I am very isolated (and grateful for it) in my Dreamwidth bubble, surrounded by fans who mostly grew up with "Don't Like? Don't Read!" and YKIOK as guiding principles; I virtually never encounter antis, aside from spotting anti-esque tags on AO3 fics or hearing friends complain about them in other spaces.
I'm a definite subscriber to the idea that what most antis want is control: of resources, but also more generally of other fen, too. (Being in charge, leading the mob is a heady feeling.) It often seems to be tied up with people taking personal disgust as a moral indicator: if I feel a visceral reaction to a ship, a kink, or a concept, it must be an objectively Bad Thing. Further: if it's a Bad Thing, then my desire not to feel bad isn't just a silly wish but a matter of moral principle. You're subjecting me to Bad Things by writing smut, which means you're actually harming me, not just making me feel a bit ugh. Now I'm justified in attacking you, because it's self-defence!
Of course, anybody over the age of 12 or so ought to be well aware that "I don't like it" is not the same as "it's an objectively bad thing." And it further breaks down because, for ~mysterious reasons~ (hint: it's misogyny) never addressed by these wankers, it's only women and minorities that they apply it to - I never see or hear about antis trying to harass and dogpile male fans or police fanfic posted on male-dominated sites. Funny how that works! If it was really a moral crusade that they believed in, wouldn't it apply to everybody, and most of all to those who have social power to oppose or support them? And yet, somehow, it's always women and minorities who are targeted for being insufficiently moral - because those are the people with the resources that antis want, and also the people who are (perceived as) easier to control.
no subject
I'm a definite subscriber to the idea that what most antis want is control: of resources, but also more generally of other fen, too. (Being in charge, leading the mob is a heady feeling.) It often seems to be tied up with people taking personal disgust as a moral indicator: if I feel a visceral reaction to a ship, a kink, or a concept, it must be an objectively Bad Thing. Further: if it's a Bad Thing, then my desire not to feel bad isn't just a silly wish but a matter of moral principle. You're subjecting me to Bad Things by writing smut, which means you're actually harming me, not just making me feel a bit ugh. Now I'm justified in attacking you, because it's self-defence!
Of course, anybody over the age of 12 or so ought to be well aware that "I don't like it" is not the same as "it's an objectively bad thing." And it further breaks down because, for ~mysterious reasons~ (hint: it's misogyny) never addressed by these wankers, it's only women and minorities that they apply it to - I never see or hear about antis trying to harass and dogpile male fans or police fanfic posted on male-dominated sites. Funny how that works! If it was really a moral crusade that they believed in, wouldn't it apply to everybody, and most of all to those who have social power to oppose or support them? And yet, somehow, it's always women and minorities who are targeted for being insufficiently moral - because those are the people with the resources that antis want, and also the people who are (perceived as) easier to control.