I just caught up with ly over the past few days (not a lot of sleeping involved) because alfie reccomended it and I like to see the projects friends worked on and wow, you are a great storyteller, that was so cool. I just read your essay on parasociality based on the tumblr simulator chapter and it made me think a lot. Thank you for writing it, I agree with a lot of the takes in it and it made me realize some of the ways I have been a tiny bit frog boiled in the phandom over the last 6 months that I've been a part of it. Not nearly to the extent of the characters in the story of course, but you know, going from scrolling past formspring screenshots to reading and liking them.
I really liked what you said about a gift is not a gift if not freely given. That's going to stick with me. Thank you.
thank you so much for taking the time read my fic and send an ask!! reading 400k in a few days is no small feat!!! godspeed to your sleep and eating 😂
I’m especially grateful for your thoughts and comments on the parasocial frog-boiling part! I’m so appreciative that people have read the chapter and essay and reflected and shared their thoughts with me! that really was the goal with it (and, of course, to a much lesser extent, plot), so I’m immensely grateful every time someone new comments on it or sends an ask about it
it’s easy to let our actions be swayed by the actions of the masses (or the perceived masses), even unintentionally or without noticing. as a fandom with a history of violating the privacy of people we’re centered around, I feel really strongly that it’s our responsibility as a fandom (both old and new fans) to make sure that we are vigilant about keeping the appropriate boundaries in place this time around!!
you might also be interested in this ask I answered where I got into the bystander effect and fandoms!
