I think that's an important part of the work, too! I don't think I'd feel comfortable writing fandom histories if I wasn't at least somewhat engaged with those parts of the fandom.
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Yeah! I def think you can write respectfully about fandom history you don't have a direct living connection to (see: most historians of any subject lol) but a lot of "fandom history" content often feels gossipy and disrespectful of the people involved in incidents who are still around/in fandom.
re: Fansplaining specifically, Flourish has discussed on-air how weird/upsetting it's been to see their experiences from early HP fandom shenanigans twisted and turned into sort of rubbernecking gossip fodder under the guise of "fandom history". And like, Flourish is extremely still around! 😅
I think having the same affinities and emotions about the subject matter plays a huge part! It feeds into a respect for everyone involved. And it doesn't take away my objectivity because I'm removed from the actual events.
yeah that absolutely makes sense! And you have that accountability to the older people who are still in the fandom—not some abstracted "ancient history" to gawk at.
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