Comments on: (Fan)girls Gone Wild

By: Shiloh

Shiloh — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:09:52 +0000

always coming in late! oh the obsessive fangirl~ yup seen some of these… gotten to the point to where it keeps me from going to a loop or two as much as I used too… just too annoying to wade thru all the gushing.

that’s okay, though. I’ll just spend my time writing, and on my list.. no obsessive type behavior there unless people start trying to steal my dragons and then i get defensive.

By: Lynn Daniels

Lynn Daniels — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 15:57:48 +0000

Like Nicole, I’m a huge fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon. But based on your definition, I’m absolutely not a fangirl. I have seen fangirl behavior on her loops and bbs, though. I remember getting into an argument with one fangirl because I didn’t agree about the witchiness of one particular character. She insisted that the character was one who didn’t deserve to live because of her horrible treatment of the heroine, while I predicted the character would be redeemed and would probably show up in a future novel as a heroine.

I left the loop not long after that. Why discuss books if you can’t do so openly and honestly?

By: Josie

Josie — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 05:05:57 +0000

I need to get out of my cave more often because I wasn’t even aware of the phenomenon until I read this post. Then…I began to notice the behavior of the blogger fangirls. One blog has so many fans that it reminds me of an armed encampment surrounding the blog author. I imagined that writing a negative comment would be the equivalent of hurling a grenade into their line of defense.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:18:56 +0000

The last day or so I’ve been giving some thought to this posting about the ‘fangirl’ phenom. I’m still relatively new to the online communities…message boards, yahoo groups, etc…not quite two years with the first yahoo group I joined. I have to admit to being a bit turned off by the fangirls, as defined above. As I read the more common behavior that was listed, I was experiencing flashbacks to author X’s group and publisher Y’s group. I originally joined author X’s group because I loved that first book. I was already a member of publisher Y’s group and would never have thought I’d relegate myself to lurking there. I was feeling no escape from this author’s fangirls. As a consequence this reader has been turned off enough that I’m just not interested in reading anything more by author X. Well, partially due to the fangirls…the author did the rest.

On a side note, I thought the mention of blogger fangirls was interesting. I think I’ve seen this creature too.

By: nessili

nessili — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 04:58:29 +0000

Even older authors/characters have over-the-top fans who should not be allowed in front of a computer keyboard to write “fanfic.” You wouldn’t believe some of the things “fangirls” wrote about clean-cut Trixie Belden (I know this is a romance blog, not old-fashioned YA mystery blog, but you did mention fanfiction). Sadly, for loyal readers who stumble across some of these stories or, as I did, go looking for more writings (since Trixie’s author was long gone), fanfic often tarnishes the reader’s view of the character/author. I rather regret reading as much of the fanfic as I did.

By: Laure

Laure — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 20:13:53 +0000

An interesting topic, and equally interesting responses to it.

I’d say at least one of the most recent replies was by someone who HAS exhibited serious fangirl tendencies (both online and off) – but I think denial of their behavior is also quite indicative of the fangirl.

There are authors I support and whose work I enjoy, but never so vehemently as to gush effussively or bash someone else for his or her opinion. I might ask them to explain WHY they feel the way they do, but I wouldn’t hold it against them or beat them up over it.

No two readers have the same likes, dislikes, or comfort level. I’ve read plenty of books others raved about that I didn’t like, and know the reverse is also true, but I have never deliberately panned an author’s work, as I have seen others do, nor will I gush profusely over a favorite author’s latest book if it doesn’t – in my opinion – quite measure up. I’ve taken abuse for stating such an opnion, too, in a group that seemed to idolize one author while largely ignoring others.

The “mob mentality” can indeed be a dangerous thing.

By: Cindy Cruciger

Cindy Cruciger — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 16:27:24 +0000

Aww hell. Sounds like fun. I’m in. Jaci, Mary, I’ll be your fangirl!

::Reading rules of FanGirl Bible::

I can do that!

By: Jenx10

Jenx10 — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 13:36:20 +0000

From what I understand, the number of readers on the internet that participate in discussions, whether here, at AAR or at an author’s website is supposedly small in comparison to the real world. For that reason, I don’t think that the “fan girl” harms the author. It might deter a few readers who populate that insulate world of the romance internet community but it isn’t going to drive an author off the bestseller list. I think only an author’s writing can do that.

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 05:33:17 +0000

I think I’m a fan but not rabid *g* I have fun on the lists and have a ton of authors that are auto reads (sorry I don’t make enough money to have you all as auto buy authors *s*)

I do know that I have to work hard to harness my inner bitch (can I say that word here? LOL). I click delete for a LOT of posts that I almost make. People make me crazy.

I often feel that I just might go to hell for some of the thoughts going through my head…but I do (most of the time) play nice. I don’t have the evil thoughts because people disagree with me though so while I’m a fan, I’m not an evil obsessive scary fan.

By: Kristie

Kristie — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:30:21 +0000

I think they can be a detrement to an author. There are a couple of authors I have no desire to try because of the nuttiness of some of their fans. I am a fan of certain authors and on very rare occasions will email them – more because I always like it when someone tells me I did a good job and I figure they would like that too, but I’m always aware that no other reader has the same exact taste as I do so if I really like a certain author and others didn’t – hey, that’s fine. I can’t imagine ever getting that caught up in an author I would loose all reason.