Halle Foss

GregoryHouse is an insane medical genius with more inner demons of his own than anyone could possibly realize. Does this assist or hinder him with his diagnostic work? Will he ever truly find happiness? Is his apparent disconnect with any form of emotion a front? These are all typical questions that are discussed on forums devoted to the hit FOX series, House M.D. Because of the complex plot and its popularity, a multitude of communities are continuously taking root online. Specific character analyses are discussed in great detail, the thought process of the writers is taken into account as characters come and go, and individual opinions are readily debated. This being said, social networking enriches the ability of House fanatics around the globe to interact and feel as though they belong to a group of individuals who possess the same love of the show. Members utilize these forums to discuss in depth their particular feelings towards the medical drama on various levels.

In the virtual bubble of the internet, voices find a forum where their opinions can be heard and valued. Entries submitted are judged based off the words on the page, the content and the intelligence behind the ideas, rather than unfair disqualifiers based upon bias, such as appearances. Because discrimination is considerably less present within the online House communities than in reality, a welcoming environment is established and members are eager to feast their eyes and ears on new viewpoints. Of course, with these viewpoints comes disagreement, but just as disagreement aids in the diagnosis of the team’s patients, it also helps to form strong bonds amongst strangers. When a patient appears with an unexplained illness at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, a rush of ideas flood the white board in an attempt to produce an effective treatment. A plentiful amount of hypotheses are shot down left and right, but this simply assists in arriving at a final diagnosis. Debate within the forum conversations, although not vital in saving a life, provides the members with an insight on viewpoints other than their own. This maintains open-mindedness within the group and establishes a connection between participants.

Many of these different viewpoints come into play through the discussion of relationships. In particular House and Cuddy have an undoubtedly complicated relationship full of ups and downs. With such dysfunction and surprising twists and turns within the plot, exciting conversation abounds online. Members discuss personal opinions regarding the relationships, encountering commonality and disagreement. Content of opinions aside, the universal concern for what will occur next allows for forum members to form a bond with each other—likely a more stable bond than House and Cuddy possess. Touching on the love life of Dr. House and Cuddy, one active member wrote, “I want them to work. I really do. So they can have all the drama they want as long as they work it out in the end. That’s all I need” (four20, 2010). Countless others replied in agreement. Some however, expressed that the strained relationship needed to end in order to provide the show with a new energy. These characters become real in the minds of die-hard fans and the forum message boards provide an equally obsessive community for each member to feel at ease discussing intricate details of the medical drama.

Dr. House, although a critical component to the series, is not the only topic frequently examined. New characters are also a major component of the discussion boards. Season eight marked a considerable cast transformation, ridding the show of a few long-included characters and hiring younger replacements. Needless to say, an alteration this extensive did not occur without its fair share of controversy. As the first episode of season eight premiered, people swarmed the message boards to express their love and disgust of the newest addition, Dr. Chi Park. One elated fan exclaimed “Wow, what a perfect character! Oh my gosh, she’s passive-aggressive! So she is basically unphased by House’s cutting remarks” (Patty, 2011). Obviously this was not everyone’s take on the matter, for a disgruntled fan argued, “I fell asleep watching this one. If this is indicative of what’s in store for Season 8 then I don’t think there’ll be a season 9. How anyone can like Dr. Park is beyond me” (Majestyk, 2011). Even though there is obvious opposition, everyone is respectful of one another, recognizing that everyone’s opinion is valid. This level of courtesy allows the individual viewpoint to be maintained, for disagreement does not necessarily mean judgment, although House might argue that claim.

Argument is a regular occurrence for Dr. House, for he and Wilson are constantly engaged in altercations about anything and everything, but somehow maintain a mutual respect for one another. This goes for the online communities as well. Debates allow members to ally themselves with others of like opinion, but also encourage participants to consider new perspectives. The diversity of members’ backgrounds results in a vast array of opinions. The vast array of opinions sparks debate. The debate leads to a deeper understanding of the show, which ultimately creates a sense of community for those involved.

Just my observations, until next time!