#you’re welcome to disagree with me on my interpretation of EKS

[zoeology31]

EOA Thoughts: Fandom

So I’ve finally managed to eke out some free time to process the EOA content avalanche that was most of October, and it’s time for my Thoughts. This post was supposed to be about Gabaomi but it kinda got away from me and wound up being about community management instead.

The overwhelming reaction on Discord post-“Norberg Peace Prize” was very surprised but excited, which can give the impression that most/all of the fandom is totally on board with it, but I don’t really think that’s the case. The problem with Discord as a medium is the shared channels and fast pace of the conversation make it very easy for one topic or opinion to dominate consistently (this is why I prefer a general/overflow, purpose-focused channel layout to somewhat arbitrary and overlapping topics). Discord is still great, don't get me wrong, but the setup makes it much easier to hear praise than criticism for any given plot point.

Indeed, most of the ambivalent to negative reactions I’ve seen have come from Tumblr and Twitter, where everyone has their own account and it’s easier to get a word in edgewise. Of course, criticism has its time and place, and I’m not condoning how some people have been jumping in to make rude contrary comments on other people’s positive Twitter threads, or @’ing the writers to whine about not getting their way. That’s just inconsiderate and overall bad social etiquette. But it’s also important to feel comfortable sharing your opinion even when most people seem to disagree, without feeling like you’re being a downer or ruining other people’s fun.

I’m not totally sure how to help people feel more comfortable voicing those opinions, but I do think it’s an important part of a healthy community. I’ve seen a community (not a fandom one) tainted by an abuser’s influence that is still struggling to scrub the bits of him from their content and behavior. He was one of multiple toxic people who took far too long to be banned from the Discord because so many people were reluctant to speak out in fear of being accused of “bad faith”. I don’t think our fandom is anywhere near that level, but it has led me to look more critically at the community and how to recognize and head off potential problems.

Creating an environment where people feel comfortable disagreeing is hard. You can say all you want “everyone is welcome” and “no judgement here”, but in reality, even half a dozen people clustering around a certain perspective can feel like an impenetrable wall of Opinion. (Also possibly relevant: our fandom in particular is majority women and has significant numbers of young people, queer people, and POC, who have been taught either explicitly or implicitly by society to take up less space). Again, I don’t know how to change this, but maybe a simple reassurance can help.

You are allowed to disagree. You are allowed to have ideas and headcanons and ships that diverge from or contradict the majority interpretation, and even canon. You are allowed to share those. You are still a part of the community.

#elena of avalor #technically #fandom #my stuff