Anyone thinking about leaving FS fandom?

[Alchamei]

I have a problem with that women's skating has become. It's tragic that beautiful skating like the Kaori's or Wakaba's, Karen's or even Kostornaia's is not rewarded anymore. Those who win these days are too young to develop a mature, smooth style. Ugly skating wins if it has quads. Not the sport I fell in love with.

That's The reason why I wanted to leave skating fandom, heck, I actually left for like two years after 2019. Even now I only watch The most important competitions. And I actually dislike fans of certain skaters that never admit their technique and programs might be bad and that some coaching techniques are very questionable. But whatever, skating has changed. But I don't like seeing a skater for a year or two for them to disappear, that's why I prefer figure skating to gymnastics. But I'm not sure how much I'll be investic after Olys, sice many of my faces will leave the sport.

 

[pearly]

I don’t like that either and Ladies is my least favorite event, except for my Queen of course. But there are 3 other disciplines. To me the men are the most fun because literally anything can happen.

Hopefully things will change and ladies figure skating will become beautiful again.

I usually just skip the top (Eteri's) Russians. I don't like their skating or choreography, nor the certainty of the final result. For example, if they are in the top 3 after the short, I will just watch until the 4th place skater and be done. I check the result later.

 

[mrrice]

I don’t think China accepts dual citizenship.

That doesn't surprise me in the least. However, I am surprised that people would go after such a young girl in this way. I guess Michelle got flamed after her fall in SLC and I remember feeling so sad for her back then.

 

[[email protected]]

Leaving figure skating now that it is at all times peak? It is not just about ladies. Compare men in Sochi and Korea with TE and SP here. The only reason to leave is new priorities. Well, this may happen.

 

[surimi]

Leaving figure skating now that it is at all times peak? It is not just about ladies. Compare men in Sochi and Korea with TE and SP here. The only reason to leave is new priorities. Well, this may happen.

Exactly what would make me consider leaving the fandom... though there are fortunately still top skaters whose skating I care for.

 

[TontoK]

@TontoK , I am not sure if you are saying people are being foolish to post their dislike for certain skaters on the internest, or if you mean those who attach hashtags and such to make sure the skater gets to read their words. The latter is not okay, but I see nothing wrong in saying one doesn't like a skater in a forum for example (unless they troll the skater's fan thread). Unless one uses abusive language, it's a wonderful catharsis, it creates a healthy diverse opinion environment (as there are always others who like said skaters), no harm done and the world keeps spinning, and at least one is not drained from endless positivity. It's normal to have likes and dislikes. My two cents...

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to clarify. Certainly it is fair to share opinions. That's what this forum is all about. We share opinions, along with objective facts, research, etc.

But there is a very real difference, (for example) between having a reasonable opinion that Shoma's 4T3T was overscored... and going onto Twitter and calling him the worst skater ever and he deserves to live in eternal disgrace and the judges who scored that element are drug addicts.

Before I opted out of social media, the vile posts of obnoxious fans and anti-fans made having any respect for thier opinions impossible. So I quit trying. Those opinions, and the people who feel compelled to share them, are unworthy of respect.

There are plenty of people on this board with whom I have occasional disagreements, but we exchange viewpoints in a way that result in mutual respect. My point of view about the sport is my own... and I don't have to compromise that to engage with others and learn from their views. That's a far cry from screaming at each other on Twitter.

 

[moonvine]

I usually just skip the top (Eteri's) Russians. I don't like their skating or choreography, nor the certainty of the final result. For example, if they are in the top 3 after the short, I will just watch until the 4th place skater and be done. I check the result later.

TBH I play on my phone while they’re skating. Then see result.

 

[moonvine]

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to clarify. Certainly it is fair to share opinions. That's what this forum is all about. We share opinions, along with objective facts, research, etc.

But there is a very real difference, (for example) between having a reasonable opinion that Shoma's 4T3T was overscored... and going onto Twitter and calling him the worst skater ever and he deserves to live in eternal disgrace and the judges who scored that element are drug addicts.

Before I opted out of social media, the vile posts of obnoxious fans and anti-fans made having any respect for thier opinions impossible. So I quit trying. Those opinions, and the people who feel compelled to share them, are unworthy of respect.

There are plenty of people on this board with whom I have occasional disagreements, but we exchange viewpoints in a way that result in mutual respect. My point of view about the sport is my own... and I don't have to compromise that to engage with others and learn from their views. That's a far cry from screaming at each other on Twitter.

Yes! You and I disagree without any cross words. And sometimes we agree even.

 

[TontoK]

Yes! You and I disagree without any cross words. And sometimes we agree even.

Oh, I'd say we agree on more things than we disagree. Heck, I don't even agree with my wife 100% of the time.

And I've learned from reading your posts and I've developed an appreciation for some skaters that I'd not had before.

In a way, that's more valuable than discourse with someone you're in perfect alignment with. How do those conversations go? "Yes, you're right!" "No, you're even righter!" That would be boring.

 

[Amei]

Unrelated...but if you renounce your citizenship can you get it back? Does Zhu Yi actually live in China now or does she train elsewhere? I guess social media is everywhere, but it's pretty awful to think of her having to be in the same country as the terrible "fans" threatening her.

My understanding is that once you renounce your US citizenship its an irrevocable act. She might be able to get a residency visa. She might also be able to argue that she was a minor and her parents forced her.

She lives and trains in Beijing

 

[yume]

Exactly, as I have gotten older it's become much easier to ignore the posts I don't agree with. I have found over the years that there are members who's post I always read and that's enough to keep me happy and entertained. It's also become easier for me not to comment on posts that upset me. That has been a huge help.

Aging is a good thing. Before, i loved to "fight". Like arguing with a poster through 3 pages. Now, i don't have the energy anymore.

I still love drama though, when i'm not involved.
However, the fun disappear when posters start to attack people instead of their opinions. That's why some years ago, i asked to have my account deleted on a forum. Things get ugly when people doesn't know how to disagree respectfully.

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

Sometimes I do...there's definitely favourite skaters and non-favourite skaters and it can be hard if you're a big fan of one of the non-faves because any weakness they have is magnified and their strengths diminished.

But! I'm happy to say even the most unpopular skater still has more than 1 fan so you can generally find a friend.

I sometimes feel lucky to be a fan of a team that not many people are interested in, because it means you don't tend to bump into many negative comments about them on social media, and the main criticism levelled at them is "they're good technically but a bit boring" or, occasionally, "I forgot they were even there". Much as it hurts that they don't have more fans, and it makes it harder to find other people who have the same favourite, I think it would hurt more to see people tearing them down.

I think it can also be tricky to be a non-fan of a favourite; there are some skaters that it is difficult to admit aren't your favourite or to make even a vaguely non-positive comment about without getting piled on/told why you are wrong/told that you can't possibly have this opinion (this applies mostly to on social media).

 

[TontoK]

Unrelated...but if you renounce your citizenship can you get it back? Does Zhu Yi actually live in China now or does she train elsewhere? I guess social media is everywhere, but it's pretty awful to think of her having to be in the same country as the terrible "fans" threatening her.

According to several articles on Google, renouncing American citizenship is generally irreversable.

The one exception seems to be that if you renounce as a minor, you might be able to regain it if you petition within six months of turning 18.

I think she's 19 now, so the answer is No. For better or worse, she's a permanant Chinese citizen.

 

[Amer]

Honestly, yes.
Figure skating keeps getting more and more repetitive (programs) and predictable that I just don't enjoy it like I used to.
And social media has always been something toxic so I don't even take that into consideration.
Proud to say that I've never been on Twitter.

 

[lariko]

I think it can also be tricky to be a non-fan of a favourite; there are some skaters that it is difficult to admit aren't your favourite or to make even a vaguely non-positive comment about without getting piled on/told why you are wrong/told that you can't possibly have this opinion (this applies mostly to on social media).

Yeah, that’s harder… but, eh, sometimes you can find someone who shares your opinion too, and it’s better for everyone if those conversations are not accessible to wider public.

 

[yume]

I also think that this thing about Zhu yi is getting over the top. It isn't because it's China that she has to escape from there and go back to USA. Even Americans get harsh criticism from Americans online (Karen Chen, the most recent example).
As @icybear said, there are other skaters who got the same online bullying by their fellow citizens. China isn't special.

 

[Mathman]

I personally am immune from and oblivious to Social Media -- this is the one perk of being old. As for figure skating fandom, to me this is a highly personal sport. I like following the fortunes and foibles of individual skaters. Ebb and flow, I am never at a loss. Michelle Kwan moves on from competition, Meryl Davis arrives. My current favorite in ladies is Alexandra Trusova. Why? I don't know.

 

[Mathman]

I was so sad and mad to hear that Beverly (Zhu Yi) had to face criticism from the Chinese social media.

It's hard to guess how these situations will work out. Look at the skier Eileen Gu (Gu Ai-ling). She's a media and popular draling in both countries.

Winning the gold medal is salve for all wounds.

 

[Koatterce]

It's hard to guess how these situations will work out. Look at the skier Eileen Gu (Gu Ai-ling). She's a media and popular draling in both countries.

Eileen also got a ton of criticism for it, like about chasing money/sponsorships and the usual turning her back on her country stuff. But she's also a top skier and now a gold medallist which helps drown it out - she's got tons of fans and media coverage just for her skiing ability (and most people generally don't care about country switching), and there's no question on whether or not her Olympic spot is deserved. Plus she did really well so far - if she did poorly, you can bet the pitchforks would come out way more. Not to mention that in general, there are always tons of internet trolls and sensationalist headlines that come out when top athletes perform poorly - see Nathan Chen last Olympics, Karen in the team event...
Beverly/Yi isn't in the same boat, with lower ranking and minimal international experience, fewer fans, plus the Hongyi situation. So her lackluster performance in the team event just gives more ammunition to the haters and there's no huge fanbases or gold medals to drown it out.

 

[Autumn Leaves]

I am very surprised by what you write about Zhu Yu, because I haven’t read Chinese social media (of course!), but I read the facebook comments below a Reuters article about her. The Americans were brutal towards her, she was called a traitor, a sellout, she got what she deserved by failing, how could she leave her town and people for skating, she did it only for money, she should be banned from ever entering the US, etc. Didn’t expect such nationalistic bias, especially from a nation where there are so many immigrants. I don’t know how they treat her in China, but if I was Zhu, I definitely wouldn’t want to go back to the US.