Here’s a little story about me- I’ve never really fit into groups well and have just gotten sort of used to being the outsider. I observe from a distance, it’s what I do. My first instinct is to keep thoughts and feelings to myself/ not because I’m afraid but out of habit.

When I first got into fandom I would see art, fics, etc I really loved. Some even affected me on a very profound emotional level. But I never said anything, because of that tendency to be on the outside looking in.

I always convinced myself these things weren’t intended for me. They were intended for others and I was lucky enough to get to see, if I just stayed out of people’s way.

Then I decided to try writing for the first time. I posted it just for me, expecting no one to see. I thought if anyone commented it would be mean, because it’s the internet, so that’s what I braced for. I just kind of resolved not to care.

But then people liked it and they commented and it was positive. And I was just like... so overwhelmed with emotion I actually cried. Until I had posted my own thing I didn’t understand. I thought creators wouldn’t want to hear from me-

That my comments would be bothering them, that I would be in the way. But when I realized how good it felt to get comments I started doing it more. The overwhelming response was that they were just glad someone commented because they felt seen.

Then later I began to actually meet people, and receive that info first hand that yes, content creators love kudos and comments. While I firmly believe that content creators (myself included) should do what they want, and it’s really just for them and not anybody else;

There is definitely that added emotional boost when you know somebody likes what you did and it can be so so motivating. When I’ve had bad days and wanted to just give up on everything, there have been times someone pulled me out of that funk with a kind comment.

So if you like something, say so! You have no idea how big of a deal it really is to most content creators. I wonder how many are like I used to be, and just move on because they don’t know.

Even if you’re not good with words it’s okay. Some of my favorite comments have consisted only of emojis, because I’m sure they didn’t know what to say but wanted to tell me that they see me. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💕" title="Zwei Herzen" aria-label="Emoji: Zwei Herzen"> I’m still too shy to interact in most spaces. The fact that I’m tweeting-

-this right now is giving me stomach churning anxiety. I just felt it needed to be said. So I’ll go back to being the shy fanboy hiding in the shadows, because that’s what I do; I just usually go out of my way to comment now that I know better.

If you made it through this whole long thread, thank you for your patience. Here are some pumpkins as a reward, what you do with them is up to you (that will make a lot more sense on Oct 6th. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😉" title="Zwinkerndes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Zwinkerndes Gesicht">. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎃" title="Halloweenkürbis" aria-label="Emoji: Halloweenkürbis"> END