MTV: How do you handle Twilight hate?
Posted on 14. Apr, 2009 by AmyO in News
We’ve all met them- sometimes in “real” life, sometimes just on the web- the Twilight haters. They come in varying degrees of hate- some of them just roll their eyes at any mention of Twilight, some of them will argue about plot and ”real” vampire characteristics and some of them go to extremes such as hacking into Twilight based fansites.
The question is- how do you deal with the hate? Do you just ignore it? Do you argue with them? Do you simply avoid the topic of Twilight around these people?
Larry Carroll over at MTV wants to know your stories of Twilight hate-
Instead, I was hoping to appeal to the very-real fanbase we’ve come to know and love over the past year-and-a-half of covering “Twilight” so intensely here at MTV, as well as those who’ve posted comments voicing their distaste for the series (as they have every right to do).
Have you ever been verbally or physically abused because of your love for “Twilight”? Have you ever picked on someone else because their views of the vampire series weren’t in line with your own? Have you ever lashed out at someone just because they voiced their distaste for the Cullen clan?
Since we have so many Twilighters and non-fans who post on our messageboards every day, we wanted to ask for some first-hand stories from you guys. Is this supposed “Twilight violence” another case of the media taking a non-story and reporting it as fact? Or do your own experiences reveal some truth to all this?
You can read the entire article and tell your stories here.
We’d also love to hear your stories and how you deal with it so leave us a comment here.
22 Responses to “MTV: How do you handle Twilight hate?”
Heidi Files (Hfiles28)
14. Apr, 2009
I have come across a few. I just ignore it mostly. Twilight is not for everyone. I just simply say to them that I am sorry they did not enjoy the story and move on. I have had some adults upset with the whole thing about how young girls of the age of 8-10 are reading it and that it should not be a children’s book. I correct them by saying that it is a young adult book which is the age of 15-25 by definition. If someone younger then that is reading it then that is the parents issue on what they feel their daughter or son should be reading. About 9o% of the time it stops them in their tracks. If I know someone does not like Twilight then I make sure that I never bring up the subject. I do not like confrontation. I want happiness and peace. That is why I have TwilightMoms to turn to.
Marie
14. Apr, 2009
I mostly get made fun of for being so obsessed with what some people view as a “kid’s movie or books” (I am 33 years old) but what is so ignorant about it is, that some of these people have never read the books or watched it. They quickly assume that it’s just for kids because they hear it’s about vampires and highschool students. Whatever.
Is it wrong to want to gather a group of friends to tour Forks, WA? Is it crazy for me to want go to Portland or visit the View Point Inn because this is where the movie was filmed? Or is it really too obsessive of me to want to go to the Twilight fan cruise or the Salute to Twilight Grand Slam in LA? Perhaps, but so what? It’s a healthy obsession.
That felt good to rant like that =) Thanks!
Kristin
14. Apr, 2009
Marie, Just so you know at 36 I have the same obsession. If I had the money for my daughter and I to go across the country to Forks, Portland, LA and any other city involved in anything TWILIGHT I would be there.
Jeanine
14. Apr, 2009
Most of the hate I hear is more out of never reading the books or understanding the story line. People really should not through stones if they have never actually read the books. My husband thinks I am coo coo, but not because I read vampire books, only because I read them over and over and over again. I am sorry, but I am sure I could be doing a lot worse things than reading a book. Mostly I find people feel the same as I do when they read the books and then we have much to talk about.
Andrea
14. Apr, 2009
Twilight Hate?? never heard of it – lol I just don’t believe someone if they are negative – they are just mis-informed or mis-guided, or not properly knowledge-able(SP?) of the subject – that’s all – silly silly haters!!
Team Edward – of course!!
Jenny
14. Apr, 2009
I myself have not personally come across any “haters”. But I have been curious enough to read what Twilight haters have to say. The things that I have noticed is that there is no real reason for the hate. At least the sites I have been to. It is almost like they are just spiteful towards the fans of the movie/books. I have yet to see one solid reason. They like to taunt us, calling us “Twitards”. It doesn’t bother me at all! Reading that there has been “violence” from the haters/lovers to eachother is ridiculous. I just think everyone should be civilized, whatever their opinions are!
Juju
14. Apr, 2009
I haven’t come in contact with too much Twilight hate. Mostly I’ve come across people who are curious about Twilight and want to know if they should read it. If and when I do come in contact with Twilight Hate I’m sure I’ll shrug it off. You can’t make everyone love you or love what you do.
I’m 32 and proud of my Twilight love. I can’t wait till I get to visit La Push.
I only wish I knew more people in my area (Orlando) who shared my Twilight Love.
Melanie
14. Apr, 2009
I don’t understand the hate, I mostly just ignore it but I was shocked to find some vicious haters on the Harry Potter websites. I’m an HP fan but stopped frequenting the websites after I read some very nasty comments about our beloved Twilight. The Twihard nickname doesn’t bother me either and I think “TwiTwits” is just hilarious! All I can say is if you haven’t read the books, haters, you are missing out!!!
Meagan
14. Apr, 2009
I have seen haters on-line and run across a few in person. Some are those that haven’t even read it, just heard about, so I don’t pay them any attention. I usually just don’t bring it up with them.
Others, actually did try to read it and it wasn’t to their liking. I think many times, they had already made up their mind to NOT like it, and then justified it by reading it.
Usually those that read it with an open mind, and just didn’t like it are not haters, they are more casual about it. I respect that. Not everyone can like the same thing. They probably like things that I don’t.
Some of the things that “haters” say are just silly. The reasons that give are weird. Those that give “real” vampire mythology as a reason need to do their homework. There are hundreds of myths out there that are just as odd and they do not all match. Stephenie’s mythology is just as likely as any vampire mythology that has come before. I mean, how realistic is it that a vampire wouldn’t like garlic of all things?
twinky
14. Apr, 2009
Why would there be Twilight haters? Oh that’s right…With good comes bad. It’s a balance.I’ve come across 1 Twilight not liking it so mucher.But not a hater.I have to think that if I ever do, all I could do would be to laugh. How silly to waste so much time, spend so much energy on hating something that has nothing to do with them other then them wanting to just hate something?
RebeccaK
14. Apr, 2009
If you ever meet a hater, you could always ease tension by asking them if they’re Team Edward or Team Jacob. That’s a good place to start.
michelle13
14. Apr, 2009
My family and i live in washington state and decided to visit the beautiful olympic peninsula. and just happened to stay in Forks
. my husband went along with it, but of course had to tease my daughter and i.
I have a friend who is a guy, that just told me he had baught breaking dawn for his wife for easter and then told me he had actually bought it for himself since he had read the first 3 and couldn’t put them down….
if someone has strong feelings about not liking the books i just let it go. Its not for everyone.
Sherie67
14. Apr, 2009
My views are pretty much the same as the majority, the one thing that I can definately agree on is that if there are haters out there, it is a good idea for me to avoid that conversation entirely. My husband thinks I am crazy, I have read the books 5 times and I plan to read them again and again. There is so much to read out there that can be construde as inappropriate and unacceptable and this is definately NOT one of those books. There is so much worse out there. I am 41 years old and happily married but, when it comes to my obsession with Twilight, my husband knows his place. HEHE Anyways, I WILL visit Forks, have not yet, though I live in Washington State I am still about 8 hours out and I would NOT take my husband with me. He is a very critical person and to be totally honest, I wont even allow him to watch the movie because I don’t want his opinion. If I am watching it, I turn it off. He may take offense to that, I am sure WAY less than I would his comments! So, what do I have to say to those “HATERS” what ever, it is a free country and I won’t share my opinion of THEM if they don’t share there opinion with me!
I LOVE TWILIGHT!!! EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!!
Dark-Angel
14. Apr, 2009
Unfourtunately my husband is a big hater of Twilight. At first i just couldn’t grasp what i’d done that was so wrong. In the 8 yrs we’ve been maried i’ve never seen anything get under his skin the way my love of all things TW does. But i think i’ve figured out why he hates it so much – i think it’s because i’ve finally found someing that takes my interest other that my lovely kids him and the house. It used to really get to me but after i explained to him that he has always had his interests and the kids have their’s then am i not entitled to mine – just this one thing? After that things settled down but still at least once a day he has to get a jibe in or a look when i lift my books or log onto TM. I love my husband but i ain’t givin TW up for anything so he can just huff – he’ll get over it eventually
Natalie
14. Apr, 2009
I completely ignore it. Most people who “hate” TS (my husband, for example – but, he backs off b/c he knows it makes me happy), haven’t read it. The people who don’t like it, don’t have to like it – we all have different tastes.
The people who hate it and bash it, have personal issues, in general, and I don’t need to even get sucked into conversation with them. I usually just change the subject. And, if they think I’m crazy for loving TS, I really don’t care. Again, I change the subject.
I’m a staunch breastfeeding and natural birth advocate/supporter. But, you know what – it’s not for everyone and I accept that. If I were to bash people who don’t follow my line of thinking about it, I’d be morally wrong. .
Bashing/hating is something unhappy people do to lift themselves up. The only thing I can do when I come across people like that, is put on a happy face, change the subject and not add “fuel to the fire.” If people stopped responding to bashers/haters, there may be a lot less of it.
Bottom line, I know very little of the Twilight haters world b/c I stay out of it.
Kara Noelle
14. Apr, 2009
My husband and I have routinely fought over the quality of the books and subsequently the movie. Some complaints include:
*Bella is a self-serving, egotistical teen. The way she behaves in the beginning of Twilight (she’s read all of the course material including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, etc for her English class for example) is neither realistic and makes for a bad character
*Many of the plot points, especially the major finale driving point of Edward versus James come out of nowhere.
*Various versions of the books are anti-feminist argument we’ve all heard a thousand times.
He goes on and on about how terrible the books are and, while I agree with some of the criticisms, I still really enjoy the books. When he asks how I can like the books despite significant flaws I respond with: “I bought the love story.”
Wenda L. Curdle
15. Apr, 2009
I would like to take the opportunity to bring out a question that has not left me for quite some time: Sometimes I get annoyed by the rhetorics used by hard-boiled fans as well as anti-fans of phenomena as big as Twilight – it often reads like there are only two possible decisions – either FOR the object of admiration – or AGAINST it. But what lies in between seems for me much more interesting. Can’t you acknowledge the greatness of a saga like Twilight and admire it as an inspiring narrative of our times and at the same time question some of its aspects or try to figure out what are its underlying concepts and ideals? I do not have to abandon the fact that I enjoyed the books very much (at the age of 27 – and I would have been absolutely hooked on them at the age of 15) to still sense that some of its ideas seem to me worth being questioned. From my experience in life I can say that e.g. the thought of a perfect partner (as flawless, strong, patient, wise and immaculately beautiful as Edward) is nice – as a thought or fantasy, but something is utterly wrong with it, when you come to model your own dreams and aspirations on that. (Sorry for my English, I am not a native speaker). So – I would like to ask you – is there space for a critical reading of the Twilight books – without having to accept the label of a “Twilight hater” – which I am not – and where could I find that space? Thank you very much for reading and your answers – Yours, Wenda
twija
15. Apr, 2009
HMMM, I see a trend here. It seems that the TW haters are the husbands!!!!!!
My husband can’t understand why I keep reading the books over and over again. He does get a little irritated by it. Also, I’ve watched the movie on the ipod the last two days while cooking supper. He did bring that up in irritation. Well, I told him when he stops working on his race car I’ll stop reading and watching TW. Like either one will happen!!! I guess I’m a closet TW fan cause nobody other that my hubby and daughter know how obessesed I am with the whole thing so I’ve not had to defend myself to anybody else other than them. Also, I have to check TM at least 4 times a day!!!
Christine
15. Apr, 2009
Pretty much the same as everyone else, why mingle the absolute bliss of how Twilight affects me with the negativity of others. They have a right to their opinion but I don’t want them in my world infecting it with hate.
Twilight IS amazing. It’s Stephenie’s world. Freedom of the press, ya know. “Oh Edward”.
Lani
15. Apr, 2009
I have read all of the comments left by the many Twilight fans and of those who are open minded and actually can have a civilized conversation on their likes/dislikes about Twilight. I am a Twilight Fan and have recieved some ridicule mostly from my own family members about my love of the books. I honestly really have not come across any “haters”, just people who don’t understand the obession and connection that the fans have with the characters. I find that alot of the times it is people who have not read the books that make such comments. I do know that after reading the books and recommending them to my Mom who is also a Twilght fan have become closer after many years of unresolved issues. Our love of Twilight has actually repaired our relationship and has brought me closer to a few of my nieces who have read the books. As with many great things, there is ridicule and sometimes resentment. There are many great literary masterpieces through time that recieved much ridicule and distaste from the public, and because of the love the fans had for those literary materpieces they endured. Stephenie Meyer being an ametuer writer to her own admittance has brought something amazing to a time where the connections of mothers daughters, sisters, girlfriends, nieces and so on are critical, I know many TM’s that have come closer to their young daughters because Twilight has opened up doors of mutual conversations that also open doors to more meaningful conversation. Bottom line is Twilight may not be for everyone, but to those who have become fans have become richer in life because of it.
Ally
15. Apr, 2009
I think that the Twilight haters are no different from HP haters, Buffy haters, Tolkien haters, Star Trek haters or Star Wars haters. Since the haters aren’t part of the action, they feel a need to complaint, ridicule or try to make a fan feel bad because of the fan’s love for the series. Just because you don’t share the love (or feel like you are odd man out) doesn’t really give you the right to pass judgment on someone else. So, my way of dealing with haters is to either ignore them or bring up their obsession and let them talk about it instead (while daydreaming about my own interests, of course).
I think that they miss a great opportunity to get to know someone else or something else better. I bet there are lots of people who are now thinking about reading (or re-reading) Wuthering Heights, Pride & Prejudice or other classics. Listening to Stephanie Meyer’s songlists for each book introduced people to new artists they may not have listened to before. Traveling to Forks and La Push and learning about that part of the country is great way to spend a vacation (and help the economies of a town and reservation at the same time). Traveling, making new friends, having new experiences that you would not have had as part of your everyday life — these are all things to aspire to, not to put down.
tia
21. Apr, 2009
@ RebeccaK
Great place to start, if you just don’t want to talk to them. I would hope they would have the self-posession not to get mad, but intentianally annoying them strikes me as a bit rude.