Answer Me This, Flist

[anogete]

I have a question for you, flist.

I was involved in an LJ discussion in a community yesterday, and the crux of it was finding humor through making fun of badly written or executed books/movies/programs/etc. When was was in high school, I was friends with people who spent all of their time making fun of the world - the people, the school we went to, the classwork, the city, everything. They never wanted to discuss real interests with me, nor did they seem to have a true passion for anything. By the time I was a senior, I had cut ties with all of my friends for this reason. I thought I was better off on my own than with people who were so mean, who spent their time making fun of things to make themselves feel better about their empty lives.

Now, let me say that I don't think that everyone who makes fun of something is doing it in a negative way, nor do I think they are all doing it for self defense purposes. Sometimes it is just simply finding humor in a situation. However...

I have never read a book or fanfiction, watched a movie or television program, or gone to a social function with the sole purpose of gathering information so I could make fun of it, be it in my head or to others in person or on the internet. There are so many wonderful things in this world that will entertain and/or touch me. Why would I spend my valuable time on something that I intend to viciously poke fun at? If it's bad, then I don't read it or watch it. Why would I? Humor can be found in so many other things. It doesn't make sense to spend my time being mean. And making fun of something that you consider to be sub par or not measuring up to your high standards is being mean, especially when that something wasn't intended to be bad in the first place. I know, I know... Some movies, books, fanfics are intended to be bad, and that is another matter entirely. The creator has made that piece of media for people to watch/read and giggle over. It is humor. I think it is fairly evident when I come across situations such as these. The movie/book was made to be lovingly poked fun at by fans.

Let's stick with the book example. Why would someone who dislikes a particular book read that book (and other books associated with it) simply to poke fun? Why not read a book you enjoy? If you're looking for a laugh, why not read a humorous book you enjoy? I don't understand why anyone would read something they consider horrible just for the sake of making fun. It comes across as very childish to me. I want to read something that will become important to me, something I will love and enjoy. I don't want to read something stupid and then act like I'm cool because I'm totally making fun of it. How dumb is that?

So, yeah... I guess that's my question. Do you read/watch things for the sole purpose of poking fun at them when you aren't a fan of the creator or piece of media? And, if so, why do you do it? I'm not trying to attack; I'm just trying to understand. Because, on this, my brain just does not compute.

Comments

[marasmine.livejournal.com]

I have never understood why people waste their time on something they know they aren't going to like. I've given up on things other people think are wonderful, I've enjoyed things other people think are awful. But if I'm not enjoying something at all then I will walk away from it without regrets. There are so many things I really want to read that I don't need to read things I don't enjoy (except in dire emergencies when there is no other reading matter available!).

Bitching and complaining is a hobby for some people. I think the internet lets it get more out of hand because we have that cosy separation and hopeful anonymity. I will admit to getting carried away on occasion, but I am not proud of it. Nobody (except moderators and betas) is forced to read anything outside of school/work. Nobody is forced to watch TV or films (okay - except critics and censors). If more people used their ability to get up and walk away I'm sure they would be much happier.

But to show that it isn't an internet only phenomenon you get a story from the dim and distant days when the internet only had six people using it and Pong was the height of video gaming! When we got married we went to a small family run hotel in Malta for our honeymoon. There was a group of old people staying there - seven or eight of them. They sat together and it became clear that they were a family: Mum and Dad and their children with their spouses. They all seemed ancient to us. The youngest was probably fifty-something. They ate their evening meal about the same time as us every day. And every day they complained loudly and bitterly about the menu, the food, the heat, the roads and the fact that every meal came with fries and side salad. We were very surprised to learn that they had been coming to the hotel for the last ten years - same week, same group, same everything - and intended to keep going there for as long as possible. It has never made any sense to me.

I suppose part of the 'being mean' thing is fitting in with the group or maybe a sense of comfort in knowing that it is going to be bad and not expecting to be surprised. Or maybe the trainwreck response of needing to know how bad it really is. But I think you are right to pity the people whose lives are so empty. Then just shrug and walk away from them because you can do that where they so obviously can't!

[anogete.livejournal.com]

Ha! Those grumpy people at the hotel in Malta are hilarious. I can't imagine being so negative about everything, but I guess that is just in some people's personality. I'm no Sally Sunshine most of the time, but I don't think I'm a downer about everything either. It sounds like they just found comfort in bitching about anything that crossed their paths.