Last week, we discussed how people develop unhealthy attachments to fandoms, which compels them to respond aggressively to even mild criticisms.
So, how do you give constructive criticism in the volatile landscapes you encounter in fandoms today without ruining the friendly and welcoming environments many fandoms are fighting to create online? First of all, know your audience.
Some environments are toxic because they cater to an aggressive crowd. In such cases, you don’t have to watch your words. Secondly, don’t make assumptions about people’s motivations.
Take Superman 2025; the film is soaring high on a sea of positive reviews. However, it fell short for me. I was thoroughly disappointed. But if you liked it, I should not tell you why I think you liked it.
People usually reach the worst possible conclusions in such exchanges, as in: ‘You only hated Tenet’ because you’re not intelligent enough to understand Christopher Nolan’s complex storytelling.’ ‘You only liked The Marvels because you agree with the director’s woke agenda.’
‘You only dislike Barbie because you hate women.’ ‘You only gave Sinners that horrible rating because you have a colonial mindset.’ Don’t second-guess people’s intentions. Any attempt to do so will attract a severe backlash because of the aggravating elements you find in such statements.
Take people’s words for what they are. Keep in mind that you don’t know them. These are strangers on the internet. To suggest that you can identify the deeper meanings behind their statements is the height of arrogance.
This brings us to the third and most important tip. Attack the property, not the person. In other words, if I were to use extreme language, I would say that Gunn’s Superman is trash. I should not call you trash for liking the film, and neither should you resort to pointless personal insults simply because I hated what you loved.
Here is the thing. Even if your points are correct, I won’t hear them. As soon as that first insult lands, I will retaliate blindly, disregarding every other aspect of your comment. That leads us to the one component most people ignore when they criticize one another’s fandoms: the constructive part of ‘Constructive Criticism.’
If you loved James Gunn’s Superman, it is almost impossible for you to respond with anything other than aggression once I call it ‘Trash,’ ‘Garbage,’ or one of the many terms people throw at properties they hate.
‘Trash’ is a hammer striking you on the head and then compelling you to retaliate with a personal attack. Rather than insulting Superman 2025, tell me why you hated it. Don’t talk about anyone else’s response. Also, don’t make definitive statements. Try to remember that your opinion is just that: an opinion.
Tell us why the plot failed to hold your interest, why the characters rubbed you the wrong way, and why the tone repelled you. This is where it helps to use ‘I’ statements. People cannot argue against your subjective experiences.
‘Trash’ is a dismissive term that attracts equally dismissive and potentially vulgar reactions, whereas longer, well-thought-out criticisms encourage your targets to carefully consider your position. Also, don’t ignore the positives.
Every film you hated has at least one strength. Ending a review with some mild praise goes a long way in calming the lunatics that occupy most fandoms. Naturally, some people will still respond with unnecessary aggression, but that is okay.
The world keeps deteriorating because most people spend too much time questioning whether everyone else is behaving. Forget everyone else. Focus on your role.
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