I have something that I have to get off my chest and I feel it's pretty crucial and serious for you, as my fellow Bamonators to understand. There comes a time when you feel that you have endured so much of one particular thing and then suddenly, a light bulb goes off and you become awakened. You realize that you have not been alert or consciously aware of how you're really feeling about this particular thing but then you also come to realize that this one thing that you used to find enjoyable and used to make you happy, is all of a sudden not making you happy any longer. This is what has happened with me in regards to The Vampire Diaries TV show. I'm writing this article to say that I will no longer be a viewer of this show. I just can't take anymore of all that's going on within this fandom, I just can't do it. I thought that I was strong and capable enough to handle all of the drama within this fandom, but I realized that I was wrong. I just can't take it and it's killing me. I've been trying to break away from this fandom forever now, but something deep inside of me is always telling me not to do so constantly, all the time. I guess you could say that the one thing stopping me from completely breaking away from this show is my deep and strong love for this story. I've been invested in this story since I was 13 when I first read the novels. The novels and the STORY were what made me love this entire series in the first place. And then, when I heard that the TVD novels were going to be adapted into a TV show, I was so beyond stoked and excited. I really thought this show was going to be absolutely amazing and everyone who was cast in the roles on this show, these amazingly talented and beautiful individuals, were going to do their characters justice and bring absolutely everything to their characters; bring their characters and their interactions together on-screen to life. I thought that the show was going to be mega huge and successful (in which it is). Although I can say without absolute certainty, that both the TVD cast who were so incredibly hard to begin with have done excellent portrayals of their individual characters, and how amazing of a story as a whole it really is, it's just not enough for me in the end. For me, the bad within this entire TVD franchise has overpowered the good.
There's many reasons why I have grown such extreme disinterest in this show. For one, I feel that certain cast members of this show, who put so much effort into their acting and into their work, don't get any attention, don't receive any credit and also, are brushed aside for other characters who the writers feel are more important. This bothers me VERY much, and I just don't understand it whatsoever. For example, Paul Wesley. The guy is an amazingly talented and BRILLIANT ACTOR yet, he never receives any kudos, credit or recognition. Ian is always the one getting the attention and in my opinion, Paul is a WAY better actor then Ian is. I don't understand all of this hype about Ian. OK, he's hot, I get it. But honestly, the obsession for him within this fandom beyond scares me and I just don't understand the behaviour. I just don't get it at all. What is it that people can't just give the kudos, credit and recognition that Paul Wesley deserves so much? Why are people always so hung up on Ian? i'm trying to make sense of it, but it doesn't add up. None of it makes any logical sense to me. Everything is Ian, Ian, Ian. And if it's not about Ian, then it's about Damon. I'm so sick of it! This is not a freaking story anymore, it's revolving around one actor (Ian) and one character (Damon) and I'm fed up with it. It's so frustrating for me. And if someone happens to give Paul a little credit, then they are not the cool kid, they don't fit in. The Ian obsession is so bad within this fandom, that there are moments where I have grown to dislike Ian JUST BECAUSE OF HIS FANS. And I hate it, I don't want to feel this way. I can't stand it but it is what it is and there's a good logical reason why I feel the way I do. And to be completely frank, I have every reason to feel the way I do. Because it hurts me, it hurts me so much to see someone get so much credit and over the top kudos (Ian/Damon), while someone else, who is just as hardworking and talented (if not, possibly way more), not get the actual recognition and credit that they deserve (Paul/Stefan). I just can't do it anymore and I'm so exhausted from this whole thing. I'm tired of endlessly trying to defend my reasonings for supporting Paul and when I do, the fandom just laughs. I don't like to be laughed at and it's not something to laugh at either. Paul is so amazing and he deserves some recognition from this show. It's just not fair, it's not fair at all, and it's so frustrating for me. I can't go to one site about TVD anymore, without seeing Ian/Damon's stupid stalker fans spamming up the entire fucking site with their meaningless messages like "Ian Forever!", "Ian is better then Paul!" "Ian is hotter then Paul." or Ian/Nina are made for each other", and blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of that shit and I didn't get invested in both this fandom and this show in order to witness kiddy bullshit like that. This isn't fucking Twilight. I've been through the Twilight fandom and I've been chewed up and spit out and I refuse to endure the nonsense that is coming from the TVD fandom as well. I'm tired and I've endured enough obsession and fanatical fans to last me a lifetime. The Ian/Damon obsession which is taking place within this fandom has managed to destroy both my enjoyment and the passion that I had for this show. And that's sucks, because this is something that I didn't want, but unfortunately ended up happening anyways. It's really tough seeing so much OTT bias towards one particular actor while the other actors on this show have basically become invisible and irrelevant. And to be honest, I just don't think I love this show enough to endure that any longer. I don't love the characters enough, I don't love the couples enough and I don;t love the story enough to take the craziness of the fandom. I just can't do it, I'm not strong enough. I've tried and tried and tried and waited to see if I could really give this fandom the benefit of the doubt and so far, I've been nothing but disappointed. Anyone who doesn't either love Delena, isn't obsessed with Ian, doesn't care for Ian/Nina, is basically expendable and irrelevant and that's why I refuse to be a part of a fandom that treats people who aren't loving the same things they do, like crap. Being a Paul fan, Stefan fan, Stelena fan, or a Bonnie fan and most of all, a Bamon fan is extremely hard within this fandom. It's like pulling teeth and it's not enjoyable whatsoever. Something like this should be for entertainment, it should make you happy to be invested in the story, the characters and the show, but for me, it's the complete opposite. I'm just tired of some people getting so much recognition on this cast, while others are being shoved to the background and not being recognized at all (for example, people like Paul and Kat Graham). To me, it's just become beyond obnoxious and disrespectful and I refuse to be a part of a fandom that is so incredibly OTT, biased and hateful. I will not be a part of that. AT ALL.
Aside from the Ian obsession, I hate all of the bashing of Paul Wesley and Katerina Graham. People running around on all of the sites (like Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, Fanpop, etc), bashing Paul and Katerina endlessly, saying that they can't act or that they are ugly. I mean, who does that? Paul and Katerina are so incredibly talented and yet, the fandom doesn't see that and appreciate all of their hard work. More then anyone on this cast, Paul is most definitely the most hardworking individual. Even his co-stars and the crew on this show have said that repeatedly many times. Even the own producers of this show (KW and JP). Why can't the fandom just give a little credit where it's do? Is that so hard to do? I don't get it and I think that this fandom is incredibly selfish and undeserving of all the hard work that these actors/actresses do in order to make the show so enjoyable for us. Do we, as a fandom, really deserve to watch these amazing actors/actresses give it their all on screen, yet when we finally see all of their hard work, we don't give some of the people the kudos and credit that they actually deserve? THESE PEOPLE AREN'T DOING ALL OF THIS HARD WORK FOR NOTHING! I feel like when Paul does all of this hard work and people don't give him enough credit for it, that it becomes all a waste. Because what Paul does on screen doesn't seem to be relevant to more then half the people within this fandom. How does that make us as a fandom look? At least with Twilight and even Harry Potter, people within their fandom's give credit to everyone who works on the film series. It's not just Robert Pattinson or it's not just Daniel Radcliffe. EVERYONE gets some kind of recognition, respect, credit and attention, even if they may prefer one actor/character over another. Why can't the TVD fandom garner as much class and respect for their series the way that the Harry Potter and Twilight fandom's have. I know that the Twilight fandom's and HP fandom's can get pretty intense and rabid sometimes, but there is no shortage of credit everyone, to all of the actors. Every single actor from Twilight and Harry Potter get some kind of credit and recognition. I don't see that with TVD fandom and that really hurts me. It's just not right and it's just not fair that Paul and Kat work so hard and not get any attention. It makes the TVD fandom look incredibly disrespectful and absolutely classless and tacky. And that is exactly why I have chosen to break away from this show, because that is exactly what the TVD fandom has become: CLASSLESS, DISRESPECTFUL AND TACKY. It also beyond bothers me to see people sending endless hate mail or hate tweets to Katerina Graham, because she happened to have a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. I mean, who does that? You don't attack someone and bash someone because they get a nomination for an award. You support them and be happy for them and congratulate them on their hard work to getting there, into getting that nomination. When I heard about Katerina being attacked because of that, I was absolutely appalled and disgusted. That was when I knew that I was beyond fed up with the fandom and when I actually really decided within myself, that the TVD fandom is just much too classless and obnoxious for me. I don't want to be associated with that. When I see behaviour like this and all the theatrics, all of the drama over actors and characters and couples and ships, I just completely shut down. I refuse to engage in it. And because of all of the bashing of Paul and Kat within this fandom, I end up getting angrier and angrier and my frustration just festers and festers until I end up exploding and then I start writing angry rants targeted to the Delena stans. I'm just beyond tired of dealing with the stupidity within this fandom and all of these idiots within this fandom not showing any respect towards both the hardworking cast of this show and also, to other fans within the fandom. I'm sure there's not a day that goes by where both Paul and Kat have felt so incredibly anxious of reading what's all over the internet about them, all the rude, harsh and obnoxious comments about them, whether it be about their appearance or their acting. If you don't like a particular character, that's fine, but don't start personally attacking the actor who portrays the character. Those are two different things. One is fiction, the other is reality. And it's really hurtful to see all of the mean and nasty comments which are being targeted at Paul and Katerina over the internet. Really hurtful and just absolutely appalling and disgusting at the same time. I refuse to be associated with that kind of appalling and atrocious behaviour. And most of all, I'm done trying to constantly defend Paul and Katerina the way that I always do. I shouldn't have to be doing that. I should be just supporting them, but instead, I'm constantly defending them. And this has caused me to become extremely unhappy and miserable being a part of this fandom.
Another thing that absolutely bothers me are all of these unnecessary shipper wars. I'M SO SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF THEM. And I WILL NOT endure anymore EVER. I will not put up with it and I will simply not engage in it any longer. I've done enough of constantly defending my reasonings for shipping and supporting the couples from this series and I refuse to continue doing it. There really is no point in trying to talk to the so-called majority of people within this fandom, because what I say will just go in one ear and straight through the other without even an ounce of consideration of thought and respect. Why should I constantly put myself out there, constantly defend the couples that I support to people who refuse to be open-minded and choose to be completely blind and ignorant. I'm done doing that and I'm exhausted. It really has consumed so much of my mental energy trying to communicate with the ignorance within this fandom but it doesn't matter how hard you try, it will never work. You can be nice, you can be mean, you can be honest, but nothing will ever work. So at this point, it's pretty much pointless in trying. I get asked "Why the fuck do you ship Bamon?" or "Why do you ship Stelena? You're shipping the wrong couple, Delena is where it's at!" I mean, who does that? And when I do respond, I get called delusional and crazy, simply because I defend my couples. I hate Delena with an undying passion and may strongly disagree with their shipping of Delena, but if a Delena fan can respond to me with logical reasons and explanations as to why they ship Delena, I'm not going to call them stupid or delusional. I would debate them and disagree with them, but I wouldn't call them delusional. I would only call a Delena supporter delusional if I feel their reasonings for supporting Delena are beyond stupid and don't make any logical sense. And unfortunately, most of the Delena fans that I have asked this question to, have give me answers, explanations and reasonings for supporting Delena that are stupid and don't make any logical sense (maybe it's because there is no logical reasoning beyond shipping Delena in the first place). I give all of my logical reasonings for supporting Stelena and Bamon yet it's never enough for these Delena fans to understand or comprehend. I don't know if it's because more then half of the Delena fans are either a bunch of 12-13 year old Twi-hards who haven't completed elementary school, or if they're just plain stupid or if they are just plain ignorant and close-minded and can't seem to understand logical sense when it's thrown at them, but whatever it is, God help them. God help them is what I say. Because as far as I'm concerned, many Delena fans wouldn't know sense and logic if it smacked them or hit them right in the face. You just can't keep defending yourself to ignorance, you just can't. There's no point in constantly trying to fight and try to constantly outdo each other in terms of supporting out couples, because the fact of the matter is, some people are just much too ignorant to even bother trying to get through to. No matter how much sense I make, and how much logical reasons I give, I have constantly been called stupid and delusional because of it. Both because I gave them logical reasonings for supporting Bamon/Stelena and also, giving them logical reasons as to why I'm against Delena and why Delena doesn't make sense and is not a good couple. Ignorance can't respond to logicality. The two don't go together and the two are completely incompatible. And this is part of the major reasons why I just don't understand Delena fans and their behaviour and why I constantly just seem to clash with them. I just clash with Delena fans, and I doubt that's ever going to change. I respect those Stelena/Bamon fans who actually really try to put themselves out there and get along with the Delena fans, but for me, it's not easy at all. In the real world and fiction/fictional ships aside, I get a long with people. I'm actually extremely personable and I like people and I like socializing and I don't have any issue with getting along with people. In fact, my real life best friend is a HUGE Delena shipper, but because I love her so much, the fact that she ships Delena is completely irrelevant to me. It doesn't matter to me, because she's my best friend and our friendship comes first. But the thing is, I've known her since I was 3 years old, we've been best friends since the playground and the sandbox. She's the only person whom I would always choose friendship over ships. Luckily, we are both Lucas/Peyton shippers so I guess that helps to ease the TVD/Delena tension between us. LOL. But here's the deal: even though my best friend in the world is a Delena shipper, I know she's not a close-minded or ignorant person. I know that she's a smart and logical individual. Most of that could be due to the fact that I've known her for my whole life, but it's also because that is just who she is as an individual. She's so accepting of other people's opinions and even though she knows that I ship Stelena/Bamon, she doesn't get all catty on me and call me delusional for putting my reasons out there as to why I ship SE/DB. She's understanding and accepting of them. Yes, me and her have had our intense debates, but they aren't mean and malicious, they are LOGICAL. Our debates make sense. So even though me and my bestie ship opposing couples, we are able to debate and discuss our differences logically. Well, within this fandom, it's the opposite. I can't defend Stelena/Bamon without the Delena fans trying to directly put me down. I've been called delusional simply because I ship SE/DB. When I call a Delena supporter delusional, I'm not calling them delusional because of them simply shipping Delena. I'm calling them delusional because of their reasons for supporting Delena. And the main reason for this is because well, many of Delena fans reasons for supporting Delena are stupid and don't make any sense. I know it's not because I'm ignorant, because to be completely fair and honest, I have tried to like Delena and have tried to accept Delena for being a potential good couple and I just don't see it. So it's not like I haven't given Delena a chance or a benefit of the doubt to prove that it's actually worthy of my admiration, because I have. But many Delena fans don't or haven't done that and you want to know how I know this? Because their reasons for being against both Stelena and Bamon make absolutely ZERO logical sense whatsoever. Most of the reasons as to why they are against Stelena is because they are quote "too boring together". I'm sorry, but how does that equate to a logical and solid reason as to why you're against Stelena. That is a very weak reason for being against Stelena. Other "reasons" (more like excuses) for Delena fans being against Stelena is because Stefan/Elena have no chemistry. OK, so you support a couple simply because they have tons of chemistry? Again, that comes across as an excuse to be against one ship and for another ship. Supporting a couple because of chemistry is subjective. Chemistry is not everything and to be honest, it is the least important part of a healthy, functioning relationship. Two people can have all the physical chemistry in the world, but what else is there? The two people can have so much "sexual tension" and "heat", but they could be the most dysfunctional, toxic, abusive relationship (qualities which are so much more crucial and important then chemistry). People are going to tell me that they would rather ship a couple with tons of chemistry (which is a shallow factor in the first place) and that's an abusive, toxic relationship where the two people involved do nothing but constantly hurt each other, whether it's consciously or subconsciously over a couple who doesn't have as much "fire", "heat" and sexual chemistry but is healthy, loving, supportive and selfless? Does that make any logical sense to ANYONE who has at least half a brain? This is why I just don't understand the mindset of the majority of this fandom, because I feel like I'm in elementary school. It's one thing to have your preferences but if you're going to display and promote your preferences, at least have the decency to back it up with logical arguments and sense. Because most of this fandom seriously lacks that. And because of it, I feel out of place, I feel like I don't fit in. Because it's so incredibly hard to find people whom I can actually have a decent and intelligent, logical discussion about the show with. Everything that I see out there is just pure utter nonsense that makes no sense whatsoever. What happened to debating logically about the show, the storyline, the characters and even the couples/ships? There's none of that anymore. At the very beginning of this show, maybe there was, but now? That's all out the window. I used to go on Vampire Diaries.Net forums to have a discussion about the show in general and the episodes and now, I can't even go there anymore, because of all the bashing and all of the nonsense that I see on there, especially all the bashing towards Stefan's character and most of all, Bonnie's character. When it comes down to it, any character that is not Damon or Elena or any couple that isn't Delena on the VD.Net forums, gets royally bashed and it's absolutely shameful. That's sad when people within this fandom can't go to a simple forum or site in order to express their concerns and opinions, because of the incessant, OTT and hurtful bashing of the characters and couples on a fictional TV show. More then anything, it's the TVD fandom that has brought down the spark of the show for me. The fandom has actually managed to turn me off from this show and this story completely and...that's really sad. But mostly, that's unfortunate. It's really sad and unfortunate when someone can't enjoy a story or show because the fandom is just much too OTT and hateful. And Stefan, Bonnie, Stelena and Bamon as fictional characters and ships are taking all of the hits and hateful targets being constantly thrown at them. And not only that, but most importantly, the Stefan/Bonnie/Stelena/Bamon fans are taking the entire brunt of it as well and to me, it's just despicable. Absolutely despicable.
Aside from all the Ian/Damon obsession, the bashing of characters/actors/actresses and the never ending shipper wars, another thing that really strongly bothers me is the show itself. The writing for this show has gone to waste. When I watch TVD, I don't see a solid, well-rounded story. I just see complete and utter nonsense. Season 1 of TVD was awesome and I felt like it was a well-rounded show that offered a healthy, and good combination of romance, action, drama, angst, light-heartedness, humour and depth. But with Season 2, I couldn't help but feel that all of that balance of all of those things went straight out the window. The story lines and writing became so incredibly sloppy and messy. Characters were being brushed under the rug. Important characters like Bonnie. BONNIE! Bonnie is not just some supporting character and this is coming from someone who has read the entire TVD novel series! In my blunt and honest opinion, Bonnie is the MOST important female character after the series own protagonist/heroine (Elena), and she is also a secondary heroine in the story. Her role in the series is so important and incredibly crucial. Not only does that go for the novel series, but that goes for the show as well. Yet, the producers and the writers of the show don't even see that. They just brush Bonnie aside as if she is nothing and she's not nothing. She's so important and she is the BEST FRIEND of the main heroine and protagonist. In the book series, she is the MOST important character after the main trio, Elena, Stefan and Damon. So I don't get how the writers of this show can't see that and refuse to see that. Have these people not read the books? Because it's become more and more obvious to me that these people who writing for this show haven't read the books and have absolutely zero knowledge of the concept of both the characters and the storylines. God, I even question if KW and JP have read the books. They created and adapted a show that is supposed to follow the novels, yet they don't honour them (the books) and give the attention that the characters in this series actually deserve. Characters like Bonnie, Matt and even Caroline and Stefan (STEFAN! Who happens to be this series MAIN MALE LEAD AND HERO of the entire series) are being brushed aside for more of Damon's angsty so-called "journey" onto redemption. OK, so Damon's journey is part of the story, I get that. But to make it all about him and centralize and focus basically the entire story on him to the point where it's neglecting other important characters, including the main hero of the show, Stefan and even the shows own heroine, Elena, is just beyond unacceptable and preposterous. That is just beyond wrong, no matter what way you look at it. Damon may be an important character and the series main anti-hero/bad boy and he also may be the most "popular" character on the show, but that is not an excuse to make the show all about him while all the while brushing other crucial and important characters aside and not taking the time to give them attention and develop their characters. I love Bonnie and she's my favourite female character on the show, but you know what's sad? I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS GIRL. I don't know her perspective, her POV, her innermost desires, wants, passions and secrets, how she feels about being a witch, how does she feel about her powers. What about some insight into her family? Where's her mother? Her father? Does she have any long lost siblings? What is her family history and background really like (this includes Emily)? I mean, as a viewer of this show, I need to have some insight into the characters on this show. Bonnie is this really important character yet I truly know nothing about her and that makes me so incredibly sad and disappointed at the same time. I know all about Elena, Stefan and Damon, but I know nothing about characters like Bonnie, Caroline, Matt. NOTHING. There's no deep insight into who these characters really are on this show and you can thank sloppy and poor writing for that. It's nothing but pure neglect in my opinion and the way I see it, if you're going to do a show, at least let the viewers of the show know all of the characters on the show by displaying some deep insight and analysis into who these characters are. That includes focusing on their families and their thoughts, feelings and POV's. And I can honestly say that I haven't gotten that since the beginning of Season 2. I have tried to stay as optimistic as possible in regards to Season 3, but my pessimistic side completely takes over and tells me that it's just going to be more of the same. Same lack of development for certain characters, same OTT bias towards certain characters and ships, constant killing off of characters on the show, sloppy and poor writing left and right. I mean, it's just endless. TVD has completely lost it's lustre and it's spark, and it's not just about the writing itself. The fandom has caused this show to go completely down the drain for me. It's just really disappointing.
I know that this article is nothing but a whole lot of whine and complain, but I really needed to put my feelings and thoughts about this show out there so you can understand where I'm coming from. I never wanted it to turn out like this or be like this but..it is what it is and the fact of the matter is, I'm just not into this show anymore like I used to be. I don't have the passion for it anymore but most importantly, I don't have the heart to keep loving it and I don't have the spirit to keep going. It's really hard being a part of a fandom where there's so much hatred, so much disrespect and so much animosity and rivalry and bitterness and fighting. That's all it's become to me, endless fighting and bickering. I'm just done with all of the petty nonsense and all the drama that comes along with being a part of this fandom and supporting this show. I don't love this show enough to stick it out and continue watching. I will still support Stelena and Bamon as pairings and I will still read the novels, but as far as the show and the show's fandom goes, I'm done. There's only so much I can take and right now, I'm just exhausted and I'm sick. I'm just so sick and tired and I can't deal with it anymore. Some of the behaviour within this fandom just doesn't make sense to me and when I see it, I completely shut down and I refuse to engage in it any longer under any circumstances. Sorry if this article happens to bring such a dark, gloomy cloud over such an amazingly optimistic and positive spot but I really thought that I should put myself out there and express my feelings and thoughts towards you as my fellow Bamonators. You have all been so amazing, and kind and you have stood up for me when I've been beaten down by Delena fans and for that, I'm very appreciative and thankful. You're all talented and smart, intelligent individuals and you really all deserve so much respect. Thank you for taking the time in reading my article and I hope all of you can find it in yourselves to understand.
-Noelle ♥
There's many reasons why I have grown such extreme disinterest in this show. For one, I feel that certain cast members of this show, who put so much effort into their acting and into their work, don't get any attention, don't receive any credit and also, are brushed aside for other characters who the writers feel are more important. This bothers me VERY much, and I just don't understand it whatsoever. For example, Paul Wesley. The guy is an amazingly talented and BRILLIANT ACTOR yet, he never receives any kudos, credit or recognition. Ian is always the one getting the attention and in my opinion, Paul is a WAY better actor then Ian is. I don't understand all of this hype about Ian. OK, he's hot, I get it. But honestly, the obsession for him within this fandom beyond scares me and I just don't understand the behaviour. I just don't get it at all. What is it that people can't just give the kudos, credit and recognition that Paul Wesley deserves so much? Why are people always so hung up on Ian? i'm trying to make sense of it, but it doesn't add up. None of it makes any logical sense to me. Everything is Ian, Ian, Ian. And if it's not about Ian, then it's about Damon. I'm so sick of it! This is not a freaking story anymore, it's revolving around one actor (Ian) and one character (Damon) and I'm fed up with it. It's so frustrating for me. And if someone happens to give Paul a little credit, then they are not the cool kid, they don't fit in. The Ian obsession is so bad within this fandom, that there are moments where I have grown to dislike Ian JUST BECAUSE OF HIS FANS. And I hate it, I don't want to feel this way. I can't stand it but it is what it is and there's a good logical reason why I feel the way I do. And to be completely frank, I have every reason to feel the way I do. Because it hurts me, it hurts me so much to see someone get so much credit and over the top kudos (Ian/Damon), while someone else, who is just as hardworking and talented (if not, possibly way more), not get the actual recognition and credit that they deserve (Paul/Stefan). I just can't do it anymore and I'm so exhausted from this whole thing. I'm tired of endlessly trying to defend my reasonings for supporting Paul and when I do, the fandom just laughs. I don't like to be laughed at and it's not something to laugh at either. Paul is so amazing and he deserves some recognition from this show. It's just not fair, it's not fair at all, and it's so frustrating for me. I can't go to one site about TVD anymore, without seeing Ian/Damon's stupid stalker fans spamming up the entire fucking site with their meaningless messages like "Ian Forever!", "Ian is better then Paul!" "Ian is hotter then Paul." or Ian/Nina are made for each other", and blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of that shit and I didn't get invested in both this fandom and this show in order to witness kiddy bullshit like that. This isn't fucking Twilight. I've been through the Twilight fandom and I've been chewed up and spit out and I refuse to endure the nonsense that is coming from the TVD fandom as well. I'm tired and I've endured enough obsession and fanatical fans to last me a lifetime. The Ian/Damon obsession which is taking place within this fandom has managed to destroy both my enjoyment and the passion that I had for this show. And that's sucks, because this is something that I didn't want, but unfortunately ended up happening anyways. It's really tough seeing so much OTT bias towards one particular actor while the other actors on this show have basically become invisible and irrelevant. And to be honest, I just don't think I love this show enough to endure that any longer. I don't love the characters enough, I don't love the couples enough and I don;t love the story enough to take the craziness of the fandom. I just can't do it, I'm not strong enough. I've tried and tried and tried and waited to see if I could really give this fandom the benefit of the doubt and so far, I've been nothing but disappointed. Anyone who doesn't either love Delena, isn't obsessed with Ian, doesn't care for Ian/Nina, is basically expendable and irrelevant and that's why I refuse to be a part of a fandom that treats people who aren't loving the same things they do, like crap. Being a Paul fan, Stefan fan, Stelena fan, or a Bonnie fan and most of all, a Bamon fan is extremely hard within this fandom. It's like pulling teeth and it's not enjoyable whatsoever. Something like this should be for entertainment, it should make you happy to be invested in the story, the characters and the show, but for me, it's the complete opposite. I'm just tired of some people getting so much recognition on this cast, while others are being shoved to the background and not being recognized at all (for example, people like Paul and Kat Graham). To me, it's just become beyond obnoxious and disrespectful and I refuse to be a part of a fandom that is so incredibly OTT, biased and hateful. I will not be a part of that. AT ALL.
Aside from the Ian obsession, I hate all of the bashing of Paul Wesley and Katerina Graham. People running around on all of the sites (like Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, Fanpop, etc), bashing Paul and Katerina endlessly, saying that they can't act or that they are ugly. I mean, who does that? Paul and Katerina are so incredibly talented and yet, the fandom doesn't see that and appreciate all of their hard work. More then anyone on this cast, Paul is most definitely the most hardworking individual. Even his co-stars and the crew on this show have said that repeatedly many times. Even the own producers of this show (KW and JP). Why can't the fandom just give a little credit where it's do? Is that so hard to do? I don't get it and I think that this fandom is incredibly selfish and undeserving of all the hard work that these actors/actresses do in order to make the show so enjoyable for us. Do we, as a fandom, really deserve to watch these amazing actors/actresses give it their all on screen, yet when we finally see all of their hard work, we don't give some of the people the kudos and credit that they actually deserve? THESE PEOPLE AREN'T DOING ALL OF THIS HARD WORK FOR NOTHING! I feel like when Paul does all of this hard work and people don't give him enough credit for it, that it becomes all a waste. Because what Paul does on screen doesn't seem to be relevant to more then half the people within this fandom. How does that make us as a fandom look? At least with Twilight and even Harry Potter, people within their fandom's give credit to everyone who works on the film series. It's not just Robert Pattinson or it's not just Daniel Radcliffe. EVERYONE gets some kind of recognition, respect, credit and attention, even if they may prefer one actor/character over another. Why can't the TVD fandom garner as much class and respect for their series the way that the Harry Potter and Twilight fandom's have. I know that the Twilight fandom's and HP fandom's can get pretty intense and rabid sometimes, but there is no shortage of credit everyone, to all of the actors. Every single actor from Twilight and Harry Potter get some kind of credit and recognition. I don't see that with TVD fandom and that really hurts me. It's just not right and it's just not fair that Paul and Kat work so hard and not get any attention. It makes the TVD fandom look incredibly disrespectful and absolutely classless and tacky. And that is exactly why I have chosen to break away from this show, because that is exactly what the TVD fandom has become: CLASSLESS, DISRESPECTFUL AND TACKY. It also beyond bothers me to see people sending endless hate mail or hate tweets to Katerina Graham, because she happened to have a nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. I mean, who does that? You don't attack someone and bash someone because they get a nomination for an award. You support them and be happy for them and congratulate them on their hard work to getting there, into getting that nomination. When I heard about Katerina being attacked because of that, I was absolutely appalled and disgusted. That was when I knew that I was beyond fed up with the fandom and when I actually really decided within myself, that the TVD fandom is just much too classless and obnoxious for me. I don't want to be associated with that. When I see behaviour like this and all the theatrics, all of the drama over actors and characters and couples and ships, I just completely shut down. I refuse to engage in it. And because of all of the bashing of Paul and Kat within this fandom, I end up getting angrier and angrier and my frustration just festers and festers until I end up exploding and then I start writing angry rants targeted to the Delena stans. I'm just beyond tired of dealing with the stupidity within this fandom and all of these idiots within this fandom not showing any respect towards both the hardworking cast of this show and also, to other fans within the fandom. I'm sure there's not a day that goes by where both Paul and Kat have felt so incredibly anxious of reading what's all over the internet about them, all the rude, harsh and obnoxious comments about them, whether it be about their appearance or their acting. If you don't like a particular character, that's fine, but don't start personally attacking the actor who portrays the character. Those are two different things. One is fiction, the other is reality. And it's really hurtful to see all of the mean and nasty comments which are being targeted at Paul and Katerina over the internet. Really hurtful and just absolutely appalling and disgusting at the same time. I refuse to be associated with that kind of appalling and atrocious behaviour. And most of all, I'm done trying to constantly defend Paul and Katerina the way that I always do. I shouldn't have to be doing that. I should be just supporting them, but instead, I'm constantly defending them. And this has caused me to become extremely unhappy and miserable being a part of this fandom.
Another thing that absolutely bothers me are all of these unnecessary shipper wars. I'M SO SICK AND FUCKING TIRED OF THEM. And I WILL NOT endure anymore EVER. I will not put up with it and I will simply not engage in it any longer. I've done enough of constantly defending my reasonings for shipping and supporting the couples from this series and I refuse to continue doing it. There really is no point in trying to talk to the so-called majority of people within this fandom, because what I say will just go in one ear and straight through the other without even an ounce of consideration of thought and respect. Why should I constantly put myself out there, constantly defend the couples that I support to people who refuse to be open-minded and choose to be completely blind and ignorant. I'm done doing that and I'm exhausted. It really has consumed so much of my mental energy trying to communicate with the ignorance within this fandom but it doesn't matter how hard you try, it will never work. You can be nice, you can be mean, you can be honest, but nothing will ever work. So at this point, it's pretty much pointless in trying. I get asked "Why the fuck do you ship Bamon?" or "Why do you ship Stelena? You're shipping the wrong couple, Delena is where it's at!" I mean, who does that? And when I do respond, I get called delusional and crazy, simply because I defend my couples. I hate Delena with an undying passion and may strongly disagree with their shipping of Delena, but if a Delena fan can respond to me with logical reasons and explanations as to why they ship Delena, I'm not going to call them stupid or delusional. I would debate them and disagree with them, but I wouldn't call them delusional. I would only call a Delena supporter delusional if I feel their reasonings for supporting Delena are beyond stupid and don't make any logical sense. And unfortunately, most of the Delena fans that I have asked this question to, have give me answers, explanations and reasonings for supporting Delena that are stupid and don't make any logical sense (maybe it's because there is no logical reasoning beyond shipping Delena in the first place). I give all of my logical reasonings for supporting Stelena and Bamon yet it's never enough for these Delena fans to understand or comprehend. I don't know if it's because more then half of the Delena fans are either a bunch of 12-13 year old Twi-hards who haven't completed elementary school, or if they're just plain stupid or if they are just plain ignorant and close-minded and can't seem to understand logical sense when it's thrown at them, but whatever it is, God help them. God help them is what I say. Because as far as I'm concerned, many Delena fans wouldn't know sense and logic if it smacked them or hit them right in the face. You just can't keep defending yourself to ignorance, you just can't. There's no point in constantly trying to fight and try to constantly outdo each other in terms of supporting out couples, because the fact of the matter is, some people are just much too ignorant to even bother trying to get through to. No matter how much sense I make, and how much logical reasons I give, I have constantly been called stupid and delusional because of it. Both because I gave them logical reasonings for supporting Bamon/Stelena and also, giving them logical reasons as to why I'm against Delena and why Delena doesn't make sense and is not a good couple. Ignorance can't respond to logicality. The two don't go together and the two are completely incompatible. And this is part of the major reasons why I just don't understand Delena fans and their behaviour and why I constantly just seem to clash with them. I just clash with Delena fans, and I doubt that's ever going to change. I respect those Stelena/Bamon fans who actually really try to put themselves out there and get along with the Delena fans, but for me, it's not easy at all. In the real world and fiction/fictional ships aside, I get a long with people. I'm actually extremely personable and I like people and I like socializing and I don't have any issue with getting along with people. In fact, my real life best friend is a HUGE Delena shipper, but because I love her so much, the fact that she ships Delena is completely irrelevant to me. It doesn't matter to me, because she's my best friend and our friendship comes first. But the thing is, I've known her since I was 3 years old, we've been best friends since the playground and the sandbox. She's the only person whom I would always choose friendship over ships. Luckily, we are both Lucas/Peyton shippers so I guess that helps to ease the TVD/Delena tension between us. LOL. But here's the deal: even though my best friend in the world is a Delena shipper, I know she's not a close-minded or ignorant person. I know that she's a smart and logical individual. Most of that could be due to the fact that I've known her for my whole life, but it's also because that is just who she is as an individual. She's so accepting of other people's opinions and even though she knows that I ship Stelena/Bamon, she doesn't get all catty on me and call me delusional for putting my reasons out there as to why I ship SE/DB. She's understanding and accepting of them. Yes, me and her have had our intense debates, but they aren't mean and malicious, they are LOGICAL. Our debates make sense. So even though me and my bestie ship opposing couples, we are able to debate and discuss our differences logically. Well, within this fandom, it's the opposite. I can't defend Stelena/Bamon without the Delena fans trying to directly put me down. I've been called delusional simply because I ship SE/DB. When I call a Delena supporter delusional, I'm not calling them delusional because of them simply shipping Delena. I'm calling them delusional because of their reasons for supporting Delena. And the main reason for this is because well, many of Delena fans reasons for supporting Delena are stupid and don't make any sense. I know it's not because I'm ignorant, because to be completely fair and honest, I have tried to like Delena and have tried to accept Delena for being a potential good couple and I just don't see it. So it's not like I haven't given Delena a chance or a benefit of the doubt to prove that it's actually worthy of my admiration, because I have. But many Delena fans don't or haven't done that and you want to know how I know this? Because their reasons for being against both Stelena and Bamon make absolutely ZERO logical sense whatsoever. Most of the reasons as to why they are against Stelena is because they are quote "too boring together". I'm sorry, but how does that equate to a logical and solid reason as to why you're against Stelena. That is a very weak reason for being against Stelena. Other "reasons" (more like excuses) for Delena fans being against Stelena is because Stefan/Elena have no chemistry. OK, so you support a couple simply because they have tons of chemistry? Again, that comes across as an excuse to be against one ship and for another ship. Supporting a couple because of chemistry is subjective. Chemistry is not everything and to be honest, it is the least important part of a healthy, functioning relationship. Two people can have all the physical chemistry in the world, but what else is there? The two people can have so much "sexual tension" and "heat", but they could be the most dysfunctional, toxic, abusive relationship (qualities which are so much more crucial and important then chemistry). People are going to tell me that they would rather ship a couple with tons of chemistry (which is a shallow factor in the first place) and that's an abusive, toxic relationship where the two people involved do nothing but constantly hurt each other, whether it's consciously or subconsciously over a couple who doesn't have as much "fire", "heat" and sexual chemistry but is healthy, loving, supportive and selfless? Does that make any logical sense to ANYONE who has at least half a brain? This is why I just don't understand the mindset of the majority of this fandom, because I feel like I'm in elementary school. It's one thing to have your preferences but if you're going to display and promote your preferences, at least have the decency to back it up with logical arguments and sense. Because most of this fandom seriously lacks that. And because of it, I feel out of place, I feel like I don't fit in. Because it's so incredibly hard to find people whom I can actually have a decent and intelligent, logical discussion about the show with. Everything that I see out there is just pure utter nonsense that makes no sense whatsoever. What happened to debating logically about the show, the storyline, the characters and even the couples/ships? There's none of that anymore. At the very beginning of this show, maybe there was, but now? That's all out the window. I used to go on Vampire Diaries.Net forums to have a discussion about the show in general and the episodes and now, I can't even go there anymore, because of all the bashing and all of the nonsense that I see on there, especially all the bashing towards Stefan's character and most of all, Bonnie's character. When it comes down to it, any character that is not Damon or Elena or any couple that isn't Delena on the VD.Net forums, gets royally bashed and it's absolutely shameful. That's sad when people within this fandom can't go to a simple forum or site in order to express their concerns and opinions, because of the incessant, OTT and hurtful bashing of the characters and couples on a fictional TV show. More then anything, it's the TVD fandom that has brought down the spark of the show for me. The fandom has actually managed to turn me off from this show and this story completely and...that's really sad. But mostly, that's unfortunate. It's really sad and unfortunate when someone can't enjoy a story or show because the fandom is just much too OTT and hateful. And Stefan, Bonnie, Stelena and Bamon as fictional characters and ships are taking all of the hits and hateful targets being constantly thrown at them. And not only that, but most importantly, the Stefan/Bonnie/Stelena/Bamon fans are taking the entire brunt of it as well and to me, it's just despicable. Absolutely despicable.
Aside from all the Ian/Damon obsession, the bashing of characters/actors/actresses and the never ending shipper wars, another thing that really strongly bothers me is the show itself. The writing for this show has gone to waste. When I watch TVD, I don't see a solid, well-rounded story. I just see complete and utter nonsense. Season 1 of TVD was awesome and I felt like it was a well-rounded show that offered a healthy, and good combination of romance, action, drama, angst, light-heartedness, humour and depth. But with Season 2, I couldn't help but feel that all of that balance of all of those things went straight out the window. The story lines and writing became so incredibly sloppy and messy. Characters were being brushed under the rug. Important characters like Bonnie. BONNIE! Bonnie is not just some supporting character and this is coming from someone who has read the entire TVD novel series! In my blunt and honest opinion, Bonnie is the MOST important female character after the series own protagonist/heroine (Elena), and she is also a secondary heroine in the story. Her role in the series is so important and incredibly crucial. Not only does that go for the novel series, but that goes for the show as well. Yet, the producers and the writers of the show don't even see that. They just brush Bonnie aside as if she is nothing and she's not nothing. She's so important and she is the BEST FRIEND of the main heroine and protagonist. In the book series, she is the MOST important character after the main trio, Elena, Stefan and Damon. So I don't get how the writers of this show can't see that and refuse to see that. Have these people not read the books? Because it's become more and more obvious to me that these people who writing for this show haven't read the books and have absolutely zero knowledge of the concept of both the characters and the storylines. God, I even question if KW and JP have read the books. They created and adapted a show that is supposed to follow the novels, yet they don't honour them (the books) and give the attention that the characters in this series actually deserve. Characters like Bonnie, Matt and even Caroline and Stefan (STEFAN! Who happens to be this series MAIN MALE LEAD AND HERO of the entire series) are being brushed aside for more of Damon's angsty so-called "journey" onto redemption. OK, so Damon's journey is part of the story, I get that. But to make it all about him and centralize and focus basically the entire story on him to the point where it's neglecting other important characters, including the main hero of the show, Stefan and even the shows own heroine, Elena, is just beyond unacceptable and preposterous. That is just beyond wrong, no matter what way you look at it. Damon may be an important character and the series main anti-hero/bad boy and he also may be the most "popular" character on the show, but that is not an excuse to make the show all about him while all the while brushing other crucial and important characters aside and not taking the time to give them attention and develop their characters. I love Bonnie and she's my favourite female character on the show, but you know what's sad? I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS GIRL. I don't know her perspective, her POV, her innermost desires, wants, passions and secrets, how she feels about being a witch, how does she feel about her powers. What about some insight into her family? Where's her mother? Her father? Does she have any long lost siblings? What is her family history and background really like (this includes Emily)? I mean, as a viewer of this show, I need to have some insight into the characters on this show. Bonnie is this really important character yet I truly know nothing about her and that makes me so incredibly sad and disappointed at the same time. I know all about Elena, Stefan and Damon, but I know nothing about characters like Bonnie, Caroline, Matt. NOTHING. There's no deep insight into who these characters really are on this show and you can thank sloppy and poor writing for that. It's nothing but pure neglect in my opinion and the way I see it, if you're going to do a show, at least let the viewers of the show know all of the characters on the show by displaying some deep insight and analysis into who these characters are. That includes focusing on their families and their thoughts, feelings and POV's. And I can honestly say that I haven't gotten that since the beginning of Season 2. I have tried to stay as optimistic as possible in regards to Season 3, but my pessimistic side completely takes over and tells me that it's just going to be more of the same. Same lack of development for certain characters, same OTT bias towards certain characters and ships, constant killing off of characters on the show, sloppy and poor writing left and right. I mean, it's just endless. TVD has completely lost it's lustre and it's spark, and it's not just about the writing itself. The fandom has caused this show to go completely down the drain for me. It's just really disappointing.
I know that this article is nothing but a whole lot of whine and complain, but I really needed to put my feelings and thoughts about this show out there so you can understand where I'm coming from. I never wanted it to turn out like this or be like this but..it is what it is and the fact of the matter is, I'm just not into this show anymore like I used to be. I don't have the passion for it anymore but most importantly, I don't have the heart to keep loving it and I don't have the spirit to keep going. It's really hard being a part of a fandom where there's so much hatred, so much disrespect and so much animosity and rivalry and bitterness and fighting. That's all it's become to me, endless fighting and bickering. I'm just done with all of the petty nonsense and all the drama that comes along with being a part of this fandom and supporting this show. I don't love this show enough to stick it out and continue watching. I will still support Stelena and Bamon as pairings and I will still read the novels, but as far as the show and the show's fandom goes, I'm done. There's only so much I can take and right now, I'm just exhausted and I'm sick. I'm just so sick and tired and I can't deal with it anymore. Some of the behaviour within this fandom just doesn't make sense to me and when I see it, I completely shut down and I refuse to engage in it any longer under any circumstances. Sorry if this article happens to bring such a dark, gloomy cloud over such an amazingly optimistic and positive spot but I really thought that I should put myself out there and express my feelings and thoughts towards you as my fellow Bamonators. You have all been so amazing, and kind and you have stood up for me when I've been beaten down by Delena fans and for that, I'm very appreciative and thankful. You're all talented and smart, intelligent individuals and you really all deserve so much respect. Thank you for taking the time in reading my article and I hope all of you can find it in yourselves to understand.
-Noelle ♥