spmahn wrote: I got as far as someone in the audience referring to this Nostalgia Critic nobody [and Al] as [their] "childhood [heroes]" before my eyes rolled up inside of my head and I had to turn it off.
Oh hey, I fixed that for you. Nuance is pivotal, don't you agree?
I hear your frustration and I see that it wasn't what you needed
I can appreciate that.
Here you are browsing for updates, trivia, stories, etc. as one does, and while you were expecting the kind of information you want in an atmosphere you'd like
Instead, you felt maybe disappointed that the audience wasn't "avid" fans on your level. or worse. They took a moment to be sentimental and appreciative.
Cuz If anyone's taught me that empathy goes a long way, it's our boy Al. He keeps comments upbeat and tactful while often sprinkling in an understanding what people were trying to do even though said behavior was getting under his skin.
You know who else is like that?
Doug Walker. An influential hugely successful webentertainer who maintained his fanbase's support by showing
kindness, empathy, and tact much like Al has.
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE
because you know who else does their best to carry on that same compassion and empathy?
I don't know if you are actively aware of this guy but let me tell you about him.
He's that someone in the audience who knew a lot of the answers to the questions at the panel, strives to keep his own contributions to Q&As somewhat unique for the sake of more knowledgeable fans, and often loses a lot of emotional mental energy doing so because of his struggles with mental health. ......... That someone who set up a topic on WOWAY so, in case any locals wanted to attend, they could know more about it. Who is the one you mock so needlessly.
because he had the
nerve to preface his question with a brief sentiment about two of his heroes sharing the stage together.
Literal. Heroes. People who set a glowing example to him that you can be successful in your life and your work while staying both kind
and unabashedly nerdy... Two people whose work comforted him in his darkest hours.
HOW. DARE. HE. BRIEFLY EXPRESS HIS APPRECIATION
I guess he forgot that Spmahn would be listening, right?
Thing is, right now that someone is trying so very hard to assume the best in you when you're behaving like an entitled, snooty, JERK over something as ridiculous as how entertaining a convention Q&A was for the people who weren't there.
Maybe you're just having an off day. Maybe I'd have easily enjoyed a conversation with you at a VIP party.
Prove me right.
TL;DR
Next time you decide to talk like a jerk about your fellow fans, be a little careful. You don't know whether it's someone among your tribe. Especially about behavior that has no reasonable effect on you.
My eyes are rolling, too, fellow fan. Have a better day that you did when you wrote this.
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edit: apologies to anyone bothered by my sticking up for myself here. Normally I ignore these things but when it's in your own community and not merely the comments section on Youtube, it would be remiss to not give a firm reminder to treat others the way you want to be treated.
Coming up next: my Al related experiences at the con