Ep. 25 - Toxic Fandoms

Cody, Alex and William discuss some troubling trends inside of the most popular fandoms of today. If you don’t like what we have to say then you can take your opinion… and have a wonderful day because you are a lovely individual who is entitled to their opinion.

Toxic fandoms refer to groups of fans who exhibit harmful or negative behavior towards others, often within the context of a particular franchise or series. These behaviors can take many forms, including bullying, harassment, and spreading misinformation.

One of the key characteristics of toxic fandoms is their tendency to engage in "gatekeeping," or the exclusion of others from the fandom based on arbitrary criteria. This can take the form of excluding people who are not "true fans," or who don't meet certain standards of knowledge or devotion. Toxic fandoms may also engage in "cancel culture," in which they seek to ostracize or "cancel" individuals or groups who do not align with their views or who have made mistakes.

Toxic fandoms can also have negative impacts on the franchises or series that they are associated with. For example, toxic behavior by Star Wars fans led to the boycott of the film "The Last Jedi," which was seen as a backlash against the inclusion of diverse characters in the film. This can create a vicious cycle, as the toxic behavior of some fans can lead to a lack of diversity in future projects, which can further fuel the toxic behavior.

So, it is important for all the fans to be respectful and considerate towards others, regardless of their views or opinions. It is okay to have disagreements or different perspectives, but it is not okay to engage in harmful or negative behavior towards others.

One way to combat toxic fandoms is to promote inclusivity and diversity within the community. This can include actively seeking out and amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all fans.

It is also important to recognize that toxic behavior is not inherent to any particular franchise or series, and that toxic behavior can occur in any fandom. By working together to create a positive and inclusive community, we can help to mitigate the negative effects of toxic fandoms and create a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

We here at D&L respect everyone’s right to an opinion - and even when we disagree, we come from a place of love, rather than a place of anger or harm.

Thank you so much for listening! We would love your input, comments, questions or episode ideas.

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