As an anti-darkship, I feel like fiction affects us ALL the time, it always does. No exceptions, like I don't mean in a "if you like [insert bad type of subgenre of fiction] you're gonna turn into a bad person!!" I mean in a way that's gonna take time but unless you take yourself out of that genre, you'll still get affected by other genres regardless, you get affected by this one too, because you'll have an opinion about it. Basically, you can take yourself out, but you'll still have an opinion about it.
When it comes to fiction affecting reality, it's really not our choice. Fiction is supposed to affect us, it's supposed to change our perspective, behavior, and even emotions. Which happens ALL of the time. It's not your choice, it's not my choice, it's not supposed to be one.
Fiction is here merely for our entertainment, that's why animes exist, that's why comedy exists, these things are supposed to affect you. Do you find fiction funny? That's an effect. Do you find some horror movies sad? That's an effect. Do you find a certain ship disgusting or interesting? That's also an effect.
There will never not be a situation where fiction won't affect you. It's supposed to. That's why it's here.
However, there will never be a situation where we won't care about fiction. Because that's not why fiction is here. It's here for us TO change, it's here for us and us only. We will have an opinion about it, which is also an effect. That's why, darkshippers including anti-darkshippers go off on each other. None of us can keep our opinions to ourselves, that's a truth. Now, some people can keep their opinions to their selves, but I feel like that's just the bare minimum. It won't stop others from speaking their thoughts, this goes for darkshippers and anti-darkshippers. And that's just how the debate started. THANKS FOR READING!! <33 - 🎀🦇