I'm Still A Fan.
That’s right you heard me, I’m still a fan. At this point you must be wondering just what I’m a fan of. Well that’s beside the point. This isn’t about what you’re a fan of; this is about being a fan period. Now I know that must be confusing so just hold on and I’ll explain.
You see, a common complaint that I will hear from friends and strangers alike is: I use to like that show but the fans killed it for me. Or another one that I’ll hear is: I use to like it before it became popular.
Now excuse me while I go what the heck? Seriously, what the heck is wrong with someone who will let others dictate what they will or will not like? No matter many times I hear this statement; I always just shake my head and sigh. I cannot and absolutely will not accept that someone can ruin something I enjoy for me.
Perhaps an example will better help you to understand what I’m getting at. I’ll go with Star Wars since it’s a huge franchise and I’m old enough that I remember seeing it air in the theaters back in 1977.
I remember all too clearly that magical moment of watching it for the first time. I was six and a half years old and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I, along with my siblings, begged my parents to take us back to see it again and again. We couldn’t get enough of it.
We spent many happy hours at the theaters watching it, and then many more playing the soundtrack to it as we marched around the house to Vader’s theme. With our toy laser guns and imaginations we gave life to a show that we all loved.
Since then it has expanded into a huge franchise with even more movies, games, books and endless toys that could be considered pointless since there are so many of them. Some of them I enjoyed immensely while others just made me groan and walk away.
I have since then heard so many arguments as to why the series is bad because of either the fans or follow-up releases that weren’t so great. Did it somehow destroy my love of the series? Did the fans turn me away? Did that first time I see it somehow become ruined? Don’t be silly.
If I enjoy something, then how many fans there are or whether or not every aspect of it is perfect is irrelevant. I still got something out of it that I enjoyed and no one can ever take that away from me.
So when it comes down to it. Am I still a fan? You betcha.
