What exactly is a “Casual” fan?

When people drop the term “casual fan” on a fan-forum it’s almost as if a verbal (or would it be textual?) bomb has been dropped. The term is nothing if not very charged. Some people feel it it’s usage makes the “true fans” seem to be elitists. That it calls into question peoples dedication to a property. That it is a way to inflate the ego of people who seem to know every nuance of a franchise, allowing them to look down on the ignorant noobs. Some are those very “elitists” who use the term to distinguish who is a real fan of the franchise. People who know what they are talking about as opposed to just acting the part. People who can tolerate even the lesser parts of the franchise out of a love for the property as a whole. People who live and breathe the franchise as opposed to someone who remembers it fondly as a kid and would buy a shirt from Hot Topic because it’s “cool”. But the real question is how do I measure a casual fan, because I matter. (Actually I’m a nobody, but I’m the author of this fine…ha…blog, so my opinion is all that matters. Muhaha!)

Maybe “casual fan” is a poor term. I have little problem with people who remember the old cartoon show and liked Mikey the best because he was the cool one. Anyone who enjoyed the TMNT, you are my brother. I can’t (or rather shouldn’t) get bent out of shape because you know next to nothing about the Mirage roots. I don’t really either. I’ve read a handful of the original “canon” (and even that’s up for heated fan, casual or otherwise, debate) and what I’ve read I enjoy, but it doesn’t make me an expert on that piece of the property pie (lets assume it’s a pizza pie, this is after all a TMNT blog post. COWABUNGA!). Before I rejoined the fandom back when the 4Kids series kicked off, I assumed the all red bandanas on the 1st TMNT game for the NES was a mistake. I’ve since learned better, but I was once the dreaded “casual fan” that some loathe. Fandom can be a growth process. I know I’ve matured over the years. My posts have become (at least partially) more coherent and have something that could pass as grammatical structure. Gah, the more I type, the more I feel the need to look in a mirror. It’s almost like the old preacher addage, “This sermon is as much for me as it is you.” Hallelujah, amen!

To me, the true test of a “casual fan” is more a case of is this person a poser. People who say they know EVERYTHING about the Turtles then tell you their favorite Turtle was the “Blue One.” Or “Ralph.” Every time I see the name Mickey in reference to the teenaged Turtle and not the iconic mouse, I cringe. That being said, people can be taught, if you use an even hand, and if they’re willing to learn. Again, I knew jack about the Mirage universe, but now I’m at least somewhat knowledgeable about the main arcs of what is considered by our lord, Peter Laird, to be canon. I also don’t act like I have all the answers. I SO don’t. I know there are fans out there who know more than me, and I defer to their knowledge. I (try) to not act like I know EVERYTHING about the Turtles, because, you know something, I don’t. I may know that Raph doesn’t have an L and typically wears a red mask, or that Mikey is not a mouse with red boxers, but a Turtle oft depicted with a orange mask. I may be a bit stuck on IDW deciding to use those colors, but I’m not ag’ain it to the point of franchise mutiny either. The point is, to keep people from applying the dreaded “casual” label on you, don’t be afraid to plead ignorance. People will respect you more for you admitting you haven’t a clue, than they do if they realize that you are talking exclusively from your rectum. And in a community this size, it’s easy to spot those who are engaging in derriere dictation.

So there you have it. To ME (the preceding was just Jester’s opinion and in no way reflects the opinion of GoGreenMachine.org and its other contributors, or the TMNT fan-base at large) that is what makes a person a “casual fan,” someone who tries a little too hard to look more informed than they really are. And with the whole Bay-Gate issue (let us not get in to THAT can of worms), people seem to be very apt to shoot their mouths off regarding the green team. Just think for a second before you do. Think, “Does this make me look like a complete ignorant fool?” “Does what I am about to say contain elements that someone who is more knowledgeable about the Ninja Turtles would know is coming completely from where the sun don’t shine?” If the answer is YES, then don’t go there. Because as Abraham Lincoln is credited as to have said: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”