#but still.....10.000....that's a fucking high number

[l-ii-zz]

Um.

Who the hell are you people???

[justforbooks]

THINGS I’VE LEARNED FROM RUNNING A “FAMOUS” TUMBLR

A few months ago, I ran across a post on Tumblr that declared that anyone who hit 1,000+ followers without following back was “Tumblr famous”. Which was news to me, because that means I’m Tumblr famous four times over! With a Tumblr that, for now, shall go unmentioned. This listicle is being posted on the decidedly-not-at-all-famous Tumblr that I run, because, now that I know that I’m a famous person, I have some thoughts to share…

1. That standard for fame is not especially high.

I’ve been kicking around this blue monster of a site since 2015, which that puts me at a (very rough) average of less than five hundred people per year, with about 4,000 followers. The thing is, when you’re actually at that number, it doesn’t feel like very much. For one thing, nine years is a long time to collect notes and people, one by one. For another, I’m aware of people who have tens, or even hundreds of thousands of followers; that’s what actual Tumblr fame is. Perhaps most importantly, mine is a themed blog. I post photos, and there’s no illusion in my mind that my followers are crowding around for glimpses of me, rather than the content I post.

While the two might not be mutually exclusive, it’s best not to confuse a follower for a fan, and it would be conceited— to say nothing of idiotic— to mistake followers who are moderately interested in the content for fans who are very interested in the moderator.

2. No, you don’t love all of your followers.

Generously, let’s say you love like… 99% of your followers. But, if you are like me, and you love to procrastinate doing anything that could be procrastinated in these past nine years, including but not limited to having a job, getting out with friends, and living a real life, then the fact that you just gained a new follower really means that you just gained a new spot on the internet to stare at slack-jawed for an hour and 10.000 posts of archived content.

So, to go back to that 99% number; about 99% of my followers are, by all appearances I can reasonably observe, perfectly great people. They like art. They like quotes. They like books and bookshops. The like reading.They like Disney, and the Avengers, and assorted other fandoms. A bunch of them are really into social justice. A much, much higher number than I ever would have guessed are into BDSM, but hey— you do you, kids. Safe, sane, and consensual all the way.

And then there’s that other 1%: they’re white supremacists. Or they’re MRAs, or they’re virulently pro-life, or they’ve drunk the Ayn Rand Kool-Aid which cannot be undrunk. To some extent, we expect hate on the Internet; it’s a little weird when it’s someone’s like which has you wanting to crawl under a table.

3. It’s work.

Piggybacking on that, one thing I want to make perfectly clear is that I don’t do this for the followers, because if I did this for the followers, I would have quit a long time ago. The reward (for me) is cooing over all the pretty, pretty pictures on the screen, the pictures that I collected together, and that everyone is invited to share (even you, Neo-Nazi follower… unfortunately). And while there’s a certain endorphin rush with every new follower at the beginning, a certain “Oh, can it be? Someone appreciates me!”, I’ve been doing this for nine years. The honeymoon period wore off a long time ago, and the truth of the matter is that getting eight posts up per day, almost every day (why did I do this to myself) is fucking work, man.

I don’t think I would have looked at it this way if Tumblr were around when I was fifteen (instead, we just had LiveJournal, but I won’t go into that), but: followers don’t put money in your bank account or food on your plate or a roof over your head. I suppose you could ask them for money, but I don’t, so. They offer community and camaraderie, which is great, but still no reason to make your blog for anyone but you. The compliments always make your day better, of course, but about that…

4. Every time you get a message, anxiety will punch you in the gut, because you might get one of these fuckers in your inbox.

Trolls, take note.

The worst message is not someone threatening to [use your imagination for the rest of this sentence]. The person who gets most under my skin is…

“Change everything about the content you produce to please me, even though I am a stranger who has never interacted with you before!”

There’s a fine line between a person making a request, and a person who assumes that your blog is public space and should cater to them. The difference can usually be found in the language: both will be peppered with please, thank you, and :), but the entitlement complex is going to work their way around to asking what they want, usually with some qualifying language that hints at why they think you owe them what they want, and maybe some negging thrown in for spice. They’re not going to come out and state “Follow me back, please”, they’re going to start with “I like your blog a lot, and I’ve been following for some time…” Theirs is the principle that if they don’t ask, they won’t get. It’s a principle that’s great for people who are timid and absolute disaster for people who have an overblown sense of entitlement.

Follow backs are the least of it. The worst offenders, like in the comment above, want you to change your very content.

I imagine this is a much larger issue in the art and comics world where, rather than merely asking you to post content according to their specific tastes and interests, these randos are asking you to create content according to their tastes and interests.

I want to emphasize how incredibly rare these messages are. They are not the majority of messages I get, nor even the majority of messages I get asking for me to do or post something. But hell if they don’t stand out. They put the moderator in an uncomfortable bind, because you have the distinct feeling that no matter how gently you try to phrase your no, things are going to turn nasty, quickly; after all, the only thing you know about this person is that they’re a little so-so with boundaries and social niceties. And you’re sure as fuck not going to say yes.

But the thing that’s wonderful about these people, no matter how much they make you see red seconds after you’ve finished reading their little fan mail, is that they actually lead to a great moment of self-actualization…

5. IT’S MINE, MOTHERFUCKERS, MINE

Tumblr.com may own the real estate, but they gave me the keys for now, bitches. While remaining within the parameters of legality, anything I decide to fucking do with my blog is fine. Because it’s fucking mine. If I decide to delete it tomorrow, then that’s that. If I decide that from now on it’s going to be a porn blog, then by Jove, that’s what’s going to happen. This isn’t public space; you can change the number of notes on a post, you can send me all the hate-mail you like, you can post rants about me on your stupid blog (which is, by the way, your very own, just like this one is mine), but you can’t change a thing, because It’s all mine!

Those are the THINGS I’VE LEARNED FROM RUNNING A “FAMOUS” TUMBLR

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[askthenewhopespeak]

A Class Reunion

*Yamato’s phone rings, it’s from unknown number*

*He looks at it, a bit surprised. Who would call him? Almost nobody has this number… save for his new coworkers. He picks up. * “Hello?”

???: Yamato? It’s you, right?

He doesn’t recognize the voice, but it sounds familiar. It might be because of the phone… “Indeed, that would be me. May I inquire about your identity as well?”

???: What, you don’t recognize me? After all the good times we had in high school? I am hurt, Yamato. And here I wanted to invite you for a game in memory of old times.

Oh dear. Now he knows who that is. His tone sounds a lot more joyful - actually, a lot more like his high school self. “Asuka-chan! No way! I would love to join you for a game, but you would obviously win. If there is no suspense in this fight for the victory, what is the point? Events of which you already know the outcome may be inevitable at times, but they are boring.” He’s smiling to himself.

Asuka: Don’t be a poopy head, my games are fun, aren’t they? I mean, everyone always came.

“All the fun we had was seeing Ryusei-kun lose and almost flip the table with his Taichi techniques. But I admit, it was entertaining. And everyone came because you resorted to vile methods of corruption.”

Asuka: *her voice chokes with tears* P-pwease?

“It won’t work this time. I know you…” *He’s actually hesitating. *

Asuka: Pretty please? For old times?

*He’s weak. * “Alright. Inviting the others would be a great idea… If they’re still alive, that is. Though I doubt anything happened to Kyou-san. They were lucky, after all.” *He’ll have to sneak out Invidia’s ‘headquarters’ when nobody nags him to sweep the floor or something. *

Asuka: Kyou is sick. As always. I wonder what his luck has against my games…  I got Haruhi, though. And Shinzo. But really, I wanted you the most.

“At least Kyou-san has been saved from a humiliating defeat.” *He chuckles to himself. * “Aaah, am I really that important to a good games night?”

Asuka: You were always the most fun to talk to… If you tell Haruhi I said it I’ll kill you, though.

“I don’t have the means to contact Haruhi, anyway. Is she still following each one of your steps?”

Asuka: Of course she is. *there is a distant yell* Haruhi, come say hi to Yamato! *and then back to normal* She’s on her way. So, tomorrow at… eight or so? Would this do for you?

Tomorrow? Hell, they can make things go smooth without him. “Of course. I can’t wait to see all of you again.” It had been… since the end of the Tragedy that he hadn’t seen them. They were a big part of the best period of his life. It sounded cliché to say that the best years were high school years, but it was really something else. Hope’s Peak had been the funniest place he’s ever went to, and it was all gone.

Asuka: I can’t wait to hear how have you been, Yamato.

*a new voice on the phone*

Haruhi: Uehara-san? Is that really you? Omygosh!

Asuka: *far from the phone* Haruhi, that’s enough.

Haruhi: But…

Asuka: *still far* go do something else, dear.

Haruhi: fine

Asuka: Sorry about her.

“Haaa? But you didn’t even let me say hi. At least she sounded really enthused to hear from me.” *Nothing’s really changed…*

Asuka: She’s always excited. Didn’t want you to choke on that.

“We’ll have more time to talk tomorrow. May I ask how you’ve been?”

Asuka: Fine, you know. Joined future foundation when everything went to shit, worked under Yukizome for a while… and she was pretty cool, even if having your boss be six years younger than you is awkward.

“Talk to me about it! Mitarai-kun was even younger, and even less competent. At least being in the 10th branch wasn’t an utter waste of time…”

Asuka: the sixth was fine.  They didn’t really want me, but Haruhi refused to join if I didn’t and they really wanted her for her… skills.

“… I see. At least they didn’t hurt her, I hope?”

Asuka: Do you think I would have let them?

“Ah, true, true. But wasn’t she overworked? I know I kept doing back and forth between the 10th and the 1st branch because they were short on staff.”

Asuka: She doesn’t help anyone if she bleeds to death or dies of exhaustion. I made sure she rested well and ate well. Everyone were overworked by the end of it, but… I did all I could.

“It’s nice to take care of her. She wasn’t the best at that.” *Sounds like he genuinely cares. *

Asuka: Well, someone had to, and with Riko-chan gone…

*He sighs. * “Dammit. Some of us had to… well, you know.

Asuka: Yes. It’s funny, you know? I hated her. She took away Haruhi’s affection… and now… I wish she was here. I don’t know how to make sure Haruhi doesn’t kill herself by accident.

"But Haruhi has you. She loves you so much. She worships you. But… the weight shouldn’t all be on your shoulders.” *He doesn’t really know what to say either. He feels the quiet rage in him raise like the sea level. This is why he is doing this. Why he is collaborating with these people. To make sure the ones that made his classmates suffer, that destroyed Hope’s Peak, that destroyed their world, payed for their crimes.

Asuka: How have you been? Since everything ended?

*He doesn’t know if he should tell her. It would be best if she didn’t know. But…* “Well, I’m not doing so bad. I have a little… thing… going on. You know, getting back into business isn’t easy.”

Asuka: Tell me about it. What kind of a thing?

“It’s kind of obscure. It has something to do with the state of the world as of now.”

Asuka: …I somehow don’t see you doing heavy lifting, so it’s probably not restoration… eh, it’s probably still better job than mine.

“Hahaha… Indeed, physical labor isn’t for me. What job do you have?”

Asuka: You’ll laugh on me.

“I probably will, but tell anyway.”

Asuka: The local supermarket. *the disgust in her voice is clear. *

*He laughs, both in amusement and relief. The conversation got dragged away from his activity. * “Oh my. Asuka Amachi, the cashier.

Asuka: That’s not funny!

Asuka: Well, okay, but gaming tournaments don’t pay rent.

"It is funny, you have to admit. But it is true that you can’t pay anything with that. Maybe you could be a tester for board games?”

Asuka: I don’t think anyone needs a tester that would beat all their games.

“But you’re an expert. You could help them.”

Asuka: I didn’t find any place hiring. And honestly… A lot of places stay away from Hope’s Peak kids… we probably deserve it.

“That’s not true.” *His voice is much more serious. * “We had nothing to do in this perversion. We graduated years before Junko Enoshima thought of infiltrating Hope’s Peak. It was all because of her. We earned our talents and skills, we used them for hope. We have nothing to do with this perversion. It is unfair.”

Asuka: Well, people like us broke the world, so I can understand why people are mad! *she sighs* Also, I have never learned my kanji, maybe that’s why I’m never getting hired. *she sighs again. * go away, Haruhi. I’m fine.

“You should get Haruhi to help you with that. How do you even live here?”

Asuka: With Hiragana and Katakana, like a normal person.

“No, that’s not how you do it-” *He whines. * “You know Shinzo would sound exactly like that.”

Asuka: Yes, he would. *she laughs* man, I miss high school.

“Everything was much simpler.” He agrees.

Asuka: can we be sixteen again? being 30 sucks.

“Being 30 means we have to be responsible adults. I don’t think we were ever ready for that.”

Asuka: Yacks. Who thought letting me be an adult is a good idea? *she paused* Any chance your job is hiring?

“Unfortunately, the team is complete.” *He hates having to lie like that. * “But it is a temporary job, so you’re not missing out on anything.”

Asuka: Are you sure? I mean… it still must be better than my current job.

“It actually doesn’t pay well.” *More like not at all. *

Asuka: So why do you work to them?

Asuka: for, I mean for, I hate this language.

“They have a work ethic that I like. And they’re basically the only ones that took me. You’re not the only one struggling.”

Asuka: Work ethic doesn’t pay for food.

“It’s enough for how I live. Maybe not for you. Your clothes are quite expensive.”

Asuka: Not anymore, they aren’t.

“Tragic. I thought you would never accept to wear something that cost less than say… a good 10.000 yen.”

Asuka: Well, there is a difference between being a teen with rich parents who don’t give a fuck about your expenses and an adult who is struggling to end the month, no?

Haruhi: Hi, I took over for now, Suka… seems to not be in the best mood right now.

“Hi Haruhi.” *He laughs it off. * “Yeah, I think I made her a little upset.”

Haruhi: Hi. She is trying to forget.

“Thankfully she’ll have forgiven me by tomorrow.

Haruhi: Suka? Kicking someone out of game night? Never.

"But she could decide to get revenge on me, and that means I’m done for.”

Haruhi:  …You say it like you ever stood a chance.

“There are times when I stood a chance more than others!” *He is offended. * “If she decides I must lose, then I will lose in a humiliating manner.”

Haruhi: *she’s whispering*I think- I think she’s trying to prove something with tomorrow.

“Hmm? A theory?”

Haruhi: We barely have time for games- I think she is trying to prove to herself that she still can do it.

“… Oh.” *He didn’t quite notice Asuka’s melancholy. * “I understand… With the ones that left us, the fact she can’t even practice her talent anymore must be tough. Take good care of her, okay? I don’t think I need to beg you…”

Haruhi: Sometimes I don’t know who here is taking care of who. *she sighs* I’ll text you the address. See you tomorrow.

“Thank you. See ya.” They can hang on a little longer, but not much. Could he do something about it…?

*Haruhi hungs up, and a text with an address around the less nice parts of Tokyo is sent to him. *

Oh dear. Maybe the situation was worse than he thought. He pockets his phone and glares at the monitors of Invidia. 'Die already, you scum.’