imagine you're sitting at home and you smell smoke.
"oh shit," you say. "something's on fire. this place isn't safe. better leave."
"ummmmmm actually there's no smoke, and this building is an ANTI-FIRE building, so it's impossible for there to be any smoke at all," the other people in the house say to you. “You probably WANT a fire, don’t you? You’re probably a fire-purist.”
but you trust that you know what smoke smells like, and you leave the house anyway.
"but this is a safe space from fire! the builders specifically promised us!" yell the people still inside the house, even as the thick black smoke begins to rise, and the flames grow higher. "we're the good guys! we hate fire!"
and then just as the flames eat through the remaining structure and the house is about to collapse, you watch a few people stumble out, covered in soot.
"I can't believe there was a fire," says one person. "maybe i DID smell the smoke, but it was so beautiful and poetic and intentional before!"
"You told me there was never any smoke or fire to begin with," you point out.
"WHAT!" They yell. "I never said that, and even if I did, it wasn't my fault because I didn't realize the smoke would lead to an actual FIRE! It was fine before, but NOW I'm pissed off that the whole building is ruined!"
anyway. this post is about a lot of things. it’s also about amc iwtv fans jumping ship but still not being able to acknowledge the racism and misogyny in the show. the smoke was always there. you ignored it. you got an absolute shit show of a third season (and now a fourth season!!) with even more racism, misogyny, and degradation because you eagerly inhaled the smoke for like 5 years.
You have every right to be upset and feel betrayed. You have every right to mourn the house and the fandom you once had. But please don't act shocked when book fans aren't entirely eager to wipe the soot and ashes from your feet.
