On 'The Web'
I've seen The Web referenced a few times now as an underrated entity - which seems kind of odd? considering how many people say its one of their favourites. But there's relatively few people who connect with it, you don't see as many avatar-sonas of "Spider Freaks"
Like... I connect much more with The Lonely. Its my "comfort entity" and if I became an avatar it would have the strongest claim on me. But there's something I find almost... Aspirational? About Web avatars?
Avatars are usually people that are already great at inflicting their associated fear. Daisy is of the hunt because she is ruthless in her pursuit of criminals and monsters. Martin's brush with The Lonely was based in a sincere belief that self isolation was better for him. Jon starts as a know-it-all and spirals into the eye by trying to learn more than he should.
And the Spiders are master manipulators.
If you're a web enjoyer, but keep it at arms length... I'm willing to bet that you're pretty easily manipulated. You're maybe too trusting, or you just don't see the signs. Don't see when someone is being insincere or spot the signs of a power play. Moreso if you're neurodiverse (which... you're a TMA fan. on tumblr. c'mon)
And when your trust or naivete has been leveraged against you enough... there's something really appealing about being the one pulling the strings, for once. There's something aspirational about being the manipulator.
The web isn't underrated. But it does have more fans than avatars.
