Really a BTVS fan?

[The Chosen]

Well...first off, you have just sort of insulted me. You have basically just said that just because I can not get the comics I am not a fan on the level as "high" as you? I am one of the biggest and most obsessive fans out there. And I do love comics. It comes down to money and the chance to take a fifty minute drive to get to a store that actually has them. Buffy would be worth it, I just can't do it.

Although I do have to reluctantly agree with you. If you say you love the show, you should read the comics. Unless you cannot get them. Hence the feeling insulted here.

I am sorry to have sounded rude, but for some reason I have taken this as an insult. I'll drop it now. And here, for nice emotion: 🙂

The Chosen

 

[Randy Giles]

Although I do have to reluctantly agree with you. If you say you love the show, you should read the comics. Unless you cannot get them. Hence the feeling insulted here.

This just does not sense. If you love the show, as in, the actual TV SHOW - why should you feel obligated to read a comic book? Especially if you don't like comic books. They're too damn hard to read. They should have someone adapt the comics into novel form.

And even then, someone could still say they were a Buffy fanatic and not read either form of season eight, and I wouldn't see a problem with it.

 

[The Chosen]

This just does not sense. If you love the show, as in, the actual TV SHOW - why should you feel obligated to read a comic book? Especially if you don't like comic books. They're too damn hard to read. They should have someone adapt the comics into novel form.

And even then, someone could still say they were a Buffy fanatic and not read either form of season eight, and I wouldn't see a problem with it.

I am not saying you should feel obligated. I said that you should, not that you have to. I should make that less obscure, huh?

Anyhoo, I suppose you are right about the novels. Seeing as my local comic/book/cd/movie/everything else shop carries the BtVS novels, those would be incredibly easy to get.

Ok, done ranting for the day...

 

[SpikedBuffy]

Why not take it a step further. You're not really a true fan unless you own the Buffy bedspread. Or the Buffy checkbook cover.

There are different levels of obsession out there, and none of them define true
fanism. I could even say that I don't take those fans who choose not to read the novels as fans. I mean, they are not enjoying the continuing of a story. Sure, it's not canon, but the principal is there.

Some people just don't like comics. I hate them.

I prefer to really just enjoy the show on the television. Will I never buy the comics? Can't guarantee that. But I have yet to walk into a store that has them in stock, and I'm not paying a ton of money to have them shipped to me when the format doesn't really interest me that much.

 

[eponinethen]

Why not take it a step further. You're not really a true fan unless you own the Buffy bedspread. Or the Buffy checkbook cover.

That is techinically not the same thing unless Joss designed the bedspread and called it canon though.
I am not at all saying you're not a true fan though, in any way, just saying, this comic is kind of a big difference to other comics/fan fics/novels/fan stuff.

 

[SpikedBuffy]

It's the same principal though. How far do you have to go to be considered a 'true fan'?

 

[eponinethen]

It's the same principal though. How far do you have to go to be considered a 'true fan'?

Well, it's not that I don't get your point.. I guess it's got more to do with how big of a Joss fan you are though.. (In this case I mean.) And Joss fan in general, not just when it comes to his shows.

 

[SpikedBuffy]

Agreed.

But, there are people who are extreme Buffy/Angel fans and don't really care too much about Joss.

I am one of those people. Sure, I think the guy is a good writer and director and has great ideas, but I never had a 'cult' following with him. I never watched Firefly and I saw Serenity once and will never watch it again. I didn't read the X-men comics.

You cannot relate being a Buffy 'fan' with being a Joss fan.

 

[Bunnyfear]

All very interesting opinions. Thanks for those.

 

[SpikedBuffy]

Bunnyfear disagrees: I disagree. Its entirely different. A fan of the shows mythology, story, etc lends toward the purchase of further information of that story. The bedspread does not. It has nothing to do with "fandom" of the show's story.

You've completely missed my point. I did not say that the comics did not lend further information to a story.

My point was that there are varying degrees of being a fan, and everyone has their own opinions of what exactly a fan is, but it is precisely an opinion. There is no factual evidence on what makes someone a 'true' fan. So, if you're saying that you are only a true fan if you read the comic story, then I say you're only a true fan if you've got the bedspread. Who's right? Who knows? It's our opinion.

 

[Bunnyfear]

I believe you've missed my point (and initial question) as well. At no point was I debating the fanhood of someone with regards to the Jossverse, Whendonverse, etc. I'm debating the fandom of the Buffyverse (the story, characters, etc). There are not varying degrees of fanhood of the story. Either you like the story, characters, etc and want to follow it or you do not. You , apparently, do not.

Additionally I believe it is tantamount to being ridiculousness to say you will simply disregard Season 8. Star Wars fans can dislike Episodes 1-3 but they can not pretend they do not exist. You can dislike Season 8 but you can not pretend it does not exist.

 

[definition of insane]

Quite frankly, I disagree.

Okay, so this is about Buffy fandom as opposed to Joss fandom. The majority of Buffy fandom started from the TV series. I would bet that a lot of people would disregard the movie even though it is part of the Buffyverse timeline. Does that make them not fans? I don't think so.

To say that someone is not a fan purely based on the idea that they are disregarding season 8 is madness. We were given a finale of hope for better things to come. That doesn't mean that we have to know what that is to truly be a fan of the principles of Buffy.

You can't define something as obscure as fandom and expect everyone to go along with the ideal because they want to be seen as fans. I think you will find that most people understand the underlying statement the show made which does more for fandom than the continuation of the story.

 

[eponinethen]

There are not varying degrees of fanhood of the story. Either you like the story, characters, etc and want to follow it or you do not. You , apparently, do not.

So being a huge fan of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not relevant? Isn't that what this board is/was originally about? There is a difference, being a fan of the show, the verse, and Joss himself as a writer/etc. None of these types of fandom is more or less worth, it's just different ways of being a fan.

And just because you are a huge fan of how the characters/stories/the verse are described and written in the TV show, does not mean you have to want to be a fan of a comic with the same characters etc.

 

[SpikedBuffy]

I believe you've missed my point (and initial question) as well. At no point was I debating the fanhood of someone with regards to the Jossverse, Whendonverse, etc. I'm debating the fandom of the Buffyverse (the story, characters, etc). There are not varying degrees of fanhood of the story. Either you like the story, characters, etc and want to follow it or you do not. You , apparently, do not.

Additionally I believe it is tantamount to being ridiculousness to say you will simply disregard Season 8. Star Wars fans can dislike Episodes 1-3 but they can not pretend they do not exist. You can dislike Season 8 but you can not pretend it does not exist.

That's right. You either like it, or you do not. That should distinguish you as a true fan. Whether or not you put the effort into enjoying the show and like the story and characters, and all that jazz. Liking it and being a fan has absolutely nothing to do with reading the story in a format that not everybody likes. Comic books are hard to get into if you do not like reading that format.

Why read something that I do not like reading. Are you telling me that if season 8 were written in Vietnamese, you would read it, just because it was written? Even though you would have a hard time translating and getting into reading a text that was not in your native language? And if you chose not to read it, because it was not something that you could get in to, you would inevitably be someone who is 'not a fan of the show'. How would that make you feel? I bet pretty outraged. How do you think some of us are feeling now?

The fact that some text on paper in a non-traditional format would even be debated as a fan point is beyond me. Someone who has spent the past 10 years watching the show every week for the seven years it was on and then spending the past three rewatching episodes, engaging in discussion on a discussion board, and turning others onto the show who had not previously seen it before has nothing to do with being a fan huh? That's irrelevant? Totally bogus.

I'm a fan. Comic books be damned! (Hey...just like Willow. "I'm eating this banana. Lunch time be damned! But I guess know quotes from the show has no impact on being a fan. )

 

[Bunnyfear]

So being a huge fan of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not relevant? Isn't that what this board is/was originally about? There is a difference, being a fan of the show, the verse, and Joss himself as a writer/etc. None of these types of fandom is more or less worth, it's just different ways of being a fan.

And just because you are a huge fan of how the characters/stories/the verse are described and written in the TV show, does not mean you have to want to be a fan of a comic with the same characters etc.

I'm flabbergasted at how you got that I said being a fan of the tv show is irrelevant. Honestly, I'd love to see how that train of thought came into existence. Regardless, you're right there is a difference being a fan of the show and being a fan of the story. You are not a fan of the story if you do not care what happens in the story. point blank. There are many here who are not fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fine, it happens. There are many people who hated the character Buffy but liked the show. A bit odd but it happens. Nothing wrong with being a fan of only one section of something. It just means you're not really a BTVS fan.

edit/ And yes if it were written in a different language I would read it. Why not ask a few diehard star trek fans if they learned klingon?

 

[SpikedBuffy]

Yikes. I'm expecting a huge backlash here bunnyfear. You've basically now offended everyone on this board, I'd say.

 

[The Chosen]

Ok. We all have something in common here: we all love Buffy on certain levels. Are some of those levels taken a bit higher and an obsession starts? Yes. I think it's safe to say most people here are obsessed with Buffy. Bunnyfear, you may be right but you shouldn't go and attack people's fandom, it just ain't cool. SpikedBuffy, you've put up great arguments and to a certain degree you are right, just like Bunnyfear.

Now that everyone has their points clear and stuff, I think we can stop the fighting. This thread was just really unfair to those who don't read the comics.

Once you're into BtVS, the fandom you have is a part of you, kinda like an arm. So if you attack someone's arm, it hurts. Same difference, see? And I realize people have bad days and stuff or people have made them angry, but please. Just stop arguing.

Ahem...to put it simply: Buffy fights. We don't.(Just don't compare me to a Trekkie again.)

 

[definition of insane]

Bunnyfear disagrees: you lost me at your confusion of canon

I just gotta ask.

At what point am I being confusing, out of curiousity? By saying that the movie is part of the timeline?

So, the fact that movie Buffy burnt down her gym is not a prequel to the first episode of the TV show?

Explain.

But in terms of everything else that has been mentioned on this bored. I almost find it hard to believe that you are not stirring up trouble for the sake of stirring up trouble. The fact is that there are a lot of people on this board that have a different opinion than what you have and you seem to be rather hell bent on arguing your case rather than respecting that other people have different ideas.

TC is right. We really don't need an all out war on this issue.

 

[Bunnyfear]

Ha! disagreeing is the equivalent of being hell bent on stirring up trouble. I posed a question. People responded. I said thanks for the opinions. People continued. I responded. My opinion may not be the same of yours but stating it isn't the equivalent of being hell bent on stirring up trouble. Insulting fanhood? Is that the keypoint here? By your defintion you are a fan, no? Then whats the problem? If someone told me I wasn't a fan of Buffy the vampire slayer because I didn't oh say... buy the action figures then I'd laugh in their face because I know I am a fan. Would I be insulted? No, because I know I am a fan. Simple. I happen to be a mod at vm-forums (waves to those who also post there). At no point would I ever chide a forum member for disagreeing by saying they are hell bent on stirring up trouble. Seriously that makes me chuckle.:lmao:

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Ok I get that people don't want to read the comic, that isn't what makes a Buffy fan, a fan. But I don't really think someone could ignore what happens to the story in the comic, like there was a thread ages ago about Willow after the scythe spell, where stuff like when she casts a spell will her hair go white, Or do her eyes still go black. People said they think her eyes wouldn't go black any more! But now we know that's not true, her eyes still go black!

The Chosen agrees: hey, dof. actually, the movie is considered "au." joss sez the origin (a comic) can be considered canon even tho he haz issues with it. but then again, what a fan likes to consider canon is canon. hope i helped. 🙂 [/merrick unity]

Thats not true, It just doesn't work like that. Like if you were debating something and your using facts from the series, and suddenly someone says some fact from one of the other comics that's not officially canon it's going to mess everything up! You have to respect the fact that you can't decide whats canon, we have to take what Joss says as canon!