Watch the Fanatical TMNT episode

[jenna]

Wow, watching that I feel like the lamest "fan" in the world: I didn't seek refuge in the turtles during a troubled childood; my collection is 4 film basic figures and some DVDs, cuddly Donatello from the 80s whom I recently dug out of my parent's garage and novelisations of the new film and film 1 and occupies a small book shelf; I've never dressed up as a turtle; I don't have any TMNT Tshirts; I've never learned martial arts (although it would be awesome); never kept pet turtles nor indeed named any pets after the characters.

Apparently I don't count as a fan - I just love the turtles because they are cool and the characters are fascinating. I loved them when I was a kid because my sister did and there was a purple one and purple was my favourite colour!

*hangs head in shame*

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

Originally Posted by jenna

Wow, watching that I feel like the lamest "fan" in the world: I didn't seek refuge in the turtles during a troubled childood; my collection is 4 film basic figures and some DVDs, cuddly Donatello from the 80s whom I recently dug out of my parent's garage and novelisations of the new film and film 1 and occupies a small book shelf; I've never dressed up as a turtle; I don't have any TMNT Tshirts; I've never learned martial arts (although it would be awesome); never kept pet turtles nor indeed named any pets after the characters.

Apparently I don't count as a fan - I just love the turtles because they are cool and the characters are fascinating. I loved them when I was a kid because my sister did and there was a purple one and purple was my favourite colour!

*hangs head in shame*

Hey now! Don't say that about yourself! It doesn't matter how you got into them, or how much money you've spent on turtle paraphernalia-- You're still a fan! I never did any of that stuff mentioned, but I still count myself as a fan. Hell, the only thing I know I owned for sure that involves the turtles is the first three movies. I've got more stuff now because I've got my own money now, but for the longest time it was just me and the VHS tapes.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Kunoichi_Haruko

Hey now! Don't say that about yourself! It doesn't matter how you got into them, or how much money you've spent on turtle paraphernalia-- You're still a fan! I never did any of that stuff mentioned, but I still count myself as a fan. Hell, the only thing I know I owned for sure that involves the turtles is the first three movies. I've got more stuff now because I've got my own money now, but for the longest time it was just me and the VHS tapes.

Yeah. Me too! Being a fan of something doesn't have to mean fanatical. I love the turltes - watching the films / episodes makes me happy. That's all that's needed really.

[Anarky]

These people scare me.

[Buslady]

Originally Posted by Anarky

These people scare me.

Jee thanks.

[iris]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

The part about the museum idea interested me, it proves the "manaical obsessions" at least have a more profitable purpose without neccersarily selling them, and leads to a good educational source for future historians.

Did'nt like, as usual, the way the franchise was portrayed at all . For a guy who thinks the original cartoon is better than most TMNT interpretations, I STILL hate it's used the way it is to convey what the Turtles always are. And of course, no real emphisis on it. This is as generic as it gets, the show does'nt CARE about the franchise, they just focus on what the fans do with what they like and thier lives, they don't concentrate on anything else.

I mean really, there not talking about the comic, or about the cartoons, or about anything, there just putting everything on display. If they DID talk about the franchise, then they got edited. Big time edited. This is dime-a-dosen television, good exposure, but just candy, no food.

The Biography Channel is the only f'ing thing that would ever allow the TMNT to be represented in a respectful and more candid way, especially the fans, I'd push for fans to help a documentary be made for THAT than wasting time with shows like this that would prefer to continue to present the STIGMA of fanatics.

This show seems to be about personal stories of why people were fanatical about whatever they love. The franchise and its portrayal is somewhat irrelevant, although I do think that people connect to TMNT in a more personal and interesting way than they can connect to, say, Batman or Superman. Don't you think they showed why fandom could rationally be a big part of someone's life?

Seemed like a pretty good documentary to me.

[ToTheNines]

That was really cool.

And speaking of really cool, how about that comic shop she went to? Mine never has more than 10 TMNT comics and its all just volume 4 and movie prequels.

[Rooish]

Originally Posted by jenna

Wow, watching that I feel like the lamest "fan" in the world: I didn't seek refuge in the turtles during a troubled childood; my collection is 4 film basic figures and some DVDs, cuddly Donatello from the 80s whom I recently dug out of my parent's garage and novelisations of the new film and film 1 and occupies a small book shelf; I've never dressed up as a turtle; I don't have any TMNT Tshirts; I've never learned martial arts (although it would be awesome); never kept pet turtles nor indeed named any pets after the characters.

Apparently I don't count as a fan - I just love the turtles because they are cool and the characters are fascinating. I loved them when I was a kid because my sister did and there was a purple one and purple was my favourite colour!

*hangs head in shame*

Aww, jenna, don't worry about it. Fandom comes in all forms. You seem like a pretty big fan to me, just because you love the characters and have a lot to say about them.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by iris

Don't you think they showed why fandom could rationally be a big part of someone's life?

Rationally? No. No, they did'nt. More like bats*it insane.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Rooish

Aww, jenna, don't worry about it. Fandom comes in all forms. You seem like a pretty big fan to me, just because you love the characters and have a lot to say about them.

Heehee thanks Roo.

[Buslady]

You can see by my tiny collection, yeah I'm a big fan but I don't need to get every single piece. Just one specific character who I love the most. I have most but not all new raph things...but im working on it. my real turtles come first before the toys. So my $ goes to them before the collection.

[Cascadia]

my collection:

a framed TMNT movie poster
original 3 DVDs
some figures
2 video games
some of the recent DVDs
3 T-shirts
25 comics
soundtrack

So, I have a very small collection compared to other people on the forums. I used to have some live turtles. My money is spent on other things.

[iris]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Rationally? No. No, they did'nt. More like bats*it insane.

Have it your way, but I think you're only seeing Wacko!Fan because you're focusing on the TMNT stuff and totally overlooking the pathos. The pathos being the whole human story that everything was edited around, to the exclusion of the TMNT stuff that you lament was excluded. Yes, there is stuff most people would put on the Crazy side of the sanity spectrum... clearly these life choices aren't very common, which is why they are TV fodder. But there are also a lot of positive things going on around the TMNT love, as nicely articulated by Chris and Ivey. The message that stood out to me was this: fanatics are human beings, even likeable ones with families and dreams and problems and moms and cute children. That is an incredibly positive message, especially considering that the trend in reality-based television is to use editing to create the equivalent of a carnival freak show. If you only want to notice the "negative" side, that's your choice. Maybe it's a choice that a lot of people would make when watching this show, I dunno... most people are remarkably far from the Rational extreme of the sanity spectrum, even those with more common un-TV-worthy lifestyles.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by iris

Have it your way, but I think you're only seeing Wacko!Fan because you're focusing on the TMNT stuff and totally overlooking the pathos. The pathos being the whole human story that everything was edited around, to the exclusion of the TMNT stuff that you lament was excluded. Yes, there is stuff most people would put on the Crazy side of the sanity spectrum... clearly these life choices aren't very common, which is why they are TV fodder. But there are also a lot of positive things going on around the TMNT love, as nicely articulated by Chris and Ivey. The message that stood out to me was this: fanatics are human beings, even likeable ones with families and dreams and problems and moms and cute children. That is an incredibly positive message, especially considering that the trend in reality-based television is to use editing to create the equivalent of a carnival freak show. If you only want to notice the "negative" side, that's your choice. Maybe it's a choice that a lot of people would make when watching this show, I dunno... most people are remarkably far from the Rational extreme of the sanity spectrum, even those with more common un-TV-worthy lifestyles.

Yeah, and just think about what a boring place the world would be if there were no eccentrics and everyone was emotionally balanced and healthy. Neuroses are a fact of life. Eg. I am fairly neurotic. I have an irrational fear of bananas. (whack job, I hear you say, but no. I am very normal if not a little highly strung.) This causes much amusement amongst friends and family. They peel a banana and some evil people wave them at me. Why am I scared of bananas? Can't tell you - I don't know. I think they are gross, but I am proud because without me and my banana fear, many people's day would be much more boring.
Being obsessed with ninja turtles is no where near as dangerous as other obsessions can be. I was stalked by a creepy guy for a while. Now that was scary!

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by iris

Have it your way, but I think you're only seeing Wacko!Fan because you're focusing on the TMNT stuff and totally overlooking the pathos.

People will take one look at that vid and STILL think TMNT authorities are losers. That's it. What the "human story" is, I could'nt give a damn, these "Fanatic" shows are no different than documentaries that look at people who overcome a handicap or a terminal illness in spite of adversity, it makes us look like absolute outcasts, and they manipulate and edit everything around this cliche.

I want a documentary that at least has fans coversing the history of the franchise, not saying they can smile being fans and live with it holding Turtle parties with freinds who all have the "Lemme jump out the f*cking window" look plastered all over their faces. It's not that hard, and these hacks for television producers see us as no better than people with disabilities and pick the most outlandish people to reflect that.

It's old, it's cliche, it's embarrasing. It's something that needs to change, and accepting it in any form is unacceptable to me, it's settling for something mediocre, something backwards.

[VaughnMichael]

I gotta agree with Zarius here...Buslady may simply come off as a bit obsessive over Raph but who doesn't know that already she makes that pretty clear herself.
I was biting my tongue though and cringing allot over the other girl she honestly kind of scares and comes off as mentally unstable allot of the time in the interview.
I'm not trying to be rude here but like Zarius said they look for the wackiest people to interview and then edit things even further to make them look even more goofy.
It really Does put fans in a bad light in my opinion.
I'm sure I'm going to get bitched at for my opinion but oh well I don't care if Anarky (a Mod) can call these people Scary I can most deff. give my 2 cents as well.

[Spitfire]

See I think they should have people on there that still dig TMNT alot but are more subtle about it.

Showing people who are obsessed only makes us fans all look bad like Zarius said. Not I'm not dissing Buslady and Ivey here just saying if people think all TMNT fans are like that their going to think were all nuts.

Like I have a big collection but when you go into my room it isn't just turtles pasted everywhere. As cool as that would be I think it's to show other stuff I like as well, like music.

They should have interviewed some other people too sides them. Maybe 2 more people and maybe 2 guys that was it was even so people can see what male fans are like and female fans.

[iris]

Putre... dude I love ya but you're one to talk about looking scary to the mainstream... :p LOL

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

People will take one look at that vid and STILL think TMNT authorities are losers. That's it. What the "human story" is, I could'nt give a damn, these "Fanatic" shows are no different than documentaries that look at people who overcome a handicap or a terminal illness in spite of adversity, it makes us look like absolute outcasts, and they manipulate and edit everything around this cliche.

I want a documentary that at least has fans coversing the history of the franchise, not saying they can smile being fans and live with it holding Turtle parties with freinds who all have the "Lemme jump out the f*cking window" look plastered all over their faces. It's not that hard, and these hacks for television producers see us as no better than people with disabilities and pick the most outlandish people to reflect that.

It's old, it's cliche, it's embarrasing. It's something that needs to change, and accepting it in any form is unacceptable to me, it's settling for something mediocre, something backwards.

You're absolutely right, there are plenty of people in the world who divide it into "winners" and "losers" and would place "fanatics" in the "loser" category. They do this by adhering to a system of criteria handpicked to make sure that they themselves can fit into the "winner" category. Those people are all fickle, judgemental dumbasses who are going to pick a set of people to be "better than" no matter what, so why should I care what they think of me for being who I am?

You seem to think that people would change their minds about TMNT... what... being for losers?... and they would change their minds if only they could know something about its awesomeness and its history of awesomeness. But I think people are going to think what they're determined to think, as evidenced by reviews of TMNT 2007. As jaded as that viewpoint is, I also like to give people a little credit and assume they know that people who like TMNT/Spiderman/Batman/whatever are not all crowded at the totally cowabunga radical extreme.

Just a note: I probably sound kinda angry in this thread. I'm not angry; I'm just in a hurry!

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by iris

Putre... dude I love ya but you're one to talk about looking scary to the mainstream... :p LOL:

Do you really want to get me started Iris? because I can.. I'm really trying to be nice here...and giving them the benefit of the doubt.
My images are for my art, night clubs and my music projects...not real life...I'm sitting here in black glasses, unshaven for a week, my hairs not done, wearing my splinters dojo shirt and my boxers I don't think you want me to get any more technical than that...

[iris]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

do you really want to get me started Iris? because I can I'm really trying to be nice..
My images are for my art, night clubs and my music projects...not real life.

I know that. I can distinguish between you and your art. Or you and the things you like. What I'm saying is that not everyone is going to bother to make that distinction... look at what they say about Marilyn Manson who's like one of the most awesome and well-spoken artists ever. People are gonna judge no matter what. And I don't have time for those people.