Snowflake Challenge 2026 #12

[bedes]

Challenge #12

Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

Is it silly to say that reading today's challenge actually kind of filled me with a genuine sense of dread? Imagine my internal sense of self running around my mind palace in circles, screaming, "NOOOO, BEING BAD AT THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I HAVEN'T STARTED RESPONDING TO COMMENTS ON MY WRITING AND ART UNTIL RECENTLY AAAAHHHHHHH"

But! I think it's important to make fancreators feel appreciated. There's been an issue worsening with the online climate, where people just want to consume, consume, consume, and then just... leave. Comments on fanfics are down significantly compared to the early days and, although I don't have any proof of this, in my experience, it certainly feels like fanart is being shared less. On Tumblr, this issue is especially bad, where likes don't even really do anything to help with reach. I don't like it. I don't like that the fandom community is feeling less like a community.

That's exactly why my New Year's resolution this year is to comment on fanworks (and general art) more. Specifically, I want to comment on at least one piece of art or writing, every two days. I've kept this up so far, and, you know, it's easier than I thought it would be! I spend most of my time on Tumblr where there's a very quick and easy reply feature, so I've just been replying to the art that I've come across that I think is especially impactful in some way. And that's the sort of thing that I like to do! Instead of writing thank-yous (and making myself throw up in the process, probably), I like to show that I'm thankful for somebody's contributions to fandom by supporting them in other ways (that don't make me want to throw up).

Does this response even really meet the letter of this challenge...? I dunno, but it's true to myself and how I interact with artists online, at least, hahaha!

Comments

[sodium_amytal]

I think it's important to make fancreators feel appreciated. There's been an issue worsening with the online climate, where people just want to consume, consume, consume, and then just... leave. Comments on fanfics are down significantly compared to the early days
So true! It's really disheartening, and I'm glad to see people (like you!) sharing gratitude for folks' creations. ❤️ It really does make a difference, especially now that meaningful engagement has tanked.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> There's been an issue worsening with the online climate, where people just want to consume, consume, consume, and then just... leave. Comments on fanfics are down significantly compared to the early days and,<<

Reasons include but are not limited to:

* People have less time as they must spend more of it scrabbling to survive.

* Communities have scattered due to decades of platforms collapsing.

* The nastier society gets in general, the less people want to interact with it.

* The more intrusive society gets in general, and especially online, the less people want to leave breadcrumbs of any kind.

* The more lengthy and obnoxious user agreements get, the fewer people are willing to sign them, which usually means you can't comment and often means you can't even see content.


>> although I don't have any proof of this, in my experience, it certainly feels like fanart is being shared less. <<

To this add:

* Many of the best platforms for sharing art have enshittified or collapsed. Cohost was a great place for sharing art, but it's gone. :(

* The rise of AI theft has made people reluctant to share things, especially images.


>> On Tumblr, this issue is especially bad, where likes don't even really do anything to help with reach. <<

On this add:

Tumblr is currently doing a ban surge to drive away people who post things that it is doesn't like. Fanwork is commonly a target. Many other platforms have also done this. We get a surge once or twice a year now, with folks coming into Dreamwidth for this reason.


>> I don't like it. I don't like that the fandom community is feeling less like a community.<<

I agree. I miss it.

>>That's exactly why my New Year's resolution this year is to comment on fanworks (and general art) more. <<

Go you! Feedback is candy.