On Fandom Psychology

Humanity has been putting each other into boxes since the dawn of time. Modern culture has evolved the box into something that can be shaped to fit any context and any narrative. Of course, this does not mean the internet created this phenomenon. Bad faith argumentation, narcissism, and misinformation are all terms that can be placed within almost any time frame. But with the birth of the internet came a new kind of monster, not reliant on physical forms nor solely dependent on the majority's public consciousness. Instead, it took our deepest fears and our biggest passions and made a business out of them. And if you think about it, fandoms fall quite nicely into this category and premise.

The rise of fandom toxicity begins when we examine the relationship between fiction and reality in the eyes of the fandom initiate. A lot of fandoms are equally inhabited by older fans and newer fans, each with a personal investment tied to the product they consume. This is neither good nor bad. The good or bad is purely dependent on the application of this concept. Pure passion and appreciation are quite productive. Healthy communication is important when discussing these works. The point where that communication becomes hateful is when it turns from simple disagreements into a dick-measuring contest. I can't tell you how many times I've seen harassment that started from one guy being personally offended by a creative choice in a show. It's totally fine to criticize something. But tone and intent definitely matter.

If we're being fully honest with ourselves, the majority of this so-called "criticism" towards the properties we love is primarily rooted in hatred and demanded action.

The goal of a lot of this garbage from the grifters and clout chasers of the internet is not to be constructive but only to demean insult and gatekeep. This is especially prevalent within the media analysis communities on Twitter and YouTube, with the "objectivity" crowd especially falling into that particular hell of vitriol. Objective evidence of things that occur in a film is not an assessment of quality, no matter which way you cut it. It is simply reductive to deny feelings and interpretation solely on the basis that you happened to observe...something as if that means anything definitive. It's not even the fact that the examination of quality is the issue. It's the presentation, a presentation reeking of filth and anger on an unprecedented scale.

Superiority complexes are not exclusive to this particular group, though. Every single person is like this to some degree. Think about the last time you tried to ratio someone over what you considered a "bad" opinion on a film or the times when you've named on someone saying their peace instead of hearing them out. I think that social media, in its infinite wisdom, did not account for a world in which clout and influence became its game. It is so easy now to just make an account, grow a following, and shit on anyone we can think of just because they like a film that we don't.

The horrifying truth is that we all want to have that power, and most would sooner justify the bullying than reflect on the repercussions.

Written by: TSV

PayPal.me/theeratt

On Fandom Psychology

Humanity has been putting each other into boxes since the dawn of time. Modern culture has evolved the box into something that can be shaped to fit any context and any narrative. Of course, this does not mean the internet created this phenomenon. Bad faith argumentation, narcissism, and misinformation are all terms that can be placed within almost any time frame. But with the birth of the internet came a new kind of monster, not reliant on physical forms nor solely dependent on the majority's public consciousness. Instead, it took our deepest fears and our biggest passions and made a business out of them. And if you think about it, fandoms fall quite nicely into this category and premise.

The rise of fandom toxicity begins when we examine the relationship between fiction and reality in the eyes of the fandom initiate. A lot of fandoms are equally inhabited by older fans and newer fans, each with a personal investment tied to the product they consume. This is neither good nor bad. The good or bad is purely dependent on the application of this concept. Pure passion and appreciation are quite productive. Healthy communication is important when discussing these works. The point where that communication becomes hateful is when it turns from simple disagreements into a dick-measuring contest. I can't tell you how many times I've seen harassment that started from one guy being personally offended by a creative choice in a show. It's totally fine to criticize something. But tone and intent definitely matter.

If we're being fully honest with ourselves, the majority of this so-called "criticism" towards the properties we love is primarily rooted in hatred and demanded action.

The goal of a lot of this garbage from the grifters and clout chasers of the internet is not to be constructive but only to demean insult and gatekeep. This is especially prevalent within the media analysis communities on Twitter and YouTube, with the "objectivity" crowd especially falling into that particular hell of vitriol. Objective evidence of things that occur in a film is not an assessment of quality, no matter which way you cut it. It is simply reductive to deny feelings and interpretation solely on the basis that you happened to observe...something as if that means anything definitive. It's not even the fact that the examination of quality is the issue. It's the presentation, a presentation reeking of filth and anger on an unprecedented scale.

Superiority complexes are not exclusive to this particular group, though. Every single person is like this to some degree. Think about the last time you tried to ratio someone over what you considered a "bad" opinion on a film or the times when you've named on someone saying their peace instead of hearing them out. I think that social media, in its infinite wisdom, did not account for a world in which clout and influence became its game. It is so easy now to just make an account, grow a following, and shit on anyone we can think of just because they like a film that we don't.

The horrifying truth is that we all want to have that power, and most would sooner justify the bullying than reflect on the repercussions.

Written by: TSV

PayPal.me/theeratt

You are a Commodity.

Recent events have shown me just how far gone the current population is. Everywhere I look, I see people angry and arguing with each other for reasons that do not justify a single bit of the eventual violence. Violence supposedly does not discriminate, and yet it continues into the Modern Era. The newest form of violence that we all have failed to overlook is the violence of the mind and the destruction of the soul.

The modern conception of pop culture sees the human being as the product, a product that can be shaped and molded into any form so long as they believe in lies. The best example of this I can think of is the overwhelming need for a conflict between the individual vs the collective. Modern society seems to think that to feel valid, we must constantly one-up other people. Social Media and the rise of the influencer on a wider scale have taught people that serving your self-interests 99.9% of the time is the way to go in life. Things like "self-care", while good in concept, are used by most as an excuse to be overwhelmingly selfish and ignorant of the mere thought of accountability.

In reality, the influencer is not an influencer of anything. Most of these large figures are only as real as the brands they are sponsored by, or the niches that they occupy. The audience member does not see these people as human but merely an object of their pleasure. There's a reason why people still cringe to this day when an actor opens up about their own social beliefs, whether they be right or wrong. There's a reason why we still apply the slogan "eat the rich" to these celebrities despite the majority of them only being as rich as these studios and corporations allowed them to be. A lot of rappers owe studio money. A lot of child stars become broken and battered alcoholics and drug addicts by 25. There is no freedom when you become famous, and there is no way to become famous without a transaction taking place.

Our selfishness is rooted in our desires. Desires are not inherently good or bad but can be molded as such with the right materials. Capitalism itself is built on this very notion. Black Fucking Friday is coming up. Why do you think that even exists? Why do people constantly want new clothes even when they already have too many? We have contributed to a society built on ego, and that ego has defined what we see as merit. Colonialism proved that along fucking time ago.

"Manifest Destiny"

"Get your bag"

Welcome.

Left twitter so now I'm here.

Welcome to the sewer.

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You are a Commodity.

Recent events have shown me just how far gone the current population is. Everywhere I look, I see people angry and arguing with each other for reasons that do not justify a single bit of the eventual violence. Violence supposedly does not discriminate, and yet it continues into the Modern Era. The newest form of violence that we all have failed to overlook is the violence of the mind and the destruction of the soul.

The modern conception of pop culture sees the human being as the product, a product that can be shaped and molded into any form so long as they believe in lies. The best example of this I can think of is the overwhelming need for a conflict between the individual vs the collective. Modern society seems to think that to feel valid, we must constantly one-up other people. Social Media and the rise of the influencer on a wider scale have taught people that serving your self-interests 99.9% of the time is the way to go in life. Things like "self-care", while good in concept, are used by most as an excuse to be overwhelmingly selfish and ignorant of the mere thought of accountability.

In reality, the influencer is not an influencer of anything. Most of these large figures are only as real as the brands they are sponsored by, or the niches that they occupy. The audience member does not see these people as human but merely an object of their pleasure. There's a reason why people still cringe to this day when an actor opens up about their own social beliefs, whether they be right or wrong. There's a reason why we still apply the slogan "eat the rich" to these celebrities despite the majority of them only being as rich as these studios and corporations allowed them to be. A lot of rappers owe studio money. A lot of child stars become broken and battered alcoholics and drug addicts by 25. There is no freedom when you become famous, and there is no way to become famous without a transaction taking place.

Our selfishness is rooted in our desires. Desires are not inherently good or bad but can be molded as such with the right materials. Capitalism itself is built on this very notion. Black Fucking Friday is coming up. Why do you think that even exists? Why do people constantly want new clothes even when they already have too many? We have contributed to a society built on ego, and that ego has defined what we see as merit. Colonialism proved that along fucking time ago.

"Manifest Destiny"

"Get your bag"