I've gotten so cynical about fandom as I've seen interaction just drop drastically in fandom over the past 10 years. Like it's ridiculous because you see people talking about fandom more than ever I'd say, but somehow that doesn't translate to actually talking to creators about what they've created. It's lurker syndrome, the attitude of: let me consume all the creative works of others but never offer even a single <3 comment in response, it probably won't even occur to me because all those fics? that art? that just exists, right? it's a static thing that just shows up one day. There's nobody connected to it, at least nobody that actually seems REAL to me because I don't know them personally or anything, and I only talk to REAL people. (they KNOW someone creates these things, but they're so distant, they're really just a CONCEPT to these people so they don't actually feel any need to give them any validation).
And now I just feel so sad whenever I see a post that's going around like "if you want fic, drop a like or comment!! <3" and everyone reblogging like "ohh my god guys I'm so serious haha this will literally make our day!! a single like or comment keeps me going for so long, you're not bothering anyone I promise!!" like everyone just gently begging for interaction. And it makes me sad specifically because come on. These majority of people we're aiming that begging at already know. They KNOW they can and SHOULD comment already, but they don't and they won't, and I'm just so cynical about it now.
Sorry for the vent, I just read through an over 100 chapter fic that was SO good and had like 10 comments. (I commented on every single chapter, even if it was just a line like "this was my favourite part" (thanks dad for always asking me what my favourite part of the book I read/movie I watched was, it trained me for fanfic commenting lmao) So it always frustrates me specifically because like...it's so easy. It's bare minimum and somehow it's too hard. Reading someone's 10k oneshot in a single sitting is super easy apparently but commenting is too difficult.
Maybe I'm being mean, but I just have gotten so sick of it.
You're honestly not being mean enough, anon.
I'm honestly a little tired of just calling people lurkers and shrugging my shoulders. They are selfish. Sure, some have anxiety or are busy or whatever, but like, if they have the time to read/enjoy the art being presented to them, they have the time to send a little "<3" or hit a reblog button.
It's truly a lame excuse when everyone keeps repeating the same stuff like "I didn't know what to say :c" "The artist won't care about what I said" "I'm shyyyyyyyyy" "MY ANXIETY THOO what abOUT MEEE". Yet we have an inbox full of "could you write this hyper-specific scenario that is really just about ME. i want you to write for ME. dANCE MONKEY. DANCE. TELL ME YOUR CHARACTERS WILL LOVE ME EVEN IF I DO LITERALLY NOTHING TO ENTICE THEM OR INTERACT WITH YOU AS A WRITER/ARTIST IN LITERALLY ANY WAY. VALIDATE ME. I DEMAND IT." Literally so many goddamn asks in our inbox and other creators inboxes come off this way. Constantly.
If you literally contribute *nothing* and have the audacity to complain about what's been given out for free, you are a problem and literally no creative wants you in the space. If you want any semblance of control over what's being made, pay your creatives. That means monetarily or with attention/exposure/affection. It's genuinely that fucking simple, guys. We've had people in our inbox demand we tag a certain way or do more x and stop doing y to the point that Momma has literally retired characters and plots that she loves because no one interacts with the things she's actively excited about, they just wanna ask if Lee would care if they are lazy and don't wanna put any effort into the relationship for the 90th time.
People treat creatives like we're literally a character AI now. It's gross and I fucking hate it. You can't just smack us and we spit out what you want to hear. We are real people with real lives and wants and aspirations and goals for our creativity. We need to be fed too. We need love and validation just like anyone else.
You guys don't even know how close Nonny has been to just literally throwing in the towel and going on an indefinite hiatus or sticking to just the patreon. She's had multiple breakdowns/fits of pure exhaustion where she doesn't wanna keep going with writing or anything else because no one actually cares anymore. No one interacts. There's no community anymore. I can't really blame her at all.
Creatives as a whole are so burnt out and so sad and exhausted because literally no one can be fucked to treat us like actual humans anymore. We shouldn't have to beg for a singular interaction when people are out here happy to write dissertations on why people characterize their blorbo wrong or This Isn't Canon or how this Trope is Yucky and You're Bad for Liking It Actually. Or my favorite, "You'll just get too GREEDY and DEMAND MORE INTERACTIONS IF YOU GET ONE!!!! HOW DARE YOU WANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE THINGS YOU LET US READ/ENJOY. YOU'RE SO EVIL, ACTUALLY."
We've had so many big projects in the works, like a web comic, full on RPs we've wanted to share, a visual novel concept and a possible actual novel that we've been so excited to work on and share but if a drabble or ask can't get any interactions, it's hard to find the motivations to want to work on the big things for you guys. Lurkers and selfish consumers ruin it for everyone, point blank.
And honestly, the funnier part of all of this, if creatives stop posting publicly and decide to starve everyone out, we aren't the ones that are going to be struggling, tbh. Nonny and I RP all the time and love our blorbos and feed each other constantly. Other creatives will find a way to share with other creatives. It's the lurkers that are going to starve and cannibalize each other. So like, the writing is on the walls, guys. It's up to ya'll if you wanna make a self fulfilling prophecy or actually save your favorite fandom spaces.
gamechangershow
amandla
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