On feeling safe in fandom
I've been thinking about the idea of "not feeling safe in fandom" -- since this is being discussed as part of the wider recent discussions and it's on my mind as well. This isn't the full extent of my thoughts on the subject but this is where I keep landing as the bottom line.
This is the part that is loudest when I think about what not feeling safe in fandom means:
It scares me to be in a fandom space where the priorities of sympathy fall more to the party carrying out the hurt than towards the fans being hurt. Where there are fans who don't feel safe because of bias and prejudice and marginalization. Where there are fans who don't feel safe because if they address controversial topics, they'll get accused of ruining fandom, harshing the squee, over-reacting, of being too sensitive, of not being sensitive enough, of trying to oppress others with their views. Where fans who bring up a subject know for sure there will be a backlash and waves of resentment and that they'll get sniffed at as troublemakers.
How is that safe for anybody?
This is the part that is loudest when I think about what not feeling safe in fandom means:
It scares me to be in a fandom space where the priorities of sympathy fall more to the party carrying out the hurt than towards the fans being hurt. Where there are fans who don't feel safe because of bias and prejudice and marginalization. Where there are fans who don't feel safe because if they address controversial topics, they'll get accused of ruining fandom, harshing the squee, over-reacting, of being too sensitive, of not being sensitive enough, of trying to oppress others with their views. Where fans who bring up a subject know for sure there will be a backlash and waves of resentment and that they'll get sniffed at as troublemakers.
How is that safe for anybody?