by Tyrannacon » Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:30 pm
- Motto: "All Hail Megatron!"
- Weapon: Fusion Cannon
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.
"Decepticons! Transform and Rise Up!"
Don't worry, in case you didn't read the 1st page, this thread has become a mockery of itself a long time ago. 
the fan 
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