NOOOOOOO

@thatfeelyfeel.gobirds.online I was insistent that I’ve checked before and there were no union fics but you inspired me to look harder today

I think it’s deeply valuable to engage in this kind of reflection. I acknowledge the inherent dehumanization of TS the person, but this thread is really about TS as the brand, fandom, and public persona. I don’t know any of these PEOPLE, I know their celebrity and its impact on me and society.

Also before anyone tells me this is a crazy level of attachment, okay! It’s an ALLEGORY not literal. Para social isn’t a pejorative and our personal connections to pop culture and fandom are in fact psychologically and culturally important.

This is all to say, he is a divisive figure in the fandom, which operates on such an intense para social and pseudo familial level, that it elicits the equivalent of a trauma response experienced by a children impacted by divorce.

Trav is Mother’s true soulmate who is practically perfect in every way, but came into our lives after the worst times were already over.

To me, he is the ex-step dad who was stable and such an impressive positive influence on my life that I’ll never hate him. My siblings don’t talk to him anymore, but I’ll invite him to my wedding (and mom will pretend not to be upset)

What did I miss? Whomst did this happen to??

Yes!