Are you kidding me?

My trip to London has come and gone...great memories!

I would love to give you a great scene by scene review of Hamlet, however, something else needs to be addressed.

Rules are put in place for a reason. It's not just for our safety, but for everyone else's enjoyment as well...especially in theatres and auditoriums.

I know, with the latest phone technology, taking selfies and pictures is an irresistible compulsion. I have been guilty of snapping them at concerts. But, it's images of me with my fellow concertgoer at Rexall Place, not an unauthorized record of the performance.

When Benedict Cumberbatch's performance run as Hamlet first started, he pleaded with fans to not use their phones while he was on stage. He mentioned how seeing the red recording lights was distracting and vexing.

At the Barbican Center, there is a plethora of signs telling us not to take photos and recordings of the performance. Ignorance cannot be used as an excuse to not following this rule.

My friend and I paid good money for our second row, center stage seats. I stayed up until six in the morning to obtain these hard to get tickets. While I am a fan of Mr. Cumberbatch, I am a bigger fan of Shakespeare.

So you can imagine my anger and annoyance when I caught the two ladies in the first row setting their iPhones to record the audio of the performance. There are ushers everywhere, telling everyone to switch off their phones, so what gives these two idiots the right to break the rules?

My friend and I immediately summoned security and they took action and warned the ladies.

As soon as they saw security focusing on other patrons, they dug into their purses and set their phones to record again.

Security was summoned again, and a manager came down to take the phones away. They tried to say that they didn't understand English but they did.

The performance started and I enjoyed every scene until intermission came along. The manager returned the phones to the ladies and warned them about recording the performance.

You would think by now that they learned their lesson.

NOPE!

As soon as the manager was out of sight, they immediately set their phones to record. Thinking nobody would notice, they hid them in their purses and tried to act natural. Little did they know that I saw everything.

I went through the whole rigamorale with security and management was called again...I hate being a shit disturber, but these ladies were making a mockery of Shakespeare and I was having none of it. It's one thing to go see the play, but to fangirl and try to record the performance, it is a slap to the face for other people who are there to enjoy Shakespeare.

What happened next really upset me. Instead of making the ladies leave for their blatant disrespect of the rules, Barbican management did nothing. I was flabbergasted. People have been kicked out of Rexall Place for much smaller infractions.

It's plain and simple...if you break the rules, there are consequences.

This rule basically went unenforced and those ladies got away with it. Total bullshit.

If they had that no recording rule in place, they should have enforced it better. Security did everything they could. Management dropped the ball.

I have no idea if Benedict and the cast were informed of the mismanagement of the recording, and I doubt they ever will. All I can say is that I am extremely disappointed in the manager who did nothing.

And to those ladies who recorded the second half, I hope you can live with hurting the man you came to see. Piracy affects everyone!

Fat Shaming

This post is a little off-topic in relation to fandoms, but I need to expose this farce for what it really is.

A YouTube comedienne, who will remain nameless in this post (because I have no patience to look up names of people who are ignorant), has recently come under fire for speaking out against overweight people. As someone who is plus size herself, I need to (pardon the pun) weigh in on this bullshit filled travesty known as "fat shaming".

Shaming someone for their body type is not only rude and disrespectful, but it also cuts to the quick and tells the person it is directed towards that they are second rate because they don't have a perfectly sculpted body. I don't shame slim people for being too skinny and I don't shame morbidly obese people for being too big. God didn't create us all to be cookie-cutter replicas.

I, myself, was a victim of fat shaming today. I wanted to get a navel piercing done today at Dragon FX Kingsway. It was my go-to place for getting my tattoos, so I decided to go there first. In the past, I had been treated with nothing but kindness and respect when I got my ink done. Today was a whole, different story.

Piercings are done on a walk-in basis only. I went to reception and requested my navel piercing. The girl who I spoke with told me that it was an "anatomical" procedure and I had to have my navel examined first. I thought, "no big deal.". I had done extensive research on the procedure and knew that my navel wouldn't pose a problem. (Yes, I looked into what could and could not be pierced. I have a deep navel with enough skin to pierce.). I naturally assumed that I would be taken into a separate room and be examined properly by a professional.

WRONG!!!

I was told to show my navel at reception, in front of other people who were waiting for their piercings. And, after a quick glance that lasted a millisecond, the kid at the counter refused to do my piercing, saying it could only be done on a "flat surface". How humiliating! It didn't help that all the other girls there were super skinny. I was mortified.

The girl I spoke with then asked me if I wanted anything else pierced. Yeah right! Even if I wanted another place pierced, I wasn't going to let them do it. I walked away, dejected.

Thing is, if they had given me an explanation and just warned me of any consequences, I would have understood and been fine with the rejection. If there were liability issues that they didn't want to deal with, that's valid too. To be given a mere glance and then be turned away because I am not slim and skinny like everyone else is different. It is fat shaming.

I know of many plus sized ladies, who are larger than I am, that have navel piercings like the one I wanted. I am well aware of any resulting consequences from such piercings and was prepared to deal with them.

The treatment at Dragon FX was terrible. There is no way that I will ever spend my money there again. They lost my business for good.

I will never sugarcoat it. I am fat...that's a fact. I'm not deluded enough to think that I can traipse around in bikinis and super-tight clothing that showcase the fat and the stretch marks resulting from pregnancy. But if I want to do something to my body, it should be my choice. So what if my body isn't perfect? It has survived things most girls don't even consider. It's survived bullying. It's gone through pregnancy and has given life to my daughter. It survives anxiety and depression to this day. And now, some snot nosed kid tells me my body isn't good enough to get a piercing and that only skinny people should get it? FUCK THAT!!!

Don't judge a book by its cover. Fat doesn't mean you can't get a piercing or a tattoo. Fat shouldn't be a limit for anyone. Love yourself and love your body for what it is.

As for me, I am not giving up. I will find a place who will do the piercing for me.

Edmonton: Fangirl central

When you think of Edmonton, you automatically remember such things as the former glory of the Oilers, the embarrassing Canada Day Riot and the British journalist who called my city "Deadmonton."

We just hosted Red Bull Crashed Ice. We host the Canadian Finals Rodeo. We have hosted the Edmonton Indy and also the Tim Horton's Brier Curling tournament.

Sadly, what celebrities and NHL players alike have discovered, is that Edmonton is chock full of puck bunnies and fangirls. Don't believe me? Ask Chris Pronger and some of the Oilers. They can't even go to the bar before being approached by fangirls.

I'm not talking about actual hockey fans who love the sport like I do. I'm talking about girls who like hockey for the cute players and the six figure salaries they earn. What has our world come to that a girl's goal in life is to have sex with an NHL player and get rich off of their work?

Much like my rants about actors and such, professional athletes are people too. They aren't always happy to sign autographs and some just want to spend time with their families in public. 

Sadly, my city is a fishbowl and decent NHL players don't last here. Granted, the Oilers have a terrible organization and make horrible decisions that cost them a chance at the Stanley Cup, but we've lost players because of fangirls. Just look up Chris Pronger's stint here and you will understand.

Now that we have been granted the first round pick and are more than likely drafting Connor McDavid, I know he won't last here because he will be mobbed everywhere he goes. He could be going to the Pint or even New Asian Village and will never be left alone.

To all the fangirls out there, how about learning something about the sport itself and enjoy it for what it is instead of latching onto a player because he is cute? If I can manage to do it, you can too. There is beauty in sports and you will only find it if you pay attention to the game.

In defense of Benedict Cumberbatch

So there is some backlash over Benedict using the word 'coloured' to describe actors of African descent in the UK.

Time to give it my two cents...and you're probably not going to like it. Well, suck it up. Someone has to defend this wonderful man and I am more than willing to bat for him. He deserves no less from me.

When you hear the name Benedict Cumberbatch, you probably associate him with Sherlock. Not his other roles. Not his work with various. charities. Not his social activism.

So what gives you the right to damn one of the most generous men in the world for an innocent slip of the tongue? He wasn't trying to be offensive! He was trying to tell the host of Tavis Smiley how hard it is for those UK actors of African descent to find decent roles.

Benedict has been known to champion equal rights, not just for those of African descent or women, but also members of the LGBT community as well. He was horrified when he found out he is a descendent of slave owners and apologized profusely. What more does the man have to do to make people stop criticizing him?

Here's a suggestion...how about instead of being offended, maybe come up with a proper title for those of African descent so that people can describe them in a manner that is politically correct?

Support Our Hiddles!!!

As you know, this blog is about the darker side of fandoms...but today, I wish to spread a little cheer.

My page, Team Hiddleston, has launched a t-shirt campaign to honor Tom Hiddleston's upcoming birthday. This is the second year we have done this and we would appreciate your support. All of the proceeds from our sale go to UNICEF UK in honor of Tom and his generosity...our gift to the man who has selflessly given so much of himself and his gigantic heart to the Earth.

As we all know, UNICEF supports children everywhere in areas of the world that need our help. Our donations turn into opportunities for education, clean water, food, and medicine. As we have seen in Tom's images from his time in Africa, our money is going to a very worthy cause.

There are regular t-shirts, long sleeved shirts and women's t-shirts available with some of Tom's many words of wisdom.

Please unite with us as Team Hiddleston and purchase a shirt! Click on the link below to get started!

http://www.teespring.com/supportourhiddles2015

*Insert name here*, You Saved My Life!

We've seen it on Facebook...we've seen it on Tumblr...we've seen it on YouTube.

There are actually people out there who credit actors, actresses and athletes for "saving" their lives. My response to that is...ummmmm how?

One fangirl, aptly named Bennysgirl (cue eye roll) said once "I am having a really tough year with family and everything...but Benedict has saved my life."

How can a single individual, famous or not, save the life of someone they've never laid eyes upon or even met?

A borderline creepy declaration, is it not? How would Benedict Cumberbatch react to that? He would more than likely be more than just a little confused and scared.

Numerous fangirls have declared to Tom Hiddleston that he has saved their lives. After saying thank you, he has modestly told them "I haven't done anything".

And, that's true...what have Tom and Benedict done besides provide entertainment to us?

I'm certain that Tom and Ben haven't gone to each and every fangirl and helped them out with anxiety or family issues. They have brightened our lives with their smiles and talent, that's for sure...but they haven't solved any of our life's problems...they have problems of their own. They can't play superhero to us.

I will admit that Benedict's kindness has touched my life recently in the form of an autograph during a dark time in my life, but I will never say that he saved my life. In gratitude of his kindness, I wrote a thank you letter to him and donated to three charities in his honour, including the ALS association.

What possesses these fangirls to say such things? Don't they live in the real world and realize that they can only change their lives themselves?

To say that a stranger who films movies has saved their lives is extremely delusional and childlike. Nothing against fantasy, but there are times when reality needs to sink in. We don't live in a world full of rainbows and unicorns. We live in a world full of pain, corruption and peril.

The only way we can end any of the negative things is to live in the now and use our brains to come up with solutions...not live in a permanent fantasy world.

So, fangirls....the next time you have a problem, how about you look into yourself and see what you can change instead of turning to your heartthrob for help and guidance?

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.