User blog comment:IAliceVoice/Vocaloid Fandom Rant/@comment-53539-20140531110120

Just because everyone else seems to be all upset with the fandom lately I've decided to voice my thoughts.

Oh we've always bitched about the fandom itself, mostly because things were allowed to get out of hand before anyone was able to adress issues. I've said it before, in 2010, I begged members of VO to edit wikipedia and the wiki to fix the issue, but got constantly met with laziness or people who didn't care to help noobs. But those years from 2007-2010, allowed too many issues to creep into the fandom and take hold. In comparison to say, the MLP;FiM fandom, the bronys got things organised within a year. :-/

'''There are so many things bugging me about this fandom. I actually find this wiki to be a breath of fresh air because you'll have a high chance of coming across somewhat, I don't know, more bearable people. Why does the Vocaloid fandom have such a large part of stupid? Can any of you tell me? No, seriously, can you? Now, like I said, there are a lot of things bugging me (and I'm kinda afraid that in spite of my best efforts I might be a non-super-awesome part of the fandom either and just sound conceited, but seriously) but there are a few core issues (and I won't go into the whole fanloid, UTAU, official Vocaloid thing, it's annoying as hell but everything about it has definitely been said before):'''

In my opinion the Sonic, DC/Marvel comics and Mortal Kombat fandoms are worst. Especially the MK and Sonic fandoms, they are stuck on nostalgia and stubbornly refuse to accept any form of progress. They remember the "bad" and nothing that came out of the bad, except in Sonic's case they remember the music was good in the really bad games... but again, for the Vocaloid fandom, it was slow in getting its act together here in the west with dire consequences. >_<

'''It's popular now it sucks/It's popular SO it sucks: I'm sure everyone knows this but the prevelance of this attitude in this fandom truly baffles me. By "It's popular now it sucks", of course, I mean Miku. Or rather, the way many "fans" talk about her. I understand being upset that she gets so much attention and all those songs even though she (for many) isn't the best Vocaloid. I, too, find it to bad that so many great ones are barely getting noticed. This is, however, just like shipping and whatever other stuff people get upset about in other fandoms something that is actually CAUSED by the fandom. How is it Miku's fault? It's a shame many are getting overshadowed but the mere fact that Vocaloid is as popular as it is now is in large part thanks to Miku, right? And that aside, you're allowed to be upset, you're allowed to dislike her voice, BUT:'''

Unfortunately, a lot of the time things that are popular are subject to trends. Things that are shiner come along and everyone jumps boat into the new fandom. Vocaloid is also commonly associated with anime crowds overseas and not with music. Faced with its criticism and the previous aforementioned issues with the 2007-2010 period... Well its easy between the media and the fandom to get a very grim picture of the state of Vocaloid. With Miku, remember, there are folks who when they think of Vocaloid first they think of Miku... Which is bad... :-/

'''Why do people keep trash-talking her in completely unrelated situations? Why? Seriously, these people are complaining about her popularity and yet, they are the ones who bring her up when it's completely unnecessary. Honestly, I saw a MAIKA song once where a huge part of the comment section was just filled with people bashing Miku for no good reason other than the fact that it was a video featuring a lesser known Vocaloid. Vocaloid hate is dumb anyways but like this? In my opinion, the Vocaloid fandom should really stick together and try to appreciate every Vocaloid for what they are and what they contribute. And if you don't like one Vocaloid's voice then this fandom isn't really the place to bash, right? Even if it might be harder to ignore Miku, no one forces you to listen to her songs. And her contribution to Vocaloid as a whole can't be denied. Geez. I think it actually works really well to use Miku as a bridge for "outsiders" into the fandom even if you don't like her voice too much but many people seem to view her more as a "threat" than an opportunity or anything like that.'''

Why does anyone trash talk anything? I don't like Miku myself but I can find good things to say about her, but its really up to the person. Again, Miku is the face of Vocaloid so its going mean she gets the blunt of everything. The other Vocaloids often get barely a look at and Miku does crazy-well compared to everyone else. Unfortunately, I've said it before this is the problem with Miku's popularity, its a double-edged sword. I've noted here on the wikia if things get made for Miku, people ignore the merchandise and are more likely to add something about SeeU or another Vocaloid. Its a case of "how are suppose to hear you if your always shouting at them?", or in this case, "how are people suppose to notice Miku when she is always in their face". Basically, Miku is on almost everything Vocaloid based. :-/

'''But that issue brings me right to another, smaller, but still annoying one: The whining you'll find on some popular Vocaloids' videos. I see people complaining about how Miku steals the spotlight and totally prevents other Vocaloids from getting properly popular on videos for Luka, Rin and Len, IA (although actually not quite as often) and especially MEIKO. Now MEIKO could probably use some more songs but treating her like the LEAST POPULAR VOCALOID EVER OMG is seriously dumb. And the character is particularly well-known which is also at least some kind of bonus. Well, I think it's because I'm a fan of Vocaloids like Tone Rion and Mew but those complains on Videos for Luka and Rin and Len are just infuriating. It doesn't even seem to matter if a Vocaloid is really popular, so long as there's one MORE popular there will be complains.'''

I actually understand why Miku got popular so have less complaints. My only complaints is when people don't give other vocaloids a chance, I have no complaints towards a Vocaloid being popular. I do express concern over this mentality some fans have that popular = successful sales since SeeU is a Vocaloid who appears as popular as Ia in some cases but might have done as bad as some of the lower end Vocaloids for all we know. I don't tend to pay much attention to the comments of Youtube videos, I do occasionally scan to name drop links when a fan has said something outragous but otherwise I ignore things.

Your opinions may be different on that one, though.

'''The whole "hating Vocaloids based on the role they play in a certain song/PV" thing. It's not canon in any way and yet people do it all the time. It's annoying. I don't understand it. I'm sure you're all aware of it. Just putting this here because it ticks me off. So, so very much.'''

Well, music is a thing that appeals on a familiar level to many and transverse cultures. Its the kind of thing that can give more meaning or power in its lyrics then what mere spoken words can in the same amount of time. The consequences is, however, songs can carry too much weight in a person's mind and particularly with vague songs like Secret there can be a large amount of ways to "read" them. Add into this the knowledge that folks don't really know what Vocaloid is at times, and you get a mixed kettle of reactions with some getting too into the song and others getting too into the vocaloid, without knowing the core of what either song nor a Vocaloid is really about. I'm sure what is going through their mind is not so unintelligent, but its perceived to those who get all this as.

I find it annoying only when there is laziness within the fans... These days all the basics are a google search away, so some comments have no excuse to be what they are. But the way the fandom exists as a whole means that you can't easily resolve every issue. I've point out before, unlike a manga like One Piece or Naruto, there is no common storyline, just the art and the songs. And going back to what I just said about the power of song, people are looking for answers in what the easiest route is in front of them, instead of dong the proper research... :-/

'''Oh, and the thing making me the angriest: Comparisons. Just, seriously. It's okay to say a Vocaloid has a similar pitch, similar tone, etc to another one, I won't complain. In some cases, often depending on tuning, I also find Vocaloids to be kinds similar sounding. But "comparisons" is actually kind of a misleading word because many people actually go saying they sound the same. Like, exactly the same or at least pretty much the same. Then again, it still annoys me when people say stuff like "sounds kinda like x" because that's just like, even if it isn't meant that way, leaving this as literally the only comment sounds like you're saying: "Meh, nothing new, who cares" and I do not like that.'''

'''It's particularly stupid if people say a Vocaloid sounds like another one that was released later on because this whole "copy" or "nothing new" debate makes absolutely no sense in that case. Like, people saying a Vocaloid 2 sounds too much like a Vocaloid 3 which means they can't be good. Or people saying that Big Al looks too much like CUL. But the design comparisons and bashings are something I'm not too eager to talk/rant about on top of everything.'''

'''Oh, wait, I found something even dumber than the release date thing: people comparing one Vocaloid to two (or more) Vocaloids who don't sound anything alike. When I was looking at an IA song video from all the way back shortly after her relase there were all those typical "new Vocaloid" comments and among them, people compared her to both Miku (wat?) and GUMI. Now the reason this doesn't work is because MIKU AND GUMI DON'T FREAKING SOUND THE SAME. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is Misteryeevee's wonderful Anti-Hate series, especially Mew's page. Let's see what Vocaloids Mew is getting compared with:'''

Yeah... I see comparisons working since it is a thing in real life to imitate vocals. Its only an issue when used to downplay the merits of a vocaloid. At this point we've got a dozen vocaloids with similair tones and types, I mentioned myself yesturday I never quite got the way people reacted to Galaco because at the time of her release, there were several voices all the same typing. I never said any of them were the same, but we had a period of early V3 where several Vocaloids all ended up with similar traits being released all at once. Since they were all female, and there was a number of vocaloids coming out at once, it made Vocaloids harder to stand out, so when Galaco got a lot of attention and whenever people go on about her voice... I kinda wondered what the fuss was about because we had vocals of the same nature that were producing better singing results. Galaco's prize version was flat due to its sing-spiel type, they've fixed it in the update thankfully.

On the other hand, when a Vocaloid does come out with unique traits such as any male vocaloid or ones like Flower, there can be some equally surprising comments. Zola was put down for the art, the lack of differences beyond pitch between the vocals (despite all this being the point of their box)... Likewise, Flower wasn't what everyone was used to and so got put down for not being the usual crop. Merli got a lot of praise for her darker skin tone, which added with her deeper vocal tone meant everyone gave her praise more deserving then maybe even she needed? Not to mention at this point in time with better vocals for sale, Miku herself has some "don't go there" issues.... :-/