at some point, they just have to know because i can’t shut up
but with almost every person i’ve gotten close to, i find out they also participate in fandom (usually reading fics). found out a few days ago my supervisor reads on ao3 lol
ALSO also have you ever listened to or participated in those guides about “how to participate in fandom secretly” where u never make an ao3 acct or kudos a fic etc
REAL! fandom is honestly one of the most fulfilling things about being online bc ur forming relationships and community with people based purely on passion and love. participation in fandom MEANS allowing artists the love they deserve for making you happy i’ve never understood the attempt at covert-
i don’t talk about it super openly but that’s usually bc it never comes up, and when it does, it’s usually within the context of some sort of sociological conversation in like, a lit class or smth hskdjd. i just call it fanfiction/fanfic, and i’ve actually never heard of those guides lol
tbh. i don’t rly talk about it unless it comes up either. im just curious about if ppl pretend to not be participants or if ppl make an effort to detach themselves from the culture as a whole as of late. sometimes it feels embarrassing to feel passion but passion and love are the most human emotions
yeye i def get that. i don’t find it embarrassing to be passionate abt stuff, like i will fully Yap abt my fandom-y interests to anyone who will listen, but i do find that i’ll avoid bringing up things intrinsic to fan culture, like fic, just bc of its connotations to ppl outside of the space
real! as i said to someone else — there’s a major difference between inner shame and outer shame. or, rather, hesitance to share due to outside forces vs inside prejudice. i respect & understand it deffo
like how do i explain to jeff in class that no, not all fanfic is just sex stuff, so many people use it as a prose extension of character and media analysis 😭😭
nothing wrong w being a little embarrassed etc!! i’m just curious about the post-covid culture around fandom as a whole bc i’ve been heavily involved in fannish communities since 2015 and i’ve seen a significant shift around attitudes since covid
No, but mostly bc I'm not a member of any fandom (I don't think). I have always been a little envious of people who care that much about an IP tho. I never get that excited over pieces of media/art.
Used to until I hit like 19 years old and then I didn't care anymore, live yo life (plus now my friends sometimes give me gifts tailored to my interests!)
real tbh i’m just thinking if it comes up
in convo or if someone asks “how
do u know all these people” or “what do u do in ur spare time” would u be ashamed to admit ur involved in fandom. bc all my irls know i am bc they ask those things and i go “i mod the dan and phil server” lol
I don’t really have many irls but I know when people ask me “What do you do in your spare time”, I say “I write stories” instead of “I write fanfiction” or “I’m trying to write my original work”. My college isn’t really a safe place to ask that sort of thing because they’ll ostracize me QUICK.
previously at times, i think the level to which i’ve struggled to admit it to people depends on how judgmental they’ve been towards the more mundane aspects of my personality, bc i haven’t always had very good friends lol. now it isn’t really much of an issue for me cuz my friends are cool
nope! all of my friends from middle school onward participated in a fandom or two in some way or another so it's always been a normal subject of conversation
the only thing i keep to myself are the specific types of fics i enjoy but people are generally aware that i read them 👍
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but with almost every person i’ve gotten close to, i find out they also participate in fandom (usually reading fics). found out a few days ago my supervisor reads on ao3 lol
i probably started engaging with fandom around 2013-2014!
In all seriousness, why would participate in fandom SECRETLY?
in convo or if someone asks “how
do u know all these people” or “what do u do in ur spare time” would u be ashamed to admit ur involved in fandom. bc all my irls know i am bc they ask those things and i go “i mod the dan and phil server” lol
the only thing i keep to myself are the specific types of fics i enjoy but people are generally aware that i read them 👍