Dan Fixes Coin-OpsThere's a point at which the Meta About The Thing becomes bigger and juicier than the Actual Thing and this intersects with Milkshake Duck and two-hour Youtube Explainers in just this, horrible, horrible way
I understand completely why I don't know what Toby Fox looks like
Dan Fixes Coin-OpsLike imagine having people write 20k word blog posts about you
Imagine having people make multi hour YouTube videos about you
Kat Valentine Allwell@ifixcoinops@retro.social
I've got it.
Modern internet culture treats famous people and the things they make like a public utility.
This hurts everyone involved.
Steven Hoefer@ifixcoinops@retro.social I knew I had made it when some guy with a bad haircut and Aviators sat in his basement and made a video just to tell me how much of a loser I was.
Dan Fixes Coin-OpsLike, you know when your mate says "Oh we were talking about you at whatever-gathering-you-missed the other night, folk missed you and were wondering how whatever-recent-thing-that-was-probably-why-you-weren't-there was going," now if these are people you've know for years you might get that warm little glow of reassurance that Your Friends Care but if they're acquaintances or strangers you might get that uneasy little twinge of "Y'all were talking about me? But I do not necessarily wish to be Observed,"
Right, take that uneasy little twinge, and multiply it by a thousand Incredibly Online Strangers Who Think They Know You, discussing you at midnight on a Saturday
That would Fuck You Up
Dan Fixes Coin-OpsAlready had to block one Homestuck Guy With A Shitlist Who Demanded I Take A Side and the day's still young
Just so it's 100% clear, my Official Stance On Recent Events In The Community is "Holy shit look at this mess, aren't you glad you're not involved"
Eniko Fox@ifixcoinops@retro.social I think I'm not yet famous enough to be talked about in this manner. Or if I am, it has never come to my attention. Regardless, I am blessed
Charlie Stross@ifixcoinops@retro.social Can confirm, from experience.
(I am famous for VERY LIMITED values of fame—it's died down a little but circa 2005-2015 if I walked into an American SF convention I would not be left alone—and yes, folks who think they know you from your work approach you constantly and you're always guessing, "do I know you (and I've forgotten your name) or are you a complete stranger?")