#on neutral ground any rpf is fine. but especially in dnps case where theyve actively encouraged it and are extremely grateful

[simplydnp]

what's your opinion on fanfics about dnp? (more in a way of do you think that it's crossing boundaries and/or being parasocial)

i'm of the same mind of dnp in that phanfic is fucking incredible. it's an important and valid way to express yourself, as well as a building block of our community. i don't think it's crossing boundaries, as it's fiction. i don't see it as parasocial either--you're writing for you and others like you. most people don't want dnp reading their fics, it's not for them in a sense, it's for us.

i think dnp are extremely aware of fanfic and its value and place in community. they've always encouraged it, appreciated the support, and given us space about it. they're not ones to make videos about it and mock fans for it (which happened to some of our lovely fic writers here writing for other yt fandoms, and i'm so sorry about it). dnp are fandom culture people. they've written fic themselves! and published it in their book!

the word parasocial has been twisted lately to imply any fan support is unnatural and should be shamed, which is complete fucking bullshit. making art is always important and valued. and it is necessary for your existence as a human, but also for the thing you're a fan of to thrive.

the parasocial side comes in once you start believing you know this person. and that you're their real friend. when in reality, they do not know you specifically, and you are not their friend, you are an audience member.

so a parasocial relationship only occurs when people start crossing boundaries (digging for not publicly available information, contacting people in their personal life, showing up to their house, etc). which, is absolutely nowhere close to real fan behaviour.

tl;dr: phanfic is great, i love you fic writers, parasociality is a problem but not one that we have

#dnp have such a unique relationship w/ their audience in this way. it isnt parasocial bc it isnt like. too real? like they arent our friends #we joke and we meme but we Know that. but they Are a facet of our lives and we do care about them perhaps more than an average community #but they also care about us more than an average creator too. #we're extremely familiar with each other. but not in an unhealthy and dangerous way. just. aware. #its special. its fun. #like we even make jokes about dnp being parasocial with us sometimes lol #i hope im clear and it doesnt sound pointed anon but we've done the morality of rpf so many times in this fandom #on neutral ground any rpf is fine. but especially in dnps case where theyve actively encouraged it and are extremely grateful #except maybe when we haunted them with awful crack fics. but even then they still loved us for it. despite the horrors #dnp #c.text #dan and phil #answered