(you in this post will refer to people with this stance)
I have so many gripes with the stance
“mcytbers should stay out of fandom spaces, because the fans made the spaces.”
Fans may of built the space but these creators GAVE YOU THE TOOLS TOO. Not only is this take incredibly entitled but it often completely disregards the fact that creators are humans, and when I’ve seen people give this take, it often just boils down to these people don’t want to respect creators boundaries.
People often forget or disregard the fact that creators interacting with their community isn’t JUST for them, often these creators actively try and DO give back to the community. They try to choose artists they can see are fans, they reblog and promote fans artwork, something, that as an artist brings such joy and a feeling of appreciation. The fact some people think all of this should stop because they don’t want to respect boundaries is insane to me. And I haven’t even touched on the fact that these creators are spending MONTHS. If not a year+ of their lives, building, loving, and adding so much to these wonderful characters. Yes, you love these characters, but the creators loved them FIRST. Often creators make characters that they themselves would love, to tell them they now can’t see the appreciation, care, and love for their characters that their community has, just because they MADE THEM? Spent HOURS playing them? Is honestly cruel.
They do not “want” to be involved, THEY MADE THE CHARACTERS. THEY ARE INHERENTLY INVOLVED. Yes we support them, we make it so creators can do these things, but without them, there would be no characters, that’s something some people need to realize.
And how hard is it to RESPECT BOUNDARIES. If you find shipping more important than real people and their feelings, you have some things you need to think about. I’m someone who enjoys shipping, pairings of characters and their ships have honestly gotten me into so much media I love, but if I saw a creator saying to stop. You know what I would do? I would be sad, AND THEN STOP. You are allowed to be sad, you loved this thing, of course you are! But do not make the creator feel bad for your emotions, when they were just trying to be comfortable and safe IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
You can not tell me you think creators don’t belong in the community’s they created, “because fan spaces are for fans”. Because it shouldn’t be mind blowing to you that these creators are fans of their own characters, their own ships. And that there wouldn’t be a fan space without them.
Respect people boundaries, because if that’s something you can’t do. Have you thought maybe YOURE the one who needs to take a step back from the community?
amandla
gummygunk
blakekathryn
andulkaphoto
ellievsbear
origamiaround
areudirty
pixelskylines
gracieabrams