The original tweet summarizes it pretty well. Fanfic tends to be popular among certain types of neurodivergent people (aka people most likely to read excessively as a child, and have burnout as an adult) for the same reasons that we tend to hyperfixate–neurochemical signaling (I hope I’m using that phrase correctly). What I mean is, for people who are really dependent on changes in dopamine/serotonin/neurotransmitter levels, who have low levels or wonky neural reward systems (perhaps the most common types of neurodivergence)…people like us rely on dependable external sources of those neurochemicals. In order to function, we spend a lot of our free time trying to level out our brain chemistry using things that can reliably bring us a steady stream of joyful moments (rewards) without costing too much of the mental effort that is already in short supply.
significantly: the investment of reading has to be balanced with a steady “return on investment”–and this return has to start fairly quickly. because again, we don’t have a lot of attention/energy to invest on tiring things. we have perpetual “low batteries” in that regard.
that doesn’t mean these stories are “simple,” or that they lack complexity or value–only that the reward has to come in short regular intervals, and it has to have a low “upfront cost.” these stories are only “easy” to read in the sense that the effort we put into them is rewarded in a timely manner. which is why fanfic stories are so perfectly formulated for neurodivergent readers–they are often beautifully written, but skip a lot of the upfront costs (of introducing new characters, of world-building, of getting the audience emotionally connected to the story elements).
the nature of fanfiction is that the reader has a pre-existing relationship with this world and these characters. that–combined with the shorter average length of fics–means that fan fics very quickly start rewarding the reader in a way that traditional fiction struggles to. that’s not a bad thing! and maybe it’s something more traditionally published writers should be paying attention to.
Fanfic, as a genre, has been uniquely helpful and accessible to many neurodivergent readers who would otherwise struggle to immerse themselves in stories. I’m glad so many of you have found a way to love and enjoy reading again! The important thing is that you are spending time inside stories you love–the way those stories are published or presented to the world is just one detail. The fact that you find joy in the process of reading (or listening!) to stories–that is what matters.
I feel understood 🥰
a bunch of people have reblogged this with the default “i feel called out” reaction….and i know when we say that we mean it tongue-in-cheek….but this comment sorta blew my mind & shifted my perspective up and to the left a little thank you♥
while i understand where people are coming from i think its funny when people romanticize the old internet
“the internet now is so damaging to kids”
remember when it was like extremely easy to accidentally stumble upon beheading videos
i love the tags on this post because it’s a mix of people acting like im exaggerating and people being like “i watched 1 guy 1 jar at a slumber party when i was 10 years old”
What are you, Nordy? Officially, Nordy is a “wild animal” which is just SUPER helpful, Minnesota. Thanks. He’s got a sweet face, though. I like the extra colouring that keeps him from being boring. I feel like he’d benefit from some sharp teeth though. Give the boy some ferocity. Assuming he’s the kind of wild animal that can be ferocious? WHO FUCKIN’ KNOWS???
Vibes: 7/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Horror: 2/10
Fuckability: 6/10
Overall, 6/10. Could be better, but the inability to commit hurts Nordy’s potential.
I’ve been getting into hockey for the last, like, 16 months. I’m running a little bit of a fever. I’m British so the concept of mascots is a little bit weird to me. Let’s do this.
In order of the current whole league standings, as of January 25th 2023:
