Article on "toxic" Disney fans

[bcla]

This is by SFGate's contributing editor whose main beat is covering Disneyland. I know, tough job. The article is about how various Disney social media sites are toxic with massive amounts of name calling and general unplesantness. I did notice that DISboards is not mentioned. I know people complain about this or that, but it's been my impression that the mods here intervene before it gets really nasty.

https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/Disneyland-has-toxic-online-fans-16532319.php​

Fans have spent years building up huge knowledge bases of little-known Disney history, or of learning every corner of the Disney movie universe, or creating their own version of the best way to do the parks. Then they share that information online. People disagree — or worse, go on a personal attack.​

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Insert whatever insult you want there, because it’s already been said, many times, to many people. They’re throwing their money away. They’re wasting their lives. They’re “creepy” Disney adults who refuse to grow up. They’re any version of fan the attacker doesn’t see as worthy.​

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“It doesn’t explain the particular vitriol in which some of [those opinions] get expressed,” Woo said, “but I think that is a really important piece of understanding” that kind of behavior.​

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Academics studying the phenomenon can see any number of examples themselves. “On Facebook, I’m in groups for Disney cruises, and it’s amazing how somebody will ask the most innocent question and just get destroyed,” said Dan Wann, professor of psychology at Murray State University in Kentucky. “I'm like, man, some people don't have near the magic you should probably have.”​

 

[wenrob]

I don’t know, I’ve seen people get absolutely ripped apart in the trip planning forums here. Part of the problem from what I’ve seen is that there are “rules” that aren’t actually *Disney* rules accepted as the way it is among diehard park goers. If you don’t know what those rules are or dare question them you will be shredded. I remember my oldest as a teen asking if she could join and I flat told her no, read but do not participate.

The Disneyland board if fairly tame but some of the others… Maybe it’s changed but a day or two on some of the others and I never went back. (and I never participated)

 

[GreatLakes]

Unfortunately there are toxic elements to just about any fandom. It is true of Disney, most sports, comic books, gaming, just about anything. Some people take it a bit too far and those are the stories that get run and highlighted.

 

[Lumpy1106]

How is this any different than Nextdoor? I mean, it SEEMED like a good idea, but I have found that the over under on an argument starting on ANY topic in Nextdoor is about 5 replies - and those people are your actual neighbors.

 

[Magical2017]

I have seen it mostly on Facebook (big shocker, I know). Cruise groups, Europe travel groups, etc. The admins who are on top of it kick out the toxic people, but sometimes there just are not enough of them. I just leave those groups. I don't have time for all the nonsense.

 

[ronandannette]

I don’t know, I’ve seen people get absolutely ripped apart in the trip planning forums here. Part of the problem from what I’ve seen is that there are “rules” that aren’t actually *Disney* rules accepted as the way it is among diehard park goers. If you don’t know what those rules are or dare question them you will be shredded. I remember my oldest as a teen asking if she could join and I flat told her no, read but do not participate.

The Disneyland board if fairly tame but some of the others… Maybe it’s changed but a day or two on some of the others and I never went back. (and I never participated)

I remember several years ago describing my plan for our third trip to DLR and being vilified by one specific loon over not intending to do rope drop. Why was I even bothering to go? Did I even have any clue about Disney whatsoever? I gotta admit for a while afterwards I'd always chime in on the Trip Planning Board whenever a question came up about rope drop: "No, rope-drop IS NOT mandatory for a great day at Disney". (Just to bug the loon, of course.)

 

[Lumpy1106]

I have seen it mostly on Facebook (big shocker, I know). Cruise groups, Europe travel groups, etc. The admins who are on top of it kick out the toxic people, but sometimes there just are not enough of them. I just leave those groups. I don't have time for all the nonsense.

IME - I have posted regularly to really heavily moderated forums and also to forums that were an all-out free-for all, no moderation (except the SPAMMERS of course). On the heavily moderated forums there is an expectation that the MODS will police everything and the experience will be very...safe...for lack of a better word. Discussions that fall outside the "rules" are deleted, members put on time out or are kicked out. On the Free-for-all forums there are discussions that delve into the very same topics but it's not a problem - the discussion runs its course, everyone knows where everyone else stands, and it becomes old news. It seems counter-intuitive, but, again, IME, the free-for-all forums have far fewer problems. YMMV...

 

[John VN]

I remember several years ago describing my plan for our third trip to DLR and being vilified by one specific loon over not intending to do rope drop. Why was I even bothering to go? Did I even have any clue about Disney whatsoever? I gotta admit for a while afterwards I'd always chime in on the Trip Planning Board whenever a question came up about rope drop: "No, rope-drop IS NOT mandatory for a great day at Disney". (Just to bug the loon, of course.)

I being a *BUG*

 

[BadPinkTink]

I don’t know, I’ve seen people get absolutely ripped apart in the trip planning forums here. Part of the problem from what I’ve seen is that there are “rules” that aren’t actually *Disney* rules accepted as the way it is among diehard park goers. If you don’t know what those rules are or dare question them you will be shredded. I remember my oldest as a teen asking if she could join and I flat told her no, read but do not participate.

The Disneyland board if fairly tame but some of the others… Maybe it’s changed but a day or two on some of the others and I never went back. (and I never participated)

Yep, happens to me in the cruise section here on Dis. There is a very definite undercurrent of them and us on the cruise section. One of the "rules" is that first time cruisers need to know their place and that they can ask questions but must bow down to the more knowledgeable and experienced cruisers, cos they know best. As a first time cruiser you should never give helpful advice or have an opinion about cruising or the ships, cos you have never been on a cruise. They don't like me as I don't play their game.

 

[wenrob]

I remember several years ago describing my plan for our third trip to DLR and being vilified by one specific loon over not intending to do rope drop. Why was I even bothering to go? Did I even have any clue about Disney whatsoever? I gotta admit for a while afterwards I'd always chime in on the Trip Planning Board whenever a question came up about rope drop: "No, rope-drop IS NOT mandatory for a great day at Disney". (Just to bug the loon, of course.)

One time we got up at the crack of dawn for rope drop and to get fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers. About halfway through the ridiculousness of waiting in line to wait in line hit me. Never did it again and still manage to get fastpasses and do what we want done with our “lazy” approach.

I’ve seen “rules” about bathrooms, parades, fireworks, dining. Not a single one an actual rule put forth by Disney.

Yep, happens to me in the cruise section here on Dis. There is a very definite undercurrent of them and us on the cruise section. One of the "rules" is that first time cruisers need to know their place and that they can ask questions but must bow down to the more knowledgeable and experienced cruisers, cos they know best. As a first time cruiser you should never give helpful advice or have an opinion about cruising or the ships, cos you have never been on a cruise. They don't like me as I don't play their game.

The entitlement is kinda crazy. We’re all shelling out the same cash. Just because some do it more often doesn’t mean their way is the only way.

 

[ronandannette]

IME - I have posted regularly to really heavily moderated forums and also to forums that were an all-out free-for all, no moderation (except the SPAMMERS of course). On the heavily moderated forums there is an expectation that the MODS will police everything and the experience will be very...safe...for lack of a better word. Discussions that fall outside the "rules" are deleted, members put on time out or are kicked out. On the Free-for-all forums there are discussions that delve into the very same topics but it's not a problem - the discussion runs its course, everyone knows where everyone else stands, and it becomes old news. It seems counter-intuitive, but, again, IME, the free-for-all forums have far fewer problems. YMMV...

I don’t know how heavily moderated the other boards here on the DIS are; without a trip in the works for going on two years, I’ve not participated much. The CB however, has taken a turn towards much more intrusive moderation, with the introduction of strict rules, over the past 6 months. Safe? I guess so. Safe from what, I’m not sure. Boring? Much more so.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

On the whole I think we are a very pleasant bunch. I wish there were some ‘foreign’ mods so that words/phrases/humour etc., didn’t get lost in translation. People have an off day and become too emotionally involved sometimes. I think that one learns over time to express a view but not debate it.
Maybe this is a safer space because we may bump into each other in real life in a park somewhere?

 

[C&Jx2]

There is a TikToker that highlights the drama in the Disney groups
Entertaining AND sad.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Unfortunately there are toxic elements to just about any fandom. It is true of Disney, most sports, comic books, gaming, just about anything. Some people take it a bit too far and those are the stories that get run and highlighted.

This. I have other hobbies and dip my tow in their fandom groups and people get ugly their too. It's just the sad state of the world right now has made the bad eggs in fandom circles even worse. Or at least much more vocal. It's not Disney fans in particular by any means.

 

[Donald13]

Disney adults are the worst kind of adults. Lol. It’s everywhere. There are snobs with just about everything. Like don’t tell a coffee group that you have a keurig or that you use cream in your coffee. As others has said, just ignore.

 

[mrodgers]

I have seen it mostly on Facebook (big shocker, I know). Cruise groups, Europe travel groups, etc. The admins who are on top of it kick out the toxic people, but sometimes there just are not enough of them. I just leave those groups. I don't have time for all the nonsense.

I can't stand the Facebook groups. It's every single one of them. I'm on motorcycle, bicycle, bicycle touring, camping, bushcraft, many rail trail groups, kayak, kayak camping, RC airplane, RC drone groups, gaming groups, open fire cooking, crockpot cooking, instant pot, air fryer, bbq groups, specifically Weber Kettle groups, every single one of them is horrible.

 

[Disneefun]

This author has merely discovered the next year's worth of articles that he/she can write. Just change "Disney" to Lego, video gaming, board gaming, movies, books, or whatever and cut/paste. It's amazing to me how some people have the ability to take something that's supposed to be fun and frivolous and turn it into the Thunderdome.

It happens in all hobbies and fandoms and it's sad. People need to realize these things are meant to be enjoyable. It's not supposed to be the Hunger Games.

 

[_19disnA]

Poorly moderated forums invite themselves to be overrun by bullies, obnoxious posters or those who enjoy starting arguments. On some other forums I used to belong, it only took a few idiots left out of control by the mods to totally ruin a site. People just stopped using those sites and the idiots were left to argue among themselves.

Used to belong to FB when it was mostly organized around individuals posting family or vacation pictures and a way to keep in touch with people from your past. Never considered it a forum website where you have topics/threads/discussions etc. FB wants to be all things to everybody to attract more users which means they can charge more for ads. Since companies have a finite ad budget, I suspect their will eventually be some shakeout in how they spread their ad $$$$ around. Don't know the current stats, but at one time the vast majority of FB revenue was selling ad space. Stopped using FB when every topic turned into a free for all and they seemed to care less or had toothless rules poorly enforced. My life goes on just fine without FB.

Don't use social media, but from what you read about them elsewhere most tend to spiral out of control when topics aren't moderated. Somewhat reminds me of the h.s. bully who went around picking fights with others to prove how tough/strong/obnoxious they could be. If you ignore bullies they usually go elsewhere to pick their senseless fights. Other non-Disney forums I belong to tend to be effectively moderated and those people aren't able to disrupt the rational attempts at conversations by the other participating adults. Usually you could either 'ignore' obnoxious posters or report them to the mods to deal with. I have better things to do with my time then engage in pointless arguments with people in cyberspace I will never meet. Wouldn't surprise me to find the 'bullies' online tend to be the shy/timid types in real life who use the anonymity of being online to behave like someone they aren't.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Poorly moderated forums invite themselves to be overrun by bullies, obnoxious posters or that who enjoy starting arguments. On some other forums I used to belong, it only took a few idiots left out of control by the mods to totally ruin a site. People just stopped using those sites and the idiots were left to argue among themselves.

Used to belong to FB when it was mostly organized around individuals posting family or vacation pictures and a way to keep in touch with people from your past. Never considered it a forum website where you have topics/threads/discussions etc. FB wants to be all things to everybody to attract more users which means they can charge more for ads. Since companies have a finite ad budget, I suspect their will eventually be some shakeout in how they spread their ad $$$$ around. Don't know the current stats, but at one time the vast majority of FB revenue was selling ad space. Stopped using FB when every topic turned into a free for all and they seemed to care less or had toothless rules poorly enforced. My life goes on just fine without FB.

Don't use social media, but from what you read about them elsewhere most tend to spiral out of control when topics aren't moderated. Somewhat reminds me of the h.s. bully who went around picking fights with others to prove how tough/strong/obnoxious they could be. If you ignore bullies they usually go elsewhere to pick their senseless fights. Other non-Disney forums I belong to tend to be effectively moderated and those people aren't able to disrupt the rational attempts at conversations by the other participating adults. Usually you could either 'ignore' obnoxious posters or report them to the mods to deal with. I have better things to do with my time then engage in pointless arguments with people in cyberspace I will never meet. Wouldn't surprise me to find the 'bullies' online tend to be the shy/timid types in real life who use the anonymity of being online to behave like someone they aren't.

FB groups are another monster. Without going into details, I will just say that in the last 18 months or so FB has been the only source of some information and the only even potential means of communication. But, the people running the FB groups are not interested in open discussion, or really any discussion. They only want the echo chamber. Propaganda? Yeah, I'd go that far. Now FORMER FB user myself - not going back ever.

 

[tvguy]

I think it happens on any forum based on a specific topic or interest. I'm on a classic Ford Mustang site and it can nasty when someone has an opinion that is not generally shared by the group. Arguments over earth shaking things like whether the spring on the glove box door was bare metal or painted.
Good moderation is the key, however that is easier said than done. In the training I had over 16 years with the public forums my employer ran the goal was to gently "guide" threads away from controversy. Even our best contributors from time to time got stuck in controversy. But that's what keeps a forum healthy. We rarely turned off threads and it was even rarer to block someone or punish them.