Convention Fans:
Twilight Hate at Multi-Fandom Conventions

If you attended San Diego Comic-Con in 2009, you may have seen (or heard about) the clashes between Twilight fans, and well, everyone else. LA Weekly blogger Liz Ohanesian wrote a great article about the phenomenon, in which she mused it might be partially attributable to gender differences in fandom (seeing as Twilight fans are predominantly female).

Twilight hate isn't just at Comic-Con issue. If you take a look at a recent post on the official Dragon*con Facebook page, you'll see people writing about their willingness to sacrifice Twilight fans and guests in exchange for "better" guests (there are some Twilight actors on the guest list for 2010). And yet, despite the obvious contempt for Twilight and its fans by many attendees, major multi-fandom conventions continue to book guests from the franchise, thereby attracting fans to the conventions.

It's not like Twilight fandom doesn't have anywhere else to go. There are numerous conventions dedicated just to the franchise. In fact, Creation Entertainment holds "official" Twilight conventions all over the country.

Considering the huge fanbase, the dedication of the fans, and the fact that the subject matter (vampires) has long been considered "alternative" and/or geeky - why the hate for Twilight in particular? Is it really any different than any of the other fandoms with fervent supporters? Do the fans not all write fanfic, dress in costume, and lust after the various stars?

So what is it then? Do these Twilight hating convention attendees hate the actors in the movies? Is it the source material? Is it the fans?All of it? Why the hate for a fellow fandom?

In short, the answer is "all of the above."

Here's the cold hard truth about the Twilight hate. The haters think the books are poorly written. They think all the fans are all shrieking teenage girls and obnoxious. They think the stars of the movie series aren't talented and are overrated. The think the movies are poorly written. They think the franchise has no geek-cred. They think it's too popular and mainstream to have a place at multi-fandom geek conventions.