Are we really any different from sports fanatics?

[Immortalfire]

I can't think of a single comic book reader that actually believes that it is COOL that they are wearing a Justice Society t -shirt and spend their day making a list of the sexiest members of the X-Men.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Comic characters are incapable of disappointing you, sports teams aren't. It's a more real emotional attachment.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Most fans have more than a casual knowledge of the people in those positions.

This all sounds pleasant and nice, but as I said, it's not why most collect comics and it doesn't change the fact that comic books collectors are not fine purveyors of art and literature. If this were a discussion about people who take writing seriously it would center around comics, or be a discussion exclusive to comics.

You'd be surprised, but that's why I compared them to "collectors". People who collect comics as a hobby rather than read them have a much different approach.

It's also the weakest point of comparison because you could make it about anything - like religion. Most people enjoy, or at least tolerate, that what they devote time to.

Not all people who enjoy watching sports are aware of the technicalities of the sport. But we are talking about fans.

It is my beleif that most fans have considered and probably discussed their heroes in many different ways.

Do you think this forum is just full of comic book fans going 'Superman's cool' 'Storm's hot' 'I like cartoons' or something? Take a look around the forum... most people want to talk about what it is that makes them love the hero, what it is that makes that hero tick, and how they'd like too see writers/directors approach him in the future.

What I mean when I say "taking them seriously" is setting aside portions of your life to do something involving them. How? I think for me it's hard to place something like sports which is really happening/happened or the same level into escaping into a purely fictional world. At some level you're still engaging reality when you watch/participate in/go to a sports event.

I mean someone running around trying to emulate Tom Brady is far less crazy than the guy trying to emulate Batman.

Okay, what is the difference between sitting in the crowd watching a football game, and sitting in the crowd watching a performance (lets say Spiderman: Turn off the Dark for the comic book comparison).

You are watching real life both times. Real people performing. Sportsmen perform kicks, hits, lengths, runs etc. Actors and actresses perform lines, steps, scenes.

 

[Dark Raven]

I say no different, and in fact worse. At least with sportsmen or women, these people are real and you might be supporting them because of their winning streak/ ability/ looks etc. With comics and comic book movies, although we might think everything here is normal behavior, I'm betting that most others would think it is far more obsessive and weird than being a sports fanatic. I would say that being an action figure fanatic would seem even more weird to the outsider.

I bet if you asked the average person on the street, they would say that a comic book fanatic is far geekier and creepier than a sports fanatic.

 

[terry78]

You can dance around it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that idolizing and worshiping a flesh and blood person is viewed as less crazy than the same with a fictional one.

 

[BlackLantern]

Comic characters are incapable of disappointing you, sports teams aren't. It's a more real emotional attachment.

that's a bit one sided....we should learn to deal with rejection and disappointment....those things are a part of life

You can dance around it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that idolizing and worshiping a flesh and blood person is viewed as less crazy than the same with a fictional one.

pretty much....the extremes of both are equally as disturbing though

 

[hopefuldreamer]

You can dance around it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that idolizing and worshiping a flesh and blood person is viewed as less crazy than the same with a fictional one.

Yes, because I bow down and pray to my Superman poster every night

 

[Aesop Rocks]

I'm glad someone bumped this thread. I love making Tennis fanatics cry.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

"Are we really different from sports fanatics?"

Yes. I don't paint my face blue, have lucky underwear, smell like stale beer and cheetos and gamble my son's college tuition to win season tickets.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Nope, we gamble our sons college tuition on comic con tickets.

 

[Kane52630]

Yes, because I bow down and pray to my Superman poster every night

But you do own (from what im guessing) comics, posters, hats, clothes, ect of Superman.

 

[E-Man]

This thread is pretty much a "my dad could kick your dad's ass" argument.

 

[Kane52630]

This thread is pretty much a "my dad could kick your dad's ass" argument.

Of course and you know what? My daddy can kick your daddy's ass all day.

 

[E-Man]

Your dad does not know deadly muay thai like my dad does, Kane. I win automagically.

 

[Kane52630]

Your dad does not know deadly muay thai like my dad does, Kane. I win automagically.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

You can dance around it all you want, but the fact of the matter is that idolizing and worshiping a flesh and blood person is viewed as less crazy than the same with a fictional one.

It's true. All athletes are human beings who live in reality and have to play by the same general rules everyone else does, except on a grander stage. I think comic book characters actually reinforce a lot of very unrealistic character traits, like closely guarding a secret identity or just being a general anti-social prick (Batman, Wolverine). True, athletes can exude all sorts of negative traits but they'll face consequences for it. I think comics often placate anti social behavior, hence my remark that it's merely fantasy.

 

[SuperFerret]

I still maintain that all fandom stems from the same emotions and feelings and that all this is just nitpicking over details.

 

[BlackLantern]

It's true. All athletes are human beings who live in reality and have to play by the same general rules everyone else does, except on a grander stage. I think comic book characters actually reinforce a lot of very unrealistic character traits, like closely guarding a secret identity or just being a general anti-social prick (Batman, Wolverine). True, athletes can exude all sorts of negative traits but they'll face consequences for it. I think comics often placate anti social behavior, hence my remark that it's merely fantasy.

interesting point.....

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

interesting point.....

Characters like Batman and Wolverine, for example, simply wouldn't get along in the world. I've noticed a lot of comic characters, great and small, despite their differences, do all cater to nerd fantasies. I think often times they act in such a manner that would be rather unsavory in the real world, but in comic books this kind of behavior is outright rewarded.

 

[BlackLantern]

true....also ties into that passive aggressiveness that permeates the fandom....to be seen as "the outsider" "the rebel" as it were

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

true....also ties into that passive aggressiveness that permeates the fandom....to be seen as "the outsider" "the rebel" as it were

Yeah. Such as the X-Men are, in fact, whiney b*tches. They live in a mansion they don't pay for, fly around in a jet doing all sorts of amazing stuff, look like supermodels and just f***ing do it all day long and complain about how they're persecuted and ostrasized. Boo hoo We don't hate you because you're different, we hate you because you have cool powers, zero responsibility and complain about how much your life sucks!

 

[BlackLantern]

I'll be ostracized in a free mansion

 

[twylight]

Honestly, I don't think there's any difference. All hobbies, interests and passions (if you will) require various levels of commitment, interest and money.

Monetary wise:
Want to watch that Soccer game exclusive to a channel? Pay the money for the channel.
Want to go to that Football game? Buy tickets.
Want to have the latest stamp from the USPS? Purchase it.
Want that comic book? Buy it.
Want that limited edition signed 'figurine'? Pay for it.

Chances are for all five of those examples, you're going to have some knowledge of them if one or more interests you.

Sports? You're going to know which team is the best, potentially which games they've lost/won. If you're buying that stamp, you're going to be buying it and have some knowledge as to how to preserve it. Getting that comic book means you probably know about the characters in it and what they've done in the past. Buying that figurine? I sure as hell hope you know about it, because they're expensive.
I literally had a friend with no interest or knowledge in comics tell me, after watching me talk to some fellow comic book friends: "You guys nerd out over comics like I nerd out over Fallout." His interest in Fallout is no different or special than my interest in comics, movies and .. other more girly things.

We're all 'fans' of something. If you want to go into the various degrees of how far into the fandom of your choice you are, go for it. But it means very little.
Negative reactions and influences can be found in any hobby or interest. Even if your passion is to just play POGS.

It's true. All athletes are human beings who live in reality and have to play by the same general rules everyone else does, except on a grander stage.
I think comic book characters actually reinforce a lot of very unrealistic character traits, like closely guarding a secret identity or just being a general anti-social prick (Batman, Wolverine). True, athletes can exude all sorts of negative traits but they'll face consequences for it. I think comics often placate anti social behavior, hence my remark that it's merely fantasy.

And video games encourage violence. That doesn't make them better or worse than Comic Book readers.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Batman is a kid who lives in his parent's basement and pretends he's a bat.

Wolverine is the way too old guy who keeps trying to buy young teenage girls beer.

Cyclops is the weirdo who insists on wearing sunglasses everywhere he goes.

Spider-Man is the kid who gets one-itis after Mary Jane "friend zones" him.

Thing is Jewish.

Green Lantern is the wash-out who wants nothing more than for a green man to give him some ring so he can claim he's in fact brave and not a loser.

Tony Stark is the kid who never learned to share.

Mr. Fantastic is the science nerd who tries too hard with everyone and constantly f***s up.

Booster Gold is the guy who goes and hangs around his old high school trying to impress girls with how mature he is.

 

[BlackLantern]

Booster Gold is Trip McNeely?