure that you aren't a "true fan" as well. It's perfectly okay to be aware of the faults and instinctively hope the property does better in the future. It doesn't hurt your devotion to sit there and acknowledge the bad moments in conjunction with the good.

The thing I like about Transformers is that it is very diverse, if there is one thing that doesn't catch your interest or float your boat, there is almost an entirely different (albeit often similar) continuity to hedge your bets on and be a fan of. We have people that love anything G1, we have people who love Animated, there's people who swear by Transformers: Prime! We have people who prefer the G1 Cartoon continuity over the Marvel comic continuity or vice versa. You go the point. It's diverse, and there's enough material to steep yourself in and enjoy that is different from the rest without it being a separate thing altogether.

Star Wars even has the "true fan" thing too, though the argument there is "You are not a true fan unless you support/hate the Prequel trilogy" as an example, you prefer Legends over the new EU or whatever as well. "True Fan" argument is virtually everywhere because some want it to be like an exclusive club and that's problematic. See what I mean though? There's always some sort of qualification or assertion to accompany it. That's what shoots the argument in the foot more or less. "True fan" mentality causes elitism and makes it unattractive to potential fans who have a passing interest. Stuff like that needs to be nurtured and encouraged positively instead of adding an element of exclusivity to it or what have you.

This is a tough one. Anyone can be a fan of Transformers. The whole concept of "true fan" really is lost in translation because of there being SO many series that may or may not be connected to the previous ones. It's as if the reset button is hit because some fans age out and the new generation (3-5 years younger) are getting old enough to enjoy them. Think about it, we G1 fans may old onto the original cartoon and comics like they are gold but to the person who was 5 in 2001 when Armada came out probably doesn't care because they are Unicron Trilogy fans.

At the end of the day, a true fan is someone who loves Transformers, at least one Universe of it and really gets it. I still believe Hasbro should revert back to G1 in some form or fashion, but I don't mind any fan, young or old.

Rodimus Primal wrote:I still believe Hasbro should revert back to G1 in some form or fashion, but I don't mind any fan, young or old.

We are getting plenty of "G1" related stuff with IDW comics and the "Generations" toys, in some form or fashion.

Seibertron wrote:

Rodimus Primal wrote:I still believe Hasbro should revert back to G1 in some form or fashion, but I don't mind any fan, young or old.

We are getting plenty of "G1" related stuff with IDW comics and the "Generations" toys, in some form or fashion.

Can't argue there. I think I mean in all brands. Cartoons and movies too. But I doubt that will happen. Still I say we all enjoy Transformers overall.

Ah, a "No True Scottsman" fallacy, Rated X. In my mind, being a "true fan" isn't depending on how impressive your collection is or how impressive your backstory has been. It's how much fun you have with the hobby. Someone who just loves transformers for the sake of enjoying it is more a fan than someone who tries to impress everyone with how amazing of a fan they are. Those aren't true fans. Those are just plain annoyances.

Also, I am with Burn in this argument on the first page. Being on the other side of the world and not being able to attend Botcon (which I know now is dead) or meet Ryan doesn't make him any less of a fan. Those attempts at argument points are entirely, well, pointless. And in some ways just plain insulting to Burn. Again, this seems to be reflective of a pretty ridiculous definition of what "true fans" actually are. Going to Botcon and such is bonus. Enjoying your hobby is what makes you a fan. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Also @Va'al: You are an utter genius and I love it.

Yeah, we're getting a ridiculous amount of G1 these days. IDW, Generations, Machinima, Platinum, RiD 2015 recently reverting to G1 designs...

Someone who uses the true fan argument is not a true fan themselves. They simply wish to exist in an exclusive club. That's my opinion. If you truly were a fan of something, you would welcome all fans, and not try to exclude people. because why wouldn't you want to extend the fanbase?


Also, I was really enjoying where this thread went on page 1. Not so page 2. Things got serious again.

Now, saying you're a big fan, that's an entirely different matter.

If only Hasbro would be able to secure a deal to let them make Mega Man toys. Then we'd have a TRUE fan.

Speaking as someone currently working in 122F (40C) heat, we need more fans.

Va'al wrote:Speaking as someone currently working in 122F (40C) heat, we need more fans.

122 F? 40 C is closer to 105 C, so you must be dying over there

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Va'al wrote:Speaking as someone currently working in 122F (40C) heat, we need more fans.

122 F? 40 C is closer to 105 C, so you must be dying over there

See? Even my conversions are off.

It was 40C today, 50C yesterday.

Va'al wrote:Speaking as someone currently working in 122F (40C) heat, we need more fans.

In that kind of temperature I think you need an air conditioning unit instead of a fan. I mean 122F is like what it reaches in Arizona (or there abouts). I know when I lived out there the summers were (and still are) brutal in terms of the heat. Also temperature conversions to help because I'm a nerd when it comes to looking up and sharing formulas and facts:

°F to °C - Deduct 32, then multiply by 5, then divide by 9
°C to °F - Multiply by 9, then divide by 5, then add 32

So yeah, 122F would have to mean it was 50C and 40C would be 104F or so. I know I learned them a long time ago, but the crap you forget when you don't use it often. So I google'd it just now for my own curiosity. "The More You Know" I guess.

Va'al wrote:It was 40C today, 50C yesterday.

lol Yeah, okay, you keep telling yourself that.

Tyrannacon wrote:

Va'al wrote:Speaking as someone currently working in 122F (40C) heat, we need more fans.

In that kind of temperature I think you need an air conditioning unit instead of a fan. I mean 122F is like what it reaches in Arizona (or there abouts). I know when I lived out there the summers were (and still are) brutal in terms of the heat. Also temperature conversions to help because I'm a nerd when it comes to looking up and sharing formulas and facts:

°F to °C - Deduct 32, then multiply by 5, then divide by 9
°C to °F - Multiply by 9, then divide by 5, then add 32

So yeah, 122F would have to mean it was 50C and 40C would be 104F or so. I know I learned them a long time ago, but the crap you forget when you don't use it often. So I google'd it just now for my own curiosity. "The More You Know" I guess.

Nah, I just Google it.

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:It was 40C today, 50C yesterday.

lol Yeah, okay, you keep telling yourself that.

y u so mean

Va'al wrote:y u so mean

40 something white male.

SJW's made me this way.

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:y u so mean

40 something white male.

SJW's made me this way.

Oh sure blame me, again.

fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight