#like imo toxic positivity/elevation of fanon within a fandom is often an unhealthily parasocial problem

[utilitycaster]

re: the term parasocial, specifically because it's come up in my notes a few times after I reblogged the post about dropout: I'm extremely guilty of this and should work on being better but "parasocial" on its own is a neutral term. It just serves to describe relationships where you know about someone but do not personally know them.

The issue is really that unhealthy aspect of it, which in my experience usually boils down to when people feel entitled to the responses of someone they know socially from someone with whom their relationship is only parasocial. It's feeling like someone you don't know is obligated to agree with you or validate you or, frankly, to acknowledge you exist. Parasocial relationships are inevitable unless you never hear of or see people without engaging with them socially. It's not bad to relate to or feel a connection to a celebrity especially if they share personal stuff; in fact it can be really positive! It is a problem when you expect them to have a specific response (or tbh any response) to you.