Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 237,556
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Feb 6, 2022 2:36:52 GMT -5
It's all relative, but even if you count the absolute worst segments of pro wrestling fandom, I think there's a lot worse fandoms in general. SCJerk comes closest to the absolute dregs of fandom like the Fandom Menace, ComicsGate, Snyder Cultists, TrekBros, Homestuck, etc. Terrace House, whose fanbase drove Hana Kimura to suicide...
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Feb 6, 2022 5:10:50 GMT -5
I think the most toxic fanbases are the ones who either ignore the toxicity (My little Pony and it's Nazi problem) or embrace it like some point of pride (Snyder cult). I don't think either is the case in AEW, it just has the standard internet fanbase problem, with some people drawn to whiteknighting for whatever reason, but those types are in the minority and generally aren't seen as something to be proud of.
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Feb 6, 2022 8:23:56 GMT -5
There’s toxic elements in every passionate fanbase, it’s nothing exclusive to AEW, WWE or any other wrestling promotion.
But, as has been said, some in the AEW fanbase are quick to jump to defense when it comes to criticism of the product. And there’s especially a tendency to invoke WWE when doing so, as though seemingly being better than WWE should be good enough. Think of how much ground “better than WWE” covers on the quality spectrum. It’d be like saying people should be content with a D- just because you weren’t getting an F. No, fix the shit up that is stopping you from getting more As and Bs.
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Post by Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! on Feb 6, 2022 9:51:55 GMT -5
wrestling fandom in general is fairly toxic. singling out AEW when it's a much bigger problem than that isn't really fair. sure there's crazies who won't hear a bad word about AEW, but that's also true of WWE and New Japan, Triple A, even Impact or GCW.
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clifford
King Koopa
Shingo Takagi stan
Posts: 10,683
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Post by clifford on Feb 6, 2022 10:19:42 GMT -5
There is a certain subset of fan, first found in ROH in the early 2010s, then in NJPW during the Elite era, and now in AEW, who are just unbearable. They are just awful people to deal with. Severely entitled, hypercrticial of everything, and looks down on/makes fun of every other type of wrestling fan- massive superiority complex.
When AEW first started I was worried they would drown out a lot of other fans and make it harder for casual fans to get into AEW. Thankfully that hasn't happened and their numbers have actually dwindled from what I see/experience.
No idea where these type of fans have migrated to lol, or maybe a lot of them have got some sense in the last few years. I don't see them as much as I used to, though those that remain are definitely still noticeable.
FWIW I find the worst fans out there at the moment to be the ones that relish in every litttle mistake AEW and other non-WWE companies do, and use it to tar entire companies with ridiculous sweeping statements.
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Post by smokinvokoun86 on Feb 6, 2022 10:46:52 GMT -5
As a fan, I will admit to defensiveness. As someone says, it is probably due to wanting a legit alternative so bad, and probably some fans feel if AEW makes a mistake or if people criticize it, then it’s all over, which is a admittedly ridiculous thought to be honest. Probably the worst case of it was last year’s explosion botch, which might have had the worst case of outside fans either being legit angry or making fun of the company and some probably thought that was AEW’s “Finger Poke of Doom” moment. And that probably set off the fanbase in a fit of hyper defensiveness for a bit.
But I think people need to realize that as AEW grows, no matter how good you are, that people will criticize it more. And yeah, as fan, I will admit we need thicker skin. But at the same time, outside fans who nitpick for a gotcha moment also suck.
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Post by holyshida on Feb 6, 2022 10:48:08 GMT -5
WWE fans in general are much worse, some of them have that superiority complex and arrogance about them that I hate. Also you see accounts on social media made simply to shit on AEW, they're like a cult and defend everything they do, they're that far gone to bother with
AEW fans for the most part are fine, though I got called racist by several Cargill fans just for saying that she wasn't ready to be TBS champion. Also a Britt fan DM me death threats for saying I hated her in ring promo last week, you know the one where she just stroked her own ego for 5 mins and nobody interrupted her
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ASYLUMHAUSEN
Fry's dog Seymour
GIFs | Shitposts | Fun
Posts: 24,509
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Post by ASYLUMHAUSEN on Feb 6, 2022 10:51:38 GMT -5
There’s toxic elements in every passionate fanbase, it’s nothing exclusive to AEW, WWE or any other wrestling promotion. But, as has been said, some in the AEW fanbase are quick to jump to defense when it comes to criticism of the product. And there’s especially a tendency to invoke WWE when doing so, as though seemingly being better than WWE should be good enough. Think of how much ground “better than WWE” covers on the quality spectrum. It’d be like saying people should be content with a D- just because you weren’t getting an F. No, fix the shit up that is stopping you from getting more As and Bs. I agree with your central point but I feel compelled to address the ‘defensive’ piece in the overall sense of how I’ve seen it deployed in this thread so far. In a vacuum is the idea true? Yeah. Probably. But, I also think sometimes some of the instances one could cite are a matter of the inherit problem with having a conversation about a topic via text - things get lost in translation and inevitable fall victim to one side of a discussions predisposition or bias. Are there people - using this board as my sole example since it is the only basis I have (I am well versed enough at Twitter to be able to use it without ‘reading the comments’ and also using an app for Twitter that’s not the stock app so I’m able to completely ignore replies and such to not just wrestlers but anything I follow there) to judge these things - who seemingly jump to the defense immediately? Yup. Absolutely. Do I include myself among them? Sure. To a degree. But only in the most obvious of cases (like dude in the early stages of the Danhausen thread) or least that’s how I try to operate. And I also have tried to use the /s signifier at the end to indicate sarcasm (thank you, Reddit) or throw on a really obvious GIF if one fits. But I digress… Anyway, I think a lot of times things get lost in translation. Like if one of the most vocal among us was having the same back and forth in a verbal discussion it would play out waaaay different than it will in text. Hopefully that all makes sense/makes my point. I swear it all made sense in my head hahaa
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 6, 2022 11:05:07 GMT -5
Sometimes I think I’m still fighting a battle not to fall into becoming a toxic fan myself.
From the perspective of someone who can be defensive about the things they enjoy, often it’s because the product/artist/media one is defending perhaps spoke to them on a deeper level, it helped them internally somehow, they see said thing as being really unique, it’s “their thing”. Then you meet other like minded folks who also enjoy the thing, and you bond with them. The trick is not to allow being so bothered by criticism that you start taking an “us vs. the world” attitude.
Maybe it’s like that with some AEW fans, but it’s a problem across wrestling fandom and pop/nerd culture in general. One should remember that there’ll always be people who don’t quite “get” the things you’re into. Sometimes their arguments might not be the most informed about the thing, because they haven’t been exposed to it as much as you and seen the nuances of it. But you still have to be civil, other wise one can fall into SnyderCult territory.
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markymark
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,557
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Post by markymark on Feb 6, 2022 11:23:23 GMT -5
wrestling fandom in general is fairly toxic. singling out AEW when it's a much bigger problem than that isn't really fair. sure there's crazies who won't hear a bad word about AEW, but that's also true of WWE and New Japan, Triple A, even Impact or GCW.
Werent there people defending Russos booking in TNA prime days? That was quite insane lol
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pinja
Unicron
Posts: 3,027
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Post by pinja on Feb 6, 2022 11:23:45 GMT -5
The main difference between common toxicity on the internet and the more unpleasant behavior around here, I feel, has to do with good faith and bad faith. What's happening on unmoderated social media is toxicity without any faith towards other human beings. What's happening around here seems to be mostly happening out of bad faith towards fellow users. Which I consider a good thing, because it can be fixed and generally doesn't stem from bad personalities. When parts of the AEW fanbase react from a place of bad faith, it's just that bit more frustrating, because it's generally believed that AEW has earned the benefit of the doubt. People shouldn't need to earn that same benefit, they should just get it.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 11:24:52 GMT -5
wrestling fandom in general is fairly toxic. singling out AEW when it's a much bigger problem than that isn't really fair. sure there's crazies who won't hear a bad word about AEW, but that's also true of WWE and New Japan, Triple A, even Impact or GCW. Werent there people defending Russos booking in TNA prime days? That was quite insane lol
Oh they're still out there. And the topic, no, but only because its equally as toxic as other fandoms.
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Post by sportatorium on Feb 6, 2022 11:31:14 GMT -5
I'd agree with others who say that there is toxicity on social media for almost any group of fans in any medium. AEW fans (I'm one)still seem to be in the honeymoon phase with the company. Acknowledging missteps, but are generally very happy that the company exists. If someone doesn't like AEW for any reason, I wouldn't try to change their mind or have anything against them. I think that is likely the prevailing view of the fanbase.
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The Ichi
Patti Mayonnaise
AGGRESSIVE Executive Janitor of the Third Floor Manager's Bathroom
Posts: 37,347
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Post by The Ichi on Feb 6, 2022 12:11:26 GMT -5
There’s toxic elements in every passionate fanbase, it’s nothing exclusive to AEW, WWE or any other wrestling promotion. But, as has been said, some in the AEW fanbase are quick to jump to defense when it comes to criticism of the product. And there’s especially a tendency to invoke WWE when doing so, as though seemingly being better than WWE should be good enough. Think of how much ground “better than WWE” covers on the quality spectrum. It’d be like saying people should be content with a D- just because you weren’t getting an F. No, fix the shit up that is stopping you from getting more As and Bs. I guess for me personally it's quite cathartic after being made to feel (and wondering myself) that I was the problem when it came to WWE. Not the quality of the show; I was just being too overly critical. Then AEW comes along after I finally said screw it to watching WWE and showed me that, no, I wasn't being overly critical. They really were just flat out a soul-less company. And the worst AEW show I can think of has been a B-. Every show is exciting to watch provided I'm not too tired from work, and that's after how jaded I felt with wrestling (even thinking I was done for good in 2019). It's nice to feel that I was never the problem. I'm okay with any criticism of them though. I've always felt that it's unhealthy to want a criticism-less anything. Though when you just get drive-by threads/posts that say THIS THING IS WRONG without any elaboration, people are gonna have to expect not to be taken seriously.
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Post by polarbearpete on Feb 6, 2022 12:45:02 GMT -5
There is a certain subset of fan, first found in ROH in the early 2010s, then in NJPW during the Elite era, and now in AEW, who are just unbearable. They are just awful people to deal with. Severely entitled, hypercrticial of everything, and looks down on/makes fun of every other type of wrestling fan- massive superiority complex. When AEW first started I was worried they would drown out a lot of other fans and make it harder for casual fans to get into AEW. Thankfully that hasn't happened and their numbers have actually dwindled from what I see/experience. No idea where these type of fans have migrated to lol, or maybe a lot of them have got some sense in the last few years. I don't see them as much as I used to, though those that remain are definitely still noticeable. FWIW I find the worst fans out there at the moment to be the ones that relish in every litttle mistake AEW and other non-WWE companies do, and use it to tar entire companies with ridiculous sweeping statements. You can find these fans en masse on the Meltzer boards.
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Allie Kitsune
Crow T. Robot
Always Feelin' Foxy.
HaHa U FaLL 4 LaVa TriK
Posts: 46,250
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 6, 2022 14:21:35 GMT -5
Sometimes I think I’m still fighting a battle not to fall into becoming a toxic fan myself. From the perspective of someone who can be defensive about the things they enjoy, often it’s because the product/artist/media one is defending perhaps spoke to them on a deeper level, it helped them internally somehow, they see said thing as being really unique, it’s “their thing”. Then you meet other like minded folks who also enjoy the thing, and you bond with them. The trick is not to allow being so bothered by criticism that you start taking an “us vs. the world” attitude. Maybe it’s like that with some AEW fans, but it’s a problem across wrestling fandom and pop/nerd culture in general. One should remember that there’ll always be people who don’t quite “get” the things you’re into. Sometimes their arguments might not be the most informed about the thing, because they haven’t been exposed to it as much as you and seen the nuances of it. But you still have to be civil, other wise one can fall into SnyderCult territory. The one thing that tends to work best for me is just not getting personally invested in anything to any heavy degree, and not feeling like it's part of me at all. Like, I guess I still get annoyed when certain passive-aggressive blanket statements start floating around, but for the most part I shrug my shoulders at it, because I just don't feel comfortable projecting any part of my 'self' into third-party content.
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Post by Cyno on Feb 6, 2022 15:27:46 GMT -5
There is a certain subset of fan, first found in ROH in the early 2010s, then in NJPW during the Elite era, and now in AEW, who are just unbearable. They are just awful people to deal with. Severely entitled, hypercrticial of everything, and looks down on/makes fun of every other type of wrestling fan- massive superiority complex. When AEW first started I was worried they would drown out a lot of other fans and make it harder for casual fans to get into AEW. Thankfully that hasn't happened and their numbers have actually dwindled from what I see/experience. No idea where these type of fans have migrated to lol, or maybe a lot of them have got some sense in the last few years. I don't see them as much as I used to, though those that remain are definitely still noticeable. FWIW I find the worst fans out there at the moment to be the ones that relish in every little mistake AEW and other non-WWE companies do, and use it to tar entire companies with ridiculous sweeping statements. The ROHbots have been there since that company's inception, as they sort of were a reincarnation of the ECW diehards. Maybe they just got louder in the 10's with the social media explosion. Green Lantern Fan was probably the most infamous singular example. Talk about entitlement.
I also agree with your last statement and I think that's a big part of why a lot of AEW fans (and non-WWE wrestling fans in general) tend to be defensive. They're provoked by bad faith arguments and hyperbolic reactions and that in turn leads to defensive reactions to legitimate criticisms as a learned behavior.
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clifford
King Koopa
Shingo Takagi stan
Posts: 10,683
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Post by clifford on Feb 6, 2022 15:45:55 GMT -5
There is a certain subset of fan, first found in ROH in the early 2010s, then in NJPW during the Elite era, and now in AEW, who are just unbearable. They are just awful people to deal with. Severely entitled, hypercrticial of everything, and looks down on/makes fun of every other type of wrestling fan- massive superiority complex. When AEW first started I was worried they would drown out a lot of other fans and make it harder for casual fans to get into AEW. Thankfully that hasn't happened and their numbers have actually dwindled from what I see/experience. No idea where these type of fans have migrated to lol, or maybe a lot of them have got some sense in the last few years. I don't see them as much as I used to, though those that remain are definitely still noticeable. FWIW I find the worst fans out there at the moment to be the ones that relish in every little mistake AEW and other non-WWE companies do, and use it to tar entire companies with ridiculous sweeping statements. The ROHbots have been there since that company's inception, as they sort of were a reincarnation of the ECW diehards. Maybe they just got louder in the 10's with the social media explosion. Green Lantern Fan was probably the most infamous singular example. Talk about entitlement. I also agree with your last statement and I think that's a big part of why a lot of AEW fans (and non-WWE wrestling fans in general) tend to be defensive. They're provoked by bad faith arguments and hyperbolic reactions and that in turn leads to defensive reactions to legitimate criticisms as a learned behavior.
Yeah, I had no idea what 'concern trolling' was until I started seeing this kind of stuff. It's very deliberate and uses the passion AEW fans have for the product against them. Nasty stuff.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 17:04:50 GMT -5
Gotta “both sides” it with the defensive talk. In the run up to the rumble the wwe section was unreadable with “don’t watch it then!” and “it’s the fans fault!” rants to lighthearted and even constructive threads that had clearly been unread or misinterpreted by their critics. Expecting similar for a week or two before mania and probably a week after if the event under-delivers.
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Fade
Patti Mayonnaise
Posts: 38,301
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Post by Fade on Feb 6, 2022 17:25:01 GMT -5
Gotta “both sides” it with the defensive talk. In the run up to the rumble the wwe section was unreadable with “don’t watch it then!” and “it’s the fans fault!” rants to lighthearted and even constructive threads that had clearly been unread or misinterpreted by their critics. Expecting similar for a week or two before mania and probably a week after if the event under-delivers. I will occasionally wonder to myself if the tribalistic WWE fans or the tribalistic AEW fans are worse before realizing Yes.
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