General Hospital - MESSAGE BOARDS

I admit to being totally trainable! I resent when posters act as if being trainable is a bad thing. The characters and couples are who the writers want them to be and when a character is written in a different manner than you've grown accustom to seeing, it's simply who they become whether you like it or not.




That, and she's seriously nasty!

I am laughing my butt off that NoSoup got reported...well there is a first time for everything right? LOL

Anyways I agree with Only and JD...I am trainable and I am ok with that. Sure I have the couples I like and some I dont but I can always find something else in the show to grab my attention. I was/is a huge Jasam fan...they broke up...I really started to enjoy Lusam...They broke up and now I am back to my fave couple.

I think people use the term "train" to re-enforce just how much they are not liking the show and how they will not watch until something/someone they do like is back on...granted i could be so wrong cause i dont use that term but on the other boards i am on that is how i interpret it.

I know not everyone likes the show right now or what is going on and that is totally their perogitive and on a side note JD I agree with you that i find it insulting when people imply that it is a bad thing.

I've always tended to go with the flow. I've had my favorites over the years, like Luke and Laura. I've had some that I felt were mediocre, and others where I had to find something else to do while they occupied the screen.

I read some time ago where the term came from-but I don't remember whether it was Guza or Frons that was quoted. I also don't remember off the top of my head which publication printed the interview. The gist of the article was that they didn't care what the fans liked, the fans could be trained to like who they chose to pair, etc. It ticked off many viewers from what I remember, as it does show a lot of disrespect for the viewers.

The characters will have their ups and downs, but I hate it when I find a character I knew who has suddenly become a stranger. Like when they turned Tony Jones into a babynapper. For some it feels like a betrayal that they've invested so much into a character to have them morph into someone who looks like their old favorite, but totally unrecognizable otherwise.

Good post Mother...I agree with the fact of investing time in something only to have characters (especially your faves) become so un~recognizable that it isn't even funny...Plus I remember that article you mentioned...It was Frons' that felt that we could be trained...My question then becomes..How is that philosphy working for you, Frons?? Can't deny that they ratings aren't good...and another question is is there a point where you (GH) has gone too far??

Good example with Tony Jones, and I have to say after that happened Tony never had the likablity he once had again...to the point of getting rid of the character!! Fans will be able to overlook something but they seem NOT to forget and actions are what make up the characters, so it stays with the character!!

Hey Wishing, good to see you! I have no problem with having a character grow or change over time. It's the changes that give you whiplash that really bother me-like Tony. That one act ignited the destruction of the character. I have no problem when they do it to someone who is leaving the show for example. If the actor is moving on, great-some totally out of character writing can add some real spice, or some really soapy twist to a story that we wouldn't have had otherwise.

I guess where I'm at right now is acknowledging they have the right to do whatever they want with their characters and pairings, but it's so far removed from what I like, I've tuned out for the last year. Just YTubing a little lately when I heard the Cassadines were returning. Love Helena!

Yes, it is all fiction. So you either like the writing or you don't. Or maybe you like some and some not so much. That's the key to a good soap, IMHO. They have to write to a broad audience.

And yes, it can be upsetting when a fave is trashed, but after all, they can write it any way they want, so...oh, well.

Thank goodness there are DVD recorders and a large selection of channels and programs to watch. When it gets too bad, nice to be able to ff or even change the channel.

I am totally trainable. I too love Jasam, but when they broke up I supported Lusam. I loved Jolivia at the beginning when it was carefree and fun, but now it's too much drama, so I don't enjoy them as much. However, I won't boycott the show if I don't get my way. Like many of you said, I just go with the flow and look forward to see what the next day brings.

I remember the article where Frons said his audiences could be trained. I think for a lot of people, like Burst said, they just dug their heels in deeper to "fight the power" so to speak and stand up for what they like. No one likes to be bullied.

The phrase has taken on a life of its own since the article. It's unfortunate for ABC Frons enjoys the spotlight so much b.c I think he is safer away from reporters

I don't know why NoSoup got reported. I think people are just getting bored. Seems like there is a lot more drama on this board than on the actual soap.

Anyway... just had a thought.
Whatever Frons meant and whatever people have in mind when they quote him, the tale of Pavlov's Dog is what comes to my mind. Which leads me to the fatal flaw in Frons' notion. The ones he wants to train, unlike Pavlov's pooch, are not captive.

I would imagine the majority of his audience needs to be 'captivated' by good, consistent story telling. Then within those binds we might be trained to like a new character or see the potential in a new pairing. However, since a soap's history and the core of longterm characters is so important to a good story, there is only so much 'training' that can be done.

Side note... I always thought that a shirtless Jason could train me to like anything.... but it didn't *sniff* someone get me a black tee shirt to blow my nose on...