The Sherlock fandom is bringing me down. It’s too the point where I can’t look at any blog, following filming updates, without seeing a fresh pile of wank in regards to a baby, mary, anything. I don’t follow TJLC and now I’m starting to feel like that must make me an idiot, even though that’s not true. I like Mary. Does that make me some heteronormative idiot? I don’t see her as evil. Oh curse me. I love this show but this toxic, ‘hating anything non conformative to my view’ is depressing.
The one thing I’ve never understood about “the fandom” is who comprises said fandom. Like if I make a post and somebody likes it or thinks it’s whacked they’ll say “I love this fandom” or “this fandom is whacked” when really it’s just me. You’re talking about a clique in the Sherlock fandom, a subculture (that lives mostly on tumblr), whatever you want to call it– not the ENTIRE Sherlock fandom across the globe. In reality it’s not the fandom that’s bringing you down, it’s your orientation to this subculture.
I’m here to tell you that you do NOT have to engage with that subculture to enjoy being a thriving contributor to the larger Sherlock fandom. YOU choose if you’re an “outsider”, frankly. YOU are the one who’s decided that that subculture holds some vast authority and that you have to be one of them, or at least engage with them, to be a valid fan or a worthy gay. You don’t. That thinking is hooey. It’s in your control. Stop it.
USE YOUR BLOCK BUTTON. If you really want to be a member of the Sherlock fandom and not be involved with that subculture, block everyone who posts something that makes you feel angry or ill or less than. I follow plenty of people who consider themselves a part of that subculture, but they’re good, reasonable people with interesting and charming and funny things to say. On the other hand I have a block list with about 120 people on it (lots of them deactivated by now). I haven’t seen any wank on my dash for months. And trust me, I’m a target for it. (Dig through my tag to see what I’m talking about.)
Go into the Mary tags– find people who like her and follow them (if they don’t perpetuate wank). Check out the rare pairs. Take a look at @threepatchpodcast– all wonderful people- some of whom play in the subculture and some of whom don’t. Listen to the podcast to find people to follow. Check out @bakerstreetbabes. No wank there. I ADORE @finalproblem. Talk about an interesting drama-free blogger!
Find blogs you like and see who they follow. ACTIVELY SEEK YOUR PEOPLE OUT. Block out the rest. You do it all the time in real life. We all do.
