In light of recent events
/sighs/ I'm sure some of you guys have been aware of the hate that's been going around, or maybe you've been a victim of it. I would like to keep this blog discourse free on the matter, but I will say that you are all wonderful people for sticking with this fandom.
Whether you're new, have been here for a year or two, or have been here for years upon years, you are all great. The basis of hetalia is simply personifications of countries goofing around and sometimes going through serious moments, and yet you all looked at it and went "but what about this?" or "what if they weren't personifications, but rather in this AU?".
I've read fanfiction in this fandom that is better than a lot of books I've read (and I read a lot!!). I've read fanfiction that may not be book worthy, but there's so much passion behind it you can't help but love it.
I've seen artists grow and improve through this fandom, and I've seen other artists come together in discord servers and give tips to those that would like to try to improve. I've seen professional illustration level pieces done. I've seen artists that are just starting to find out they love to draw, and are so proud to show off their work.
I've seen cosplays that are better than movie costuming, and some that were just thrown together from what someone had in the closet, and some in between. They are all amazing, and it warms my heart to see them.
Edits and MMDs take so much more time than people realize, and yet people still put their heart and souls into making them look the best they can be.
This fandom is one that so many have grown and improved in as they have matured and gotten older. I personally have been in this fandom for 6 years now, and I am proud to say so. This fandom has helped me through my deepest lows, it has helped me improve my art and writing to places I never thought possible, it's given me an interest in history through an angle I had never considered, and it has given me some of my best friends that I know will stick with me through anything, even if we move on to other fandoms.
So yeah, we're "still into hetalia". What of it? There is no law that says after x amount of time you have to leave your fandom and find a new one. This is our home, and we aren't going to leave just because some people lead such miserable and sad lives that they have nothing better to do than harass people on the internet. Those people are in the wrong and need to get a job or a hobby, or at the very least a life. You all already have one.