kate | Snowflake Challenge #15

In your own space, opine on the future of fandom. This can be positive, negative, ambivalent; about fandom as a whole, your own fandom(s), or your own plans. Alternately, what do you hope fandom will do? Imagine a best-cast scenario, and tell us what that would look like.

Well, I'm a terrible futurist, so I'm not going to guess where things are going to go. For some reason I can do this when writing fic, but trying to imagine it IRL is just a lot more difficult. I guess because it's fine for me to put my own desires on my fic - that's kind of the whole point! - but there are so many other people's desires and wants and I don't feel like I could even guess what those all are, so how could I then guess what the results of them would be?

So what I'll do instead is put up a few wishes for fandom in the future.

I wish that folks that engage in fandom hate will realize that it doesn't help anyone, and hurts themselves, too. I wish that they are able to learn how curating their fandom experience means more joy for everyone, and developing an open mind about other people's wants and needs will make them better, more compassionate human beings. That the diversity in fandom is a feature, not a bug, that the broader the scope, the more we can do in fandom.

I wish everyone more fannish squee, whether that means more canon material, finding their fannish spaces, or having the time and energy to engage.

I wish everyone positive interactions with fans and fandom, and I hope they get even a fraction of joy out of fandom that I have, because it has brought so much richness to my life and I want to share every bit of that with every bit of fandom I can.

Snowflake Challenge promotional banner with image of a hollow ice ball sitting on ice crystals on a dark blue background. Text: Snowflake Challenge January 1-31.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lovely post, and I share the wishes. Fandom Days, like today's lazy Sunday, make life sweeter.

What lovely wishes! I hope there'll be a little more peace of mind and joy if people follow them.

I wish that folks that engage in fandom hate will realize that it doesn't help anyone, and hurts themselves, too.

Oh, same. I don't mind a bit of criticism now and then, but if all you're doing is talking about negative things, that only ends up ruining everyone's enjoyment, including your own. For me, loving something is an integral part of fandom, so if that's missing, I hesitate to even call someone's activity fandom activity. That's a hatedom, not a fandom.

Such wonderful wishes :) Wishing more fandom squee and positive interactions to you and everyone as well!

those wishes are so lovely! and i think they hit one of the building blocks of fandom - because you love a thing you want to share your joy, whether that's finding old fans or making new ones.