Read on Twitter
I am deeply, deeply uncomfortable with the idea that content creators are responsible for the activity in their fandoms beyond what happens in their own official curated space. And yes, this is about the current Critical Role discourse.
Should they do what they can to better curate the Twitch chat? Yes, that's their space. But I draw a line at the idea that they have some kind of responsibility to formally address or take care of independent fandom spaces that aren't a part of their official domain.
Not for their sakes - for ours. Fandom is *ours*. The fact that it's a chaotic anarchic state is a feature, not a bug. It's a space where we can be ourselves, do whatever we want without the metaphorical Big Brother looking over our shoulders.
Do shitty things happen? All the fucking time. And it's *our* responsibility to deal with them. Not the creators'. I don't want the creators in our spaces. No, not even creators that seem to be as awesome as the CR cast and crew. Because it's our house.
"They have a responsibility to address bullying in the fandom!" No, they really really don't, not any more than they already have. We're responsible for our own messes. Fandom is separate from the property it uses.
Creators have a responsibility to be decent human beings like everyone else, and to use their platform for good. They do not have a responsibility to make sure the people playing in the public park in front of their house are playing nice.
Stop using the fact that the CR cast is accessible on Twitter to push the idea that they're responsible for everything that happens in fandom ever. Fandom is OUR space, and we're responsible for our own.
They're responsible to model general good behavior, as people with a large platform and obvious consciences. But our fandom - transformative fandom, I'm talking about here - does not need creators in the middle of it. Because it's not fucking for them.
They are not responsible for what happens in a fandom Discord. They are not responsible for people being assholes on Twitter. They are not responsible for something a person posts on Tumblr. They're not encouraging it, they're not in charge of it, it's not their problem.
Don't like what's happening in fandom? Say so! Call out bad behavior! Model good behavior! It's our community, and we're in charge. All of us. The cast has nothing to do with the fandom other than putting on a good show for us to enjoy and riff off of.
Not to be a fandom old, but I'm a product of the era when Fox was sending cease and desist letters to fans and all that nonsense. We need creators to be separate from fandom for our own protection, not theirs. The more you break down that barrier, the less freedom we have.
So take care of your (our) own trash, and leave them out of it. For fuck's sake.
Well, this went farther than I anticipated. In lieu of Soundcloud, donate to the Bail Project, and arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor. https://bailproject.org/
Muting this whole thread now, jsyk. Not that it's been bad, I'd just really like my mentions back.
