Alice in a land of crazy

Mean Girls (2004) dir. Mark Waters

Happy Juhannus to my international followers!

these are enthusiasts and artisans crafting passion projects that we have the PRIVILEGE of getting to see. Not an entitlement to, a PRIVILEGE. do you understand? your favorite fic author is not a mega conglomerate stocking shelves with low quality cheap faux-sustenance. you aren't walking into a grocery store, you are walking into an arts festival, standing in the middle of the green, and loudly crying that nobody there is crafting for your needs at the rate you would prefer.

and in the event that there IS a tendering of currency involved (commissions), you are not slapping down a $20 to buy something mass produced or pre-printed, you are asking an artist to create something for you from the thin fucking air, that did not exist before, and at a level of expertise that requires time, energy, motivation, and persistence. you have purchased a piece of art that doesn't exist yet, sure, but you have not purchased the person CREATING it, who is a human being with their own lives, circumstances, and limitations.

also, and not for nothing, but walking back that consumerist mindset is going to take a lot of the misery and resentment out of your fandom experience too. updates are exciting, and pacing the floor angrily for every second they haven't appeared yet makes it hard for you, the creator, and everyone around you to enjoy them when they DO happen.