I don’t wanna like, dwell on this too much because it really bums me out but like
I kinda hate the idea that once something hits a certain level of popularity it’s suddenly gotta turn into this like, horrible and obnoxious thing that you’ve gotta be ashamed to like? Like, the idea that an interest can turn into something “cringy” just on the basis of like. A lotta people enjoying it. And a lotta buzz about it. That kinda sucks imo
the thing that baffles me the most is that most of the time it comes from ppl who see themselves as seasoned internet explorers who have seen it all before, but? if thats true, why are you surprised? why are you wasting your energy? if youve decided anything with a tag that moves a little fast will make you irrationally upset, why don’t you also know how to blacklist and unfollow and just tune stuff out that doesn’t affect or interest you? if a teenager making a coffeeshop au ruins an entire series for you, i don’t think thats the teen’s fault. people are so boring
in my personal experience, it tends to be the ones who complain about fandoms going downhill that make the fandom go downhill. Like, if they didn’t complain about the fandom latching onto a specific character or fan members drawing porn, then there wouldn’t be nearly as much infighting.