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rabid1stFor those of you who are unaware, there is a pledge making the rounds of some LJ communities. A noble pledge to crack down on anyone bashing a character or fans of said character. I think it is a fantastic idea but, frankly, it made me a bit tetchy on first blush.
I'm not the sort of person who likes being curtailed by subjective rulings. What I ask you...is bashing? Are we no longer allowed to say we don't like something...or that batchip crazy people are batchip crazy? Okay...maybe that's exactly what it means. :-> Be more polite. Think before you react.
I do generally believe in polite behavior, even online. I think we can all afford to give a little and it never hurts to examine ourselves and our behavior. Recently, I found myself using the term "Bitch, puhleez!" which is flat out crude and I should really go delete that comment. So after a bit of grousing I accepted this pledge as a good idea.
And then, I started the self-examination part of this exercise and realized that I had probably upset a few of my LJ-friends by my occasional reference to "crazy Martha-shippers." I feel I should take this moment to apologize if I've offended you and also to clarify my terms.
This is long...so under a cut we go...
Crazy Martha-Shippers, in my mind, are a breed apart. They are literally Martha-shippers who are crazy. They are like Old Schoolers who can't accept the Doctor changing, but claim to view change as sacred. When I talk about crazy people, I'm being quite specific. I mean people who have jumped off the reality bridge into their own sea of denial. They no longer hear the words said in canon. And it's not that I blame these people...I have entertained the urge to jump free of canon many times...I have paddled about in those crazy waters myself off a 'ship or two.
But there is a sharp distinction in my mind from someone who claims, for example, that not loving Martha is a sign of latent racial bigotry on the Doctor's part (or on mine...or RTD's)...and the person who thinks Martha is just peachy keen, wishes she could be companion-forever and wants everyone to love her.
If you're the sort of Martha-lover who thinks she's refreshing and spunky and admirable for her steadfastness...
If you support the underdog who remains loyal despite no returned affection...
If you think it would be great if she was rewarded for her selfless devotion...
If you think she's pretty and smart and fun to have around...
If you like the cut of her jib and wish all companions followed her example...
...please know I am not speaking of you when I address the crazy Martha-Shipper issues.
Bless you. Go, write fic where the scales fall from the Doctor's eyes and he discovers a previously unexplored depth of love in his soul, a love that saves and inspires him.
I will not read your fic. But I don't mean to discourage you from writing it. I, also, will not pop over to talk you out of your Martha-shipping on your journal or a Martha/Doctor community...or remind you how wonderful Rose was/is when you share your joy in the DW communities. I will do both of those things in my own journal and in Rose-oriented Communities though, as I would hope you would show me the same courtesy and not try to talk me out of loving Rose. Because I do love Rose. And I don't like Martha. To me, "No" means "No" and "Stop" means "Stop" and selfless devotion to lost causes is pointless and lame. You can't really talk me out of those takes on life either.
But that's okay..what one person finds adorable another person finds annoying. I love cats, but I can see how their slinky walk and steady eye could freak someone out. Since Martha was written as a counterweight to Rose...it makes sense that some Rose lovers wouldn't care for her. That doesn't mean I think NOBODY should care for her. I don't like spiders, but I know they have their good points. As long as nobody drops a spider on me...I don't go out of my way to crush the little monsters.
As far as companions go...I didn't like Turlough either, just didn't see his charms. I don't like Mel, either. And I never warmed to Nyssa or Romana II, though they were mostly charming people. I love Sarah Jane but would never have thought to ship her with the Doctor. When it comes to shipping the Doctor with anyone...I have very exacting standards. And very canon valid reasons for the opinions I hold.
And let's face it...I'm not a person known for holding back my opinion of anything. But, yeah...I suppose there is no need to be rude about it.
Rae
I'm not the sort of person who likes being curtailed by subjective rulings. What I ask you...is bashing? Are we no longer allowed to say we don't like something...or that batchip crazy people are batchip crazy? Okay...maybe that's exactly what it means. :-> Be more polite. Think before you react.
I do generally believe in polite behavior, even online. I think we can all afford to give a little and it never hurts to examine ourselves and our behavior. Recently, I found myself using the term "Bitch, puhleez!" which is flat out crude and I should really go delete that comment. So after a bit of grousing I accepted this pledge as a good idea.
And then, I started the self-examination part of this exercise and realized that I had probably upset a few of my LJ-friends by my occasional reference to "crazy Martha-shippers." I feel I should take this moment to apologize if I've offended you and also to clarify my terms.
This is long...so under a cut we go...
Crazy Martha-Shippers, in my mind, are a breed apart. They are literally Martha-shippers who are crazy. They are like Old Schoolers who can't accept the Doctor changing, but claim to view change as sacred. When I talk about crazy people, I'm being quite specific. I mean people who have jumped off the reality bridge into their own sea of denial. They no longer hear the words said in canon. And it's not that I blame these people...I have entertained the urge to jump free of canon many times...I have paddled about in those crazy waters myself off a 'ship or two.
But there is a sharp distinction in my mind from someone who claims, for example, that not loving Martha is a sign of latent racial bigotry on the Doctor's part (or on mine...or RTD's)...and the person who thinks Martha is just peachy keen, wishes she could be companion-forever and wants everyone to love her.
If you're the sort of Martha-lover who thinks she's refreshing and spunky and admirable for her steadfastness...
If you support the underdog who remains loyal despite no returned affection...
If you think it would be great if she was rewarded for her selfless devotion...
If you think she's pretty and smart and fun to have around...
If you like the cut of her jib and wish all companions followed her example...
...please know I am not speaking of you when I address the crazy Martha-Shipper issues.
Bless you. Go, write fic where the scales fall from the Doctor's eyes and he discovers a previously unexplored depth of love in his soul, a love that saves and inspires him.
I will not read your fic. But I don't mean to discourage you from writing it. I, also, will not pop over to talk you out of your Martha-shipping on your journal or a Martha/Doctor community...or remind you how wonderful Rose was/is when you share your joy in the DW communities. I will do both of those things in my own journal and in Rose-oriented Communities though, as I would hope you would show me the same courtesy and not try to talk me out of loving Rose. Because I do love Rose. And I don't like Martha. To me, "No" means "No" and "Stop" means "Stop" and selfless devotion to lost causes is pointless and lame. You can't really talk me out of those takes on life either.
But that's okay..what one person finds adorable another person finds annoying. I love cats, but I can see how their slinky walk and steady eye could freak someone out. Since Martha was written as a counterweight to Rose...it makes sense that some Rose lovers wouldn't care for her. That doesn't mean I think NOBODY should care for her. I don't like spiders, but I know they have their good points. As long as nobody drops a spider on me...I don't go out of my way to crush the little monsters.
As far as companions go...I didn't like Turlough either, just didn't see his charms. I don't like Mel, either. And I never warmed to Nyssa or Romana II, though they were mostly charming people. I love Sarah Jane but would never have thought to ship her with the Doctor. When it comes to shipping the Doctor with anyone...I have very exacting standards. And very canon valid reasons for the opinions I hold.
And let's face it...I'm not a person known for holding back my opinion of anything. But, yeah...I suppose there is no need to be rude about it.
Rae