r/NarniaBooks • u/Celestina-Betwixt • 2h ago
Gerwig Project Being positive all the time isn't "normal" for any fandom.
I don't know when fantasy fandoms in general got this ridiculous mind set that every interaction with every piece of media in the fandom had to be positive in tone or it was toxic.
Now, should you always as much as possible be polite and kind? Yes. Respectful? Absolutely. Do we all as fans sometimes fail in that area and need a little reminder? Yes.
But only saying positive things about the new MN trailer because we "haven't seen the full movie yet" is ridiculous. You can say and feel multiple things about the adaptation as new details are released and if most of those feelings are negative that's okay.
Do you think the Inklings never gave each other negative feedback or just said they personally didn't like something one of their members read aloud at their meetings? Do y'all seriously think they had to sensor themselves and only say "well I guess I'll wait and see" or "I'm sure it will be great, since you haven't released a bad book yet" just because they were only listening to a fragment of JRR Tolkien's or Lewis's story and the whole book or essay wasn't "out yet"?
Absolutely not.
They said what they thought and whether or not their opinion was positive or negative, they still kept meeting!
So this constant discourse among the fandom that if you make more than one post about a point you don't like in the new trailer or something you feel won't work in the new adaptation or share a doubt about Greta, you're unhinged or a baby or a bad faith fan or "against what Lewis stood for" is bonkers.
Now, does that mean I'm advocating for all sides of the fandom to go on a disrespectful swear-laced rage either to decry or defend the new adaptation? Absolutely not! But lately it doesn't matter if you use the most respectful language or include something positive; if the whole or at least majority of your opinion isn't shining with full on optimism or positivity you get labeled as "ruining" the fandom.
As long as someone is not making personal attacks, they're allowed an opinion and if they have a different take on that opinion or something new to add because we got something new released or they noticed something they overlooked it doesn't make the person bad or crazy or trying to ruin anything.
I find it interesting that so many fans can remember the user names of people they feel have too many negative posts and have to comment to call them crazy or stupid or worse but can't just scroll past to a post by someone whose opinion they'd rather read.
Respectfulness is always required. Positivity is not. And it's not real if you force it anyway.

