Fandom Snowflake Challenge #13

[merricatb]

Challenge #13

TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY SPACE YOU LIKE. It doesn’t need to be your favorite, or the one where you spend the most time (although it certainly can be). Maybe it’s even one that you’ve barely visited. But talk about that space and how it helps support fannish community.

Tumblr was my go-to place for fannish content long before I really engaged in fandom myself. I was mostly a lurker but I liked the mix of gifs and images and meta all in the same place. It also makes it easier to interact with people there, although I'm sure I'm not the first to mention how quickly fandoms can get super toxic and how generous you have to be with your block button to ensure a positive experience. I've gotten into more media from seeing gifs on tumblr than any amount of ads or movie previews could ever accomplish. Plus, where else could you get such legendary terms like blorbo and spiders georg? There's nothing quite like the hellsite out there, and it remains my favorite. 

Comments

[pattrose]

I think you put it on my post. You might want to change it to the other one. :) Unless I posted on the wrong one.

[merricatb]

I did lol I thought I caught it soon enough and deleted it. Oops :)

[pattrose]

I was afraid I goofed you up. I confuse myself sometimes. (grin)

[merricatb]

No it wasn't you. I meant to comment on the main Snowflake post but I refreshed the page so your entry was at the top instead. Totally my fault :)

[pattrose]

I was surprised to see what 13 was.

[dreamersdare]

Ha, I have a grudging fondness for the hellsite (affectionate) but I completely agree on two key points for understanding it.

1. Block first, block fast, block liberally
2. All roads lead to Spiders Georg

Also, reading comprehension on that site is non-existant. When encountered, refer to point 1!

[merricatb]

Also, reading comprehension on that site is non-existant.
They don't call it the piss on the poor website for nothing LOL

[switchbladeeyes]

"Blorbo" was a term I learned last year (via the Snowflake Challenge!). But I have never heard "spiders georg." Dare I ask? 🕷️🫣

[merricatb]

It was a tumblr meme that took a life of its own.

""average person eats 3 spiders a year" factoid actualy [sic] just statistical error. average person eats 0 spiders per year. Spiders Georg, who lives in cave & eats over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn [sic] should not have been counted"

https://reallyreallyreallytrying.tumblr.com/post/40033025233/average-person-eats-3-spiders-a-year-factoid

The best alternative usage for it I've seen was Felonies Georg. The average US president has now been charged with an average of two felonies because of he who shall not be named.

https://www.tumblr.com/madseance/725848437729460224/the-average-us-president-has-been-charged-with-2?source=share

[switchbladeeyes]

Felonies Georg 😆

[rogueslayer452]

I definitely enjoy Tumblr for what it is, although I do think people tend to take things far too seriously over there and it can be too much to handle, even with unfollowing/blocking/blacklisting it can still bleed into certain posts and be inescapable. However I try to focus my energy on the positives than the negatives. I got introduced to a wide range of fandoms and media that I wouldn't have otherwise, and the wide range of creativity seen with the various fanworks posted over there is amazing. Also, Tumblr culture has created some interestingly fun and amusing memes and trends that many probably wouldn't even realize originated from the site over the years.

It's not a perfect place, but like you said, it may be a hellsite for various reasons but at least it's our hellsite.

[merricatb]

Exactly. It's great as long as you can really avoid most other tumblr users :)