Inside this issue:
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Port Charles Street
by Smokey
(Due to reasons beyond our control, Smokey's
column will be taken over by [email protected] this week, but rest
assured that next week Smokey will be back and better than ever in her
column. Hope you enjoy my subtitute PC Thoughts)
Message boards. This week as I was perusing the different Port
Charles areas on the net, I encountered the world of message boards.
What should be an interesting place for fans to gather and share their
likes and dislikes with one another have transformed into something much
more, a battle field with the key players on each side? How is that
possible you ask? Well, it's human nature and in human nature the
first rule is that not everyone is going to agree to like the same thing.
Now knowing that fact one should take other's insights and opinions and
respect them enough to take them in and perhaps not find an agreement on
the subject, but at the very least find some sort of middle ground, but
alas to do would be broadcasting a theme or tolerance, open mindedness
and unfortunately in today's world those issues are but far and few.
We all live in a world where our needs are to be fulfilled, our desires
gratified and for the most part those who differ with us, well they'd better
take a step back because they will see things our way or else.
Now before anyone writes me a true rebuttal (which there is plenty
of justification for), I'd just like to take this moment and let you all
know that my statement was a generalization which does not by any means
apply to anyone in the group as you are by the most incredible, kind hearted
group of individuals I've encountered in quite some time. Yes, we
all come from different backgrounds, shapes and colors, but we have united
for a common purpose. We are here to applaud our little show and
while some of us may prefer the Chris and Eve to the Ian and Eve relationship
or even vice versa as we have a great many Ian and Eve supporters on staff
as well, we are able to agree that we appreciate Nolan North, Julie Pinson
and their stellar performances. While we might not all agree on a
subject, we have had the maturity and the strength to agree to disagree
in an intellectual sense with still keeping in mind an openness.
We know what we like, what we don't like, but at the same time we are willing
to respect the openness of others because in our mind we know that acceptance
and understanding is how the world goes around.
One might ask what opened up this subject as this newsletter is
about Chris and Eve and the wonderful little soap opera we have to experience
with one another and the answer is quite simple. Smokey, our regular
PC Street writer has fallen I'll this week so I opted to write on a subject
that was something I felt should be addressed to the public and also it
was brought on by a visit I made to the local Port Charles Message Boards.
Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm a lurker most of the time as I
rarely participate in a great many discussions, however I do take the time
to absorb other's opinions, insights and beyond to see if there is something
I can gain from taking in another perspective. I'll be the first
to admit that I would love to see Chris and Eve romantically, that I would
love to see the characters have a chance at a happy future and a life together,
but in the same respect, I will also admit that I wouldn't dare blast someone
else for feeling differently. I know there are a lot of Ian and Eve
fans out there and while I may not be in 100% agreement about their views,
I would never, ever bash them or their beliefs. In the world our
perceptions are skewed upon our own personal beliefs and while we might
not see things as others do, it is up to us to keep an open mind about
what they have to say because in doing so you can enhance your own perceptions
of the world. What brought about this introspective state in me was
that I'd gone over a board where one poster was viscously slammed for her
thoughts and views on an aspect of the show. She was belittled for
admitting that she liked our very own Chris Ramsey, which to me only caused
me to voice up my thoughts. Now as I said I generally stay quiet,
but under the circumstances I felt rather strong about the topic.
The fellow board members blasted this viewer saying that they had no business
discussing the topic of Chris and Eve as the board was not meant for Chris
fans, however in my own views I think that was worse than the poster viewing
their opinions. To be so closed minded is just wrong and in all honesty
it is very disrespectful as a fan. That would be like me saying that
someone wasn't allowed to join this list because they have too many vowels
in their name. The mere suggestions is asinine and ridiculous to
even ponder.
Now back to the message boards, as I sat at my computer coming up
with a tactful, yet witty rebuttal to this ignorant posters obvious narrow
perceptions of the world around her, I took into account all the times
I have visited the various boards where there has been major actor/character
bashing and it saddens me to see this. One board constantly belittles
Julie on a daily basis, another slams Nolan and his talent, some slander
Thorsten Kaye and a great many actors on the show. Now while words
are only words, there is a point when enough is enough. If you like
something, then give it praise, if you don't there should be some type
of acceptance and if not practice the lessen that Thumper's mother taught
him in Bambi, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything
at all...." Now myself being me, I tried to keep that in mind
that very wise saying as I sat before my computer struggling to find the
right words and I found it took me some time to write, but I allowed the
time to think clearly about what I said.
As I posted my message, I found myself entering the view of others
and tried to explain things as to why the other poster may feel the way
they do, however I was met with various responses ranging from my having
a sense of ambiguity to Chris being the worst abuser in the world to women.
A lot of this came from new PC viewers who have never even taken the time
to look into the character of Chris, which also upset me. They carried
on and on about what an abuser Chris was and how no woman should be expected
to put up with that leading to how he should be booted from the show.
That dismayed me as while I might not agree with all a characters actions,
I wouldn't willingly wish unemployment upon another actor. Now I
realize this is quite off topic for you all because you are a very wonderful
group, but as I have yet to point out to those on the message boards, this
is daytime television, it was meant for entertainment as most shows are
and it's meant to give each person a little something different.
While someone might argue that Chris is manipulative and unworthy of Eve
because he didn't tell her about Ian being at the restaurant of that he
was putting his feelings first, in the same respect another viewer could
think that Karen was crazy for being with Frank since he was a peeping
Tom and he did what he could to destroy her relationship with Frank.
However, how we view things is slanted by our own personal beliefs and
what the writers would like us to see in the show at the moment.
We feel like we do in a direct response to a great many stimuli and there
is no right or wrong. Clearly a way a person feels (especially about
a fictional show) is neither wrong not right because it is namely theirs
individually. There should be no accusations or rage tossed out for
someone expressing their views as everyone has a right to speak their mind.
I'll admit it. I like Chris and Eve, but there are also moments of
Ian and Eve I have rather enjoyed, heck even Kevin and Eve moments that
made me chuckle along with Julie and Chris moments that made me cry.
Heck, I even enjoyed Frank and Julie and Frank and Courtney at the same
time when both relationships were very different. I may not have
supported the pairings completely as a diehard fan might, but I can appreciate
the art and effort put into each character and actor's dedication.
I also welcome the views of others and would hope that one day I'd be able
to express my views as well without fear of ridicule.
On that note, I just want to commend all of you on your stellar communication
skills and also to note that I've met a great many of you online and we've
had conversations. When I wrote in last week about my own family
issues delaying the newsletter, nothing warmed me more than having the
caring responses that were tossed my way from a great many of you.
You are all a group of incredibly wonderful people and it's because of
you that I take the time each week to produce something that we can all
be proud of. You are all the kind of fans that Julie and Nolan should
be grateful are in their corner. You, as viewers, are what Port Charles
is about and it's your kind of support and dedication that makes the world
go round. You should be proud of yourselves as you are an incredible
bunch!
Until next time when Smokey returns,
Your humble editor
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