A rant about @doubledumbo and why internet cancel-culture is a cesspool of toxicity
So I recently got back into Attack on Titan with the release of Season 4 and as a result, got back into the fandom and shipping as well. Through this, I was introduced to the artist on Twitter @thisuserisangry (also known as Columbo) and their GORGEOUS artwork.
Now, as many artists usually do, they have a side-account where they post 18+ nsfw art and shipping content. They have made it extremely clear that this is an adults only account and that minors -- even if they are a fan of their art -- should absolutely NOT interact or follow.
Of course, somehow minors still found their way onto this 18+ account and have made it their mission to ‘cancel’ Columbo for a myriad of ‘cancellable offences’ such as claims of racism, lesbophobia, pedophilia, and for being a ‘pro-shipper’ (despite none of these whatsoever being true).
All of this recently culminating in them doxxing Columbo and subsequently, forcibly outing them to their conservative-Iraqi family. Who live in Iraq. That’s right, a queer individual living in Iraq has been forcibly outed to their family by a group of underage assholes who are CELEBRATING that because of this, they will be deactivating their account for their own safety.
There are so many conversations we can have about the ethics of shipping and the place of minors online and especially in non-minor-safe spaces but no matter what your belief is, there is NO reason to put the lives of real life people in danger over what are FICTIONAL characters. Lines on a goddamn page.
It’s pathetic, the lengths people will go to ruin the lives of people who were honestly just staying in their lane and minding their own business, creating art FOR FREE for their audience. The fact that they can do this, and genuinely consider themselves the better person is a shocking indicator of the pure privilege and entitlement they have.
And for them to then use the fact that they are a “MiNOr1!!!” as a protection of sorts against any sort of backlash for their actions is equally despicable. Being a minor does not erase the fact that they have done wrong and continuously done wrong. To ruin someone’s life in this way and put them in danger all in the name of ‘activism’, shows the pure performativity and power trip a lot of these people have.
Sorry for how long this got but this entire situation has been so frustrating and enraging to watch. It’s super saddening to see such a talented artist be treated in such a way as this.