???????? Yep, Another Inquiry

[kriadydragon]

A small discussion coupled with a comment I read some time ago on Gateworld has finally provoked me into asking a question I've been wanting to ask for a while. For the record, this is merely an inquiry and should it escalate into a controversy causing unnecessary hostility then I will delete it. People have a right to their opinions and do not need to be bashed for it.

Is it just me (and possibly several other Sheppard fans) but does Sheppard get character bashed quite a lot? Or at least a lot more than McKay?

Now, being a Sheppard fan, rather protective of the characters I like, and with the broad spectrum of how a character can be veiwed, it might just be my personal opinion. Still, I've never really come across stories that dis McKay as badly as some stories have dissed Sheppard. Yes, I'm not a big McKay fan, but I would still never put his character down as badly as I've seen some writers put Sheppard down. Or maybe they don't realize they're doing it and it's simply the way they view Sheppard? I don't know. It's just that some stories come across, to me, as a slight toward Sheppard's character. Sometimes even as a way to put McKay's character on a pedestal.

As for the comment on Gateworld, it was extremely spiteful not only toward Sheppard but Sheppard fans as well. I was so ticked I couldn't even think of a response. After that, I refused to venture beyond my regular threads. I hang out mostly in the Sheppard whump and Thunk thread and I have yet to ever see anything said about McKay as mean as that one comment about Sheppard had been. And, from what I hear, there have been many of such Sheppard-bashing comments made leading to controversy that has driven many from the forum.

That's not to say Rodney bashing comments have not been made or Rodney-bashing stories don't exist. Story-wise, I've yet to come across any and I would assume that it would be Shep-whumpers doing the bashing.  The authors I read, all mostly Shep whumpers, handle Rodney like Rodney rather than altering his character just to get a desired result.

What really has me curious is - if this is true and not just me - why all the dislike toward poor Shep?

I do know there are a lot more McKay fans than Sheppard fans. I also know that the majority of McKay-whump writers handle Sheppard 's character with respect.

But no matter who is bashed more, I find character-bashing in general rather immature. If you're not a big fan of a character, there's no need to write a story just to put that character down. I find it unfair to the fans of that character, as well as hypocritical if you're of the type who doesn't like to have their character bashed.

Comments

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Oh, snaps. Nicely said. I've been getting a little annoyed by all the "Changes, ew! I'm no longer watching the show" attitude, how people are angry one minute then excited the next. Threatening to snub the show then getting all happy once spoilers start coming out.

It's just a freakin' show. I've yet to ever have a show I ended up hating. I take a show for what it is, not what I want it to be. And if there's occasional whumping involved that simply makes it all the better.But I won't stop watching a show just because there isn't.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

Heh. Must be honest. I'm one of those people. I'm so upset about HOUSE MD, my other show with my other fave, that I want the show to TANK TANK TANK! Yeah...it is just a show, and I know that. But I was so excited at the end of last year and now it's just killed the excitment and ruined everything for me. So..yeah. ::Sigh::

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

Stupid finger. It posted before I was done.

All I was going to add was that, I'm very passionate about things I love. If you can't tell. LOL

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Then it must have screwed up big time. The show, I mean, not your finger.

I'm passionate but I'm not picky. There were shows I've gotten into that were either not that great or just plain sucked, but I would watch them anyways out of boredom. When cancelled I didn't really care. There are also shows I've gotten bored with (Like Prison Break although the new season looks promising. And Lost but it started picking up) Yet would still stick with it although not in a direct way (watch some epsisodes but not all.)

I think if you are passionate about a show, then a show has to really mess up for you to hate it. I've had shows almost do that to me, but I went the route of "That episode didn't exist" to keep the show from being ruined for me.

[clarkangel.livejournal.com]

I tend to watch a show for one character. I like Heroes, and can watch it in Gen, although I'm still mostly interested in Mohinder, but it holds my interest otherwise. SGA I'm in it for Shep and Shep alone. House, I'm all about Chase. couldn't care less about the other characters, although House can amuse me because Hugh Laurie is good. But he's not why I watch. So with nothing to look fwd to on House now, I'm bumming. But that always ends up happening to me. Well..not always. I gave up SMALLVILLE easy enough. Loved Clark, until season 3 when the show made me love Lex, who I had hated, and loathe Clark. LOL

[drufan.livejournal.com]

Do you read Joe Mallozi's blog? There have been some commentors that have just been absolutely rude. Insulting the writers, actors, producers and anyone else they can sink their fangs into. I can see disagreeing or not liking the decisions but actually attacking is just ludicrous. Oi.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Nope, haven't read his blog, but I hear a lot about it, especially all the negative crap from commentors. I think some are merely out to start arguments. Probably thinking it their fifteen minutes of fame or something. Either that or are of the type that think they can do a better job.