Supergirl.tv Culture

I agree with that author, though. I loved your site in Season 1 and then came infrequently in Season 2 when it seemed to be a show apologist. I get that you need to keep the showrunners and network on side to be able to get the access that you need and so on, but it became inauthentic at some point with the need to 'please' and call criticism of the show as some kind of ship war or people with agenda. the main criticism of the show is that it was so much wasted potential.

To all, especially Eric and Kelsey

I admit that there are episodes or plots I don’t care for. I, however, enjoy watching the show and in particular Mel and Chyler. I’m in Europe right now and have been for a few weeks. My VPN allows me to watch the remaining episodes of Supergirl. I purchased the VPN for this particular reason. I’m not watching any other American programming.

I will tell you, I’ve been seeing Season 1 on Italian TV (I speak the language) and no offense to the English language, but Melissa et al sound so much more passionate in Italian. It adds a whole new dimension to the show!

But I digress. Regardless of a particular episode or subplot, I very much enjoy the show. Also, I enjoy the website, Eric and Kelsey, and have read it while in Sweden, Norway, Argentina, and Italy. Yes I admit that I am addicted to Supergirl.tv. Thank you all for your opinions. I understand they are meant out of passion, even if they are in English. And thank you Eric and Kelsey for a wonderful site which follows me around the Globe.

I always get this picture in my head of us sitting around a big table, some with a beer, some with a glass of wine, that's me, some with a Dr. Pepper....one or two with a Whiskey, I won't say who that is.....LOL. And we are just throwing ideas and thoughts out there...just letting it fly. I just enjoy reading everyone's stuff...everyone is laughing having a good time these days. Maybe I missed something. Probably shouldn't have had that 3rd glass of wine.

I love this! Put me down for a bloody mary half as a nod to our Red Daughter
[attachment]bloodymary.jpg[/attachment]

I was thinking more on the lines of a Moscow Mule myself. Not that I am a drinker I'm not. But I do indulge in iced coffee (heh!)

I haven't been posting as much as I did in the earlier years, just because of life and certainly not the site or the show. But, I still love the site and I think you both do a great job. You can't control what the writers do, nor the actors, and I agree that it wouldn't be right to mod away conflicting opinions so long as the posters are respecting each other (which seems to uniformly be the case here, count your blessings!) I sympathize that it's very hard to read posts being so negative about something you love (I'll just say: I love Batman v Superman, and leave it at that). Just remember that, even with some people disgruntled about the show, you two have created something wonderful here, and I know I deeply appreciate it.

I always get this picture in my head of us sitting around a big table, some with a beer, some with a glass of wine, that's me, some with a Dr. Pepper....one or two with a Whiskey, I won't say who that is.....LOL. And we are just throwing ideas and thoughts out there...just letting it fly. I just enjoy reading everyone's stuff...everyone is laughing having a good time these days. Maybe I missed something. Probably shouldn't have had that 3rd glass of wine.

I love this! Put me down for a bloody mary half as a nod to our Red Daughter

I always get this picture in my head of us sitting around a big table, some with a beer, some with a glass of wine, that's me, some with a Dr. Pepper....one or two with a Whiskey, I won't say who that is.....LOL. And we are just throwing ideas and thoughts out there...just letting it fly. I just enjoy reading everyone's stuff...everyone is laughing having a good time these days. Maybe I missed something. Probably shouldn't have had that 3rd glass of wine.

Make mine Jack and 7-Up.

Going forward I might ask a stray comment that leads to an off topic discussion on the news feed to be moved to the forum but other than that, business as usual.
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Oopss....guilty. My bad.

I always get this picture in my head of us sitting around a big table, some with a beer, some with a glass of wine, that's me, some with a Dr. Pepper....one or two with a Whiskey, I won't say who that is.....LOL. And we are just throwing ideas and thoughts out there...just letting it fly. I just enjoy reading everyone's stuff...everyone is laughing having a good time these days. Maybe I missed something. Probably shouldn't have had that 3rd glass of wine.

I was the first to respond in this thread, and feel Kelly deserves an answer. I think the ideas put forth by LibertyPrime and Brierrose are excellent, specifically to take more contentious posts to the Forum and to stick some comments in a drawer overnight. I always found that when working if I was steaming about something or someone it was best to sleep on it.

I agree that no one has been disrespectful to anyone else or to any other opinion for a very long time. And I absolutely agree that anyone's opinion is as valid as anyone else's. So here are a few observations:

First, the tone of some comments has been way over the top. It's one thing to have a negative opinion, but another to use unduly harsh language or metaphors. While it might feel good to vent in such a way, it could be driving some users away. Fortunately there are relatively few such posts, but apparently they are having a negative impact on some people's enjoyment of the site. As Brierrose suggests, stick it in a drawer overnight.

Second, many of us have commented on certain aspects of the season that could be improved. I have commented on a couple of occasions about the depowering of Supergirl. But I don't think it is necessary to repeatedly make that argument in nearly every episode. Try to find something you liked about the episode, and file any systemic issues away for an end-of-season recap.

Third, it's disheartening to see negative comments about the synopses or galleries offered for upcoming episodes. In my experience these offer a very slim view of the episode, and I have seldom felt them to be worthy of comment at all. But here again, the tone of the comments is key. If one says "Meh, this doesn't do much for me" well, OK. I wouldn't say it, but to each their own. But if one comments "Oh, this again! I won't watch this because character X is in too may scenes" (or something much harsher), that is unnecessarily negative. It's not always what you say but how you say it.

So I guess I'm saying that there are negative opinions and then there is NEGATIVITY. The first is occasional, specific, and reasonably stated. The second is frequent, relentless, and harsh. I'm OK with the first, not OK with the second.

Ooooooooooh, I didn't make my self clear either....lol

I didnt think there would be a hard fast rule.

I just, I guess really like knowing where everyone stands on this kind of thing.

I think the problem may be in what being negative actually is.... for me if I dont like a direction the series is going, and I see it in each ep. and each synopsis, pics whatever seem to end up solidifying my thoughts I don't see anything negative about saying that...I want the very best for these magnificent actors in this series, and that is why I call out what I see as flaws.

If some see that and is what they call negative...well then that may be where the snag is with all of this. I see that as criticism, but there is not a negative thought from me when typing it....in my case, I want a Superhero show called Supergirl, I just feel that has not happened consistently, but when I see episodes like House Of El, I jump for joy, and scream loudly.....please, please, please more of that. That isn't positivity that is joy and a desire for more. So maybe for me, my confusion is in using the terms positive and negative as a means of categorizing people's desires for this show..... I just don't see opinions in that way I guess....they are simply people's opinions, now when shade and disrespect is added in.....then I have a problem. So for me, criticism is criticism, shade is shade, and disrespect is disrespect. People should have the right to critique what they see anywhere the show is being discussed, as long as it is on topic, given respectfully, and stays away from personal critiques of the people involved in the show, or personal critques of people's opinions.

Soooo I guess I will continue to give my critique of this show, my thoughts on the news I see and hope for no shade and disrespect. If how I do that is a problem for anyone. I would hope.I am made aware of it personally...please let me know, Im all about honesty. I'm not really one for beating around the bush. Its hard to make decisions on how to go forward if we dont really understand what the problem actually is....

So fo me, I'm just gonna continue keepin on....

OOOOOOOH and to conclude. I have not seen ANY problems with any opinions since coming back, all respectful and well thoughtout.....and nuttin wrong with how this site is run.....it's SUPER!!!!!

I definitely don’t want no negativity anywhere nor do I think the news feed should be entirely criticism free. If my post conveyed that then I didn’t express myself clearly. I took LibertyPrime’s post to mean he would put his most negative which I don’t take to mean not all negative comments in the forum.

Pretty much correct, Brierrose.

And again, it is entirely a personal and voluntary decision. I don't feel obligated to do so, and Kelly, I absolutely do not want others to feel obligated either. I just put it out there as something I intend to do out of consideration for the space.

It's tough running a site like this. I'm looking for ways to oil the gears and not throw sand in them.

The way I see it, we are all meeting here in the admins' place. In the interest of being a good guest, I want to help the site put its best foot forward while holding to my principles.

If I keep mostly positive comments out in front, it costs me nothing, and maybe people won't be as scared off. Behind the doors of the forum, I'll speak more freely and in depth.

@Kelly, I don’t think there is an actionable item here. No changes are needed.

I made folks aware of a perspective that was out there. I was scared that that perspective was something I shouldn’t allow as an admin. But many of you have reached out here and privately to tell me it isn’t my job. The site still has an amazing standing in the community of fans. We are still the go to for anything Supergirl related. I believe that I have come to think of the site as a mirror of the show. Happy comments when the show is in its peak, critiques when it isn’t.

Some here have taken this as a point of action and want to amend the way they comment on the news and forum and that’s awesome but like I said, no changes from me. It’s been more about what I need to do and right now it sounds like nothing but keep the lights on.

Going forward I might ask a stray comment that leads to an off topic discussion on the news feed to be moved to the forum but other than that, business as usual.

I again want to thank everyone for their respect, their demeanor and their opinions. As far as being the Admin I have it pretty darn easy with such a great group of users.

I definitely don’t want no negativity anywhere nor do I think the news feed should be entirely criticism free. If my post conveyed that then I didn’t express myself clearly. I took LibertyPrime’s post to mean he would put his most negative which I don’t take to mean not all negative comments in the forum.

I can’t think of a hard and fast rule. I feel pretty confident in saying everyone here would like to encourage someone like the person who sent the e-mail to join in. Unfortunately this isn’t a one size fits all thing. How about we brainstorm a bit and see what the group comes up with.

I hate beating around the bush....so lets try and get to the point please, because Im trying to figure out exactly what people are wanting.

Those that are not happy with the negative vibe. What exactly would you like to see happen?

No negativity anywhere?

Only positive on the news feed, keep the negative in the forums?



Its hard to gauge where people are coming from...

for me, all opinions should be able to be given freely anywhere as long as they are respectful of the people that are a part of this series, and people on the site giving their own opinion. So if it is to keep negative only to the forums...it would be good to know if that is the direction this is headed in because I just havent seen anything even remotely disrespectful in a very long time....just people putting their opinion out there...Im kind of confused at the whole thing I guess.

I think my personal solution going forward will be to limit my more negative remarks to the forums, leaving the more forward-facing comments sections on news stories and recaps alone for the most part. Unless I have something especially nice to say.

That’s a really good and actionable idea. It’s a win/win you get to express your opinions while the most forward facing part of the site can be more welcoming to someone like the person who sent that e-mail. TBH the forum had kinda been the place where frequent posters let loose but somewhere along the line that changed.

I’ve been thinking about my own remarks in the context of making the site welcoming and find there’s room for improvement. I’ve decided I’m going to reinstate two personal rules that I’ve had at times then dropped. One, if I find myself really emotionally effected by a comment I’ll type out my response in a Word Document or e-mail then wait a few hours to see if I still think it’s appropriate after I’ve cooled down. The second rule is no going on the internet right after watching an episode. I need to sleep on it to solidify my own opinion before I read others opinions.

I have been thinking about the replies here, the email that kicked things off, and my own feelings regarding honest opinions.

I want to preface this by saying I don't at all feel that the administration is trying to squelch any opinion. However, I do want to help make the site appear as welcoming as possible.

I think my personal solution going forward will be to limit my more negative remarks to the forums, leaving the more forward-facing comments sections on news stories and recaps alone for the most part. Unless I have something especially nice to say.

Additionally, I will endeavor not to belabor old gripes and sound like a broken record--to a point. I will still call out long standing issues, just not as frequently.

I feel this will allow free expression of my thoughts while helping maintain a more positive, welcoming space.

Like I said earlier, I am not going away, just pulling back somewhat. I love the site and the people here.

Adding my two cents.

Something Rschick mentioned. On this site, there's negativity towards this season; whereas, as a whole, on other sites this season is being well received. However, I have noticed something about those other sites, that I will touch on in just a moment.

But first, what I like MOST about this site, we will have disagreements, and point out places we feel need changes; but always do so respectfully. And when we don't, others bring us back to Earth, so to speak--reminding us in a respectful way to check ourselves. We also tend to be more open for changing our minds upon reflection on our initial comments.

From MY experience, it's not always like that on other sites when things AREN'T going "their way"--i.e. a ship break up, or a very hot topic not being handled the way they think it should be. Right now, things are going their way. But, the moment they feel slighted, all hades breaks loose--actors/actresses'writers/producers get attacked on a personal level. They attack one another on very personal levels, as well. Been the unfortunate recipient of that group attack for something said rather innocently--("I love Alex and Wynn together" People tried to eviscerate me. That's never happened here where it went un-checked and unchallenged either by our Admin and/or other members. I appreciate that.

Looking inwardly at myself, in the four years here I've expressed disagreements with story lines from time-to-time--a few times rather passionately. I appreciate those who've been patient, and either read what I had to say, or politely skipped on by. I'm finding that I'm getting better at just overlooking things I don't like, and happier for it.

People have different tastes in life; when it comes to which colour you like (blue or red), nobody minds if someone else's taste doesn't match with yours. However, when it comes to areas where we have emotional involvement (for some reason, that doesn't include colours, go figure), it seems that that objectiveness goes for a toss.

We are primarily social beings. And we want to belong. So, we either want our views represented in the forums we visit or we adjust to reflect those views. If neither can happen, there is discontent.

If our own happiness about an episode seems to come down after seeing critical comments, then, unjustly, we blame the people who don't see the things that we loved and love it the same way. And, I suppose reduced happiness is not very easy to bear with.

I am sure likewise, if you dislike how the show treats something and if you see everyone else is elated about it, you can't like it much. It makes a dissonance. So, when you see a bunch of people feeling similarly about the episode as you do, you go ahead and join in and say, oh yes, I feel this way too.

That, I suppose can get cumulative. But, I don't see how it can be avoided. It is just how the world in general and the fandom works.

It may also be because people are to some extent disheartened all over the world for some reasons--there is an anxiety, a change in human emotions going on in a collective manner--and people look to the show to give them relief from it. When they are disappointed, it is only natural that would appear in the forums. And, if someone actually finds joy in the episode, again, it is natural that they look at the forums and say... oh they are a bunch of negative posts.

I think it is best to avoid echo chambers; but at least when it comes to shows watched for entertainment, you may also need to protect your emotional well being. So, if people feel like they can't read the comments any more, they shouldn't. I don't see how you, admin, could do anything about it.

I myself have stopped going to certain forums after I found that I don't particularly like their take on things. I have seen that in (entertainment) forums in many cases, opinions tend to coalesce around a certain view point.. which may point to certain viewers visiting certain forums while certain others being attracted to another type.

The best choice is to go to the site or forum that best gives you the kind of discussion or news you are looking for. Or, to take from each, what you would like and leave the rest.

I am not well versed enough in web development to say if it is possible or not in the news site; but in forums, we could have a criticism and a positive comments thread for each episode (or each set as Kiwi has been doing). So, if people come to forum, they can just look at the positives thread (or the critique thread) if they only want that.

Anyways, I would like to say that much of my knowledge of how diverse human opinion and human perceptions are and how each person sees the same thing differently comes from being in the fandom the past few years. Your site has been a big part of that. That insight into how we all see things different has helped me in my interpersonal relationships and my worldview as well and is not limited to the fandom.

So, I think you from the bottom of my ventricles and atria for your enthusiasm for Supergirl and for this site. Thanks for being there and taking joy.

I also echo RS Chick's comment about Supergirl's attic. It is a super podcast.

I get where people are coming from as far as not liking the negativity, but as someone who has worked on a forum now since 2006 and many a bad movie blow out have I seen....lol What is happening here pales in comparison. Heck, what I see here at this moment is far greater disciplined debate than what we had just a year and a half ago.

And I do understand the complaints about what is happening on the news feeds. However, that is simply the nature of the beast of a site like this. More people are going to peruse the news feed than the forum. The forum is what is being underused and it will continue to be until people see it as a place where their opinions will actually be read. It's no fun to give an opinion and no one gives a retort or agreement until days later. Again, that is the nature of the beast. We come here to read AND BE read....if no one is doing either to your comments, well then you post where they will read and that is what we have here. Will that change? probably not, no matter how much we wish it would, the direct communication with the vast majority of a site is what people gravitate to and that is the news feed. Also, there are those that hope that MAYBE the PTB take quick glances at what is happening in the news feeds, I'm sure they do not have the time to peruse the forum.

On the news feed you have the following:

1). Synopsis of each episode. If people are giving their hopes, desires and opinion of what is to come after reading the synopsis, what is the harm in that.
2). We have photos for each episode. Isn't it kind of obvious that people will give their take on what they see in the pictures?
3). We have different news articles added weekly on this or that....if you go to the news articles themselves in the feed you will find all sorts of comments good, bad, indifferent etc.....that will probably happen here as well.

When people read these things on the news feed, it is natural to want to comment on them immediately, that is how it works.

IMO, the only way to stop that is to no longer have comments on in the news feed and have people start the conversations in the forum for each article, set of pics and synopsis. If people want to discuss then they HAVE TO GO THERE to discuss. But, IMO that is going to be a problem that would end in less discussion of these things positive or negative. To me as long as the conversation sticks to the topic of whatever is in the news feed, in all fairness, it should be fair game for all sides of the discussion.

I also understand people seeing repeat of opinions. I get that, but when their problems with the series are in every episode you may get that repeat.

Again, it is the nature of the beast of a fan site. There are all kinds of fans, coming from all walks of life, with all kinds of opinions. Unless they are being disrespectful of those that give us this series weekly, or people on this site, they should be heard.....or in this case.....read. And IMO, in all areas of the site as long as their topic of discussion meets with the article, pics, synopsis that has been posted.

I get where people are coming from as far as not liking the negativity, but as someone who has worked on a forum now since 2006 and many a bad movie blow out have I seen....lol What is happening here pales in comparison. Heck, what I see here at this moment is far greater disciplined debate than what we had just a year and a half ago.

And I do understand the complaints about what is happening on the news feeds. However, that is simply the nature of the beast of a site like this. More people are going to peruse the news feed than the forum. The forum is what is being underused and it will continue to be until people see it as a place where their opinions will actually be read. It's no fun to give an opinion and no one gives a retort or agreement until days later. Again, that is the nature of the beast. We come here to read AND BE HEARD....if know one is doing either to your comments, well then you post where they will read and that is what we have happening here. Will that change? probably not, no matter how much we wish it would, the direct communication with the vast majority of a site is what people gravitate to and that is the news feed. Also, there are those that hope that MAYBE the PTB take quick glances at what is happening in the news feeds, I'm sure they do not have the time to peruse the forum.

On the news feed you have the following:

1). Synopsis of each episode. If people are giving their hopes, desires and opinion of what is to come after reading the synopsis, what is the harm in that.
2). We have photos for each episode. Isn't it kind of obvious that people will give their take on what they see in the pictures?
3). We have different news articles added weekly on this or that....if you go to the news articles themselves in the feed you will find all sorts of comments good, bad, indifferent etc.....that will probably happen here as well.

When people read these things on the news feed, it is natural to want to comment on them immediately, that is how it works.

IMO, the only way to stop that is to no longer have comments on in the news feed and have people start the conversations in the forum for each article, set of pics and synopsis. If people want to discuss then they HAVE TO GO THERE to discuss. But, IMO that is going to be a problem that would end in less discussion of these things positive or negative. To me as long as the conversation sticks to the topic of whatever is in the news feed, in all fairness, it should be fair game for all sides of the discussion.

I also understand people seeing repeat of opinions. I get that, but when their problems with the series are in every episode you may get that repeat.

Again, it is the nature of the beast of a fan site. There are all kinds of fans, coming from all walks of life, with all kinds of opinions. Unless they are being disrespectful of those that give us this series weekly, or people on this site, they should be heard.....or in this case.....read. And IMO, in all areas of the site as long as their topic of discussion meets with the article, pics, synopsis that has been posted.