Time to move on from Sherlock

I was on Facebook, scrolling through my news feed, when a particular post caught my eye. A Sherlock fan complained that Benedict Cumberbatch was being casted in everything. He/She was tired of not seeing him work on Sherlock.

Let me make one thing clear. There are several people who work on Sherlock who are keeping other commitments. Some work on movies and some even work on other television series. Martin Freeman was doing Fargo and the last Hobbit movie. Steven Moffat is writing episodes of Doctor Who. Benedict has been working on the Hollow Crown part II, the last Hobbit movie, and several other projects he chose to work on...including his three month stint as Hamlet later on this year.

So boohoo if Sherlock is on the back burner. That fan should be happy that Benedict is in so many projects. He doesn't just like being remembered for Sherlock. He is such a talented thespian that it would be a waste to just have him work as Sherlock Holmes.

It's about as ridiculous as Firefly fans condemning Nathan Fillion for doing Castle and other projects. They are the ones who choose to be casted in the end. It's not up to us to control what they can and cannot choose...we are just along for the ride...and we should be damn happy to be able to see all this other work.

Celebrity Role Playing...Is It Worth It?

We've all seen it on Facebook and Twitter...and, in the earlier days, on Yahoo Messenger. There are people out there who role play as their favourite celebrity.

While it may sound innocent enough, not everyone who does it is honest enough to let people know that they're just role playing.

Most who do these role plays do it just for fun...or maybe they do it because it makes their lives more interesting. Unfortunately, there are those out there who also do it to cause harm to others.

In reality, there are laws against impersonating another person. Some would consider it mild identity theft. While some would be flattered that another would find them interesting enough to impersonate them, the rest would find it to be a twisted, deluded behaviour.

Also, there are also naive people out there who would truly believe in the lie. As an admin, I have certainly encountered some of these fans asking me if I was Tom Hiddleston because I talk like him. Never in any capacity have I ever claimed, or said that I was Tom.

But, if these hapless fans encounter someone who does pretend to be Tom...and they extend that lie further, people will be hurt. Everybody wants to meet their favourite celebrity, but at what cost?

Role playing seems harmless but it causes problems for the person being impersonated. What happens if someone roleplaying Tom or someone else hurts a fan's feelings? Then Tom or the celebrity impersonated would be blamed. Is that fair? Of course not.

I'd say that role players should stop living vicariously through celebrities and do things to enrich their lives. Sure, it's fun to pretend to be someone else, but it's much better to focus on your own life and make it better.

Quite possibly, role playing is a way of compensating for a lack of something in a person's life. If a man pretends to be Tom Hiddleston, it's quite possibly because Tom is cultured, handsome, and attracts all the ladies. Instead of pretending to be him, a person can introduce himself/herself to the works of Shakespeare, improve on their appearance and personality.

We are but lumps of clay that can be molded into anything we want ourselves to be. Why sell ourselves short by pretending to be someone we're not?

The new year is approaching us and we have New Years resolutions to make and uphold. Why not make a resolution to improve yourself?

The Re-Emergence of Tom Hiddleston

Images of Tom Hiddleston at LAX Airport have surfaced and have been circulated around the internet.

The celebrated thespian has completed his work on "I Saw The Light" and has also taken part in an adorable Christmas video with his mentor on the project. It is plain to see that he is on his way home to celebrate Christmas with his family.

Cue the "Awww", right?

WRONG!

It is obvious that a fangirl or fanboy snapped the impromptu image of Mr. Hiddleston as he was on his way to the gate his departure would be at.

Honestly, the poor guy was trying to return home for Christmas. As anxious as all of us are about how he is doing and what he is up to, is it really our business?

Would you like a camera shoved in your face when you're trying to get home for Christmas after a long period of filming abroad? Would you like people snapping images of you rushing through the airport?

So why is it okay for you to snap images of him doing the same thing?

Don't let the smiling face fool you. He knows how to mask his annoyance well. He was probably tired and anxious to get home. The last thing he needed was to be approached at the airport by star-spotting fans.

Keep in mind that he is not a toy...he is a human being...and human beings deserve dignity and privacy!

And anything that happens in their lives is none of our business!

People Magazine Awards...Seriously?

Awards season for film is beginning in January and we are all looking forward to seeing our favourite films, actors and actresses win awards.

I was watching Saturday Night Live last night and an advertisement for the First Annual People Magazine Awards came on during the commercial break. Although People Magazine has had some very decent human interest articles with real people over the years, it has sadly fallen in with the likes of OK! Magazine and others who post rumors, photos of and personal things about celebrities that have no business being published. They also include situations that occur on and off Reality Television screens.

During this particular commercial, they named some of the categories and I was floored by the fangirl reminiscent titles. Sexiest Actress? Sexiest Actor? Seriously???!!

I am not going to take away the honor of being named Sexiest Man Alive from Chris Hemsworth but I think such an honor is childish. Why not comment on his acting? While he may not entirely be an Oscar contender, he is an excellent actor.

Above all, I am fairly sure that these awards are voted on by fans, so guess what is going to happen? The fangirls and fanboys are going to flood the cables and vote and also fill Facebook and Twitter with links and pleas to vote for Tom Hiddleston or Benedict Cumberbatch for Sexiest Man Alive or Sexiest Actor.

On both of my pages, I will not be allowing multiple postings for the People Magazine Awards asking for votes because I think it is offensive to the actors and actresses involved. They want to be taken seriously for their craft, not for their appearance.

In addition, there are also extremely talented actors and actresses who  may never make those Sexiest lists. Nobody will nominate Steve Buscemi although his work in Coen Brothers films and Boardwalk Empire is amazing. What about Billy Bob Thornton? He is one of the most underrated talented actors out there and he never gets the credit he deserves.

So instead of harping upon appearances, these magazines should be promoting talent and one's ability to morph into their characters. Let the childish ogling and fangirl voting be reserved for Teen Choice Awards or People's Choice awards.

Those who are on the real voting committees for the Academy Awards, the Emmys and Golden Globes do not look at an actor or actress's appearance when they choose a winner. They go by talent. If they choose Benedict Cumberbatch as Best Actor, it's not because he is a sex symbol. If they choose Reese Witherspoon as Best Actress, it's not because she is one of the most beautiful actresses in the industry.

So why should we let two-bit publications create their own awards ceremonies to indulge fangirls and fanboys? It promotes the bad behaviours I have previously described.

How about they leave the honoring to the professionals and quit while they are still ahead?!

The Disparity of Films

I'm going to take a breather from ragging on the fangirls as a new, more serious problem has emerged in the realm of film.

Canada may be famous for the Toronto Film Festival, but Canada is NOT Toronto...Toronto is PART of Canada, not ALL of it. Just because they call themselves the "center of the universe" doesn't mean that they actually are.

I am not from Toronto...I'm not even from Ontario. I hail from Western Canada.

When talking to a friend of mine from Bathurst, NB, it became known to me that quality films like "The Imitation Game" are released in limited locations. I was fortunate enough to be able to see it due to a fluke error by Cineplex, but several other people in my city were disappointed because there was only one screening at only one theater. (There are several theaters in the area)

As it happens, my friend blasted her local theater for not screening "The Imitation Game". Just because a movie is more independent than others, it doesn't deserve to be excluded from having multiple screenings.

This particular film has already been critically acclaimed but they refuse to show more screenings other than in Toronto. Why? There are plenty of other fans living in the rest of Canada who have been clamoring to see "The Imitation Game" but are left out because Toronto gets everything.

But it's not just that.

Could it be that there is a conspiracy against "The Imitation Game" and possibly against Benedict? "The Theory of Everything", the critically acclaimed Stephen Hawking biopic, is being screened multiple times in multiple theaters in multiple cities. It has less Oscar buzz than "The Imitation Game" but has been in theaters for more than a week.

In fact, I am quite certain that more people would flock to see "The Imitation Game" than "The Theory of Everything", but they are being paid no heed. How is that fair for film enthusiasts?
We live in North America, the center of democracy and freedom, but yet we cannot see all of the films we want to see.

There should be an equal filming distribution among cities, not that a bigger city gets a screening and a smaller city gets nothing. There are also places around the world that are unable to screen the film as well due to "censorship" laws and prejudice.

Do you think Benedict and the other people working their hardest on this film would like hearing that fans were unable to see it because of limited screenings? Either way they earn their money but I know for a fact that Benedict loves his fans and would be upset that they couldn't see his work.

If film companies are heavily against bit torrent sites like The Pirate Bay for distributing film and television shows and music for free, perhaps they should release their films EVERYWHERE instead of being choosy about where they screen. The film industry needs to remind itself that it's because of everyday people that they make their money...these everyday people spend their money on admission to these movies, as well as the food at the concession counter.

If it weren't for the everyday people paying this money at the box office, the film industry would not be where it is today. Perhaps it's time the film industry gave back!

The Imitation Game: My Hits and Fangirl Misses

I was one of the lucky few to be able to see "The Imitation Game" last night in a local theater. While it was thrilling to be able to see Benedict's latest film with a mere select few, fangirls soon rained on my parade.

As I was sitting in my seat, patiently awaiting for the start of the film, all I could hear was fangirl chatter about how sexy Benedict was and how upset they were that he was off the market and about to be a father.

Seriously? This film is a major contender for many Oscar categories, and told a bittersweet story about the 'Father of Modern Computers', yet they disrespected both with their tedious and hormone fueled commentary of Benedict's sex appeal.

There were local movie critics in the audience, as well as serious theater and film enthusiasts like myself. Do fangirls ever stop to think about how ridiculous they sound in a room full of intellectuals?

The only saving grace was the start of the film, because Benedict's performance hooked and reeled me in like an elusive fish. In fact, his portrayal of Alan Turing was so impeccable that it overwhelmed me to the point where I was in tears...and I NEVER cry at movies.

Fangirling/Fanboying has become an epidemic and it's only going to worsen until it is too late and all actors, singers, athletes and artists will shy away from the public for good.

Granted, sexual attraction has a time and place and, in this case, a huge line was crossed. Talking about the sex appeal of a celebrity belongs in the confines of a fan's own home...not in public. There are serious individuals out there who are at theaters and other performances to enjoy what they are seeing...they don't need some childish commentary about pedestrian topics.

This eventually led to a discussion about proper theater etiquette with my friend, who is also accompanying me to see Hamlet in London. The both of us aren't there just to see Benedict's performance...we are there to pay homage to William Shakespeare and his works. The both of us grew up with the enjoyment of his plays and bonded over our favourite plays and characters and we will be extremely upset if our experience is ruined.

There will undoubtedly be a number of screaming, disrespectful fangirls and fanboys...and just like with Coriolanus, they will be disrupting the performance with their ogling and their crowing over Benedict's good looks and sex appeal.

Sadly, there will be two victims...Benedict Cumberbatch and William Shakespeare. I do not need to explain the reasons for either one because fangirl behaviour and disrespect speaks for itself.

Freedom of Speech...The Greatest Lie of Fangirls

Freedom of speech...the 5th Amendment to the United States of America's Constitution...it is a God-given right...but it doesn't mean we have the right to abuse it.

Fan pages have rules...the set of rules for my pages are always about respect. If I post something meaningful, I don't want to have to see only posts about a nice rear end or good looks.

The situation described in yesterday's entry created a small controversy within Team Hiddleston when a fangirl brazenly tried to stand up to me and my treatise on respect. She tried telling me that people should be free to say what they want about someone and that it was unrealistic of my co-admin and I to enforce the commenting on posts the way we do. She then proceeded to tell me that she was going to keep posting on what attracts her to Mr. Hiddleston no matter what I said because she had the right and the freedom to do so.

Everyone has a right to their opinion. But when I explained that a line had been crossed, she tried to dictate to me how my page should be and even went as far as blatantly twisting words to make it sound like my page was unfair to fans.

I don't need to go into further detail to bring my point across.

We all have freedom of choice and freedom of speech. I have the freedom to put up my page and create my own rules for it. I also have the freedom to dictate what I want on my page as long as it doesn't hurt or harm anyone.

People who like my page are free to disagree with a point or give their opinion. However, telling me how to run my own page is an abuse of that freedom. Constructive criticism is fine, but I dislike uninformed commenting and complaining like this fangirl was doing.

Quite simply, she was put in her place with the phrase "feel free to create your own page or join another if you don't want to follow the rules." I'm not in it for the stats and ratings...my page was created to show Mr. Hiddleston that there were a lot of respectful fans out there who weren't just looking at his rear end. It's not a popularity contest...I'm not going to lose sleep if a few people unlike my page because they don't want to be respectful.

People can use their freedom of speech however they wish...but I choose to use my freedom to expose the abuses of fandoms. I'm not in it to make friends or be popular. I'm in it to spread awareness so nobody gets hurt or bullied.

You can disagree with me or my ideals all you want, I won't hate you for it. But don't try to condemn me for it.

Awards and Disrespectful Reactions: Cue the facepalm!

A lot of actors the fangirls and fanboys worship are very accomplished. They are classically trained, and have received several awards for their accomplishments.

First of all, I’d like to take the time to recognize the two I have been a huge fan of for a long time…as they probably won’t hear it from anyone else in the fandoms… Benedict and Tom… (And quit rolling your eyes and griping…it’s all about respect.)

Benedict, I was extremely proud of you when I found out you received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries. When I wrote to you in May, I meant everything I said about you being a treasure. I am glad that the award committees are finally taking notice of you because it’s been a long time coming. You deserve every accolade you’ve received throughout your career.

Tom, I would like to congratulate you on your most recent award win…the Best Actor Evening Standard award for your performance in Coriolanus. When I saw the National Theatre Live performance at my local movie theatre, I literally got goosebumps from your talent and sheer artistic perfection. I hope there are more awards to come for you because you deserve it!

That being said, I noticed something interesting on my Team Hiddleston page (Not to be confused with the Team Hiddleston group…that belongs to someone else!). My co-admin Lady Loki posted a call to arms in voting for Tom in his nomination for the Whatsonstage Awards…in fact she was creative enough to use one of Caius Martius’ lines and spin it around to gain awareness. When I went to look at the comments the post had received, I had to refrain from banging my head against the edge of my desk.

Instead of comments like “Yes, we must vote for Tom…his performance was simply amazing!”, I was treated to comments like “Good lord, look at that bootie!!” and “Daaaaamn that ass!” and “Oh man, dat ass…Mmmmmm!”

Seriously? He’s up for an award for his acting and that’s all a fangirl can say?

What is the point of being a fan if all you do is look at their physical assets? No actor is an object. Tom and his colleagues are human beings.

At the end of a long, hard shoot or after a brilliant performance, the last thing a gentleman like Tom wants to hear is how hot he is. He works his hardest in portraying his characters and tries ever-so-hard to perfect every line and movement…and all he gets in return are a bunch of hormone fueled fangirls (and fanboys) crowing about how sexy he looks. What’s the point in him acting if that’s all the praise he gets?

TOM DESERVES BETTER!!! Hell, ALL THE ACTORS DESERVE BETTER!!!!

If you’re going to claim to be a fan, at least watch a few of their performances and study their craft. A true fan has seen almost everything their favourite actor or actress has been in. I can honestly claim that I have seen 90% of Tom’s work and 95% of Benedict’s work, and can hold a long, intelligent conversation on both of their acting methods.

Can you do that? No? Then stop your childish drooling and educate yourself.

Speech Impediments and Pengwings...OH MY!!

So, it's been spread all over the world...and the internet...that Benedict Cumberbatch can't say the word "penguins" properly. It's been circulated and talked about so much that the man has a complex about it. When you see his latest appearance on the Graham Norton Show, he's afraid of saying the word because he's worried he will screw it up.

Has it ever occurred to people in the fandom that maybe it's his accent that makes it sound like "Pengwings"? 

It's one thing to say that his eloquent pronunciation of words is endearing or even adorable...but to make fun of a professional for the way he says things is cruel. It also offends those who actually do have speech impediments and other developmental disabilities.

As an individual who went to an Elementary School who had a dedicated program to those with developmental disabilities, I understand and am sensitive to their struggles. A lot of the children are a joy to hang out with and I would willingly defend them if they ever needed it.

I also grew up with a father who mispronounced a couple of words...he used to say "frashlight" instead of flashlight and "gradge" instead of garage. English was his second language.

The point I'm trying to make here is that a lot of people in the fandom don't know what they are doing when they make fun of a character or an actor because of the way they talk or the way they pronounce words.

Nobody is born perfect. We all have our own personal challenges or flaws. Above all, none of us have a right to taunt those who have more challenges than we do in life.

How would you feel if you had a stutter like King George "Bertie" VI? Would you like it if people kept making fun of you because it was a challenge for you to make a speech?

Look at Bruce Willis...he grew up with a stutter in his speech as well. Same with Julia and Eric Roberts...and Nick Fury himself, Samuel L. Jackson.

Even other famous historical figures had issues with speech. Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, Aristotle and Isaac Newton all suffered from the same affliction.

All mentioned are highly respected individuals. Would anybody dare make fun of them?

If you think a mispronounced word is comical...then maybe you should look deeper into yourself and work on your own shortcomings and issues. You will save someone a lifetime of complexes and embarrassment.

One last caveat...all of those actors mentioned turned their stutter around and became accomplished people. Instead of focusing on others' shortcomings, you should look deeper into yourself and grow up a little.

Sharing and Reblogging: Worth It?

On Tumblr and on the fan pages of Facebook, there is a common phenomena sweeping around the masses. The hard work of the people that is posted on fan pages is being shared to personal profiles without permission. Worst of all, instead of simply saving the wanted image to a file on their desktop, any copyrighted work, such as a story...or a post with a celebratory announcement on it, is shared as well.

As an admin, I have had this happen first hand. As well as quoting Shakespeare to accentuate my posts, I also started posting "imagines", stories created on-the-spot for my viewers, who would give me a character and a scenario. It is because of these "imagines" that I did so well and interacted well with my fans.

It became apparent to me that images with my imagines attached were being shared to pages. That upset me because it was an unauthorized reproduction of my hard work. I did not give permission for them to take my imagines and they had the gall to do it anyways.

Images are a different story because you can find them all over the internet. People save images all the time and use them elsewhere.

My imagines were my personal work. None of those who shared them had any right to take them and post them to their profiles.

Eventually, I put that it was copyrighted and posted several warnings on the page to let the offenders know I was onto them and that they were not allowed to share my work. Sadly, it was all in vain as my warnings went unheeded and my work was still being saved to profiles. It was time for me to take action.

I posted a final warning, letting them know I would ban them from the fan page if they continued to steal my work. I loved writing for my fans and I didn't want to have to stop...it was my life blood. So, when the repeat offenders shared my imagines with the corresponding image to their profiles, I had each and every one of them banned from the page.

Do I regret it? HELL NO. I worked hard on the stories and I'd be damned if I wasn't going to protect my work.

So, when you decide to reblog or share something to your profile that has copyrighted material on it and no authorization to take it, ask yourself: "Is it worth the risk?". A simple right click will get you further by showing you that you can take the image without taking someone's copyrighted work.

There are many of us out there who are struggling artists and we don't want to see our hard work copied and spread without our permission. Think about our struggles the next time you want to reblog an image you like or share it to your profile.

To us, it's like taking a personal photo of us and sharing it with the world when we want our images to remain private. Perhaps you would like your personal photos shared with the rest of the world the way you have done so with our copyrighted work?

Tumblr: The Habitat of Fangirls and Fanboys

A couple of days ago, People Magazine posted a video of Benedict Cumberbatch thanking the bloggers on Tumblr for making him the most reblogged actor two years in a row. If you are one of many who have seen this video, you will notice one thing...as much as Benedict loves the support and attention of fans, he seemed very awkward...he didn't even know what to call the bloggers. That told me he knew about everything posted about him and Sherlock on Tumblr and felt VERY weirded out.

Tumblr doesn't just have offending material. It does have a few merits. Some bloggers use it for Social Activism and causes...other talented bloggers post their artwork...and some use it to warn other fans of offending behaviour.

Sadly, all of that is ruined with the blogging and subsequent reblogging of posts that are offensive to others...not just about the most popular actors and actresses...but also about our favourite characters in film and literature...

You know what I'm talking about...those Johnlock posts that would anger Arthur Conan Doyle...the shipping of Magneto and Professor X in their earlier years...those offending plot and series spoiling posts...it takes attention away from the talented and pure-of-heart bloggers who are trying to make meaningful use of this social media medium.

It's not fair for those Tumblr bloggers to be associated with the fangirls and fanboys. A lot of them aren't even part of the fandoms. They are spreading awareness of crime and turmoil in third world countries. Others are showing their support for misunderstood dissidents like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning.

Some even use Tumblr to spread awareness of the problems of bullying...in all its shapes and forms. There are a plethora of posts that reveal the hidden pain and inner turmoil of bullying victims and Tumblr would be a great medium of a support network to help them.

Perhaps time on Tumblr would be better spent looking through the more meaningful blogs instead of reblogging useless rumors, spoilers and ships. The rest of the world will thank you.

The Misadventures of Artemis

February, 2014...I had been an admin for just a little under a month. Call me ambitious, but I wanted to organize something special in honour of Tom Hiddleston's 33rd birthday. What do you give a man who gives so much of himself to his fans and to charity? A donation in his honour.

I already knew how I was going to facilitate the donation drive...merely a few weeks prior, another fan page created t-shirts to sell to fans. The idea bulb illuminated in my subconscious and I set to work.

I first pitched my idea to the senior admins, and upon approval, put my plans into motion. Because we fans and admins were all a team to support Tom, I chose the name and simple design that would become the birth of "Team Hiddleston." (In case that name rings a bell, there is a fan group on Facebook by that name and a fan page with the same name...the fan page belongs to me and is another story that will be told later...the fan group belongs to someone else.)

http://teespring.com/TeamHiddleston (This is the URL that still shows the campaign page and the design...I alone possess the user name and password to this campaign and account.)

"Team Hiddleston" was my creation and I was solely responsible for its inception and success. I am the one who posted the advertisements and reminder of the campaign. On Tom's 33rd birthday, the campaign closed and all shirts were successfully sold. The proceeds were $150.00 and I personally sent the cheque to UNICEF UK through registered mail.

My fellow admins helped by purchasing a shirt each but contributed little to my campaign. The success of the "Team Hiddleston" t-shirt drive was solely attributed to me.

Sadly, that is the only thing I could find solace in during the subsequent weeks. My success had brought forth the green eyed monster called jealousy. One of the admins was threatened by my work and began making my life a living hell. Not only did she try to ostracize me, she managed to convince two of the other admins that I was a problem. Shakespeare was accurate when he wrote "It is the green eye'd monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on" (Iago, Othello, Act 3 Scene 3)

Oh...the Shakespeare quoting looks familiar? That was my signature way of posting. One admin tried (and failed) to emulate my style and that also contributed to my isolation from the others. I tried my hardest to make the page into one Tom himself would have been proud to associate his name with and my efforts were rewarded with trash talking, bullying and exclusion.

The admins talked trash about me behind my back and spread lies and slander about me.

I DO NOT regret anything I said in my letter to UNICEF...everything said was true. I am the leader of
Team Hiddleston. This is something I am extremely proud of and will not let three harpies try to ruin me out of jealousy.

Last I heard, the instigator said she was going to do t-shirts of her own, but like the lazy idiot she is, it never happened.

What goes around comes around. I will sit and wait for karma to bite the harpies in the arse.

I have nothing to hide...and I will gladly tell more of the truth of what happened. I will not be censored nor will I hide in the shadows anymore. Like a Phoenix, Artemis will rise again from the ashes.

Cosplay: Jealousy and Intrigue!

Cosplay has been on the rise for ages. While it used to be reserved only for Comic-Con and Anime festivals, it has now skyrocketed into a way of life for a lot of fans.

I, myself, only limit my cosplay to Halloween because I'm not confident enough to go everywhere in costume...however, I have great admiration for all cosplayers because their unique styles fascinate me and I applaud their efforts.

Unfortunately, this is also an area of the fandom where people are ostracized and bullied. Instead of celebrating each and every practitioner, fans slam some cosplayers for being too good at what they do...or slam them for not looking exactly like the character they are portraying.

A good example is Fahr Sindram, the best Loki cosplayer I have ever seen. Her work on her costumes is so frighteningly accurate that even Tom Hiddleston himself bowed down to her when he saw her in costume. Fahr also does Lolita style, and has even branched out into other characters, such as Eve from "Only Lovers Left Alive" and Jack Frost from "Rise of the Guardians". Whatever praise she receives for her costumes is well deserved and well earned.

Sadly, she had been targeted earlier on this year by a jealous fan because she had "stolen" the spotlight from her. I have never met Fahr or spoken to her personally, but I know she has a reputation for being kind and gracious to everyone she meets. She is definitely not the type of person who will go out and push someone out of the spotlight.

Above all, Fahr never asked for the kind of publicity she has received for her cosplay. She is just a practitioner who enjoys her work on her costumes. It's reflected in every character she dresses up as. So why blame her and try to shame her for being one of the best?

Jealousy runs rampant among cosplayers and it's sickening because most cosplayers dress up because they enjoy it. A lot of them don't cosplay just to get attention.

Most cosplayers just love to dress up as their favourite characters. So what if a plus size woman wants to dress up as Sailor Moon? I would commend her for being brave enough to put on the costume in the first place.

A man wants to dress up as Cinderella? So be it! A girl wants to dress up as Thor? Power to her. We were all created and evolved to be different shapes and sizes. Slimmer people shouldn't be the only ones enjoying cosplay.

Fans should be uniting together because of their favourite movies and comics, not dividing themselves out of petty jealousy. We should all be able to express ourselves any way we want to, as long as it doesn't cause harm.

Above all, we should be celebrating the uniqueness of each and every fan and cosplayer and not let jealousy get in the way. Besides, what will you gain by ridiculing someone? Nothing!

The Opposite of Respect: The International Cumberbatch Club

What is respect?

Respect is being tolerant of another person, no matter who or what they are. It's about looking beyond what is in front of you to see the real person behind the facade.

There are many fans, in all different forms. Some enjoy cosplaying their favourite characters, some show their love in artwork, and some enjoy writing fanfiction about their favourite shows. There is no right or wrong way to be a fan, as long as it is respectful and doesn't cause harm.

Sadly, fangirls and some fanboys do not adhere to this golden rule.

A lot of fans are bullied and shamed because they don't fit in. Others are ostracized because they are the object of envy due to being able to meet their favourite actor or be able to attend a sold out, limited time event.

In my experiences as an admin and a former member of the fandom, I have seen a lot of instances firsthand where one fan is ganged up on by a group. I can also attest that I have been a victim of such behaviour as well.

Out of everyone in the fan pages I was a part of, I was the highest educated and boasted a deep understanding and love for Shakespeare. While some fans thought that it made me a great admin, the rest all stuck up their noses at me because they honestly thought that I was some sort of threat or some girl who would snatch up Tom Hiddleston someday.

Then, there was the International Cumberbatch Club. Right now, it has developed a bad reputation for their exclusiveness, their desire to make money on fan memberships and their shameless bullying. I will clarify that Benedict himself will never endorse such a group because people should not have to pay money to be a fan.

I was a member of the group, as I enjoy meeting new people who share my interests. I soon realized that it was a terrible idea. I immediately didn't fit in and was the object of ridicule. "Senior" members constantly treated me like I was a dumb, obsessed teenager and I felt disrespected and more alone than before. (News flash...I just turned 30)

There was also a situation going on involving a former admin, who was ostracized and humiliated because one older member simply didn't like her due to her age. Not only was this girl mentioned and ridiculed, she was also publically humiliated when the other members saved the transcripts of their conversations with her and posted them directly onto Facebook for the world to see.

When their spinoff groups formed, (Reading with Benedict Cumberbatch, Music with Benedict Cumberbatch, Where in the world is Benedict Cumberbatch?) I began to realize that they were just disrespectful fangirls who thought Benedict would be interested in them because they professed to have the same interests as him.

All of the groups were also full of nepotism. You could only become an admin if you were friends with the clique. It didn't matter if you were a great contributor or had something to make the group even better...if you weren't friends with the popular crowd, you were ignored.

By this time, I had enough of their childish and disrespectful behaviour and abandoned all of the groups related to the International Cumberbatch Club.

I don't profess to enjoy everything that Benedict himself enjoys, however, I do have a LOT in common with him. But I am not going to ridicule other fans and try to be superior because of that fact.

Just because someone doesn't see eye to eye with someone else doesn't give them the right to ostracize and publicly humiliate others. Fan diversity is what makes us all unique and interesting. Fans should be allowed to be a fan on their own terms. They shouldn't have to worry about what others think.

So what if a lucky girl met Benedict and got to talk to him? Is that any reason to make fun of her? Or if an admin has a justified reason to delete something off the page, the one who takes offense should not take the liberty in causing harm to the other admin.

What's missing from fandoms is respect. It's like high school all over again...and it's not even the teenage fans that are guilty of the disrespect. There are grown women in their 30s and 40s who have the worst attitudes and spread the disrespect around.

Sadly, the International Cumberbatch Club was also created and run by women in their 30s. What kind of example are they setting for the younger fans? As the elders, we should be promoting the respect of others, not the disrespect.

Harassment: The Significant Others of Celebrities

It's a gross understatement when a fangirl or fanboy says that he/she is protective of his/her favourite actor/actress...in fact, it is at least borderline obsessive.

When an actor or a singer or a professional athlete has found their soulmate, we as fans should embrace it and be happy for them. It is increasingly difficult in this day and age to find that one person we were meant to be with, especially for celebrities.

Granted, there would be a lot of disappointed fans when engagement announcements are posted and circulated around the internet because it is difficult to fantasize about another person's soon-to-be spouse. There are some fangirls/fanboys who are obsessively happy about their favourite celebrity celebrating such a big milestone...but it sounds so sweet that it appears insincere.

Others take on a more frightful, insidious behaviour. Known significant others of certain actors and actresses have been harassed and are dealing with death threats. Seriously? Death threats?

In this world, what gives fans the right to attack the one person a celebrity has chosen to settle down with? Are they so deluded that they thought that there was an actual chance that they would meet and marry their obsession someday?

We as fans do not have to like the person they chose to settle down with but we have to respect the decision. There's nothing we can do about it. Although we hold a special place in a celebrity's heart as his/her loyal fans, we do not have the power to change minds and we do not have the right to dictate who a celebrity can or cannot marry.

What's worse is that fans are grouped, as a whole, into one category of fans by the media. Not every single fan is going to cry if Tom Hiddleston settles down and gets married. Not every fan died of a broken heart when Benedict Cumberbatch announced his engagement. I don't belong to that group of "Cumberb**ches" or any group for that matter. I am a solitary fan who refuses to label herself like the fangirls and fanboys do. So to say that fans like me are brokenhearted that Benedict has found someone to be with for the rest of his life is a generalized lie.

Marriage and children are facts of life. We go through it as normal human beings. Aren't celebrities human beings? Don't they deserve happiness?

Apparently some fangirls and fanboys don't agree. That's why they hack into the phones of the significant others and send death threats to them because, in their deranged world, the celebrity belongs to them...

 News flash: PEOPLE AREN'T POSSESSIONS!!!

The Destruction of Ovaries: Fact or Fiction?

When you come across an image of someone who you are sexually aroused to, a chain reaction begins to take over your body. Your pupils dilate, your breathing becomes laboured, rapturous heat fills your body and parts of you ache with longing.

In the realm of fangirls, there has been a common phenomenon that has run rampant with the most handsome of actors...it has a bevy of different titles, ranging from Cumberbatch Obsessive Love Disorder to Tomsilitis or "Post Tom-atic Stress Disorder". The one common symptom reported for such an obscure "disorder" is the destruction of ovaries.

Yep...you read that right...the destruction of ovaries.

In a world where science has an explanation for everything, women all over the world are now "suffering" from exploded ovaries from exposure to their favourite actor.

Cue facepalm and eye roll. Obviously that's not true. Looking at a handsome actor has no real effect on the ovaries at all except for the release of hormones.

Yet, look through all the fanpages on Facebook and Tumblr and all you will see are posts about how exposure to a favourite actor or character has caused the destruction of fangirls' ovaries everywhere. In fact, public service "announcements" have been created by ihatetomhiddleston.

This takes obsessing to a whole new level. As mentioned before, there's nothing wrong with finding an actor or celebrity handsome. I even ogle handsome actors from time to time. But saying that a man's level of handsomeness causes the destruction of ovaries is not only juvenile, but thoughtless...to the point where it is extremely insulting to other parties.

While fangirls think that joking about destroyed ovaries is harmless, it is insulting to two groups of people.

First of all, there are women out there who suffer from, and who have previously suffered from Ovarian Cancer. Do they think the destruction of ovaries is a joke? Absolutely not, and rightly so. They go through pain and suffering just to survive the terrible disease, more than enough for a lifetime. What gives fangirls the right to joke about something so sensitive? The same goes for their loved ones, who witness their fight for survival every day. Do the fangirls know what it's really like to see someone they care about live in constant, gut wrenching pain every day?

Secondly, the Post Tom-Atic Stress disorder is a terrible attempt at a joke as well. There are soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and even paramaedics who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those who are afflicted with it deal with constant reminders of the traumatic situation they faced previously and it is painful to them...not only physically but also psychologically. It's not something a victim faces alone either. Families are also affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's an everyday struggle for all who are affected, whether directly or indirectly.

I think fangirls should think twice before making such things in jest because they obviously don't know who they are insulting or hurting.

The Adventures of Artemis: First taste of the fandoms.

DISCLAIMER: No names will be revealed to protect the innocent...and for now, the not-so-innocent.

For years, I had been a closeted fan of comic books, Sherlock and Doctor Who for fear of ridicule from my peers. Nobody in my circles shared my enthusiasm for such things, so I was mostly solitary in my interests.

It wasn't until I began spending more time on Facebook that I began to see the emergence of fan pages on my news feed based on my interests. Initially, I was wary, because I am mostly a lone wolf when it comes to socialization. However, when I spied some of the comments made on posts, I decided to start liking a few pages about Loki and Tom Hiddleston.

It started innocently enough, but when new pages popped up, I noticed the decline in respect. A lot of the comments I read and a lot of the pages that started began to sound sexually sinister. There was one certain page where the owner consistently mentioned what Tom did to her lady parts and I was absolutely disgusted. I immediately avoided going onto that page.

Now, I have always been one who would avoid doing anything to call attention to a celebrity if I saw them in public. I always felt that the only way to be a fan was to be respectful and keep any insidious comments to myself. I live in an NHL city and have seen my fair share of NHL players everywhere I went, including in places that I have worked. My city is a huge fishbowl and is full of obsessed puck bunnies who want to bag a player. (A Puck Bunny is someone who claims to be a fan of a certain NHL team or player not because she likes hockey, but that she wants to date the players.) I have met a few NHL players in my time and I have always been thanked for not calling attention to them and also for showing respect.

So, when I see actors and actresses being objectified because of a certain character they portray, I start to become annoyed and disgusted.

Cut to December 2013...I discovered a fan page that was about Tom Hiddleston.

When I initially followed the page, I made a few comments here or there and was generally well received. I had excellent rapport with the admins, especially one who was as eloquent and polite as Tom himself.

After a few weeks of interaction, it became known that there would be an admin contest for the page. In the earlier months, I had tried to become admin for a couple of pages...one never even got back to me and the other suddenly dropped me after one day of posting (without warning or feedback). Initially I shied away from trying because of those experiences, but eventually decided to go for broke and throw my hat into the ring.

Within a few days of the announcement, I put in my application and kept my fingers crossed. The contest was to close on January 20th, so I had more than a month of waiting until the decisions were made. I can honestly say that it was a difficult wait, even though it was just over a month.

Every day, I had my phone glued to my side, checking it obsessively for messages or clues about the upcoming decision. I drove coworkers, friends and family insane with my nervous behaviour. Although I had a good feeling that I would be chosen, I was still worrying about the outcome. What would I do if I wasn't chosen?

I eventually got to the point where I prepared myself for disappointment. I had no experience as an admin and I wasn't one who interacted obsessively with the page. Whenever I would interact with the admin, we would build a good rapport until two other fangirls would try and steal his attention away from me.

It was starting to get on my nerves because I had a wonderful connection with this admin and one of the two fangirls was desperate for his attention. I am not a person who likes to be interrupted, especially when I am locked into an interesting conversation on any medium of communication. This fangirl could have started her own thread with him but kept muscling in on mine...I had enough! So, the next time I commented on one of the admins posts and he started interacting with me, I resorted to interrupting the fangirl whenever she tried to interrupt the admin and I.

Cut to early January, on a Saturday evening. I was sitting on my couch, curled up with my phone, when I received the message that would change my life. By that point, I had resigned myself to accepting whatever fate I was given and I was prepared for disappointment and was ready to move on. But, when I read the message, I dropped my phone in shock.

When I retrieved my phone and re-read the message, I began to forget about the preparing I had done for any eventual disappointment and began planning my posting strategy for the days to come. I had been chosen to be an admin for the page...and I was chosen by my admin friend himself.

I chose my admin name to be Artemis and I vowed that I would do everything I could to be respectful to Tom Hiddleston and to have my posts reflect my vow.

And thus, my journey as Artemis began...

Obsession...You're My Obsession...

When you think of obsession today, you are vaguely reminded of the song by Animotion from the 1980s.

"I will have you...yes I will have you. I will find a way and I will have you."

While the lyrics are somewhat a playful take on lust, it is a frightening reality in the world of fandoms. Granted, everyone has fantasized about an actor or a singer or a celebrity. It's human nature. However, when your fantasies spill into your everyday life, there is cause for concern.

The biggest thing that fuels fangirl/fanboy behaviour is obsession. No longer is their actor a human being...they have become an object of twisted desire. A lot of celebrities go out in public incognito so that they won't be harassed by obsessed fans.

I am not talking about your garden variety admirer who sends gifts and creepy letters. I am talking about individuals who find out where a celebrity is staying or living if it's in their vicinity...hanging out at an actor's favourite restaurant to interrupt their dinner for an autograph. Individuals who run after the car a celebrity is leaving Comic-Con in because they wanted to meet them.

If you look at the images of Benedict Cumberbatch with fans, you can clearly tell when he is annoyed at being harassed at public functions. What you thought was the friendly point isn't what it seems. When he is annoyed with a fan, he will point at them with a tired look upon his face. When he isn't annoyed, he is smiling genuinely and looking like he is enjoying himself. Sadly, a lot of fangirls and fanboys cannot tell the difference even though it is plainly obvious. If you were wondering, he was the one whose car was chased down by an obsessed fan at Comic-Con.

<----- Exhibit A: Tired and annoyed at being hounded.  He and Louise Brealey were at lunch and a performance when they were approached by two fangirls. (P.S. It killed me to post this image as I don't like scouring the internet for impromptu pictures of him trying to live as a normal human being.)

Tom Hiddleston is a fan favourite because he always takes the time for his fans, even when he is
tired, sick or possibly even annoyed. But even he has his limits...and rightfully so. His phone has been hacked, his private online accounts have been hacked...his hotel room in Toronto and shooting locations for Crimson Peak were leaked all over the internet. Yet, being the admirable soul that he is, he still tries to put a smile on his fans' faces...even if he is frightened beyond belief or sick as a dog.

This kind of behaviour takes its toll on celebrities. They aren't dancing monkeys who perform for our twisted enjoyment, they are professionals who create and display art in dramatic form.

Put yourself in their shoes. Would you like to be harassed and followed by obsessed people everywhere you go? Would you like to be afraid that you won't be able to pursue a normal relationship with your soulmate because they will get death threats? Would you enjoy being approached in an airport and hounded when you're trying to catch your flight home? I know I wouldn't...so I choose to let them be.

Perhaps fangirls and fanboys should follow my example and do the same!!!

Spoiler Alert: Latest Series and Seasons Ruined

We have all been there. A new and interesting show has been discovered and you want to find out more about the characters and the storyline...or, the latest season of your favourite program has finally aired or you are eagerly anticipating it to air.

So, you log into Tumblr and are besieged by posts and gifs and images of your favourite programs, books and characters. Your eyes widen in disbelief and fury when you see that people who have already seen the latest episodes or seasons have ruined what you were eagerly waiting for with spoilers, shipping and theories. The latest episodes haven't been released in your area yet and now you already know what has happened and what will happen. Now, your favourite series is ruined and you are disappointed.

Because of rampant rumors and posts of plot theories and explanations and "feels" brought on by what you were once excited to see, several new shows, and several current shows with new seasons have been spoiled.

We here in North America aren't lucky enough to see BBC One shows like Sherlock and Doctor Who until months after those in Europe have seen it. Those of us who are busy parents and have careers and lives rely on our PVRs to tape missed episodes. Others rely on downloads and iTunes to get the latest episodes and films because they can't afford the exorbitant prices of theatre tickets or simply do not have the time to rush to see the latest films.

So what gives fangirls and fanboys the right to ruin our favourite shows because they got to see it first? Canadians don't jump on Tumblr and discuss the final season of Republic of Doyle before the other continents air it. So why should the rest of the world ruin Sherlock, Doctor Who and other series?

I have a massive bone of contention in regards to the Sherlock series, not just because of the spoilers, but also with the "shipping".

"Shipping", according to the Tumblr savvy crowd is the act of pairing two characters together in a romantic partnership. You will see name mashups like "FrostIron" (Loki and Iron Man), "JohnLock" (John Watson and Sherlock Holmes), "CapWidow" (Captain America and Black Widow) all in the spirit of fandoms.

While some of the pairings are passable, others are quite bizarre. As someone who has enjoyed the  plays, programs and novels about Sherlock Holmes since early childhood, I do take offence to the "Johnlock" pairing because neither Sherlock nor Watson were homosexual. Now, don't start thinking that I am homophobic as I am passionate about equal rights for the LGBT community and have signed several petitions and have given my support to them so they could enjoy the same freedom as the straight community.

I am quite sure that a large number of those who ship Watson and Holmes have never read any of the books or seen the classic series with Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, which is the really offensive part because I grew up with all of that and was a fan before many of these fangirls/fanboys were even born. I don't appreciate my childhood solaces and interests ruined by someone who hasn't given those same mediums their full attention.

Don't mistake shipping with modern fanfiction because a lot of fanfiction before the rise of Tumblr was created by people who were longtime fans of their subjects and those slash stories were pretty much taboo.

Discussing "feels", also known as feelings brought on by a particular series, film or book is alright in moderation. Before the rise of the internet, people have gathered around water coolers to discuss a recent episode of a prime time television show. But fangirls and fanboys should have the courtesy of keeping their feels out of Tumblr until the series and movies have been released worldwide...or at least put the two most courteous words in the world to the rest of us fans...SPOILER ALERT...in the title or even in the blog description.

Plot theories are generally harmless, but, if it involves something that hasn't been released to everyone, fangirls and fanboys should keep it to themselves.

Generally, fangirls and fanboys should keep a lot of things to themselves, especially where new shows, episodes, films or books haven't been released yet.

Fan Shaming: Driven by Envy or Jealousy?

Fan shaming is the latest phenomenon running rampant in all the fandoms. I touched on it briefly in my last post, but now we will focus on it more fully.

As mentioned before, not everyone in the fandom is guilty of this disrespectful behaviour, but it has happened so much and so severely that it needs to be exposed. 

You're probably tired of hearing about Coriolanus and it's impact on the Hiddlestoners and Tom himself, but it's the most severe example of where fan shaming clouded what was supposed to be a wonderful performance for Tom and a wonderful experience for fans and patrons.

Cut to Tumblr, the mecca for all fandoms, and you will find post after post condemning fans for their behaviour at Coriolanus, whether in the audience or at the stage door. 

One blog post, titled "Utterly Appalled", written by ravenguest, starts off with "I can't even talk about the play as I am so disgusted by the way in which people were treating the wonderful MR.H. This man is grace incarnate, polite, sweet, friendly and generous with his time. How do fans repay him? They treat him like a piece of meat." (ravenguest, 2013)

I wouldn't refer to this post as fan shaming because her observations are fairly accurate and informed. I honestly don't blame her for everything written in her post because it refers to the other appalling behaviours that most fangirls and fanboys exhibit in public, especially when they have the chance to see their idol up close.

Another untitled blog post, written by hiddlestonandtom, is a shining example of fan shaming:

"But it does seem that a number of “fans” have only been interested in going to Coriolanus to get to meet Tom. There are those that have gone multiple times - while I don’t care what you spend your money on - it’s incredibly selfish seeing how hard it is to get tickets. It’s also incredibly selfish to then do the stage door multiple times - while you’re chuffed that you’ve “met” Tom multiple times, your selfishness has meant that someone else (equally deserving) has missed out. Shame." (hiddlestonandtom, 2013)

I agree that the vast majority of fangirls were interested in seeing Coriolanus because of Tom...whether it was the chance to meet him or the chance to see him up close. But the fact that there is a complaint about those who were able to get multiple tickets is irrelevant. In August, I was able to purchase two second row tickets to the sold-out performance of "Hamlet" starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Does that mean that I am a selfish woman for planning my purchase down to a T?

Granted, she also mentions that some of those who got tickets to multiple performances gravitated towards the stage door multiple times, and I do agree that it's selfish because everyone deserves a chance to meet Tom if it's in the cards. If someone has met Tom multiple times, they should step back and let the man meet his other fans. It's only fair.

When I attend the performance of "Hamlet", I'm not even going to bother going to the stage door because I already know it will be a crowded, unorganized mess. I am also pretty sure that the vast majority of people at the stage door will be the fangirls and I refuse to be defined by their behaviour. I am also lucky enough to have Benedict's autograph, so I don't see any point in mobbing him for it. Now, if I somehow get to meet him in between the end of the performance and his departure, then I will let him know what I thought of the performance. He and his fellow thespians are wary of hearing things other than "You are tremendously talented" or "I appreciate your hard work in your performance" and deserve the respect they've earned throughout their careers.

Getting back on topic, the fan shaming of the second article is too generalized. I am sure that not all fans who purchased tickets to multiple performances were huddled at the stage door, salivating for a chance to meet Tom again. Perhaps they got those tickets because they loved the performance so much...or maybe they didn't have a good experience the first time because of rabid fangirl behaviour and disrespect. You can't just shame a whole group of people based on a select few. Plus, she doesn't sound like someone who was actually there, she's basing everything off of Mr Hiddleston's tweets regarding the situations at the stage door and box office and another blogger's post. If I didn't know any better, she was jealous that she wasn't able to get tickets.

A lot of fans were unable to get tickets. Not all of them resorted to fan shaming to make themselves feel better about the situation. I am from Canada...it is super hard to get tickets to overseas performances unless you are on the ball. I was never able to get tickets to Coriolanus, but I was able to see it via satellite through the National Theater Live series at my local theatre. I am happy for those respectful fans who were able to get tickets because live theater is a wonderful experience.

If you read further into the article, she also basically accuses Mr. Hiddleston himself of fan shaming. In my experiences of being a bullying victim, it's the bully who exhibits the behaviour and then accuses someone else of it.

It's the generalizations and uninformed comments that have given fan shaming the power that it has today. Not only is it ignorant, but it is disrespectful as well. It is not unlike the behaviour of a bully. There are fans who have been lucky enough to have met Tom who were shamed because they were at the stage door after the performance. Not every single fan who lined up was rude and disrespectful to the staff...there were people who waited there patiently for their turn.

There's no crime in trying to meet your idol...the real crime is lashing out against those who were successful because jealousy runs rampant among fangirls. If you are one of the fortunate ones, you will be shamed for "hounding" your favourite actor to meet him and accused of being a fangirl when you just wanted to let them know how much you enjoyed and appreciated their work. Yes, I know you respectful fans exist out there...I am one of them.

Fan shaming is one of the biggest reasons why I abandoned the fandom in the first place. I believe in being a fan on my own terms and I will only condemn fangirl behaviours if they are disrespectful and/or harm others, including the celebrities involved. If I go and meet one of my favourite actors, it is because I wanted to let them know how much I enjoyed their work. An autograph is a bonus, but I will never press for it. I believe in giving them the respect they and their work deserve.

You will have to be prepared for when "Hamlet" starts in August because I am highly certain that the fan shaming will be even worse during those three months of the performance. Those of us who took advantage of the two presales will have targets on our backs because the performance officially sold out on the first day of the public sale. (The online queue was made up of at least 30,000 hopeful people attempting to get tickets) Please be prepared for the backlash because there are a lot of disappointed and angry fangirls out there who are chomping at the bit to start shaming those who are there, whether they are disrespectful or not.

 I refuse to be a part of it. Those who are disrespectful will already make themselves look foolish in front of everyone, including Benedict himself and there's no need to further exacerbate it.

If you are part of the elite group I am in, as in the group that was able to get tickets, I implore you to treat Benedict with respect and save the ogling and disrespectful behaviour for the privacy of your own home. He already has had issues with a few fans and is wary of being treated like an object. He is a human being...human beings get tired...they get annoyed...and they get hurt. And, I will be damned if anyone does anything to hurt Benedict because he is a wonderful, kind individual who deserves all the love and respect he's earned.

I do not own the excerpts from the blog posts I mentioned in this post.

Anatomy of a Fangirl (or Fanboy)

Disclaimer: The following description is only about those who give fans a bad name. I am well aware that there are a lot of those in the fandom that do not fit this description so please don't take offence or think that I am grouping everyone into this category. As mentioned before, a lot of fans are respectful individuals and will never be like what I am about to describe from what I have seen.

They swarm theatres...they swarm the malls...all you hear is how much they love a certain actor or series. You go onto Tumblr, one of their hotspots, and you see post after post of their reactions to a certain episode...in fact, they spoil episode plots to all the popular shows...it is a common, but sorry sight.

Who are such people?

They are the fangirls and fanboys.

Unlike the more respectful fans in the fandoms, they seem more heavily obsessed. All they can talk about is their favourite book, film, show or thespian to the point that they don't know about anything else in the world.

In public places, like a movie theatre, they are frequently heard in line and in the theatres themselves, obsessing over their twisted fantasies and objectifying those they fantasize about. I've seen this first hand.

They go onto Facebook fan pages and share all posts and images they can find to their profiles, ignoring warnings about copyrighted content, such as written work. Their profiles only consist of their obsessions...there's nothing about them personally, not even a rare post about what's going on in their lives.

While on fan pages for actors, they frequently describe how much that particular person makes them swoon and often mention highly sexual things involving the two of them...no matter how far-fetched it sounds.

There are also fan pages started by such individuals which promote disrespect of the actor or actress through treating them only like an object to be controlled and taken. In the fandoms I was a part of, I frequently cringed when I saw how such people talked about Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch...if either man saw these posts, he would be afraid...very, very afraid. It also explains why some actors avoid social media altogether.

Such pages also scour the internet for the latest news and gossip about the celebrities they obsess over. Facebook and Tumblr become plastered with personal announcements and dating rumors. Pictures of Martin Freeman's children were circulated around both sites against his and Amanda Abbington's wishes because Benedict Cumberbatch was in the images as well.

Personal privacy is not something that is considered for the actors. It is a truly frightening thing when you see it firsthand. In the two pages I manage on Facebook, I constantly preach about respect...and I speak out against treating actors like objects. They are human beings, plain and simple!

Fan shaming is probably the worst behaviour exhibited by fangirls and fanboys. During the stretch of Coriolanus last year, Tumblr and Facebook were both filled to the brim with posts of people being shamed for their behaviour at the performances. And, most of the time, those who were being shamed were the ones exposing the bad behaviour of others at the theatre and at the stage door. Even fans who were clever enough to be able to go to more than one performance were shamed because others couldn't go and see it.

This is the behaviour of a bully, plain and simple. Fandoms are joined with the lure of acceptance, but  the fangirls and fanboys quickly show you what a nightmare it really is. People are afraid to post about meeting their favourite actor/actress or getting tickets to the sold out performance of Hamlet because they will be targeted or ridiculed out of sheer jealousy.

You can't easily pick out a fangirl or fanboy on appearance alone. A lot of the cosplayers are respectable fans that like to dress up as their favourite characters. But, that area of the fandom is also riddled with bullying and fan shaming as well. In a world that now preaches tolerance, fans are afraid to be fans on their own terms. It is sad and utterly ridiculous.

Fans should be fans on their own terms...but not if it hurts other fans in the process. Fangirls and fanboys need to respect that golden rule.

The Fandoms Need You!!

Do you like books? Do you like film? Are you a fan of the Avengers? Then there is a fandom for you!

This is basically how you are recruited into the realm of the Fandom. There are fandoms for every book, every film, every graphic novel and even every actor.

Too complex for you? Then here’s a small illustration.

Sally is a fan of the Hobbit, Harry Potter and Tom Hiddleston. There are three fandoms that appeal to her: the Hobbit fandom, the Potterdom, and the fandom known as Hiddlestoners. The “beauty” of fandoms is that you don’t have to choose to be part of one…you can be a part of as many as you like.

That’s how you get sucked in, unfortunately.

Plus, when you become a part of the fandom, you aren’t just you anymore. You are a fangirl/fanboy. A lot of fangirls and fanboys have already developed a very bad reputation. Do you remember when Coriolanus was featured at the Donmar Warehouse last year?

The Hiddlestoner fandom earned a terrible reputation because of the disrespect a select few showed the other patrons and the disrespect they showed to the performers themselves, including Mr. Hiddleston himself. The worst part is that quite a large number of fandom members were completely respectful and innocent. A few bad apples spoiled the entire barrel. They were just rounded together because they were all Hiddlestoners.

I will clarify one caveat about the fangirls/fanboys. Not all of them are crazy, obsessed individuals who live in a dream world. Some of them are professionals…some of them are respectable members of the community…some of them are mothers and fathers…a lot of them are kind, respectable people.

Once you are a part of the fandom, they don’t prepare you for what lies ahead.

However, that’s another story that I will regale you with another time.

Dear reader, please don’t assume that I am attacking every individual in a fandom. I’m just exposing the fandom itself and every negative thing it signifies. For everyone still in the fandom, please be careful and never forget that you are a unique, special individual who means a lot to the world. You don’t need to be defined by what you enjoy…just be yourself!

Introduction

Hello readers!

We live in an age where being nerdy and different is celebrated. There are so many groups we align ourselves to in our innate desire to be accepted among our kind. Being a member of such a group sounds like a utopian paradise for the lonely and the misunderstood who love comic books, films, television series, book series and video games.  As Loki once quipped, "Freedom is life's greatest lie".

Like everything else, these particular interest groups called Fandoms have a dark side that nobody sees until it is too late.

Who am I? I am an avid cypherpunk and former fandom enthusiast. This Blog will chronicle all the insidious behaviours and obsessions that a fandom breeds and abides by.

I am not writing this because I think I am above all those in Fandoms, I just want to expose everything about this farce and bed of lies.

The truth needs to come out.