Unexpected, but perhaps necessary.
Fandom, I like you. I like you a lot. You're my gateway drug and my anti-drug. You told me that I wasn't alone, that there are others out there like me. You gave me impetus to write and draw with reason and feeling. I have met a lot of great people over the years and I continue to meet great people thanks to you. You gave me a crash course in social justice and now I strive to be a better person.
But you are also fucking toxic so I'm taking a break from you. I'm tired of the flame wars, wank, and the enraging stupidity of some (loud and obnoxious) people. I'm tired of the ignorance and obliviousness and dismissal of others and their experiences. I'm tired of alienating people because I was so caught up in fandom's Newest Shiny Thing I didn't see that what I was doing was Really Fucking Terrible. I'm tired of being irrationally upset and paranoid over movies based on what I pick up from their fandoms. I'm tired of hating certain things because of their fandoms. I'm tired of wondering if I'm digging my own grave by not participating in fandom like others do. I'm tired of fighting panic and anxiety attacks because fandom inevitably rips apart the things I create in ways that make you doubt everything you do. I'm tired of being triggered by things many people glance over and not being able to say anything because what's the point. I'm tired of your shit, fandom.
The solution's simple: wedge myself into a teeny tiny corner of my networks and focus on the basics - (race)horses, Stephen Colbert, NuTrek, CBS Elementary, and Sam/Tron. Also, Real Life.
But you are also fucking toxic so I'm taking a break from you. I'm tired of the flame wars, wank, and the enraging stupidity of some (loud and obnoxious) people. I'm tired of the ignorance and obliviousness and dismissal of others and their experiences. I'm tired of alienating people because I was so caught up in fandom's Newest Shiny Thing I didn't see that what I was doing was Really Fucking Terrible. I'm tired of being irrationally upset and paranoid over movies based on what I pick up from their fandoms. I'm tired of hating certain things because of their fandoms. I'm tired of wondering if I'm digging my own grave by not participating in fandom like others do. I'm tired of fighting panic and anxiety attacks because fandom inevitably rips apart the things I create in ways that make you doubt everything you do. I'm tired of being triggered by things many people glance over and not being able to say anything because what's the point. I'm tired of your shit, fandom.
The solution's simple: wedge myself into a teeny tiny corner of my networks and focus on the basics - (race)horses, Stephen Colbert, NuTrek, CBS Elementary, and Sam/Tron. Also, Real Life.