Poll: Anon Memes

[apple_pathways]

MUST. STOP. SPAMMING. FLIST!

...tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a poll!

So I've mentioned here several times that I like to lurk/post on various anonmemes. The ones I've posted to are: fail_fandomanon, who_anon, and eleventy_kink. (Oh, and I theoretically mod concrit_anon, though it's pretty slow-goings there these days.) I've visited/perused others, but these are the ones I visit regularly.

The idea of "outing" comes up often on fail_fandomanon: as in being "outed" as someone who reads/posts to the comm. I think that's a pretty grandiose term for a fairly frivolous pursuit. Not only that, but people will refuse to name the fandom they participate in for fear of being recognized. Perhaps if you're the only Kimmy/Joey shipper in a miniscule Full House fandom you have something to worry about, but even then, I doubt it: even if you're the most visible fan in your fandom, there are still hundreds of others who are either lurkers or infrequent participants. I think the number of fans who are readily recognizable by only the general details of their fandom participation (i.e. Sherlock fan who ships Watson/Lestrade and is into BDSM) is pretty low.

Also: aren't these people being just a bit paranoid? Would they really be shunned in fandom circles in people knew they posted to an anonmeme? And is it any anonmeme, or is it this one in particular? (I mean, I can understand the panic of anon-failing on a particularly catty/vicious comment, but then: that's just karma. If you're coward enough to keep someone you dislike on your flist and then complain about them behind their back in a public forum, you sort of deserve what's coming to you.)

So, flist, help me out: What do you think? Detailed results are viewable to just me, and as always, feel free to be honest: I have a thick skin, and I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. (For instance: you will never hear me ask if my ass looks fat in these pants, so don't tell me! :P)

[Poll #1755088]

(Feel free to share questions, concerns, and any points I might have missed in the comments. Also, a question I forgot to add to the poll: does fail_fandomanon have a particular reputation in your fandom/circle of friends?)

Comments

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

Wtf?! What is with fandom's obsession with making EVERYTHING INTO A DRAMAAAAAA? zomg. I don't even really see the point of anonmemes but their existence doesn't bother me at all. People using the term "outed" seems pretty appropriative of a term that's loaded with potent history.

So ultimately, I care not where you anonmeme yourself, my darling.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

IKR?! People are always insisting they would be in so much trouble if anyone knew they posted there, but it just sounds like such self-important bullshit to me. I'm not self-deluded enough to think that 1. I would be easily recognizable outside my little circle of friends or 2. that anyone really gives a damn about my "controversial fandom opinions".

I know that unkind things are said about specific people in fandom on certain memes, and I don't deny that that's hurtful. However, I'm much more likely to spend my time on anonmemes slagging off Joanna Newsom and exchanging recipes for cooking with tarragon than I am to insult anyone's fic or bash my fandom's 'BNF'. (I still could not tell you who the BNFs are in either of my fandoms. If someone wants to enlighten me, please do!) I expect people who've taken the time to get to know me on LJ to trust that I am not going on anonmemes to gossip and be a jerk. As for the people who don't know me well enough to trust me? They don't have to! It's as simple as that.