#missing fandom community

[scottxlogan]

Random thoughts...

Not to be a downer on anyone these days, but I’ve been thinking lately and I have to ask for what feels like the millionth time. What is with people not wanting to interact with others on the internet in fandom especially content creators?

Putting this under the cut because I know not everyone wants to read my thoughts here, but like fandom just feels so bleak lately. Don’t get me wrong I have a few really great fandom friends who are so supportive and I adore them so very much. They are what help me navigate through the fandom waters here, but for the most part it’s a silent place these days.

Now don’t get me wrong I can honestly say that I feel very blessed because I have a significant amount of followers here on Tumblr. I started off in a rare fandom and through the years on here have gained a following where I appreciate each one of you who have taken to following me. I do, but my complaint is about fandom in general as a whole and the lack of connection. I get we live in a day in age where people binge content and move on without giving it a second look, but like I don’t get how on here when people like something they don’t reblog or at least like it. Same goes for AO3. If you take the time to read a fic, it would be nice if you actually I don’t know...leave a kudos or some kind of response. I know I’ve been down this rant road a few times already and it probably feels old, but it is still happening.

People who create content whether it be art, animations, fic, etc. pour a LOT of energies into it. Even if we tell you it was nothing, the truth is it was something. It was time spent away from being somewhere else, doing something else in the hopes of sharing our creative inspirations and really hoping that you like what we put out there. Sure, we love what we do, but we also kind of hope you love it too because when we do it and you love it, we want to do it more! A good positive round of feedback is enough to motivate some really wonderful things in the universe and that’s what I think most content creators are hoping for.

The problem is that lately the only people who are giving any kind of response are those who tell you to go away, to offer up other trigging content to creators that I won’t put out into the universe in their cruelty and just being so horribly mean that a lot of creators just turn away or stop altogether because they believe that’s all that is out there. It’s a very disheartening cycle because when someone who creates content is only hearing those kind of things it makes you question if you should still be doing it. I mean I’m not going to lie, I’ve even considered stepping away from doing some fandom things like writing stories because while I notice there are some hits the kind of comments I’m getting are filled with so much hate and hurtful things that I have to question why i keep putting myself through the agony of it all. I mean yes, I love doing what I do, but at the same continually getting cut down doesn’t motivate a person to want to be continuing only to keep getting back up to get knocked down again.

Now, I know people are shy and maybe a part of them are afraid if they like/comment/reblog something that it could come back to them in real life and fandom is not a part of their offline life. This I get too. I really do and on places like Tumblr sure okay, yeah I mean if you’re worried it could cause you issues or some kind of harm by engaging, then for sure you shouldn’t have to, but on a place like AO3 where guests can leave comments/likes in most instances without having to supply real life information and out themselves as engaging an author, I don’t see why people don’t do it. I understand being socially awkward and shy. In real life I’m a HUGE introvert with social anxiety. I pretend really well that I’m okay, but I’m not the portrait of confidence and extroverted like some others are. I never have been. Writing is a way of expressing myself and allowing my voice to be heard in a lot of ways where as in the real world I don’t often have that opportunity to do that. Being creative is a comfort and something that makes me feel better in a lot of ways, but again being met by hate all the time is draining. Sure, I have set comments to moderation in some cases and it has been a life saver in a lot of ways, but at the same time I have to question why the feedback I’m getting is just pure hatred instead of positive responses. Like for me it just doesn’t make any sense. If you’re shy, you don’t have to write an author a thesis about why you liked something, but even something as simple as a positive icon can make someone’s day. It’s as simple as that and it doesn’t out you as a fan to those you don’t want to see it nor would an author be angry with you offering a simple response. Trust me it will make their day. It makes mine when I see any kind of positive response, so I can guarantee it does that for others too.

As I said earlier I started in a rare fandom and maybe that was good for me because in doing so I stepped into a close knit community. I was nervous at first that they wouldn’t accept me and felt out of place until I found that the fandom ‘greats’ were welcoming me in with open arms and being kind and supportive even when we all didn’t have exactly the same interests. It was a fun time to be in fandom, but time has passed and most of that fandom has moved on or transitioned to the new version of fandom where if you’re not a part of the ‘popular’ crew then you’re not really noticed in general. Even in joining newer fandoms I see a lot of newbies aren’t welcomed into the fold but rather shunned for daring to step into a fandom that already has an established community. In my first days in fandom if someone new came around we welcomed them with open arms and offered to give them the grand tour, but now it’s more of a ‘don’t get in my way’ attitude and that’s really sad. That community feel just isn’t there anymore. I realize I’m rambling all over the place, but I’ve been thinking it for a while. 

Odds are not many people are reading this at this point, so I can be plainly honest about things. My first love fandom was a wonderful one with so many rewarding experiences where I was the newbie that was embraced and welcomed to the community. We all wanted more content because it was so rare and when we got it, we were all happy to have those things. It was a great day when there was a new fic or a new piece of art and a celebration of fandom. However, right now that fandom is quiet and those still lingering around have gone in new directions. I, too, have gone in different directions and in doing so I haven’t really found that steady landing place that I had when I was a kid hopping in here on fandom. The new factions of fandom just don’t feel as welcoming or open to being supportive in the ways the old did as it feels more like a popularity contest or a means of turning art into a living, which I have three art degrees so I get it. It’s important to do what you love and make money doing it, but at the same time fandom is also supposed to be fun and a way to connect and I feel like a lot is lost in that aspect of things. In the last month I’ve gotten a few comments from my regular fandom friends but beyond that I’ve received more hate and criticism from people who hate the fandom I’m in or in some cases people in the fandom who are influencers who can’t say something positive beyond criticizing for a different vision than what they had. Those things are kind of disheartening and I guess in writing this I don’t really know where I stand on fandom. The other day i was ready to throw in the towel, feeling like my voice isn’t being heard and really if it is, no one is saying otherwise. I feel like maybe no one wants to see/hear/read/enjoy what I just spend hours doing like maybe I’m wasting everyone else’s time along with my own and that’s when fandom feels like a lonely road where you’re traveling on it with no sense of direction. I don’t know... I’ve been thinking about that for a while and lately it kind of sits in my brain a lot longer than it used to. I guess I just miss the days of fans taking the time to form friendships and actually talk about the things they love without making other people feel unwelcome. A little return to community would be nice.

[frankierotwinkdeath]

Y’all want Taylor Swift to be gay so bad but you won’t even write femslash about her

[ping-ski]

tryna get back into the flow of drawing again :3

(I HAD SO MUCH FUNN @lilakwii THANKS FOR COMBINING YOUR FIXATION WTIH ME LOL)

[biblically-accurate-dca]

painting test with a limited color palette

here's the moon equivalent!

[itty-bitty-sunshine]

Heard it was international father's day, so of course I had to draw the father & daughter duo of all time

[freakdoodles]

teehehee

[vinicenkov]

”You’re a good man, Arthur Morgan.“

[tea-cat-arts]

I simply think this fandom doesn't give Wei Wuxian enough credit for the various ways in which he saved Lan Wangji

[javieramongotherthings]

@slicedmayonnaise when the slow burn is so slow u have to take matters into ur own hands🔥

Washed up helped me out of art block like 3 separate times im so happe!1!1!1

[that-bitch-kat3]

marauders era characters as shit my friends have done:

wolfstar would get into a fight that they won’t tell anyone about and flee to opposite ends of the country rather than communicate.

[raspberryberyl]

not to like vague post, i just don't really feel like reblogging, adding my comment, and disrupting the og post. let people feel how they want to feel, and not start any arguments sorta.

but i just saw this post that was like "if you're thinking about getting into dsmp, don't" and lots of people always talking about how they're embarrassed, or regret it, or want to forget that part of their life. and i just can't help but think about how thats the farthest from the truth for me. i don't think I'll ever regret it :-)

and i know that we all have different experiences, people were going through different things and might want to move on and forget, and that's all valid.

the dsmp fandom is just such an experience. and yeah its become soured by cc turning out to be bad people, by bad writing, and by disappointing endings.

yeah it would be hard to get into now, lots of vods and its just not the same experience as watching and experiencing it all live. what made the fandom was the fans, but you can still find fics, go listen to songs, dig up analysis, find art and animatics.

I just feel like there's nowhere where i discovered more about myself, felt heard, found connection, and felt at home more than the dsmp fandom. It's my chosen home. It's my safe place. and when you feel that way about something, why would you not recommend it? share it with others :-)

so because of my bias and own personal experiences, if you were thinking about getting into the dsmp fandom I'd say go for it, I'd totally recommend it! its not the same as it used to be, it'll be a different experience, and we are a small few left but we are mighty.

just be aware of the problems within the source and within the fandom, and you should be good. know that it does have a disappointing end, but you can make up your own ending, or search, find, and connect with others through the ending they came up with.

being in the fandom doesn't mean you're supporting anyone. don't feel bad or embarrassed about liking the dsmp.

to the people who have and do feel like they've been hurt by it, and to the people that feel like they wasted their childhood, time, snd energy on it, I'm sorry, and you're valid to feel how you feel. I hope you've been able to move on to better and happier things.

I love the dsmp, and I don't see that changing, or me regretting it. If i could share my love of it with you i would. So don't be afraid to give it a chance, hey, you can always change your mind.

[emerald-ranch]

I have always thought Arthur is more Hosea’s son than Dutch’s son. Deep down he is sentimental, thoughtful and gentle. Behind the hardened exterior all Arthur wants is peace and safety for him and his family just like Hosea.

Sure Dutch has influenced Arthur’s ways and actions but his morals and beliefs match Hosea’s far more than Dutch’s. Women and children both came before Arthur and Hosea’s safety, keeping the younger gang member out of harms way was far more important than money or the plan ever was.

Arthur and Hosea had this real connection that he lacked with Dutch. Sure Dutch wanted Arthur to be safe but only for the betterment of himself, I covered how Dutch isn’t a selfless person is a previous post, however Hosea was more of a carer to Arthur. He genuinely wanted to see Arthur thrive and be safe. He saw past this big brutish man and saw the soft and caring being deep down and nurtured it far more than Dutch ever wanted to.

I even feel like Arthur took on a similar relationship with Lenny. Arthur was like a leader and carer to Lenny just as Hosea was to Arthur in his younger years. Genuinely invested in his life and safety, not because Arthur benefited but because he genuinely wanted to see him succeed and be safe. I feel like Hosea would have been so proud of Arthur after his passing, he stood by keeping his family safe and in the end sacrificed himself.

[superfallingstars]

Snapetober Days 14 + 15: Trick or Treat

bonus:

[cherie-luvv]

I won't let anybody forget that scene where Thomas turns around to see Newt not once, not twice, but THREE times. That has to be the first time Thomas realized he’s into boys cause damn

[d3vdgvrlll]

HELP I GOT NUKED AGAIN

my moots that i can rememebr are @melvillefawn444 @naturalbornluvr @tccakhmad @lardlardlardlard @lucyatthegym-again @clixxx7 @andrekreigmanspussy (IDK THE ACC URL HELP ME FIND) @c-cal @imyourmfstar (my wife) @necrosmantik (they were an epic stalin kisser idk their url fs) @absolutelyzoned @gunsturbation @revolver74 (? i think thats his @) @columboner there was this girl i think it was like @poetryinviolence or i dont speak violenvce oir poetry violenvce idfkfkfkkdk, @ygrtblssm and SO MANY FUCKING MORE IM GONNA KMS

[jack-crow-lantern]

And now a joke about two twins from a different fandom:

What do you get when you have a set of twins, one who has been through a toxic relationship and another who tells terrible jokes?

the same joke.

close ups below

They're all the same height, Moon just slouches a lot and Eclipse makes a point to stand up straight all the time.