just a feeling but: recently fandom has moved from participatory to predatory. it’s voyeuristic, not engaging. artists are treated like products instead of people, even with irreverence by not addressing the creator, just saying “i thought they were going to say/do x” rather than “i thought you were going to say/do x.” creativity is seen as an opportunity to take and own rather than communicate.
“hey if you follow me i’ll share this”
“give me your info so i can credit”
and the like. content is being shared for likes and points and to further someone’s online standing. there’s no participation anymore. no real desire to engage with the content OR the creator.
and I’m not trying to spin this as sinful, it’s just something I’ve noticed. It seems like everybody has turned into their own self-managers and look around for content to boost themselves up to the public. like. what is going on
I’m not whining or complaining or trying to change anything. but it’s startling. and I don’t know what caused it, but it feels like a symptom of something else
This is just social media culture spinning out into fandom, but yeah, I’ve noticed it too.
People are like…simultaneously more entitled but also less willing to engage with it? Also people seem flabbergasted by the suggestion that content creators are actually looking for a community and some back and forth and aren’t just factory machines doing this for the amusement of the masses.
Word. I remember back ten years ago when posting fanart was actually *fun* and *rewarding* These days it mostly just makes me feel lonely and sad.
