Criticism and Praise: Let's Work On This Together

[rikucrafter]

I think one thing that we all need to do is start focusing on the positive about the episodes. For everything you didn’t like about it, find something that you did like. Have an even amount of points on either side. Because, at the end of the day, we can be able to appreciate that this show for what it is – not what it could be and not what we each think it should be. It’s a fairytale drama. The premise itself is buried in ridiculousness, and I think we all expect a bit much of the show sometimes. If we could just take the show from a more positive angle, I think there would be far less animosity. This isn’t Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad. It’s Once, and it’s something we all love. Let’s try to continue to love it.

And, also, Sven. I love Sven.

[WickedRegal]

First let me say…I agree 100% with everything @RumplesGirl has said, and I love you guys!
No matter who you ship, no matter who you hate, no matter who you love….This is ALL of us from Sunday Morning to Saturday Night!

#BecauseWe’reAllOncers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s Alright- The Impressions

And as for ideas…I love the Quiz @darkones1fan suggested! Definitely do that! And perhaps….we pick back up the hilarious fan poems thread we had a few years back, that was a lot of fun for us all to do!

 

"If you go as far as you can see...you will then see enough to go even further." - Finn Balor

[obisgirl]

One of my favorite blogs to follow on tumblr is whyweloveonceuponatime.

No negative talk or criticism, just positive reasons why we love this show. It can be something to something really small.

It would be neat if we had a thread solely devoted to what we love about the show.

[RumplesGirl]

So I’m about to head off to bed but some quick thoughts.

I’m seeing a lot of community building activities–games, trivia, threads solely dedicated to why we all love OUAT. I like all these and I think that’s going to be our best best right now.

Thank you all. This is helpful <3

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[surayya]

I think one thing that we all need to do is start focusing on the positive about the episodes. For everything you didn’t like about it, find something that you did like. Have an even amount of points on either side. Because, at the end of the day, we can be able to appreciate that this show for what it is – not what it could be and not what we each think it should be. It’s a fairytale drama. The premise itself is buried in ridiculousness, and I think we all expect a bit much of the show sometimes. If we could just take the show from a more positive angle, I think there would be far less animosity. This isn’t Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad. It’s Once, and it’s something we all love. Let’s try to continue to love it.

And, also, Sven. I love Sven.

This & This

One of my favorite blogs to follow on tumblr is whyweloveonceuponatime.

No negative talk or criticism, just positive reasons why we love this show. It can be something to something really small.

It would be neat if we had a thread solely devoted to what we love about the show.

The reverse of @obisgirl’s idea could work as well- contain the negativity/criticism to one thread… the venting thread if you will 😛
Thank you RG for this thread (but dont even joke about closing the ship threads lol – I dont think the general forums could take my fangirling & I might require hospitalization if I had to hold it in for any length of time 😛 ). On a more serious note, I hope this discussion leads to developing some much needed cohesion within our little slice of the fandom again …. I miss the good old days 😉

I think for me it comes down to the fact there used to be criticism yes, but there used to also be much more enjoyment & celebration of the show itself & of each individual character- that really is what ultimately brought us all together as fans after all- our love for the show, not our criticism.
I’d like more celebration & positivity, focusing more on what we love about the show, rather than focusing on criticizing it to death or what isnt liked about it.

Maybe a name your favorite thing about each character thread…. or even whats the best characteristic of each character thread kind of thing? … At least then we are looking for the best in characters rather than the worst- Or any games that focus on the characters & shows good points would be good. It’d be cool to have a forum wide scavenger hunt type game- where a bunch of questions get asked on a fixed day & you to go different threads to get the answers to said questions… it just might be a little too involved to work well here is all IDK.

[RumplesGirl]

Reading back over some responses and wanted to touch on some things

First, I think it’s important to understand that in this case it’s hard to see the other perspective. For those that are critical of the show right now, they don’t get the positivity. And for those that are positive, they don’t understand the negativity. But I cannot in good conscious, silence either of those. It’s not fair to both parties. There are things about this show that are worth being negative about from whatever perspective people are coming from. And I can’t just tell people to keep that to themselves or only put it in one place because that’s really unfair. We have our favorite and least favorite episode threads for a reason. LEAST favorite means what didn’t you like. And yes, there are going to be times, maybe more than in the past, where there are more things you dislike about an episode than liked. Think about the episode SBandT….imagine having to come up with positive things for that to match all the negative. You’d be like, “I liked…the way…the coffee cups look!”

I think the first step is acknowledging that for some the show has lost its way and attitude–and this goes way beyond one character or one ship–and we all need to work on accepting everyone’s opinions even when we disagree. I said this in the OP but I’ll restate: it’s exhausting having to read constant criticism when you don’t feel that way. But it’s equally exhausting having to read nothing but praise when you don’t feel the same way.

In other words, everyone is tired. And because the attitudes themselves aren’t going to change–though we are putting in more community building exercises–we all need to work on accepting people’s opinions even when we greatly disagree.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[Jenna_B]

I know we have the favorite and least favorite threads, but maybe instead of that, what we need are critical vs entertainment threads – meaning, for each episode, a thread where someone can go to discuss more critical aspects – analyze the current storyline, discuss plotholes, the ethical/moral implications, etc etc etc and a thread that’s more geared toward the entertainment – what you enjoyed about the episode, more broad discussion of the storyline, etc etc.  That way the people that want to critique more can in their space, and those that approach the show with more of an escapist attitude can in theirs.  I think lots of people would be drawn to both threads (like me!) depending on my moods…because as much as I love the ride, I also do have problems with plotholes etc….but dwelling on both at the same time is almost overwhelming to me.

I don’t necessarily subscribe to the ‘shipping wars are ripping the fandom apart’ argument – I frankly don’t care who you ship, whether it’s canon or not, or even debating them (let’s not though, we don’t need to actually give RG a heart attack! 🙂 ) as long as the participants in discussion can respect each other and their personal choices.  Which, especially on this forum, I have seen done.  It’s other places, where respect doesn’t seem to be as much of a focus, where the ‘ship wars’ mentality stems from and I don’t think we need to bring it here.  For the most part, I think everyone here does try very hard to keep respect and an open mind in the forefront, but, as does happen with a show that’s been on the air for 4 years, people are going to see more to criticize and more to enjoy – so having spots where the purpose is for one kind of discussion or the other might work.

[RumplesGirl]

I know we have the favorite and least favorite threads, but maybe instead of that, what we need are critical vs entertainment threads – meaning, for each episode, a thread where someone can go to discuss more critical aspects – analyze the current storyline, discuss plotholes, the ethical/moral implications, etc etc etc and a thread that’s more geared toward the entertainment – what you enjoyed about the episode, more broad discussion of the storyline, etc etc.

I love this idea. I do. My one issue: there is one person in particular who creates the fav/least fav threads and I don’t want to take away from her contribution to the forums by implementing my tyrannical rule. Can you think of a way to have all of it?

let’s not though, we don’t need to actually give RG a heart attack! 🙂

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA. *have a cookie*

 

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[Jenna_B]

I think Fav/Least Fav moments can be the one that focuses more on the entertainment/first thoughts, etc, ad then maybe a 2nd thread for critical viewing.  Even when watching for entertainment there’s stuff you like/don’t like – hi, the walking broom?  Ok now that was a little too out there even for me! – but that’s not necessarily something that needs to only be discussed in a critical forum.  There will likely be a lot of overlap, but just the understanding that you’re entering a thread that is going to have more a more critical slant than a broader discussion about the storyline might work well.

[Ranisha Pitts]

I think another thing to boost morale as a whole is a uplifting positive thread in general for support. Some of the posters here go through some dark and trying times.  Some have issues with family, loss, friendships, etc etc. So an thread of encouragement or inspiration might help take it to another level. Also I love watcher’s idea about clean humor. Also if a person post in that thread have some troubling times. Various members can pm that person with encouraging words, pictures, gifs, humor, love, poetry, quotes, whatever. Or they can link it in that thread itself. I have been in other fandom groups and one thing that really helped with bonding, was it was taken beyond the show to we were supporting each other through personal issues and crises.

Also a getting to know you weekly or monthly topic. Lets talk about your favorite movie, tv show, music.  What was your first fandom or first ship. When did you learn the internet! 😀

I know we have some polar thoughts and opinions about the show, but we do enjoy a lot of things that are similar!

Just a few ideas to roll with!

Hugs

"I will be kind but I will speak my mind."

[Author]

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