What to do today in memory of Jay
It’s been just over three weeks since Johannah Deakin’s death, and in the days following the news that she had passed, this fandom did some wonderful things in support of her family.
I’m hopeful we will be able to do more in the future to spread her legacy. I’m still working on getting Joy for Jay Day off the ground.
Unfortunately, in the days since Jay’s death, this fandom has also done some pretty horrible things. That type of behavior couldn’t be more opposite of what Jay was, because one of the remarkable things about Jay was that she was a beacon of positivity no matter what.
Jay always praised 1D fans for being incredible and supportive and a blessing to her and her family. She either ignored fans who weren’t that way, or she responded with love.
She’s not here to do that anymore, but we are. So I ask that we do something for Jay, here on Tumblr, starting now: Let’s choose to be kind.
Instead of taking it upon yourself to be a type of police for this fandom, instead of choosing to report personal information about people you don’t like to Louis’s son’s step-grandfather, instead of investigating the whereabouts of Louis’s son’s mother and accusing her of failing to be present or appropriate while her son’s grandmother died, instead of criticizing the way people in Louis’s circle have acted in the past few weeks, be kind to people you do know instead. Here’s a brief (but certainly not complete) list of ideas of what we can do:
Instead of sending a hateful anon to a blog you don’t like, send a “thank you” anon to one you do. Let them know you appreciate what they share.
It’s none of our business to fight Louis’s battles for him. It can be our business to shower him and his siblings with love whenever they post on social media. Tell them you’re thinking of them, or you love their outfit, or you hope they have a wonderful day. Say something kind.
Make lists of bloggers you love that you think others should follow instead of lists of bloggers you hate that people should avoid.
Try not to call people you dislike on Tumblr “insane, psychotic or someone who’s having a mental breakdown.” Nobody should say those words if they are not that person’s psychologist. If you are calling someone something like that and are their psychologist, I ask that you keep patient privacy laws in mind :D
Instead of making masterposts about horrible things some other blogger did, make your own masterpost about something you love about Louis or Briana or Freddie or whomever you like.
The bottom line here? Focus on the positive, ignore the negative. That’s what Jay did. And wouldn’t it make you happier to say something nice to someone whom you like and who matters to you than it would to say something mean to someone you don’t even know?
We as a fandom can be a lot better than we have been in recent days. Let’s try harder to just be nice.