Sylvia

Let me do my job.

---

I took a sick day today.

I'm proud that this community is strong enough and internet savvy enough to band together to help and save people.

But some days I wonder if large communities like this, with these sorts of parasocial relationships...

If it's even healthy. Or good for us. As humans.

I wonder if one day I'll find myself in the line of fire of this website's ire.

Comments

[Not Enough Coffee]

You're a good man, Priest. I respect you.

[Themaskedferret]

*proffers a hug*

[MetalGenocide]

*warming get-better-soon hugs that adhere to quarentine rules*

[Shakespearicles]

You know I'd have your back.

[Shady Nail]

I don't see that happening. Maybe a few people might harass one another, but the whole site? You gotta fuck up real bad for that.

The site and fandom as we know it now, started as fringe group, nowadays as the show has died off we kinda just stick together whether because of the friends we've made or just to see what we can create together. This fandom was not formed on unity, so much as the core concept of the show, harmony.

A bunch of tiny little groups separate from each other, but in the same place. They usually don't bicker with each other, just agree to disagree. After all you don't discolight fans hurling insults at fluttercord fans do you?

Ultimately I think it's going to be fine. No worries, at least not here.

If someone does try to get in face about something, consider what it is. If it starts to feel the conversation is starting to become toxic, just ignore further discussion.

If they persist in this behavior, block them, it's what the feature is for.

[Shady Nail]

5545589
I got antibodies. Whoo!! *bear hugs*

[MetalGenocide]

5545616
Whoo!

[RBDash47]

But some days I wonder if large communities like this, with these sorts of parasocial relationships...

If it's even healthy. Or good for us.

I don't think it is!

[Opium4TmassS]

Its has its good and bad. People are emotional we think with our feelings. A lot of times we get worked up on very trivial things. (Twilight becoming an alicorn anyone?). It should be expected whatever you join online but emotions do direct our actions a lot more than we think they do online.

[Herald of Opera]

5545661

(Twilight becoming an alicorn anyone?)

Even the spectacularly tone-deaf Fame and Misfortune put that one in the mouth of an old pony to emphasize how nobody has cared about it in forever.

[Wild Zontars]

Disclaimer: the PDF I'm about to link was written by someone with a specific viewpoint (the title may give it away). That's not relevant here. You can replace the title with "surviving an internet hate mob" or "internet mob attack survival guide" instead. The first bullet point assumes general IRL job/community bullshit instead of a caring subcommunity, ignore that too. The rest is what's important.

[Internet Mob] Attack Survival Guide

TL;DR: Haters gonna hate. They don't care about you, so don't care about them. Their bitching doesn't matter. Block/report/etc and encourage them to go fuck themselves. Disable comments if necessary. Do not apologize for whatever bullshit they're on about. Do not delete your account, your story, or yourself. Pay attention to which friends helped you, and which friends sided with the bullies or just did nothing. Never trust the latter with anything ever again.

[The Computer Pony]

I could never turn against Priest. Your stories have brought me too much joy!

[Shachza]

Priest, in a similar vein to 5545766, having met you in person, I don't think you could turn me against you.

Unless you come out for waffles.

#pancakes

[Flutterpriest]

5545787
#pancakes easily

[The Chronicler]

Humans were designed to live in close-knit groups, tribes, that interact in meat-space on a daily basis. It's how we are neurologically wired. While the Internet has massively contributed to humanity, in some ways it has enabled us to be less than what we should be.

[SunnySidePony]

Who are you again?