Countdown to Small Gifts 4/5: Fandom

[smallgiftsmods]

Welcome, folks! Every year at small gifts, we start off the holiday season with a week's worth of discussion posts. It's a chance to get to know other participants (or say hi again), meet our readers (hi, readers! we love you!), and while away the hours before the fest begins. We'll have one topic per day every day until Friday, November 30. Posting begins Saturday, December 1.

Discussion is not limited to participants! Readers and lurkers are warmly welcome.

Today: Fandom

What's being in fandom like for you? What do you like most about it? What would you change, if you could?

Have you introduced yourself on yesterday’s post? Head over over there and say hi!

Comments

[museinabsentia]

Oh wow, that's sort of a loaded question. For me, personally, being in fandom is finally finding people who get me. It's about sharing the love of a fandom, or a pairing, but it's also about people who understand what it means to love a fandom or a pairing, and having a safe space to enjoy it and discuss it, and learn more about it, and to question yourself and see things from a different direction because someone else who loves it just as much as you do showed you something new. At least, that's what THIS fandom is for me. The people here are just amazing.

If I could change anything at all it would be to wish that other fandoms were as wonderful as this one, because I know that they aren't, and that we're an amazing group of people. It should always be a safe space, and it isn't always.

[magnetic_pole]

Whoops! I didn't intend that as a loaded question, but I can see how it reads that way. *sigh* Sorry, folks! Not the best conversation starter today.

Fandom people are the best. In a let's-become-best-friends-forever way and in a let-me-just-say-something-nice-on-a-random-post kind of way. I've encountered the nicest comments from strangers and the most helpful advice from folks I hardly know. And I love the way that fellow fans totally understand being REEAALLLY into something.

It should always be a safe space, and it isn't always.

True, true. M.

[museinabsentia]

Oops, I was trying to say something nice about all of you and how wonderful you all are, not kill the discussion!!! Sorry.

[greywolfandmoon]

It's nice to be in a fandom because I get to know more people who share the same interest with me across borders and continents. Being in the HP fandom means a lot to me coz HP isn't that hyped in where I come from, and even if I do fine a Potterhead it's unlikely that they're a fanfic writer/fan artist of any pairing. So you know how hard it is to find a Potterhead that writes/draws Wolfstar like me and the wonderful people here xd

Right now I can't think of anything I wish to change, so I'll just leave the last question there haha

[wild_flame]

Yep I completely agree! Where I am Harry Potter is pretty popular- but pretty much with all of my friendship groups I am the designated Harry Potter friend! It's cool to get to chat to all the other designated Harry Potter friends in the world :D