case: (Default)
Case ([personal profile] case) wrote in [community profile] fandomsecrets2026-01-26 05:46 pm

[ SECRET POST #6961 ]


⌈ Secret Post #6961 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 31 secrets from Secret Submission Post #994.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Context: I stumbled by a Tumblr pool about if you think people should consume the canon to join a fandom. A lot of comments that said no, talked about how they enjoyed fandom content for canons they never interacted with all the time. But I've been thinking, that's not really joining a fandom, right?

So I'm curious what does F!S think. What does it mean to join a fandom? Is consuming content from other fans enough?

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
Is the question 'can you be part of a fandom without experiencing the original canon directly'?

Sure, why not? There are a lot of people in for example Overwatch fandom for the characters, who aren't fans of FPS games.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
You can't actually be part of a fandom you have never seen/watched, imo. The 'fan' of fandom pretty much means you need to a fan of the media. Otherwise, that's just bandwagoning.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
It really depends on the definition of fandom. I wouldn't consider anyone who hasn't seen the source material a fan of said source material, but they may enjoy participating or seeing other people's fanworks. From the outside, they could be said to be in the fandom, but they by definition aren't actually a fan.

As a person who only joins fandoms when I'm a fan of the source material, I get pretty pissed when someone attempts to make fanworks about it and then get the basics wrong; sometimes people come out and say they haven't seen/read/played whatever and that gets an immediate block or mute from me. It feels disrespectful of actual fans. But I would have a hard time parsing out how they're not "in the fandom".
philstar22: (Default)

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

[personal profile] philstar22 2026-01-27 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Being in fandom is enjoying something, however you want to enjoy it. Yes, you can do fandom without actually doing the canon. You can do it while only liking part of canon. You can do it while liking all of canon.

Policing fandom is not cool. You don't get to tell someone else they aren't a real fan.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't get to tell someone else they aren't a real fan.

If someone hasn't read the book or watched the movie, yes, I do get to tell them they aren't a real fan.
philstar22: (Default)

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

[personal profile] philstar22 2026-01-27 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope. Fandom police are one of worst parts of fandom.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
+1000 You tell me that Yoda is your favorite Star Trek character, you're not a fan of Star Trek.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Perfect example, lol.

Re: What does it mean to "join a fandom"?

(Anonymous) 2026-01-27 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I wouldn't describe myself as being "in" a fandom without engaging with the canon, but I don't care if someone else likes it from reading two random memes and thinks it's fun to join in.

As long as you don't start arguing with people over what's canon and what's not.