Curation via Pintrest

So, this week I've been doing some curation on Pinterest. It's been really fun for me, since I enjoy pinterest anyway, but the topic is something that I'm realizing is way more interesting and displays a remarkable difference in the way young people like to think of themselves online, particularly in the realm of fandoms.

As a general rule, young people are known to want to fit in. To be popular, to feel a part of the community. The opinion of other people is extremely important at that young age. But people in fandoms seem to be taking a different spin on this idea.

Image provided through pinterest. CURATION!

 

People in fandoms enjoy calling themselves various names and distinguishing themselves from other groups of people. The entire culture seems determined not just to be obsessive over different forms of entertainment but also to make sure that other people know that they are different from the general population. They're smarter, better even. Even if that feeling of being better is just feeling like you're different from everyone else.

 

According to what I've been able to curate, the general feeling of fandoms is of superiority and excitement. They're having so much fun that they can't help but step back and laugh at everyone else who isn't having as much fun as they are. They're crying, because they're attached to the characters of shows and books and terrible things happen to them, but they're enjoying it.

 

That's not to say that they complete disregard the feelings of other people. They are not so self centered, at least as far as I can tell. They are just a culture of people that is constantly being mocked and criticized. People think that what they're doing has no value, and so as a defense they both accept the criticism (we're crazy) and shove it back in their faces (We're better than you). For young people, this isn't too surprising. But I still find it extremely interesting that young people (up into young adult hood, and probably beyond that as well) are so willing to "throw themselves under the bus" so to speak and accept their roles as social outcasts. Even scream the praises of it.

 

I think this is a fascinating culture. Whereas before the internet, nerds and geeks were made fun of and belittled, stuck in a place where they couldn't find anyone that was like themselves. Now the belittling is just as strong, but the nerds (or the fandoms) can come together to find support and turn on the bullies, turn on the rest of the world and say, "No. You're in the wrong." Because they don't know what they're missing. This is so fascinating. So far I've been focused on what the fandom has to say about itself, but now I'm going to turn my attention to what other people have to say. I'm interested to see if there are any "generation Y is so lazy and horrible they have fandoms" articles out there. I would love to have the chance to dissect those and hopefully rip them apart.