I myself have never experienced anything like this. A part of this reason is because I’m scared that if I am more active and voice certain opinions I’ll be on the receiving end of the death threats. However, the people I do interact with, the fan accounts I follow on social media, have all been really nice. You can tell they are all in the fandom because they love the characters and maybe relay on them and relate to them like I do and that’s comforting to me as, it makes me feel less alone. I am sure there are others they feel this way. 

Unfortunately, people ruin it for everyone else. The small amount of toxic people in these fandoms are talked about so often it makes it seem like we are all that way. I and I’m sure many other people feel like we are all being grouped together, and that most people perceive anyone in the IT or Stranger Things fandom as being toxic people. It upsets me to see fan accounts and people leave because they were receiving abusive messages. At the end of the day we are all in the fandom because we enjoy the same tv show, movie, book. It doesn’t matter who ships what or who likes what character, if someone has a different opinion to you, it doesn’t matter, as long as they’re not affecting you, you should just leave them alone. 

People are entitled to their own opinion. If someone prefers Elmax to Mileven, okay. If someone prefers Stozier to Reddie, okay. If someone says they prefer Mike Wheeler to Richie Tozier, it doesn’t matter thats their opinion. The point is they may feel as happy reading a Hanbrough fanfic as you do reading Stanbrough or Stanlon. Someone may freak out over a piece of Byler fan art like you freak out over a Benverly one. Someones difference of an opinion is not a big deal. Not everyone’s the same and not everyone has the same viewpoint, that doesn’t mean they are bad people it just means they have a different viewpoint than you. You should just accept that they like something different and move on. 

I have been searching my brain trying to find the right thing to say. The right thing to show how much love and appreciation I have for all of you. The truth is words can not begin to describe how thankful I am. 

Two years ago I was alone. I had started high school and was struggling. It seemed like no one wanted to be my friend and I honestly felt lost. I remember being at home one Saturday, blinking back tears as i scrolled through Instagram watching as everyone seemed to be hanging out with their new friends. I felt alone and wanted so badly for that feeling to go away. I was willing to just about do anything in order to stop it. I had recently lost a group of people that I had been really close with, one I had seen as a sister. All of them had left me with no explanation as to why. I felt completely and utterly worthless. 

I remember clicking on the Instagram explorer page. Hoping to find something remotely funny or interesting to take my mind off the increasing pit of emptiness I felt in my stomach. I had no idea what I was about to see was going to change my life completely. 

Seeing Richie and Eddie for the first time was interesting. I don’t know what compelled me to click on the picture of both of you but, whatever it was I am forever thankful for it. My initial reaction to the picture on my screen was that you were cute. I was of course intrigued and continued to scroll down the pictures. Soon I had been introduced to both Stan and Bill. I didn’t understand at the time, I had no idea any of you were. However, they seemed to be distracting me from my own sadness so I continued scrolling. That had been until I realises you were from the movie IT. That movie had terrified me, I had never been one for horror and the mere thought of Pennywise was enough to make me not sleep for at least a week.  

I had clicked off not wanting to get anymore involved. I refreshed my explorer page and they had continued to show up. I caved in eventually pressing on yet another photo of Richie and Eddie. By the end of the day I was smiling for what felt like the first time in months. 

`By the end of the weekend I had been well aquatinted with the rest of the Losers. I can remember going to school that Monday morning, smiling to myself as the image of Stanly Uris smiling was still engraved in my mind. 

I can remember feeling like my heart had been ripped out of my chest when I was told that Stan and Eddie died. I remember nearly crying sat at the lunch table at school as someone read out Richie and Eddie’s last interaction. I was head over heals in love with Reddie by that time and the thought of Eddie dying in Richie’s arms was enough to kill me.  

As time went on my love for you only grew and with that so did my love for the cast. My YouTube recommend was filled with nothing but cast interviews, scene from the movie and edits of my favourite people. I remember coming home after a particularly bad day, I was near tears as I put on a video of the cast funny moments. I was laughing by the end. 

I remember finding out about Fanfics staying up all night to read them. I didn't care how tired I was in the morning because I was happy. 

I can remember how my opinions on all of you have changed over time. My initial reaction of Mike, Ben and Bev hadn't been the best. I soon learned to love you all and regret ever thinking poorly of you before. 

People around me continued to ignore me, pick on me and say things, it didn’t matter however, because I had you. My sisters and cousins would all talk about their friend groups and all the things they would do. I would talk about the losers. 

I’d tell them about Richie and his constant talking. His trashmouth, his mom jokes and his obvious flirting with Eddie. I would tell them about his Hawaiian shits and huge glasses. I would talk about how shorts Eddie was, about his fanny pack he would always carry around with him. About his adorable polo shirts and how cute he was when he smiled. I would tell them about how obviously in love with Richie he was. Stan and although he doesn’t show it he really is lovely. I would tell them about how adorable his smile was and his love for birds. I would tell them about how head over heels in love I am with Bill and his stutter. I’d tell the about Mike and how his smile was enough to make anyones day, about how he doesn’t deserve any of the hat he gets. I’d tell them about Ben and his poetry, how in love with Beverly he is. About how he’s one the nicest people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Beverly and how she’s not like any of the girls at school she doesn’t gossip and talk about others behind there back, how nice she is, and how she won’t take anyones shit. 

They wouldn’t get it. No one would. They don’t understand how much this group of people mean to me. How the losers club has saved my life more times than I can count. You may be nothing more than fictional characters to them but to me your home. You’re my safe place. You are there for me when no one else is. When it feels like the world is collapsing in on me and there's no way out. You’re there.

I guess I can’t put into words how thankful I am. You have all been there for me through everything. Some times I would refer to as my darkest moments. I guess all I can say is thank you. I love all of you more than words can say. You are my safe place and make me smile when no one else can. 

Happy two years my loves.

Like they would know about Eddie siduation at home and find of take him under their wing first, but like then it would soon include Stan and then Bill, then Ben, Bev and Mike, until they now have seven kids.