#fandom is good actually

[hamsterandturtlesoup]

[alloftheendgamefeelings]

Look, not to get overly sincere or anything, but in the wake of Endgame, I just want to mention how much I love fandom?

(This post alludes to Natasha-related Endgame spoilers and emotions they might provoke, but nothing specific.)

I had friends who watched the movie before me, who told me exactly the spoilers I needed to go in and watch without losing it in the theatres, and promised to talk me through after I’d seen it.

I had friends who went with me, and handed me tissues during necessary scenes, and asked if they could hug me and respected my “No, but I appreciate the offer.”

Over a dozen people reached out within a day of the movie’s release in the US, checking in to see if I was okay, including some who only know of me and many who either didn’t care about or actively dislike Natasha but know what she means to me.

I wore a character tee shirt and hoodie to a store where I was buying Black Widow merch, and the clerk- who doesn’t know me from Adam- took it all in and asked if I’d seen the movie and if I was okay.

People who never talked about her are discussing what a hero this movie showed her to be, and people who don’t even like her are talking about how the story should have treated her better. I’ve seen more posts from people analyzing her now than I have after any of her other movies.

One of the biggest reasons the movie upset me was that I assumed I’d have to defend my response, that I’d have to justify my feelings. I am honestly stunned that people have been engaging with me on this sideblog of all places, which I originally assumed would be a dumping ground for my long-form meta that no one would actually want to discuss.

Fandom is often a trashfire, no one is denying that. But people in fandom are kind, and I really, really appreciate that.

[seek--rest]

Of all the things I’ve ever done, I think talk shop Tuesday might be my favorite. Obsessed with scrolling through the tag like idk who tf any of you are and I’m SO excited for that. It’s broken containment! It’s across several fandoms! People are talking shop! Fandom is alive!!!!!!