Breaking news: you’re allowed to like both DC and Marvel movies.

Why, then, is a subset of online fandom so hostile to the idea?

This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.

From Marvel we hadThor: Ragnarok, that earned good to excellent reviews.

In both cases, some people enjoyed the films, and some didnt.

That you have to pick Marvel or DC, and never the twain shall meet.

That a false tribalism is being enforced, whether it exists or not.

This is then further undercut with the hostility of the conversation.

And we got off lightly.

For liking, or disliking, a film.

The most consistently entertaining are Marvel films.

And I love that people defend films, and defend them with passion and investment.

Personally, I adore movies, and I adore talking about movies.

That the battle, to a select few, has become more important than the films.

I confess, it utterly baffles me.

Do the companies concerned propagate this?

But isnt that just two companies competing with each other?

How is that different to Pepsi positioning its fridge next to Coca-Cola?

Or ITV and the BBC overlappingThe X-FactorandStrictly Come Dancing?

That doesnt mean, again, that were not allowed to like both Coke and Pepsi.

Because the choice is still in your hands.

But in comic book movie fandom, theres a small bunch of people putting up these invisible barriers.

And the problem is that these invisible barriers inevitably hurt human beings, just for liking something.

That the endpoint is people being bullied for what they like.

In that how dare you like something that society has somehow deemed is not the accepted thing way.

EvenThe Emoji Movieif you want.

However, introducing pretty savage rivalries just takes us back, and at its heart becomes bullying.

Of imposing their opinions on you with the ferocity of fact.

You are most definitely allowed to like a film that somebody else doesnt.

But enough of making up false divisions.

If you believe that the movie outlet you read is inherently biased, then vote with your feet.

Find a place that reflects your views.

How about, then, we end the name calling?

We end the abuse?

We end the trying to punch down on people for their opinions?

And how about we just be excellent to each other.