I Was Reading This Post Over On The Ao3 Subreddit This Evening And I Think It Brings Up A Lot Of Good

I was reading this post over on the Ao3 subreddit this evening and I think it brings up a lot of good points about how fandom, as a community, has been shifting in its treatment towards fanfic writers.

Fanfic is more popular than ever, which means there are more works "competing" for the readers' attention, who take on a passive approach that treats fanworks not as a means to talk to people with similar interests, but as content, as products. [...] Gift cultures thrive not on monetary exchanges, but on the expectation that the gifts freely given will be returned in an unspecified future through emotional and relational means. This used to set fandom apart, but it's slowly being absorbed into the mainstream way capitalism operates. Where does that leave us?

And it's demotivating to see the responses authors get when expressing their grievances with this state of affairs, or how they feel underappreciated. Being called entitled, told to write for themselves, or to promote their work as if writing and posting isn't enough. I write for myself, I post for the community. There are things I want to say about the source material and characters, and I do through storytelling. And I'm grateful about each of the comments I got, no matter how short. It's just that it doesn't feel like there's a community out there when no one talks back. Writers aren't just expected to write, but to do it for the "right reasons", and to also be as pleasant about it as possible, lest they'll be criticized by more people than the amount that's offering them support.

I've seen posts going around on tumblr that have approached this topic as well--that fanworks (particularly fanfic) should be created from the perspective of a perfect vessel that can pour, pour, pour out and never needs to be poured into. You should do it for the "right reasons" and not complain because "no one owes you interaction". But what is fandom if not interaction?

Writing fanfic is one of the most time-consuming labors of love that makes up a fandom. (That's not to say other fanworks aren't labors, time-consuming, or made with love. We're talking about fanfic). Your 300k+ enemies to lovers slowburn porn-with-plot fic that has reshaped the entire way you approach a specific pairing or media has been made with time, effort, for free, with the intention to be shared with you.

And in the state of current fandom, it has been made with the expectation to receive nothing back. Is that fair? Maybe. Silent readers exist and a kudos on Ao3 is at least an acknowledgment that some people read and enjoyed. But does it hurt to leave a comment? Even a heart emoji or an "I loved this, thank you for sharing!" is enough to at least start a dialogue, a conversation, form a connection.

That's not even to mention the isolation of fandom interactions to private Discords; time after time I've heard from fanfic authors who found out that there have been discord servers or twitter groupchats where their fanfic has been discussed, loved, and lauded at length--but never once was the author told this! Ao3 has comments for a reason. Many authors link their tumblr profiles or emails in their bio for people to reach out to them.

It's just a sorry state to see it go.

but they’re at the zoo.

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This is so funny to me CLOCK EM BILLY

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omniscient3teabag

3 weeks ago

oh captain what has zeus done to you

A very powerful villain has attacked Earth. It took a very powerful spell.

Marvel: I have an idea how to defeat him with one spell. But I'll need time to cast it.

Superman: Do what you have to do. I'll buy us time.

Solomon: Billy, no.

Zeus: Billy, yes.

Marvel straightens up and starts dancing. Smooth movements of the pelvis and waist, and don't forget to play with breasts.

Marvel: Thunder, bring her through the wringer. Show her I'm the judgment call. The one who makes her kingdom fall.

Zeus: Oh yeah!

The others: I don't want to look at this disgrace.

Marvel: Lightning, wield her, use and yield her, show her what she can't conceal for true nature will be revealed!!

The mother of all lightning falls on the villain, instantly turning him to ash. Everyone looks at Marvel. Captain looked at everyone awkwardly, clasping his fingers and looking like a beaten puppy.

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omniscient3teabag

1 year ago

hi chat

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THIS IS A JOKE

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omniscient3teabag

2 weeks ago

First Meetings pt. 2

Bruce was hurt. He was shot multiple times and left bleeding in an alley on some trash bags. Thankfully, next to him, the perp was knocked out next to him after he tried to reach and steal his utility belt. It sent a non-lethal shock at him. Bruce called Alfred who is currently driving the Batmobile to him at the moment.

Bruce was blinking in and out of consciousness when at some point he blinked and a giant blob of red and yellow was leaning in over of him.

Marvel: “…sir?”

Batman: *grunts*

Marvel: “Okay… uhm…” *squats down* “Sir, can you hear me? Are you okay?” *smacks his cheek a couple times*

Batman: *swats the hand away*

Marvel: “Okay… at least you’re alive and conscious. Somewhat. Come on, son, let’s get you to a hospital.”

Hospital? Oh so this man was trying to help him. Wait, the man was reaching for his utility belt. He was going to get shoc— oh wow. He wasn’t even flinching.

The man was holding Bruce up by the belt and barely batting an eye as the utility belt administered non-lethal shocks that should’ve knocked out by now or at least singed the man’s hand.

Bruce blacked out from there. At some point he knew that the man was carrying him while walking, then at some point, he was very high in the air, and then finally he was on a hospital bed. It seen Bruce was finally conscious enough to realise what was going on. That he was in a random hospital room in God knows where. The man, he was dressed a bit like the speedster from Central city and the new hero from Metropolis, was talking to what was probably a doctor.

It seemed the doctor noticed him first and immediately grabbed a vial full of orange liquid and tried to make Bruce drink it.

Doc: “Here try this it’s my patented pain disappearance solution! Tell me if it works!”

Marvel: *smacks it away* “Trust me when I say don’t try that. It will either kill you, or worse, turn you blue.”

Doc: “Hey!” *scrambles to pick it up*

Marvel: “Anyways, son, how are you feeling? You had quite a few holes when I found you.”

Batman: “I’m fine.” *sits up* “Where am I?” *feels his belt for his communicator* “And where is my batcommunicator?”

Marvel: “Communi-what? You mean this thing?” *pulls it out and hands it to him*

Batman: “Yes. …Why I won’t it turn on?”

Marvel: “I don’t know.” *shrugs* “But it did suddenly started smoking when I touched it.”

Batman: “Did you short it out?”

Marvel: “Maybe? I don’t really know what that means.”

Batman: *long ahh sigh* “Do you have any tools I could use to fix it? And again, where am I? You didn’t answer me.”

Marvel: “We’re in Fawcett. In a clinic to be specific. And, I don’t really know what tools exactly you have in mind. Sorry.”

Bruce ended up being shown to a rotary phone. Vintage. From there, he called Agent A and got the flip out of there. The man was probably worried sick.

By the way, it’s because of this entire interaction that Bruce always thought Billy knew his secret identity. Because, well, why wouldn’t you unmask the stranger in a bat costume who you found shot four times? This ended up with him unconsciously more comfortable around Marvel than he realized as the years went by and the Justice League is formed.

Billy never looked under his mask.

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batman bruce wayne billy batson man.. dc captain marvel billy batdad AAHGGJSDHHFJADB😭😭😭😭 AFJJJJJJJESHDHJHSDFASFDSF

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omniscient3teabag

1 year ago