Fandom Colonizer

Outsiders who join a fandom solely to change it to fit their standards without actually enjoying it. They ignore pre-established rules and expect others to follow their new ones without question. They attack fans and creators for anything they deem "abnormal" and engage in brigaded attacks against those who don’t conform. They have no problem threatening violence or sending death threats, believing their actions are justified. Despite pretending to be inclusive, they reject any culture outside their own. When called out, they always play the victim and claim it's proof the fandom needs "fixing." They manipulate online engagement by botting Facebook likes, Twitter shares, and Reddit upvotes to create a false sense of support. Most emerged during and after the 2020 pandemic when lockdowns gave people too much free time. While some pre-2020 cases existed, they were mostly confined to Tumblr. They can be identified by posts mocking fandom norms that receive thousands of likes, yet most replies disagree, exposing the botting. When confronted, they typically: - Play the victim - Use ad hominem attacks against fans - Trivialize the situation (often exposing their hypocrisy) - Threaten violence against those who disagree