botherd | I just have a lot of feelings...

I'm not sure how to talk about this month's obligatory Skins fandom wank (SIGH) without it turning into "I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy" but... I just really think it's a shame that this is happening again. And I hate that a couple of anonymous crazies over on

fandomsecrets are making the whole of Skins fandom look batshit insane, when it's really not.

I've lurked and dabbled in many fandoms, but this is the first time I've been really actively involved in one, and I love it so much. I love the awesome people here, and the ton of amazing fic; I love the squeeing and the thoughtful discussion and the crack. I mean, I've had a grand total of one argument in this fandom, against my better judgement, but even though it was horrible and upsetting at the time, we made amends really quickly. The wank isn't representative of this fandom, and I wish more people could see that the awesomeness really outweighs the unpleasantness.

All these rabid Naomily shippers keep being mentioned, usually as the cause of all these problems, and... I'm not sure where/who these people are? (Please, I'm NOT asking for names.) I haven't encountered anyone like that; everyone I know realises that having different shipping preferences should NOT be a big deal. Mostly I just love that we have a femslash-focused fandom with FOUR amazing female characters (sorry, Panda) with so much slashy potential between them, and so much fic exploring all the different dynamics - that's SO rare, and it's something I really cherish. ♥ (Sorry, this did end up turning into a cake filled with rainbows after all.)

IDK what I'm trying to say with all this. Basically, I think this fandom is so great, and I just wish the tiny minority of people who cause wank would grow the hell up. This particular incident may have been focused on one person, but it damages fandom as a whole. :(

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

amen to this. thanks for writing this out and getting it out there. sooo why can't we let Panda have her fandom as well. I can sorta imagine her with....ummm....umm....Effy. OMG craziest fandom ever Panda/ Naomi. how much would that not work :D

Trufax: I sort of secretly ship Effy/Panda a bit, albeit in a VERY PG sort of way, but it's hard to get excited about it when there are so many other people to ship Effy with that work a lot better. And by 'so many other people', I mean Katie.

Panda/Naomi, OMG. I sort of want to write it for the crack value alone!

They would kill each other. Not even kidding. Naomi/Panda are the only two I see having nothing in common out of the group. They would only hang around each other because of mutual friends (which is very realistic- some people in my social group in high school I barely liked).

I don't femmeship Panda because she's not even a little bit gay. Whereas I see canon Effy as bi and Katie....well, Katie seems straight also, then Bedlam happened, so I thought, Katie could straight but with, um, Effy leanings.

(disingenuous argument is disingenuous now and forever).

If you write this Panda/Naomi, I will read it, and lol massively.

I can sort of stomach Effy with Cook, but I like Effy by herself even more.

I see canon Effy as bi

I find this really interesting, because I do too - but I don't think there's actually any canon evidence for Effy being bi, is there? I think it's more an extrapolation of her behaviour, this assumption that she could be with a girl and not think it a big deal. (Unlike Katie; I think if Katie does have any leanings that way they're buried under so many issues that it would be rare for them to actually come out, so to speak.)

I really like the idea of Effy being single too, because I think she needs to, I guess, grow by herself, but I think there's a fine line between Effy being single and Effy being alone. She really needs a strong support network, I think, and right now she just doesn't have that.

I think it's more an extrapolation of her behaviour, this assumption that she could be with a girl and not think it a big deal

It's not a definitive conviction (like you say, no canon evidence) but my gut says bi. I think if there is any capacity for same sex attraction within her, she'd go for it. I don't see her being phased by gender. A writer needn't work hard to convince me Effy would fuck or fall in love with a girl. Unlike Katie, where the writer would need to delve into her mind convince me why this ultra hetero seeming lady fancies fanny in any capacity

(In Australia, no one says fanny. Whenever a character uses it I giggle like a little girl).

I know you agree and all, but I'm coming up blank on why Effy would like Freddie. I was going to type something along the lines "effy likes someone who intrigues her" but Freddie refutes that. Can you come up with any reasons or do you reckon Effy acted really OOC in going after him?

Hmm, I find it really hard to understand what Effy sees in Freddie, other than that he's obviously pretty. I wonder if it's meant to be about him being just a nice, normal boy, representing some sort of stability - which Effy craves, but she doesn't really know how to live like that. Sort of the opposite of Cook, who represents all her self-destructive behaviour, and that's why she falls into a thing with him much more easily. (IDK, I'm really just making this up on the spot.)

I think ultimately what she needs is someone who can sort of combine the two - someone who can be a grounding influence but still keep her interested. (And the only person I can think of who really fits the bill is, um, Tony.)

i've missed out on this infamous wank that's all over the place.. i frequent fandomsecrets, i lurk around on a buncha BNFs journals, the comms, etc.. and somehow have still (luckily) managed to miss out on the BS.

i dunno, i've never settled as comfortably into a fandom as i have in this one, nor as completely (i'm the classic lurker). i have to agree with just about all of your points: the people, the fic, the slashy fun times lol (sorry, Panda, it feels pedo with ya, babes) so i'm not sad about missing out on the bad stuffs, but it does make me feel like i'm not looking close enough *shrug*

Oh, you're lucky to have missed out! It was a lot of vitriol aimed at one person and it got really unpleasant. :( (It's quite easy to find on

fandomsecrets, but I wouldn't recommend looking.

I agree with all of this.

I'm not sure where/who these people are?

I'm not either. I'm glad I don't know them?

I'm starting to wonder if they're mythical creatures that don't ACTUALLY exist.

(Happy news: 80s AU is all typed up and clocks in at 29,031 words!)

Mostly I just love that we have a femslash-focused fandom with FOUR amazing female characters (sorry, Panda)

HAHAHAHAH I love that, they really are the most slashable characters, and then poor old Panda just gets stuck in the corner to the side, either being the last one to find out (LOL BEDLAM) or the ice breaker or just not existing.

But no, totally agree. It makes me sad that some people were commenting with "this scares me away from the fandom" because NO!! IT'S AN AWESOME FANDOM!! Full of gifs and rainbows and photoshops and awesome people writing amazing fics!!

Stupid fandom secrets :(

LOL I feel bad for Panda, I really do. I like her! She amuses me, and I love her friendship with Effy. It's just... she really pales in comparison to the other girls, and slashing her just feels WRONG.

I'm trying to console myself with the fact that ALL fandoms look kind of insane over at

fandomsecrets. :/

with all the great minds out there I'm sure SOMEONE could write a not too lol Panda Femslash.

anyone up for the challenge? I would call a femslash with Panda in it where I dont laugh more then 5 times a success :D

I just have a lot of feelings...

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