alkjira:

yubiwamonogatari:

You know one thing I’ve really become aware of recently is that I am now a certified Adult In Fandom ™. This is weird to me, because I grew up in fandom spaces. I was on deviantart, LJ, Gaia Online, Tumblr, FF.net, and Ao3. My whole teenagerhood and young adulthood has been influenced by fandom spaces.

But beyond that, it’s been influenced by how people have interacted with me – especially when I was between 13-18. I’ve had my fair share of adults who’ve been – in hindsight – creepy, even if I didn’t realise it at the time. When I was 15 I internet-dated a girl much older than me. I was very close friends with some guys who were in their 20s. I had one older woman (with a child and husband) convince me to send her money. I’ve even had a teacher exchange very questionable emails with me.

Of course, I’ve also had experiences with adults in fandom who’ve treated me wonderfully. Who’ve been mature, and responsible. Men and women much older than me who’ve been aware of my age, and who’d acted appropriately in the face of it.

These are the sorts of adults I want to be in fandom. These are the adults who made fandom a safe space, who made me feel comfortable and welcome. Who understood I was young, and that I needed to be treated as such. They found appropriate ways to interact with me, and were great sources of comfort to me.

These are the sort of adults all adults in fandom should be aware of. You have a responsibility and a duty to behave and interact appropriately online. Even if someone presents as mature, you just have to always be aware of their age and be aware of how you might be putting them in a vulnerable position, or behaving inappropriately.

Don’t be the adult someone’s going to look back on in 5 years and think “yikes, that person was totally inappropriate and made me feel uncomfortable.” Be the adult younger members can come to and know you’ll behave responsibly. 

Be the adult you’d want to know when you were younger.

And if an adult makes you uncomfortable don’t be afraid to make that known. 

If it’s accidental they’ll apologise, and if it’s on purpose they’re arseholes, and you will know to stay away. If they’re really horrible call them out on it. 

Fandom can’t be 100% safe all the time but it ALWAYS should be safe from predators.