thank you so much, this is a very sweet message. i can't lie it made me cry a little ;-;

i know this person did not intend to upset me but i wasted a lot of time this weekend speaking to unreasonable mods/reps in the server for an app i'd never even heard of before, lowkey threatening me like i'm some idiot who doesn't know fanfics are protected under fair use or like i'm the one who did something wrong. i'm upset there are no regulations in place on AI and ppl who want porn this badly don't think about the human cost, how much energy those making fanworks put into doing what they do simply out of love of the game. sometimes it doesn't feel worth it. even putting all this aside, and the vicious moral policing over themes, ppl are also deeply mentally unwell in fandoms and take it out on others, and i've been a target of that sort of thing interpersonally more times than i can count. i'm not the picture of mental health myself and can't just sit here and keep taking it forever

but messages like this make me think it is worth it so thank you for writing it. i was also a lurker my first time in the fandom. i just read and never spoke to anyone bc i was ashamed--not really of the nasty content, bc no one was concerned about morality in fiction at the time tbh (only old/conservative people would've cared about a thing like that back then). i was just embarrassed that it was south park tbh. but the fandom has grown and people make such amazing things, and i'm older and don't care to be ashamed so much anymore. i fully understand not interacting though and in fact read without an account for over a year during the pandemic, not once leaving a comment or kudosing (did not know you could do those things as a guest lol)

so i do understand passive readership and appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my words whether they reach out or not, but it does mean a lot to reach out and say something kind like this. i would never quit bc i don't get enough support. i really do get such kind messages and i can't reply to them all, not bc i'm too busy, but bc i have very bad social anxiety and often type out responses and don't send them. all that to say, i'll be okay on an individual level, but AI is very terrifying and seriously threatens everything we have in these fan spaces. if tumblr goes down or if artists delete their blogs bc of AI, we'll lose so many years worth of fanworks. if ppl keep reposting and plagiarizing and disrespecting writers, you know, we do this by and large without any sort of compensation.. basic decency should be the bare minimum

sorry this message is long af. also your english is perfect plz no one ever apologize to me for their english. i learned another language and forgot half of the english i knew myself so i'm not judgin' (idk what it is but i have like 5 messages in here rn with caveats like 'i know my english sucks' and it doesn't lol you're all fine!!!)