You've had horrible anons AGAIN?? Jesus christ these people are insane. Sorry you have to go through that Sophie!
Honestly the two major blogs around here are so painfully delusional and transparent in their efforts to push their own interpretation as the only "correct" one i don't know how people don't see it.
If people disagree with them they're called stupid and media illiterate and "fell for the tale" while they spent four years adamantly claiming a million things would be revisited- which they never did. Their theories are nearly delusional and when proven wrong (eg. Louis' current arc, the Drop) they refuse to admit it but answer vaguely that it's all part of a greater puzzle that will be manifested in later seasons (give me a break).
While at the same times they're the ones making the divide in the fandom a chasm, anytime someone expresses criticism they're part of a Subset. (The Othering of people in this fandom demands a whole essay on its own) and while yes I have seen a lot of those to whom they refer, not everything negative can be attributed to them.
They're just using it as a scapegoat to blame.
Didn't mean to vent in your inbox! And btw i saw an article that was referring to the way Lestat views and uses his body in relationships as transactional and I laughed out loud. Which is doubly hilarious because I never exactly agreed with that particular line of thought but it's clear that it's a very possible interpretation of the material for some!!!
I'm not trying to fish for sympathy here or anything (I feel like a lot of you know I kind of hate that, haha), but if I'm honest, the ugly anons have never really stopped for me? They definitely have quietened down at various points, but they've really ramped up again with the new season. I actively try not to post them, although I do screenshot and log them (if anyone ever wants receipts, ho-ho-ho, haha), and I have an open case with tumblr about it, and in terms of some of the violent ones / dox-toned ones, a more comprehensive case filed with the Australian eSafety Commission and federal police (and I'm still in loose conversations with the lawyer my mum connected me with when I was doxxed last year).
Look, at the end of the day, I could turn anon or even asks entirely off. I've done that before, and if it ever gets too much, I will again. I make the choice to keep that open, and a big part of that is that I love talking to you guys, who vastly outnumber the assholes, and I (extremely) understand why people would want to participate anonymously in this fandom. As I've said before, I just hope that I help to create a space in this fandom where people don't feel like they need to.
In terms of those blogs, I honestly don't see them all that much anymore, so I can't comment on their current postings. People are respectful, I think, of me saying I don't want to see them, which has been very lovely, but I do get sent stuff when it's about me (I think largely when they're worried for me) which is a gesture I think made with the best of intentions. I have mixed feelings about it, because on the one hand I really appreciate the concern and it is good to know, because those posts often do inspire a bit of a new wave of asks in my inbox, and it helps me to prepare for that, but at the same time, like - - woof.
It's kind of funny though that you mention the stress on the fandom divide, because I've had quite a few antagonistic anons about that, including one who told me I must regret putting them offside, and I made a real noise when I read it, because - - gosh, haha. I mean, look, for context, I was raised with the concept that regrets, while real, only have any power if you don't learn anything from them, and I can happily say I learnt a few things, but also I feel kind of lucky that they drew a line and I don't have to occupy a fandom space with them? I genuinely hope they're having a great time! Truly! I just hope they're having it far away from me, haha.
Also for the record, I genuinely don't mind or care if people follow or are friends with them. I'm genuinely not encouraging any sort of fandom divide, which is genuinely a very silly concept to me.
(Also also - eternal reminder - please leave them alone, don't harass them, don't send them shit. I don't want anyone speaking for me, I can do that myself, which I've just done here. If you have the urge, just - - send me something fun instead, like what I think all the characters' favourite fairytale is, haha).