Tsunami of Polls #1 : Any interest in a comm devoted to Buffy and the women of the Buffyverse?

[red_satin_doll]

#1 - Thank you to whomever gifted me with a temporary paid account last month. Now I can create polls! Oh wonderful Anonymous Benefactor, you have no idea what you have unleashed upon this fandom.

#2 - Thanks also the the lovely velvetwhip for coming up with the insanely awesome title/tag phrase "tsunami of polls" and allowing me to snag it.

***************

The other day I was having a conversation with wickedbish in which I may have mentioned that most fandoms and fandom activity, in my experience, are focused primarily on the male characters. I assumed this was common knowledge. Except that he didn't know that. Because, you see, Ryan's favorite character is Willow (see #2 in his list of "13 Witches I Fucking Love"); he still mourns Tara (as do I; shared grief is comforting) and Buffy is one of his heros. The Gift has convinced him to not commit suicide "so many times". He's all about the ladies, bless.

You know what they say about "assuming".

Oops.

 Then clockwork_hart1 (Lucy) popped into the conversation and in her brilliant, enthusiastic way suggested the idea of a comm dedicated to Buffy, the other women in the 'verse and their interrelationships - complete with a name (Summers Blood) and a banner (she's working on it - is there no end to the young woman's talents?) and three-part harmony. What that might actually look like or what interest there would actually be in such a thing was a matter of conjecture. So I'm channeling my inner Willow (Research Gal) for my very first poll.

What say you, Gentle Reader? Based just on the title of this post, you probably know who you are and how you stand.

(And as this is my first poll, please let me know if it functions ok. And I apologize for the wonky formatting. The LJ instructions for poll-making are vague and confusing at best. So says I.)

[Poll #1955410][Poll #1955410]

Comments

[endeni]

Yay, what a wonderful idea! Count me in!
Also, Illyria! Illyria is my favorite! Come on, just because she's a God-King of the Primordium doesn't mean she doesn't count... :D
There's this wonderful meta by paratti that perfectly describes her as "Queen Elizabeth meets The Terminator". I mean, what's not to love? :D

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Meta pretty! This looks excellent because the issue of "pronoun" is exactly what bedeviled me here - I thought about putting lllyria, hesistated then forgot. I haven't watched AtS which also accounts for the blindspot, I don't have an emotional connection whereas I always think of the Buffybot as "she" just out of habit.

Thank you for your thoughts on this!

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Thanks:) I'm glad you liked the essay:)

[ruuger]

I'm more of a lurker in the Buffy fandom these days, but I might be persuaded to unlurk for Buffyverse ladies ;)

Speaking of ladies, I think that halfamoon might be relevant to your interests ;)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec! I'm sure there is a lot of good stuff out there I have no idea exists.

And "lurkers" and "unlurkers" are both always welcome!

Buffy comm pimp.

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User elisi referenced to your post from Buffy comm pimp. (http://elisi.livejournal.com/840703.html) saying: [...] Tsunami of Polls #1 : Any interest in a comm devoted to Buffy and the women of the Buffyverse? [...]

[il_mio_capitano]

I'm in. I have no idea what I'll do when I'm in, but it sounds fun.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Coolness! I'll sign you up! (I have no idea what it's going to look like yet either, to be honest.)

[kikimay]

I don't know what can I do to partecipate. I went for "I have to see the goods" because I really don't know what I can bring to the fandom, but I'm totally for it. BUFFYVERSE WOMEN FTW!

Also, you put there Maggie Walsh! And Buffybot! And the Chinese slayer and all the potentials! And Anya and Halfrek! I LOVE YOU! <3 <3 <3 All these interesting and unexplored women.

Oh, and I forgot Illyria. (I LOVE Illyria. I'm kinda meh about Fred, but Illyria <3 <3 <3 ... Even though, is she a female? Whatevs. Illyria rules.)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Lurkers and silent supporters are the backbone of the internet! (Have you ever read Gabrielleabelle's meta in praise of lurkers? Best thing ever.)

Even though, is she a female?
Read endeni's comment at the top of this thread - she linked to a meta on that very subject
http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/31317.html?thread=765525#t765525
http://idol-reflection.livejournal.com/6272.html

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Whither Dana? :P

But yes, whatever enthusiasm I have left for fandom, I would gladly spend some of it on this.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Dana, Dana, Dana....Oh THAT DANA! Oops

Ok, AtS is admittedly my big blind spot (as in I've only seen a couple of eps, I have my excuses read upthread I CAN'T TAKE THE TRAUMA AGGGGHHHH...) So I forgot about Dana. Really excellent catch.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Sign me up, ma'am! You know this is exactly my sort of place! Love the idea!


Gabrielle

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

YAYYYY!!!!!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

My soul belongs to Illyria, always.

I will join, but I'm not committing to doing much. We'll see if I get swept away with it all...

I would like to wish you very good luck in getting this going. In my experience even in the good old LJ days comms needed to be constantly feed by the mods with interesting goings on or they quickly die, People are generally passive until there is momentum, however much they say its a great idea at the start,

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

This is very good information thank you! I'm actually thinking about making that a separate post "What's involved in running a comm? Any advice? etc" I've been a moderator on a message board/forum (in another fandom) that a friend of mine still runs but LJ is another bird.

I'm definitely under the impression that posting constantly and consistently is important, as with blogs.

People are generally passive until there is momentum, however much they say its a great idea at the start,

Definitely true - even in "real life" groups. And I've been in situations where I've thrown out ideas and no one is interested at the time in participating (or there is a lack of resources etc) then later on down the road soneone else comes up with the same ideas or runs with the ball - perhaps someone who is better at organizing or mobilizing, or has more energy/ambition.... it can be frustrating at times.

[wickedbish.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. I love this banner, absolutely love it - but I just noticed that all four characters appear to be intensely focused on those sandwiches. Which, um, I can relate.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't use this image - I wanted a single image with as many Buffyverse ladies as possible ASAP, and we've already talked about important this episode is but, god, heartbreaking....

OTOH - I do have a certain fascination when it comes to food. (Whether I actually eat or not is of no nevermind. But I think about it an awful lot!)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I am definitely on board with this idea!
It sounds absolutely marvelous!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

YAY! Glad you like the idea hon!

Wednesday, February 5

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User oni_9 referenced to your post from Wednesday, February 5 (http://su-herald.livejournal.com/705343.html) saying: [...] Tsunami of Polls #1: Any interest in a comm devoted to Buffy and the women of the Buffyverse? [...]

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

Yay! Keep me posted (via pm's if I'm MIA) as to how this goes!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Will do sweetie!

[baphrosia.livejournal.com]

Adding my vote as 'silent lurker'. :)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

To quote/paraphrase Gabrielleabelle: Lurkers are WHY we do this. They're our audience!

[punch-kicker15.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a fantastic idea. I put down "I have to see the goods" because I'm not sure how much I can participate. Sometimes I struggle with writing for prompts/communities/deadlines. But I am definitely up for enthusiastic lurking, at the very least.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I struggle with writing for prompts/communities/deadlines.

Ha, I was two (three?) days late for my Big Damn Lovefest deadline last year.

And lurkers are LOVE. :)

BTW - is that a Willow and Kennedy icon? I just read a GREAT meta article about Kennedy from a link at the su_herald:
http://fandomforequality.com/2014/01/31/ladies-who-need-more-love-kennedy-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/
"Kennedy is a queer woman of colour (the only queer woman of colour) that is allowed to be a hero."

[quinara]

I have a terrible feeling that my words are going to be eaten by my thesis even more this year than they were last year, so the risk of my participation might be slim - but I definitely want to encourage you in doing this!!! Buffy comms are fun. :D And there should be more fic about Kate (and also Illyria. And everyone).

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Encouragement is always welcome!

And there definitely needs to be more fic about all the ladies. We're actually thinking about this as having all sorts of posts - personal, meta etc, not just fic. although fic about the ladies will be warmly welcomed as well.

[endeni]

I was thinking of LJ comms across fandoms and the idea of your buffyverse comm sounds very similar to the one behind where_no_woman, dedicated to the women in Star Trek, which seems to be doing fairly well for itself, so maybe it could be used as some kind of inspirational model? Also, talking about pretty active LJ communities, be_compromised, dedicated to Clint/Natasha from Marvel's Avengers seems to me one of the most active comms I participated to, lately. The key is probably the extraordinary team of mods who constantly propose new and interesting activity, though being part of a new and large fandom probably doesn't hurt lol...

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

THANKS! And that link led me (again) to womenverse, which seems to be another multi-fandom comm but not just with fic posts. (I find it a little overwhelming and confusing though - my old, old brain.*lol*)

The key is probably the extraordinary team of mods who constantly propose new and interesting activity, though being part of a new and large fandom probably doesn't hurt lol...

Yep that's pretty much the key to any successful group including real life - those who are willing to organize and those who are willing to play (or work) along with. Sometimes they are one and the same.

Sb_fag_ends is definitely one of my templates for a successful comm - but I notice nearly all the comms I'm aware of are almost entirely about fics; Lucy and I were talking about more of a discussion and all sorts of posts comm. Are there any like that already that have worked well that you know of, aside from womenverse?

[zodiac-sign.livejournal.com]

You know what they say about "assuming".

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW THAT JOKE! I'M SO GLAD I'VE FOUND YOU :D

Sorry for the caps lock but I'm just so happy that other people use and get my humour too!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW THAT JOKE!

Srsly? I assumed (hah) that a lot of people are familiar with it. I grew up in Detroit Michigan, US, lived in North Carolina and now New England and thats a fairly well-known phrase. Maybe it's more common in the United States than elsewhere?

And no worries about the caps lock - I know some folks hate it but I "overuse" them a bit myself especially for ironic intent. (I've been yelled at or scolded on the internet many times by people who never used caps locks but I felt their anger keenly. Intent and energy make all the difference.)

[kwritten.livejournal.com]

Most of my fandom experience has been female-centric, so while I know that there's a male-bias out there, I'm always bemused by/ ignore it.

That said - communities are wonderful places and one that centers on Buffy ladies is a lovely thing indeed. Not sure how much I can be of service (and honestly I don't really understand what you are planning yet) so I can't commit to anything atm/near future b/c of RL stuff - but I'm waving pompoms in the general direction of this possibility and hope to be there in full armor when the time comes.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Most of my fandom experience has been female-centric,

Which is lovely (and from my end, enviable).

I think your "project" with Dawn is certainly an inspiration - sometimes people don't realize they are interested in certain characters or relationships until someone shakes them by the collar and says "look at this."

I just read a terrific article/meta about Kennedy today from su_herald's link that does much the same, pointing out what a terrific and important character she s and deserving of love and respect. Have you seen it? http://fandomforequality.com/2014/01/31/ladies-who-need-more-love-kennedy-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/

but I'm waving pompoms in the general direction of this possibility and hope to be there in full armor when the time comes.

*points to supply closet* :)

[clockwork-hart1.livejournal.com]

WHOOO! We have interest!

I think my favourite thing about this whole post and comments is that people are like "I'm not sure what this is, but I like it!" - Well, we don't really know either, but we want it!

she's working on it - is there no end to the young woman's talents?

heh, you mean those random pictures hovering on the laptop not turning into anything productive at all? Getting to it, I swear. But save the flattery until you see the thing - like I said, I'm no pro, I don't really have a clue what I'm doing...

and three-part harmony - pass me the mic!

I am loving all the enthusiasm here. It gives me wild hope that this might just take off.

Also, very (pleasantly) surprised to see Buffy tip the scales in "Favourite female character" - overtaking Willow, who I was sure would win. Huh, this fandom never fails to surprise me.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I was wondering when you'd see this - did you feel me drawing you here telepathically?

Ok so now that we know there is interest (at least amoung 20-30 people) what next? I have no idea.

like I said, I'm no pro, I don't really have a clue what I'm doing...

Me neither - I have an image in my head but no way to make the separate pictures into a single banner. (we could approach comlodge down the line perhaps? She's already done those two lovely Buffy & Tara banners. And her Willow/Tara "Goodbye to You" banner is gorgeous.)

Also, very (pleasantly) surprised to see Buffy tip the scales in "Favourite female character" - overtaking Willow, who I was sure would win. Huh, this fandom never fails to surprise me.

It's been interesting to watch the numbers change - Buffy has always been in the lead, but Willow in second is no suprise. It depends on who is answering, who your flist is, etc. I LOVE Buffy, so I suspect if someone doesn't like Buffy at all, they'd be less likely to hang around here *lol*

The comparison that's really interesting to me is between favorite characters and who people are interested in talking about - there's a really wide spread. Buffybot and Harmony are big vote-getters. For a while Joyce and Dawn were one vote behind Buffy. And lots of interest in Tara, but no votes for favorite character.

Did you know that you have to vote in your own poll before you can see the results? Weird.

[waddiwasiwitch.livejournal.com]

Yay!! Fun idea. :) Though I HATE you for making me chose just one favourite female character.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

*Cue wicked cackle*

[foxstarreh.livejournal.com]

I'm just going to point out that at this moment, Dawn is the character the most people said they'd want to write/talk about and this makes me so unbelievably, stupidly happy, even if she gets just one vote for favourite character. (I can pretend for now at least all this talking will be super positive, and none of that hateful shit I see getting thrown at her elsewhere.)

[endeni]

Poor Dawn gets so mistreated in fandom... ;(

[lanoyee.livejournal.com]

I have already told you this, but HERE YES ME just point me in the right direction. :DDD

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

:) :) :) :) Will do, ma'am!

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

:-D

Yay! (I have... issues with internet connection and i don't know when the problem will be solved, but: I'm ALL for this!)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

But of course!!