Toxic fandoms.

[rogueslayer452]

Taken from this fandom meme:

What would make you leave a fandom, or prevent you from getting into it in the first place?

Too much toxicity and negativity.

I've left some fandoms for this exact reason. Sometimes I can still enjoy something even if I distance myself from its fanbase and more likely than not I can remain blissfully unaware of whatever fandom drama is happening, but other times such negativity can unfortunately be inescapable. All fandoms have a toxic side to them, and some can be louder than others, and it is more or less subjective depending on the platform you use and who you follow, and sometimes you need to reevaluate your own involvement in said fandom. In general, fandom is supposed to be fun, if you're not longer having fun, no matter what the cause, then you need to take a step back. Taking a breather can be good, and it can allow yourself to gain some perspective, regroup, and rethink if/when you jump back into the fandom again.

(Also, as something I've learned overtime, you can still be fannish about something without ever being involved with its fandom. It doesn't make you less of a fan or less enthusiastic about fanfic/fanart/meta/etc if you're not deeply involved or hardly interact with the fandom community.)

When it comes to the piece of media itself, if I'm no longer enjoying it I just stop consuming it altogether. I just don't have the time or the patience for something that I'm unhappy with.

Comments

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

There's definitely a toxic side to every fandom but if you can do your own thing and have fun then it's manageable. If it dominates the fandom then it's just oppressive. I've had fandoms that I just steer clear of based on what I've seen from the fan base. If it's going to be a toxic place to be I don't want to spend my time there.

I'm definitely a fan of things and nowhere near the fandom. Lots less drama that way :)

Agreed on giving up media if I'm not enjoying it. There's just so much out there to watch that if you're not having fun it's not worth spending time on something even if you used to be a fan. Why spend full seasons of hours watching things that just feel like a time suck?

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely a fan of things and nowhere near the fandom. Lots less drama that way :)

I've definitely become more used to this over the years, because aside from fandom being incredibly scattered across many different platforms, I find myself not always enticed with engaging at all of a fandom of something. And it's not always due to avoiding the drama either, it's just that sometimes being involved with a lot of interests it can be really draining in general to keep up with everything so I'm quite selective of the fandoms I do engage with based on that, as well.

Why spend full seasons of hours watching things that just feel like a time suck?

My thoughts exactly. Of course, there are people who have that completionist mindset, and feel like they need to stick with something no matter what. I'm just not that kind of person. There's also some people who just enjoy hatewatching something, which I guess I can understand to an extent, but even that can become too much, y'know? idk

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

I feel you on the too many fandoms feeling draining. I just have less free time in my days now than I used to so I can't engage with fandom the way that I used to. I like being a fan and that's going to be a part of me forever. I just can't devote as much time to it and also succeed at work and not have my apartment fall apart around me etc. etc. etc.

I used to be more of a completionist but as with fandom things, I just don't have the time. I do get the hate watching thing to a degree as well. Sometimes there's fun found in something that's so bad you can just banter at it. But again, I don't have the time I used to have to watch things. I'd rather spend time watching the things I enjoy.