Geeks on the act and behave like children on the web and are now that 20th Century Fox seemingly has the upper hand over Warner Bros. in the “Watchmen” copyright interest claim, interweb dorks are vindictively trying to call for a boycott of all Fox films even if it’s the delicious chocolate cake they would normally shove over senior citizens for. Here’s just one example From the AICN nosebleeds.
“I have never been one to jump on the whole “Boycott” bandwagon, but not a CHANCE will I see ‘Wolverine’ in theatres now. This studio is the worst movie studio in the history of film. And as much as I am dying to see Watchmen, if the final outcome of this is greatly in Fox’s favor, I’ll pass on it just to say “fuck you.””
Sci-fi site Io9 even jumps in the fray, asking, “Is there Any Reason Not To Boycott Fox?,” but says you can only boycott something you actually like and then lists out many of the retroactively “crappy” sci-fi films that Fox has released in recent years (and that I09 had once eagerly written about in advance). A boycott petition has started on Petitionspot.com, but it’s currently at a marginal 2,600 signatures.
It would be nice to see logic (or even anything resembling balanced thinking) prevail, but most geek bloggers are simply angry that Fox could block the release of the film, period. David Poland however, gives them all a very convincing “grow up already” ass paddling that puts this lawsuit and fight over the film into proper adult perspective and into layman’s terms.. You have to wonder how many of these boycott enthusiasts would react if their money was on the line.
Here’s our favorite parts of Poland’s argument.
“If any of you lent a friend $10,000 to start a business they needed $200,000 to really start and you had the understanding that if they ever got their funding, you would be paid back, and if not, you would own some percentage of the business… and your friend took your money, almost got funded but didn’t, then ultimately did, but acted as though you didn’t exist…”
“There is nothing wrong with wanting Watchmen to come out and for creativity to reign over money. There’s nothing wrong (except that it’s mildly delusional) to believe that (Fox Chairman) Tom Rothman is not just a more honest version of every other businessman in this game and that most would be thrilled to have his track record (or Mechanic’s for that matter). But suggesting that something is wrong with Fox getting it’s absolute, legal, moral, not remotely unusual due on this movie is infantile and/or intentionally self-deceptive.”
“And the Fox Knew… Fox Should Have Pursued Earlier thing is utter bullshit. If your landlord doesn’t ask for your rent every month and you get 6 months behind, does your obligation go away because your landlord didn’t manage your finances and push you to act responsibly?”
“If “geeks” want to be treated like serious adults, they need to start banging on WB to eat their porridge and pay what they owe, so y’all can see Dr Manhatten hang out on Mars. If someone steals from someone you don’t like, you don’t just keep blaming the guy you don’t like because he is “evil.” Well… you do if you are six.”
Seriously, amen. Some might claim these positions are reductive, but we’d love to see a geek blogger trying and articulate their case outside of ad hominem attacks on Fox. The 101 blame should probably fall on Lawrence Gordon for not putting his ducks in a row, but even then, the fiscal responsibility lays with the company, not the individual and it’s up to the studio to watch the numbers, the people and the legal documents.