strap in this is about to be a very uncomfortable conversation. and i am asking neurotypicals to reblog this as well, even if you have not partook in these sort of behaviors. it’s way too common and we all suffer when people are elitist. (in the spirit of accessibility this post will not be formatted into small font but feel free to edit it for your own needs accordingly)

some people have disabilities that makes reading hard. for me personally, i’m dyslexic, i have arthritis which causes fatigue, and i’m also in the process of getting diagnosed with autism. there are factors of each of these things that make it really hard for me to get into books these days. reading is work for me. if i want to consume a story and enjoy it, watching it is what’s easiest and most comfortable. movies and shows are more accessible for people like me. 

and this isn’t specifically a neurodivergent aspect, but the way i process information is that i need a visual input. i have a hard time retaining things if i only read them. auditory information along with visuals is perfect for me. and as a roleplayer, the energy and effort i put into reading most of the time goes towards my threads and interactions here. if i tried to read every single book series i watch movies and shows for, i wouldn’t have the energy to write. 

this is an especially rampant issue in the rpc when it comes to there being divides between book canon verses show/movie canon. looking down on newcomers and being annoyed when something you’ve enjoyed is getting hype because of an adaption. feeling like it’s ‘just a trend now.’ and i want to say listen, even as someone neurodivergent i’ve fallen into this. i love marvel comics and get frustrated sometimes when people don’t know more about the canon from them or don’t look things up before reacting to the MCU. but it’s behavior that has to be corrected. because just like comics are easier for me to consume than regular books, some people have disabilities that make comics overwhelming. or that makes trying to research book canon hard to do. 

not everyone consumes media the same way and that’s okay. no one is more or less of a fan or less intelligent or deserving of getting to write characters just because of how they consumed the canon.