directed towards those who move to AO3 and don't like what they find

This sort of topic has been bothering me for a while and I do NOT play about this shit.

I been thinking looong and hard about they type of people who have nowhere else to turn when it comes to seeking out good, quality fanfic. It’s been happening for years but especially now, people are pouring out of Wattpad looking for their next outlet. So naturally they end up on AO3, because OBVIOUSLY its the best option.

But ooh no, they stumble upon something unsightly. Something with tags that they’re not too fond of! Surely they will continue scrolling through the MILLIONS OF OTHER STORIES THE SITE HAS TO OFFER oh nah they left a comment about how disgusted they were and then posted about how AO3 is problematic on tiktok or something.

DO NOT GET IT TWISTED. THIS IS NOT ME SAYING “erm I think pedophilia and rape is a good thing in fanfiction and if you dont like it ur just a puritan!” HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL NO. You gotta think a little OUTSIDE the black and white. INTENTION MATTERS.

Say we banned all that stuff, no longer allowed on the website. Then say you wanna write a story that has themes with those things, trauma of that variety being at the core of the story. A story worth telling because it has something to SAY about these things. Oh, but where are you gonna put it? That stuff isnt allowed anymore! All because people think its an icky topic and we shouldnt bring it up ever at any time and lets all read the fluffy shit only and WE’RE BACK ON WATTPAD! EXCEPT NOW WE HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO GO, BECAUSE NOW EVERYWHERE IS LIKE WATTPAD. 1984!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not every MENTION of those kinds of topics is NORMALIZING, GLORIFYING, ROMANTICIZING those kinds of topics. And in order to have that OVERLAP, THERE'S GONNA BE THE OTHER UGLY GROSS SIDE that you just have to leave to its own devices where you, and other people who are smart enough to filter that shit OUT, dont have to see it (this does NOT apply to these things happening in real life use ur brain a little). You know a really cool fun feature AO3 has? You can simply go into your tag preferences, and turn aaaaaall that shit off. Out of sight, out of mind COMPLETELY. You leave the freaks and weirdos in their tank of rot and you can enjoy everything else. INCLUDING things that may have darker themes, but approach them in a much more responsible and sensible way. THE OVERLAP.

And side note dont even try to pull the old “consuming that stuff is a coping mechanism!” brother you are gooning your shit don’t even play.

This was a very roundabout way of saying IF YOU’RE GONNA MOVE TO AO3, USE YOUR BRAIN AND TURN OFF THE THINGS YOU DON’T WANNA SEE. IF YOU CAN’T DO THAT, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE IN THESE SPACES. If you want censorship, go back to Wattpad man. You dont get to come into a balanced ecosystem and try to yank out all the stuff you personally do not like to make yourself more comfortable. Because if we did that to everything that exists, we'd have NOTHING.

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” -Benjamin Franklin

I've said my piece.