unforum

[OMGItsAPancake]

Before I start, I'd like to apologize for the rant I am about to start writing.

This thread makes me absolutely furious, disgusted even.

I feel like people in the Slender fandom have become so pretentious, which happens with most fandoms when they reach a certain age. There are so many people looking to start making these slendervlogs that get scared, myself included, that will never because so many people in this fandom have created a pedestal that no one can reach. From a personal level, I feel like it has become a "got to be like the greats, but not too much because copying isn't what we are looking for". While the saying is true, "Everyone's a critic", there is a point where there is no reason to keep making something when everyone won't stop comparing it to the greats. What one series may do well, it will go completely unnoticed because it isn't good enough.

My heart breaks because I have loved the slenderman fandom for years, but it is getting to the point where I just can't come back and enjoy it. It's always something that just completely ruins it all for me.

Like, for example, I was talking to some people who have done some stuff and I was getting advice because I like to hear what others have experienced, so that I can learn a few tricks and also learn from others' mistakes. So I asked someone what were some tips that they would give to someone who is looking to start a series. They responded with "It's a little too late to start now, so I wouldn't", which was so awful for someone to say to someone who wants to try doing something new. And that is only the instance I have experienced, which I know is not the first nor the last. In fact, nearly 70% of people I have spoken to are slendersnobs, and make it hard to even want to try to sift through them to find people open and nice.

I do want to say that there have been some things in this thread who have some really valid points. As always, Carahan is always nice as can be but gives constructive criticism with respect. I just think the solution doesn't lie in creators or viewers, it lies in making the Slenderverse not a special club that no one is invited to. Maybe it won't die if we give it our love, instead of tearing people down. Maybe it's, I dunno, a two way street? Or a cycle? If we listen and help people, they will be more inclined to create things. If we support them thoroughly, maybe they will take more risks knowing there is support. A lot of things can be easily solved, but maybe some people don't want anything but their precious MH, or the others in the exclusive club.

Sorry, this has been bugging me for months. Hope you all understand.

[slimfiction]

[-Etrocal]

Although I agree with some people being downers when it comes to people creating new series', it's unfair to say that all of the comparisons to the big three are unwarranted. When MH or TT first came out there wasn't some consensus saying 'we're just going to love these, and only these!'. People liked them because they were creative, they were interesting and new.

I've seen new vlogs with a first few episodes way stronger than MH, but the comparison to MH is already built in. The freshness is gone, and it's unfair to blame an audience for not being interested in something that is in many ways a retread of something they've already seen any enjoy. The first episode of MH had me terrified, and I've never been scared or interested by SM in that same way since then.

I absolutely would love to see fresh new vlogs and try to watch as many as I can, but at a certain point it doesn't matter how much constructive criticism or back-patting the SM community gives, it's still very unlikely that a series gets the same viewership or acclaim that existed before. Unfortunately for the creators, I think we're far past the point of a handful of college students with some interesting ideas picking up camcorders and making something that'll stand out.

I really don't want to sound cynical and don't mean to in any way to discourage new vlogs. I think an important thing to always be thinking about is what people want to watch, rather than what the UF community values or what the tropes or lore of the mythos is. When Marble Hornets started, there was no Slenderverse to support it. There were tens of thousands of people who found their videos fascinating. If more recent vlogs can't engage a viewer as much as MH, why not compare the two?

I love SM, and have spent a lot of time straining myself to think of ways to make it fresh again (with little luck). I think the main reason that people would recommend not embarking on a SlenderSeries is because the margin of success is so incredibly low that it would take more effort and creativity to make it succeed than to come up with a new setting entirely. I don't necessarily agree with this mindset but the logic is totally sound, and (especially for first time filmmakers) originality is often your largest strength. I know that SM is a great enough horror figure to eventually be revitalized and captivate a new audience. But, tl;dr, it's a bitch in on a stick to do. If you've got ideas for a series and believe that you can execute on them, I really fully support you and would love to help if I can. Even if every creator disavows it, your cast, crew, and friends should be more than enough to drown out some naysayers on the internet.

Let your work speak for itself.

[The Totem]

As a creator, I have to say that the mythos are dying mainly because of the creators. I'm not proud of my work whatsoever and plan to restart it soon, but during "PhantomVoices" I managed to accumulate a considerable amount of followers. Then again, most creators have cancelled their series because of little-to-no active players/followers. I suppose it depends on the quality overall and te effort put into a series.

[-Etrocal]

There being fewer series' is symptomatic of them not becoming particularly successful, though. Obviously the most direct reason there are fewer vlogs is because people aren't making them.

To be fair, the mythos doesn't need more than a handful of contributors to keep it going, they just have to be good enough to stand on their own two feet. That's why the Fear or Arkn mythos' never cut it for me, the idea of all the stories interlocking is interesting but most of the executions on individual components fell way short.

[slimfiction]

[-Etrocal]

[slimfiction]

[ReverendJ]

If you have to post something 4 times it's not that no one saw you it's that no one cared...

[slimfiction]

[-Etrocal]

[Skitter]

So what do you (as in the whole of this thread/site) think a new series (SM/Fear Mythos/Arkn based) could do to rejuvenate the fandom so to speak?

I personally think the whole "oddball dead relative left behind some unfinished business/weird journal/creepy footage" thing has been beaten to death. Admittedly, though, it's hard to find a starting point.

[The Totem]

[slimfiction]

[gottagofast]