anyway, i just want to say that i love my dash 99% of the time. there are people i love with my whole heart on this dash. who do nothing but astound and amaze and delight me. who are socially aware / socially active / cautious / careful / kind. i follow a lot of people who i would trust to stick up for me on the street when others would cross to the other side. i follow a lot of people who i would gladly stick up for when accusations are thrown around because i see them. i see the kind of people they are. i know that they walk the walk when they talk the talk. i know that what they say on the dash is what they say in private is what they say in the face of bigots.
i follow people who are amazing writers / talented creators / really fucking good people. i follow people who might not be vocal on the dash, but they’re the first in your ims / dms / askbox. they’re the first to block. they’re the first to reblog and message their friends to stay safe. i follow people who continue to pour support to me even when i do jack shit. even when i’m not here. even when i’m not active. even when it seems like all i post are sad updates or shitposts.
i follow people who don’t have the skin in the game, but put their skin in the game when it matters. who educate themselves on the struggles of others. who offer a hand. who lift up the voices of the oppressed. who know when it’s time to step back and when it’s time to step up. i follow people who fight for representation for people who don’t look like them. who don’t experience the world like them. i follow people who give voices and respect to characters who might not get it in the real world.
i follow people who actively make the world a better place by existing and trying and trying again. whether it’s directly related to social justice issues. whether it’s related to grief and pain and loss and hurt. whether it’s being an ally or a friend or an ear or a mutual or a follower who just says ‘i have made space for you. i will always make this space for you.’
my dash is really, really good most days. it’s really, really good. and i love it. so after two separate posts reminding people of who i am and where i stand on this blog, i want you to know if i follow you, i appreciate you. and every time you weather the storms in your life or on the dash, when you come out the other side still fighting to be a good force in the world, i see you. and i thank you.
