I constantly see posts like these on Reddit (nothing wrong with the posts), but they have me questioning why weâre so obsessed with our interests/opinions being universally shared.
Your opinion on a story/characters is nobodyâs business but your own. This idea that you have to agree with the fanbase on everything or else you âdidnât get the storyâ is toxic behavior.
And no, Iâm not talking about genuinely misunderstanding the authorâs writing. I mean situations where someone fully understands the authorâs intent and still forms their own opinion based on their personal values, experiences, or preferences.
This is especially evident in stories intended for adult readers. Many younger fans will call you âproblematicâ for loving a controversial character.
This is exactly why these stories are intended for adults â most adults understand the difference between loving problematic fictional characters who have never hurt real people vs. excusing real human behavior that has consequences in reality.
These stories are not real.
The characters are not real.
Nothing they have done inside these stories has caused consequences in our world.
EVERYONE is entitled to form their own opinions on these characters/stories based on their own experiences and values. Nobody is âwrongâ for feeling the way they do about a fictional character.
As long as both parties understand that the conversation is revolving around a nonexistent entity, there is no real impact these opinions will have on reality.
And quite frankly, itâs kind of concerning how personally some people take their fave being âdissed.â I understand loving a character, but a stranger having a different opinion on said character in no way impacts the fictional character itself.
(And if it bothers you that much, maybe consider removing yourself from online spaces and getting some help dealing with parasocial relationships. Iâm not trying to be sarcastic or dismissive here â fictophilia is a real issue and can lead to deep isolation and worsening distress.)
At some point, fandom spaces need to relearn the difference between discussing fiction and discussing real-world morality.