A short interlude...

Here's how it works in reverse

Sorry for the SPAM

I'm just saying, these things count in my brain

I wish I could click on this link.

It's safe Terry. Would I do that to you?

Except its not unfortunate - it is deliberate

As you say, it poses an interesting question to discuss but I think its clear that this was not the primary intention of the OP when using statements like
- Im not just singling out Pixie
- Im not saying this means people shouldn't vote for Pixie
- I wasn't seeking out dirt on her

From previous posts, then its clear to see that the above statements were precisely the reason why this thread was started so forgive me for not joining in with some of you in declaring how thought provoking, inventive, educational and well presented a thread this is when its sadly been written with a negative agenda and petty purpose.
Such a shame that the OP has allowed her personal (and imo a very churlish) dislike of a contestant to diminish what could have been a very interesting thread discussing how ANY contestants beliefs affects their votes.

If I weren't lazy, the thread I would start would be the one that asks:

Why do some fans like to discover or interpret forum hate for their favourites?

No that's true, I will have a click.

My mate...
You'll like it.

She's still going all the way to the final, I look forward to the rest of her dances.

Quite probably true. Her leader board positions are pretty unassailable. Public vote not quite tested yet but I'd be surprised to see her in a DO

or, conversely, and more accurately, why do some fans like to seek out and unilaterally create forum hate for anyone who might be a threat to their favourites?

No! I understand that one! I genuinely don't understand the other instinct.
It's like 'hate' is a word with worth. It's prob a Reality TV thing but it is a puzzle.

I'm prepared to stand up and admit I'm not blessed with the telepathic powers with which so many FMs are blessed when assessing the motives behind others' posts.

As I made clear, I am not a Pixie fan.
I just didn't like the obvious attempt at manipulation.

Ooo you need all the Scorpio and 8th and 12th house rubbish I've got in my chart

No telepathic powers are needed to see what a thread's about; you just have to read it. And then not all motives are consistent with such a thread, and among those that are consistent, some are much more likely than others.

Not that the motive matters all that much. A thread says what it says and has the effects it has, regardless of why it was created. But if someone created an anti thread by mistake, they could always say so, apologise, and create a different thread that better expresses their intent.

Mimi! I wasn't saying that about you in partick, at all... I just remember the Pixie hate thread early on (before the show had hardly started it seems) and reading it in bemusement. Everyone was 'I don't hate Pixie' apart from some of her supporters who were adamant that hate was felt. It's not just Pixie of course. Anyone can have hate alleged against them by their greatest fans. It's a Thing

I think the premise of this thread is twofold.

I do think it's a genuine inquiry as to whether people's preferences can be influenced by what they find out about a celeb's beliefs and stances. I also think this is an interesting and valid topic for discussion on this forum.

As regards my own view - it depends on the celeb and the belief. AW is the most obvious example in my history as I could never have voted for or even slightly supported that bigoted woman even if she'd been the most entertaining celeb ever to grace Strictly (mind you, my original thoughts on her would almost certainly have prevented me from viewing her as such anyway). It would probably also depend on how much I was already invested in the celeb when the issue emerged. I can't comment on this definitively as it has never happened.

I also think this thread has an anti-Pixie slant. I could accept that Pixie had simply been used as the paradigm to start the discussion were it not for subsequent posts of
"Oh look what I just found that supports the original example..."
This, to me, suggests that this thread is just as much about Pixie as it is the general discussion of a valid issue.

While my main interest is ornithology, I'm interested in all things wildlife, and would certainly not wear real fur myself.

Would a contestant wearing real fur put me off voting for them in Strictly? Certainly not. I can't think of anything more ridiculous. Whether Pixie or any other contestant has worn real fur I don't know nor care less.

I'm looking forward to Pixie's beautiful dancing tonight and will most probably be voting for her.

I'm certainly not discovering or interpreting hate, let alone forum hate, and I don't think anyone else is either (unless perhaps "hate" is taken in the attenuated sense in which one might hate broccoli).

Even a thread aimed primarily at turning viewers against a contestant doesn't have to involve any hate, though it might be motivated by dislike or a desire to keep them from winning.

Besides, where do you get the idea that anyone "likes" to discover it. So far as I can tell, most people who notice such things find them a major turn-off and may even start wondering whether they want to continue using these forums. This forum certainly makes it harder for me to enjoy SCD.

Anyway, it may be interesting to see whether any real evidence for the claims against Pixie ever manages to emerge.

If I was as good with words as you, I would have written something like this!

Great post. I follow a 90% vegan diet (I'm not perfect and nor do I pretend to be) and I try never to impose my beliefs on anyone. A lot of my family eat meat and I still love them! However, I am certain none of them would be seen dead in real fur and this would be one occasion where I would find it difficult to keep quiet. Although it is upsetting for me, I accept people eat animal products and wear leather (which is a by-product of the meat industry). Killing animals purely for their fur is completely unnecessary when you have excellent faux fur alternatives these days, and I think it says a lot about someone who would rather choose the real fur option, than the cruelty free one.
Even if you eat meat, don't think that it gives you no right to oppose the fur industry. No one is perfect - we just have to do the best we can.

Shaking my head

Most of the "no hate" claims relied on giving "hate" one of its most extreme meanings; when people complain about "hate" in forums, they usually don't mean it that way. Sure, it would be clearer if they said "dislike" or some other phrasing that wouldn't provide the same sort of opportunity to misrepresent and deflect that "hate" does, but that doesn't mean people have to take that opportunity.

I get your point PetM.

Some people will find offence where none is meant, but as someone who spends their life teetering on fences, I don't normally do that.
I do think some "fans" are their clebs worst enemy. (I am not lumping chachachavvy in with this lot). This is why DS gets really unpleasant in the final weeks.

I've never been in the Wuzrobbed camp (apart of course Austinwasrobbed which is a valid political movement)

There are a number of people who I could have lost respect for when I found out they were vegetarian (with no good reason), or when they had given up on the shallow idea later. However some of those people were in my family and my respect for them remains eternal, however they act regarding furs and foods.

In other words, if you only look at a persons weaknesses you will only ever see bad things.