Reblog: The 3 Rules of Fandom

[shy_magpie]

thisweekmeta linked to namjinary's thread on the 3 rules of fandom:

In light of content creators in fandom being attacked,blamed & labelled as fetishists & sexualisers I feel the need to remind the people about the "3 Rules of Fandom" which many of us from multi fandoms already know but new ones-such as #ARMY who are new to fandom culture don't.

— Z0YA ⌚ (@namjinary) January 14, 2019

It is itself a simplification of an essay that was floating around Tumblr awhile back. I think it really distills the fundamental minimums needed for a functioning group since "don't be a dick" is too nebulous. Its short enough that I'm just going to react here without trying to summarize. While there are more things that I think could be added these are a great starting point for getting the attitude needed to work as group. There is a dangerous push towards getting tiny sub groups that all like the exact same aspects of the same things and having people join more than one group instead of having groups that can embrace more than one aspect of a work. If nothing else I think there is value in being part of a group that de-centers you/your viewpoint once in a while. Half of why I got into anime is how novel it was seeing a viewpoint that centered Japan the way that most media I consumed centered the US. Also what happened to squick? just the concept that you can dislike something, not think its evil or have to justify it, or have people try to change your mind. Just "that squicks me" and the response is "okay, try this instead". I hope this doesn't come across too "get off my lawn" but fandom doesn't need to reinvent the wheel.

Comments

[roadmagician]

this idea of people getting mad at fanworks they don't like for just… existing, and then having the gall to harass content creators and stalk them is just baffling to me. I don't know where or why it started but it feels weirdly puritan.

with Ao3 and such having a tagging system nowadays it's even more bizarre when you see someone complaining in the notes of a fic that is clearly tagged with whatever tropes the commenter hates. like, it was right there, pal.

If nothing else I think there is value in being part of a group that de-centers you/your viewpoint once in a while.
THIS.

[shy_magpie]

but if I don't like it then it must be evil!!! Heaven forbid anyone write actual darkfic or deliberately explore messed up dynamics... Puritan is right on the mark, "I saw Goody Johnson writing age play in Ao3"

[suncani]

I have longer thoughts that I probably need to unravel and shove into a more articulate framework but in principle I definitely agree with the rules laid out. Some seem to have forgotten that fan creations don't have a specific purpose, they're not designed to be a moral training ground or a young person's sex education or model for relationships.

Also, I miss the idea of squick. Everyone's different, everyone is going find certain things not to their taste. Again it doesn't need to be a moral judgement.

[norsellie]

*applauds wildly*