this is an issue on both ends but it sucks when people posit "the inability to separate fiction from reality" or "this is how fiction affects reality!" about actual sexual violence/grooming that occurs in a fandom context when generally people who rape, abuse and groom DO know that what they are doing is abusive and harmful. they just don't give a shit. we would have so much more productive discussions abt how and when fiction affects reality (hint: its usually not over shipcourse but w/ media being overtly racist/orientalist). nobody gets taught to rape over ao3 fanfiction but people ARE taught to rape by a society that teaches those in power that its entirely ok to disregard the rights, dignity, and humanity of groups they have deemed disposable. which is why. yknow. we never really see fanfiction writers ACTUALLY enact sexual violence irl but see a lot of otherwise "normal" cishet men and women.
^
