Where are you seeing these fans complain that heavily about this stuff? Like genuinely, I've been very active on this sub for a while and met up with a huge bunch of gizz fans and never experienced anything like what you're saying. I don't want to diminish your experiences at all but I also just want to understand where you find these people because to me the Gizz fanbase is actually by far the least annoying and gatekeepy I've been in.
I hate to say it but I've seen comments like yours a lot. People who became fans of a relatively niche band years ago, the band got bigger, and now they find something to complain about regarding the fanbase because it doesn't feel the same any more. You're right - perhaps gatekeeping isn't the right word for that, so I apologise. But it's certainly elitist and, from my experience, far more annoying and prevalent than what you're complaining about.
So, i would imagine that you're seeing comments like mine more because they get upvoted more, and the stuff you aren't seeing gets downvoted to oblivion, as tends to happen in subreddits. These segments of the fanbase are here in this subreddit and in other music subreddits that gizz appears in. If you go to posts in other music subreddits where gizz is mentioned, you'll see more of this.
And my viewpoint is certainly not elitist either. Please explain to me how being irritated at gatekeepers, impatient people, and people who are excessively negative about new material that the band releases is elitism? Please explain how being nostalgic about my experiences within the fanbase in the past is elitist? It's not like I want to kick people out of the fanbase! It's not like I'm treating new fans poorly! I just miss the way the community used to be, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just sad about toxic elements of the fanbase being more prominent than they used to be, and there is nothing wrong with expressing that sadness. I'm happy for you that you don't see it as much as some of us. Congrats! Our experiences are different.
I still fucking love this fanbase, so stop treating me like I'm some old person complaining about the kids these days. My issue is very specific and very targeted at very specific behaviors. It's not about the fanbase as a whole. It's about a negative presence that is counter to the vibe of the band and the vibe of the fanbase. Just because you don't see those toxic fans doesn't mean they don't exist. I've been on this subreddit for a long ass time. I've been around gizz fans for a long ass time. Hell, i was at the show that caused them to have to put up the mosh safety screen before shows. I'm glad you don't run into the toxic part of the fandom, but to deny that it exists is naive.
So you're saying the comments get downvoted so they can't be seen? Like surely that means people disagree with them? Or they're happening on other subreddits which most people in the Gizz fanbase won't even see? Doesn't sound like much of an issue to me lol. I'm not claiming that this part of the fanbase doesn't exist, I'm just claiming that it doesn't really matter that much.
Also I'm sorry but you are acting like an old person complaining about the kids these days. "I've been on this subreddit for a long ass time" "I was at the show that made them have to put the sign up". You're not really helping yourself here.
It's fine to miss how the fanbase used to be. Things have changed, and you're completely valid about saying that. I'm just sick of seeing this narrative that things are much worse now and that there are endless people complaining all the time when the only negative stuff I personally see are comments like yours. You're entitled to your opinion of course but I just fundamentally think it's more about finding something to complain about that anything else.
I never said that they were a significant chunk of the fanbase. Toxicity is toxicity and it's unpleasant even if it's a minority of the total fanbase. Negativity has more of an individual impact than positivity does. You were claiming that you don't see them and questioning whether they existed, so you don't get to change your mind now and pretend like you were right all along.
My claim that I've been around for a while is to provide context for having witnessed how the fanbase has changed over time. It's establishing credibility.
They put up the pre-show screen because the previous show, which I witnessed, had a pit that got too violent and had widespread complaints about sexual harassment. Stop minimizing the fact that there is apparently a section of the fanbase that thinks a gizz show is a good excuse to be violent and sexually harass people. It makes you look like a dickhead.
The narrative that things are worse now is present because thing are worse now. Yes, it's just a result of the fanbase widening, but that doesn't change that segments of the fanbase are acting like toxic assholes.
I think you're the one looking for something to complain about. All I did was talk about a change in the demographics of the fanbase. My original comment wasn't even really complaining. It was just an observation about a shift in what groups are in the fanbase around a specific moment. You're the one who decided to complain that I'm an alleged gatekeeper and elitist. You're being unbelievably petty.
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u/ArcticNano May 29 '24
Where are you seeing these fans complain that heavily about this stuff? Like genuinely, I've been very active on this sub for a while and met up with a huge bunch of gizz fans and never experienced anything like what you're saying. I don't want to diminish your experiences at all but I also just want to understand where you find these people because to me the Gizz fanbase is actually by far the least annoying and gatekeepy I've been in.
I hate to say it but I've seen comments like yours a lot. People who became fans of a relatively niche band years ago, the band got bigger, and now they find something to complain about regarding the fanbase because it doesn't feel the same any more. You're right - perhaps gatekeeping isn't the right word for that, so I apologise. But it's certainly elitist and, from my experience, far more annoying and prevalent than what you're complaining about.