two things

[lirazel]

+ Listening to coverage on NPR about how people from Connecticut (what do y'all call yourselves?) are split in their support of the Patriots vs. the Giants, I got bitter and pissed off. I shouldn't care. But I do. Because grown-ass adults can talk about "loathing" a team and talk about "redemption" when it comes to sports, and that is totally socially acceptable and nobody questions it. But if I was to go on any media outlet and talk using that same sort of language about ships or character arcs or the depth of my feelings about the stories I invest in, people would think I was weird and either mock or pity me.

I hate the world.

+ Okay, so apparently these ugly-crying gifs of KBell that I've been seeing around have something to do with sloths + Ellen? I really love KBell, so I kind of want to watch whatever this is, but sloths really, really freak me out? Like almost as much as komodo dragons, which are currently number one on my list of animals that freak me out (my list makes much more sense than my sister's, which is comprised of squirrels and fish. I don't know either). Something about the way they move is just scary as anything to me. So can I watch this video without being horrified? Can I close my eyes during the sloth parts and just watch the KBell parts, or is it mostly sloth parts? Ugh. Just writing the word grosses me out.

I use my Andrew icon for this post because he is the only celebrity I would believe can understand the depth of my feelings (about anything. about everything. just feelings in general). Andrew Garfield: Emotional Evangelist is your sponsor for this post.

Comments

[snickfic]

Kbell + sloths. No footage of actual sloths except for one still; you should be fine. It is... hilarious bordering on very very strange.

I think I must live a very sheltered existence, because no one ever laughs at me or mocks me for my investment in stories. I mean, sometimes my dad gets concerned that my priorities are in the wrong places, but then my dad has no patience with sports, either. I am sorry that you have been subjected to such. *hugs*

[madcap-shiny.livejournal.com]

+ AGREEEEEEEED. :( I wish fandom wasn't so weirdly disconnected from the ~real world~, ugh. /bitter corner of bitter

+ I think you should be okay with the KBell video! She talks about them during it but no actual sloths make an appearance; there's just photos of them that show up here and there. It's a seriously adorable video that is like 99% KBell just being precious and 1% pictures of sloths sometimes showing up, so I figure you are probably fine. :D

[redsilverchains.livejournal.com]

Anyone who laughs at "redemption" in relation to stories should BE pitied. :p

But seriously, I really want a non-mocking portrayal of a fandom geek. Western media, especially, seems to be cruel when it comes to "nerds".

icon used so Bambi will have company.

[hkath.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I know! I wish we could approach fandom in the same totally run-of-the-mill way people approach a play-by-play of last night's game. Can you imagine whole radio stations dedicated to fannish discussion? How awesome would that be?

I just watched the KBell clip, too, after hearing about it all day. SO ADORABLE. She makes me feel better about my own 3-to-7 scale, since I'm exactly the same. It's why I can't read Buffy fic in public places - it makes me too happy! LOL

[owenthurman.livejournal.com]

1. Citizens of Connecticut call themselves "Nutmeggers." Srsly.

2. Several commenters have already noted the connection of sports to masculinity but it's the particular kind of masculinity that makes it prestigious and important. After all, fantasy gaming is overwhelmingly male and that's even more outcast than fandom. Sports represents the competitive hierarchical version of masculinity always juggling for tribal dominance with violence and charisma.

There is literally nothing more prestigious in ape societies -- including human societies -- that putting down others for the sake of your own dominance in the hierarchy.

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

The sports vs fandom analogy always, always works. And it works on a feminist angle too since fandom is mostly full of women, so while men can be really enthusiastic about sports and make those kind of OTT comments and not be thought of as deluded, women use the same exact language to describe the things we're passionate about...and we're gently reminded, dear, that you know they don't actually exist?

It's all fun and games until someone's reminded they painted themselves blue for the Super Bowl.

The KBell video makes me cry from laughing every time but I see you've seen it now :)

[parkslady.livejournal.com]

YES TO YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT SPORTS TALK BEING "SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE." It is so frustrating to sit at family parties and listen to my cousins go on and on about their teams and have that be a legitimate topic of conversation... and then when my sister and I talk about TV, we get the "you do know that television is not *real*, don't you?" comments. I'm to the point where I usually feign complete shock and go, "IT'S NOT? REALLY? Please, tell me more!" :|

[beloved-77.livejournal.com]

People who live in Connecticut are called "Nutmeggers" because CT is the Nutmeg state. I have no idea why. I only moved here because of Mr. IB. In fact, when asked where I'm from, I make sure to tell people that I only live here, but I'm not *from* here. I don't want them to get the wrong idea. :-P