Browncoat Responsibility by nxojkt

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Browncoat Responsibility

POSTED BY: NXOJKT
UPDATED: Monday, August 29, 2005 06:28
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VIEWED: 17444
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Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:35 PM

Nxojkt,
Some folk out there are going to argue with you - just to argue with you. They're going to look for a reason to be insulted. They will imagine they know what your motivations and reasons are ... and they'll write in dark intentions just so they can get pissed off and start round two of the fight.

Please ignore them. Hold your head high and thank you for reminding us that simple courtesy is a great way to live our lives.

To those who are hoping to be insulted by my post, feel free.

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/MN-Firefly/

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Saturday, August 27, 2005 3:46 PM

WILDHEAVENFARM

I tend to tell people that a Browncoat is a "rabid fan," and I think that prepares them for some of the uber-geek behavior coming from our number. Rabid, like a foaming, charging mad dog. We ain't right sometime and those of us who do dumb things will inevitably get all the attention. You never hear about the planes that land, as they say.

On the flip side, I might say that the Trekkies didn't get a real space vessel named Enterprise by being all mature.

Mary
Always a beast, never a burden.

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Saturday, August 27, 2005 7:32 PM

VISITINGMYINTENTIONS

I think everyone oughta cool down. We're all reasonable people, so I guess none of us are ones who were threatening theater workers, shop owners, or website maintainers. But we probably have interacted with the lot. You know, the folks who, instead of saying, "Wow, Nathan, that comic store owner is a jerk. I won't buy from him," say: "OMGHAX they insulted my VERY FAVOURITE PERSON and I will make sure they know better than to mess with our BDH's!!!1" We can tell these people to go get a life and not pretend to represent browncoats in any way.

Of course, we could just castrate them, as Infra suggested. (That's what you were trying to say, right? You aren't honestly that insecure about your balls?)

---------------------------------------------------
Early: Where'd she go?

Simon: I can't keep track of her when she's NOT incorporeally possessing a spaceship, don't look at me --

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Monday, August 29, 2005 4:33 AM

SOLON

I hadn't even heard about some of the incidents, and the reactions to them, that were mentioned in NXOJKT's original post. I had however heard of the threats to the theatre managers in the news section of this site and was disturbed by the stories. I think the entreaty for civility and consideration prior to action on the part of members our community that started this loooong thread out were well phrased, well intentioned, and given the responses that I saw, (I didn’t have the time to go through more than two thirds of them) well targeted and necessary.

The impetus for the post was concern over how fans of the show were acting, and, among other things, how those actions reflect publicly on the community. The content of the post was very rational and well thought out. Moreover it did not seem to lecture or condemn anyone unfairly. It was not a call for prostration or submission to anyone. In fact, it did not even call for an apology by those who have already behaved in a disgraceful way. It merely called for circumspection before action on all our parts. That call could not be more valid. As NXOJKT pointed out correctly, people don’t like fanatics. People remember negative attacks far more readily than positive constructive actions. It only takes a few rash, stupid actions to negate all the good work done by the fans who tried to save the show a few years ago, raising money to advertise it, and for charity as well, not to mention those who slavishly drummed up awareness of the DVDs and the upcoming movie, usually on their own dime. It’s also possible, as has been pointed out, that if those rash actions have a negative enough affect it could cost all of us, fans, cast, crew, children yet unborn the possibility of a sequel.

For making those few simple, accurate, points in defense of a request for civility and rationality from those who connect themselves with this community, NXOJKT was personally attacked on this forum. I can think of no better illustration of the necessity of the plea. In fact I’m a bit ashamed that I was not the first to voice it, or at least quicker to spring to the defense of it. Arguing that negative attacks are the norm in other online communities is not particularly valuable. The fact that Firefly fans in general were recently viewed as model fans; intelligent, articulate, polite, and imaginative, does not in any way mean that we were passive or submissive to the Hollywood powers that be. Negative or personal attacks, particularly on the undeserving, undermine the PR coup that was achieved by the fanbase in their heroic, though failed attempts to save the series, and their subsequent, positive, though frequently unconventional promotion of the series on DVD, and of the fast approaching movie, which their efforts may partially have enabled. The remaining month running up to the movie may turn out to be crucial in determining the future of the franchise, and negative personal attacks, with few potential exceptions that I can think of, will always turn out to be counter-productive, particularly if they are made on a large enough scale to garner media attention. Yes, as a united group, we have a loud voice, but the warning to be careful how we use that voice is both wise, and perhaps crucial. Using our voice to scream or whine is perhaps the least effective method of getting what we desire. No less true of us as a community than it is of a toddler (or at least a toddler with smart parents).

However the next few weeks and months shake out, in terms of the promotional campaign, and the subsequent weeks at the box office, NXOJKT’s warning is as crucial as his handle is unpronounceable. Measuring how we use our collective voice, and considering our actions before doing anything rash will benefit the group and how we are perceived. The alternative could well prove disastrous for everyone, regardless of how few people, and yes there will probably be some, lash out in an idiotic manner. Even if you come down on the side of stupid pointless tempertantrums, or personal threats, attacking the messenger suggesting civility, reasonability, and Browncoat Responsibility don’t really reflect well on you, or sadly, the people you associate yourself with.

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Monday, August 29, 2005 4:40 AM

BERNADETTE

per Diz "then perhaps we shouldn't be wearing goofy orange knit hats, Chinese dresses and combat boots, and carrying parasols to opening day. 'Cause nothing scares the public like cosplay!"

LOL

Diz, Thank you for that!!

Bernie

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Monday, August 29, 2005 5:26 AM

ZEEK

I don't know if it's been said yet, as this thread got long and repetative, but I think browncoats are fighters. We formed a community based on our fight for Firefly's return. We've had some success and it's gone to our collective heads. Yes, some people went a bit overboard with threats, but I'm sure FOX was on the receiving end of some threats too. Point is we find a cause and we head out guns blazing. This whole thread is exactly like any of the incidents it mentions. Except now the cause is against fellow browncoats. Which of course has caused a rift. You can't aim a weapon at one member of a community and expect everyone else to hang them out to dry. Instead you're getting a mixed reaction.

I'll admit to sending email to msn when they didn't mention Serenity at comic con. I sent email to Warp One too. They didn't contain threats but I have no complaints about either. I'd send them again today if the same situation came up.

Let's all find some other cause to aim our collective might at rather than each other. If you have a problem with the previous causes then find a better one, but I don't think that pointing fingers at each other is a good cause. Start a blood drive or canned food drive or something.

Heck one of the coolest ideas I'd heard of in a long time was a halloween food drive. You go around a few weeks before Halloween and hand out flyers saying that you'll be trick or treating for canned goods for the needy. Then on halloween you go door to door collecting whatever you can. I think it sounds pretty fun and could be some great PR, even if it is a bit late for the movie. Any ideas like that would be better than finger pointing.

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Monday, August 29, 2005 6:28 AM

LADYSHELLEY

I hesitate to post this as I've only been a fan fo the show for a few weeks, and a member of various boards for a few days.

With that said, here goes.

I have been in various fandoms since the late 1990's, including a campaign to get a cancelled show back on the air (for anyone that remembers the show was The Sentinel and we did manage to get another season from the network). The thing to remember is chances are the people instigating some of these comments in other places, AICN for example, are not a part of this community at all. What they see is a sci-fi fandom full of geeks, and they then proceed to belittle it.

They are not going to see or heed pleas for civility. And continuing to discuss these issues really is feeding their cause. They want us riled and angry and we're giving them just that.

Is it logical? Of course not, whoever said a troll followed the rules of logic (and that's exactly what the flame wars are at these boards, trolling for fan outrage.). As for the three incidents I've seen mentioned here, they were long before I even knew about Firefly so I can't comment.

The next month will probably the most tense, emotion-driven time in the fandom. Reviews for the film will start trickling in, and I'll tell ya right now they will not all be positive and sunny. Most reviewers will see the film as just another sci-fi space opera and dismiss it.

There will also be the tension of will the film make enough to convince Universal to continue with a franchise. From the amount of effort they have put into the movie web site, my impression is they really want the film to succeed, and I think it will take a box-office flop of magnificent purportions to keep them from making another film in the future.

What can we do?

First, stop feedng the trolls on other boards. Recognize the comments for what they are and let 'em drop.

Second, remember, while we think the internet community is vast and all-powerful, that's because we are a part of it. Most of the general public has a very narrow idea of what the internet is, and will never see any of this stuff. They will see the film based on reviews in their local paper.

Third, the promo push for the film will be starting in a few weeks, talk shows and ad campaigns. Get folks to watch those interviews and read the promo material. That's what will convince people to see the film.

Fourth, enjoy the movie! You guys have worked for years to make this happen, I'm just coasting on you're hard work to get to see the film. This is your reward for all that hard work. See the movie and tell others about it, word of mouth can be the best advertising going.

Lady Shelley

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