It's not easy being a fan

A thought recently came to me when I was browsing YouTube once. No matter what you're a fan if, you're always going to have it rough. Be it whether you're comparing reboots to originals, or even the warzone that is shipping, you're always going to be right in the crosshairs of someone. Say you're a fan of a reboot, but you have some criticism on the story. You would get blasted by both sides. Or you really love the original, but you like some of the qualities the reboot has. Again, blasted by both sides. It's sad, isn't it? Everyone gets so wound up and lost in nostalgia, or they're too blind to see that whatever current incarnation has some flaws. But as any fan knows, everything we love has flaws. It's accepting them with all the good that embodies the love we have of various franchises and series thoughout time. Some reboots can be done well, and there are times when the original leaves much to be desired. It's a shame that both sides on the conflict cannot see this fact.

For example, I am a fan of Power Rangers. I grew up watching later Saban stuff and the Disney era, and now I'm all the way caught up with the Neo-Saban era. Are there things I wish could've been handled better? Yes. Mega Force could have been handled a lot better. But that doesn't mean I hate Neo-Saban and all that comes after. Though to be honest, I do wish they'd stop reusing the same "Go Go Power Rangers" bit to death. It's iconic, yes, but it has a greater attachment to Mighty Morphin. Then we have Star Wars. I'm not going to open that Pandora's box, but everyone on the internet and their parents have basically said everything there is to say. Then there's stuff like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was exposed to many incarnations of the heroes in a halfshell, so I can't really say one is better than the other. I enjoyed the lighthearted and comedic antics of the original show. The more action-oriented and more serious 2003 show was something I loved seeing because the story and characters captured my attention and the 2013 show. As for the latest show, I'll say that I did enjoy it. Namely because I see it takes after the comedic tone of the orignal show.

Still, all this is just my opinion. And that's the problem. So many people are posturing the opinions as absolute facts on both sides. Even worse is that fact that both sides who do this have a bunch of followers that are like rabid hounds, waiting to tear the throats out of "the enemy". This is a realization I came to once I took a step back and looked at both sides of the argument. Each one has people fighting tooth and nail to prove they're "right". I can see some valid points from both, but I refuse to designate either as "right". Politics, identity or otherwise, are becoming far too prevalent. especially in entertainment we use to escape from reality. Issues like that can be used for great and compelling stories, but utterly ruined when they're used to push the ideologies or agendas of the creators at the expense of the audience's entertainment and lecture at them. However, everyone's also too damn quick to come to blows on either side. It's actually pretty disheartening to see so many people ready to tear each other apart online. That's probably why I never bothered with getting social media.

So, in the end, I must ask this: Who else thinks everyone else, on both sides of the argument, should just shut the hell up, and let us have fun?