This is your friendly reminder that if YOU DON’T LIKE, DON’T READ!
If you’re reading on AO3 and you’re getting mad because a ship or tag you don’t like keeps showing up in your search? Exclude the tags! Don’t get mad at other members of your fandom because they DO like it. Nobody is forcing you to like what others like, nobody is forcing you to read about what others like, nobody is forcing you to consume content that you don’t like.
If you’re using another app or website to consume your fandom content and you come across that thing you don’t like? Ignore it and keep scrolling. If people who like some of the same things you like ALSO like and include things you don’t like in their art? Skip the content that includes the thing you don’t like.
I’m so sick of people saying that others in their fandom are forcing others to see, think, feel, or like something just because it’s popular and others DO like it. Today I saw someone post anonymously ( of course ) about how they hate Jegulus shippers and content creators because they’re forcing ( nobody is forcing anybody, ugh ) people to read/ like Jegulus by putting it in their fan fictions ( THAT THEY WRITE AND DISTRIBUTE FOR FREE BTW ) that also include Wolfstar because the EXPECTATION?? is that James should be with Lily. They further stated that Jegulus shippers/ content creators are at fault for them not being able to find fics with both Wolfstar and Jilly ( never mind that there are thousands of fan fictions with both those ships ). That whoever originally thought up the concept of Jegulus is awful because it’s their fault this person can’t find the content they want, and that before Jegulus all the content was exactly the way they wanted/ preferred it to be.
It is not the fault of others if you do not filter your media to your specifications. Don’t know how? Learn.
It is not the fault of others if you have not taken the initiative to find the media you want to consume and have instead stumbled across things you don’t like.
It is not okay to hate people because you don’t like their ship or you prefer something different to them.
It is not the fault of others if you choose to consume media you already know you don’t like and end up not liking it.
It Is your fault if you choose not to filter away the content you don’t like.
It Is your fault if you don’t know how to filter your content and choose not to learn how so you can continue to complain and bully people.
It is your problem if you continue to consume content you already know you don’t like and then criticize the creators and fans for making/ enjoying it.
The cardinal rule of AO3 is don’t like, don’t read. You are responsible for your actions, thoughts and feelings. You are allowed to dislike something. You are allowed to feel as though one ship is better than another. You are not allowed to force others to bear the responsibility for you continuously choosing to not filter your content.
Also, if the free content you’re already being given isn’t good enough for you? Make it yourself.
All these wonderful people that pour their heart and souls, their blood sweat and tears, into their fandom content? The Angels who don’t get paid to do this and choose to anyway? The creatives that choose to make and post this free content while also juggling school, work, social lives, family obligations etc.? The talented people who aired their art in a public space so others have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as them?
Those people? Their work is made for themselves. It is not made for you. It is made because it’s something the creator loved so much they wanted to share it. None of these people are making their art just so you specifically can have something exactly the way you want it.
This attitude is what makes people decide to delete their works or stop sharing them in the first place. This attitude is why people are constantly exiting fandom spaces that used to be safe. Why people stop enjoying even the canon content. Stop being lazy and educate yourself on fandom etiquette and how to filter the content you consume. And be a little more grateful that you have any content to consume in the first place because nobody has to make and share it with you.
Edit: Now that AO3 is back online after maintenance I took a moment to filter for Wolfstar fics that include Jilly and do not include Jegulus. The number of results I received? 13 360. I think that’s quite a lot of free content for someone. I also think it’s thousands more than some people get.
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