I definitely think there's a place for valid criticism! Really I think there is still a place for being negative for the sake of being negative in fandom; I just increasingly think that place is better in more restricted places, so people have less chance of stumbling across it unawares.
But criticisms of things like racial insensitivity and other topics that can cause harm when not addressed are important to have open discussions about, even if they get uncomfortable or painful. And that's one of the reasons I would never argue for NO open negativity in fandom, because honestly the line between valid criticism and pointless negativity is somewhat subjective, and trying to disallow the latter entirely would end up making people afraid to express the former, to our detriment.
A number of years ago there were a lot of discussions about misogyny in slash fandom, and those got really fraught and heated and painful -- but these days, overall, female characters are better treated in fandom than they were? And I think it's partly thanks to a lot of those discussions making people think more. Even if it was not so much fun as squee.
I think it's important too to remember that when things get uncomfortable or painful, people may lose their temper and be less courteous or whatever, and that doesn't invalidate a criticism. Politeness is an ideal to aim for, but it's in practice impossible to achieve completely, even when everyone means well.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
winterfish
no subject
Date: 2019-11-21 06:36 am (UTC)But criticisms of things like racial insensitivity and other topics that can cause harm when not addressed are important to have open discussions about, even if they get uncomfortable or painful. And that's one of the reasons I would never argue for NO open negativity in fandom, because honestly the line between valid criticism and pointless negativity is somewhat subjective, and trying to disallow the latter entirely would end up making people afraid to express the former, to our detriment.
A number of years ago there were a lot of discussions about misogyny in slash fandom, and those got really fraught and heated and painful -- but these days, overall, female characters are better treated in fandom than they were? And I think it's partly thanks to a lot of those discussions making people think more. Even if it was not so much fun as squee.
I think it's important too to remember that when things get uncomfortable or painful, people may lose their temper and be less courteous or whatever, and that doesn't invalidate a criticism. Politeness is an ideal to aim for, but it's in practice impossible to achieve completely, even when everyone means well.