tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post1110963839734434463..comments2023-07-15T07:17:49.535-04:00Comments on Professional Wrestling in U.S. Popular Culture: Fan as arbitrator, and n00b killerSam Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233749268141980625noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-685009983069446612007-03-21T11:20:00.000-04:002007-03-21T11:20:00.000-04:00I think you have a really good point, Brian, and I...I think you have a really good point, Brian, and I think it is very much a part of wrestling culture. From the ECW hardcore fan base to the scores of friends who hated anyone coming into wrestling who weren't fans back when "wrestling was cool," I have experienced this time and time again. It's the pressure to go mainstream enough to stay in business versus staying true to the cult roots of your fan base, and wrestling has to deal with that very closely, primarily through the relationship between the WWE and its "Internet fans." WWE has always had a particularly fascinating relationship with this fan base, while ECW was solely powered by this base, to the point that it had trouble expanding because they created an environment where the fans did not want them to expand and become too mainstream.<BR/><BR/>You are right that these behaviors don't clearly fit into the categories I created, and part of that is because of the shows I went to and the lack of this happening in the live arena setting, at least at these shows. I think this builds in some to the aspect I identify as "fans as community," as the hardcores form a community that they then protect closely by NOT allowing people to join. During the shows I visited, the only aspect of this I saw explicitly were the Insane Clown Posse fans at the TNA show and their relationship with the hardcore wrestling fans in the arena. There was definitely a disdain for the ICP fans among some of the wrestling fans who felt that the ICP fans were compromising their enjoyment of the show because they weren't really there for the wrestling.Sam Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233749268141980625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-2147023290147285672007-03-21T02:28:00.000-04:002007-03-21T02:28:00.000-04:00These arbitrator fans are evident in almost every ...These arbitrator fans are evident in almost every fan culture, those that stand out to me at the moment are music or rock fans, say of a particular group. They may have a loyal core fan base when they are up-and-coming stars, but then when they hit it big, they get legions more fans due to the increased exposure, some who may be casual listeners or into the band because the lead singer is hot or they think their sound fits the sort of group or personality they want to fit. Then the original fans, from before the band 'sold out' or what have you, often revile and reject the newer fans, labelling them 'posers', fakes, etc, when there are plenty of newer fans that do appreciate the band purely for their music, but just happened to join the fan-dom later on.<BR/><BR/>The same may have been true for wrestling in earlier times, but it seems to have eased up as of late. But I definitely think the theme of 'You only like $NAME because of $BAR, you're just a little poser nOOb' still goes on, in wrestling and many other forms of fandom. We're protecting our communities from being diulted and polluted by those silly, ignorant poser kids. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com