Rampant Musings: Who Died and Made You Queen/King/Leader of the Fandom?
As someone who imbibes in many different fandoms, I see this type of salty bitter text post pop up in the tags. Some of you have seen it and passed it over without a glance. Some of you may have even written one. But the tone goes as follows:
"Well, you're not a real fan if you haven't seen this work/listened to this album/or read this book and just joining in now because this recent thing happened..."
Or
"Where were you when this happened? Oh, you weren't there? Not a real fan then."
I don't know about you all, but if I were a impressionable fledgling fan and read this, I'd not feel so welcome. Maybe I'd feel a bit defensive and not want to take part.
While that may seem silly to you, that's not my point. My point is: Fandoms are supposed to be a welcome place and space to explore things that you've discovered with those in the know. I don't know about anyone else, but some of the best people I've made connections with on this site have come through fandoms. They made me feel welcome and for that I'm grateful.
I get it. Some of you feel a little protective of something or someone that has had very little spotlight until now. Who knows why that is but you don't own the fandom just because you knew about that subject, actor, musician, or book before the noobs did. You were once a noob yourself and that gatekeeper mindset that you love to bitch about doesn't help you when you start acting like you own the fandom. This doesn't help your cause when you become what you despise.
Instead of being salty gatekeepers, welcome noobs to the flock. Introduce them to the things they may have missed. Introduce them to the show that made you a fan of that actor. Give them a head's up about that album that got you interested in that musical or musician you love. Fandoms are supposed to be fun, no matter when you became a fan. Let everyone have fun.
