This is something I keep seeing, and my curiosity has reached a level where fear of potential rudeness can no longer contain it. There is a topic, or a news article, or a thread derailment, or something, about some franchise (let's say, My Little Pony, or Homestuck). Among the posts praising and decrying this thing, one reason for disliking it is voiced: "I don't like this thing because the fandom is stupid/annoying/disturbing."
This has always confused me. Just because you watch/read something doesn't mean you have to partake in fan activities. Let's take MLP and Homestuck, things that I watch and read. I like them both, to a high degree, yet I cannot call myself a "brony" or a... whatever those in the Homestuck community call themselves. I've never touched a MLP site, or gone on a Homestuck forum, changed my avatar or crusaded that others should pay attention to these things. I am not a part of the fandom, basically; it doesn't take a lot of effort to do.
Now, this isn't meant to be derogatory, or an "I do this, so why doesn't everyone!" topic. I'm just genuinely confused as to why people will hate something for an aspect that is completely apart from the thing itself and that they are not required to take part in. I'm not trying to be judgmental, I just want someone to explain the reasoning to me.
This has always confused me. Just because you watch/read something doesn't mean you have to partake in fan activities. Let's take MLP and Homestuck, things that I watch and read. I like them both, to a high degree, yet I cannot call myself a "brony" or a... whatever those in the Homestuck community call themselves. I've never touched a MLP site, or gone on a Homestuck forum, changed my avatar or crusaded that others should pay attention to these things. I am not a part of the fandom, basically; it doesn't take a lot of effort to do.
Now, this isn't meant to be derogatory, or an "I do this, so why doesn't everyone!" topic. I'm just genuinely confused as to why people will hate something for an aspect that is completely apart from the thing itself and that they are not required to take part in. I'm not trying to be judgmental, I just want someone to explain the reasoning to me.