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@flocklander I have been thinking the same exact things, I'm not even a wishful shipper anymore but i stayed on this side of the fandom because I enjoyed the irreverence creativity hilarity and the genuine friendships I saw here. But the last few days have me like have I somehow slipped into an alternate universe? The trashing of Sam and Cait, people telling other people to stop supporting MPC and WCC ? Really?really? I'm still lurking here but I doubt that I will continue to do so I refuse to have this toxic bullshit have any space in my love for Outlander and for Sam and Cait

Aw Ms Flock, please don't leave. Yes, there has been some pretty disrespectful attitudes, but I think it is bc of the monumental ambiguity of the relationship between S/C. I am hoping it settles after a time, please give it some time. There are so many balls in the air ppl are dizzy. Many are hurt that there has been no confirmation one way or the other. Some of us old timers are just sitting back waiting. It's a hard thing to do. Please don't go.

I know where it stems from and vehemently disagree that being personally hurt by the ambiguity of the private lives of two celebrities excuses any of the behaviors that have become absolute dealbreakers for me. There is a severe lack of perspective ruling this part of the fandom and it has become blind to the fact that it is just as toxic as the other side. And maybe even more so because this used to be a place of love, hope and respect that we just may never know so we were all committed to just appreciating what was in front of us. All of which has been replaced with entitlement, nastiness, tantrums, taunting, unrealistic demands, disgusting belittling and disrespect based on perceived sexual orientations, withdrawing charitable support to people in dire need who don’t have the luxury of THIS being the biggest problem they’re dealing with over unsubstantiated rumors and spite, and a myriad of other behaviors that rival the misogyny and disdain on the other side.

This is not about waiting for a storm to pass. The upswings are too few and fleeting and the downswings too frequent and petty. This is me trying to discern if there are enough like-minded shippers dedicated to enjoying Sam, Cait and the possibilities surrounding them without shitting on every move they make that I can continue to interact with, or if the vast majority of this community has entered a place I am not willing to go.

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@costumeperiod I agree with a lot of what you have to say about Shatner and his slimy sidekick they are cowardly assholes! I don't follow either on Twitter but when I see evidence where they have screen capped and bullied fans I go on their Twitter and call out the bullshit. Funny neither of them have ever engaged me.what I disagree with is calling on Sam to publicly chastise the asswipe and his bawbag. That would be a mistake in my opinion as these small minded little men might become even more abusive of fans out of spite and to save face. Also I suppose because I'm a grown ass woman I don't need Sam to ride in on his white horse and defend me.Sam didn't recruit anybody into shipping. We chose to ship the fact that some people don't like it and are assholes about doesn't mean Sam owes us anything. If people feel bullied stand up for yourself take the bullies on and stand in your power. These impotent incontinent old Farts don't have any power other than what we give them. So I don't need Sam to rescue me, I got this. And to Shitstain and Cumoso don't come for me unless I send for you.

SamCait - William Shatner

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@flocklander I completely agree with you ! I have read some posts in the last few days that have me wondering what the hell? I think sometimes I forget that a lot of the bloggers here are relatively young and therefore have a different perspective. But still WTH?

Are you Ok?

Personally, I am just fine. I’ve had a busy week of having a new baby on my watch, a drywaller on site and getting back into the swing of life after the holidays.

This blog, however, is teetering on the brink as I decide whether or not the increasing displays of vitriol, disrespect, pettiness, bullying, hypocrisy, knee-jerk reactions and a lack of personal accountability are the new norm for this part of the fandom and if I want to be associated with it. Some of the things I’ve witnessed this week go so far beyond the threshold of what I personally can stomach and are such turn-offs that I don’t think this is the right place for me anymore. 

Disclaimer: This isn’t a pity party. I’m not feeling undervalued and my feelings have not been hurt in any way. I’m still 1000% shipping. I’m just observing and taking the time to make a well-thought-out decision on whether or not I want to remain a part of this community in its current state. 

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Reblog because I endorse every.single.word of this post 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽@youmisshe-terribly you hit it out the park with this rant!

In defense of a “Minor Celebrity”: An Exposition by a Nobody

WARNING: strong profanity ahead.

“It’s not like Caitriona’s a major celebrity why does she have to act so secretive about her private life?”

Oh, let’s think about this, shall we? Why indeed.

Maybe because it’s her PRIVATE LIFE and it’s her right to protect it?

Maybe because her ex is already out there showing his ass trying to use their doomed love story to sell his music?

Maybe because shippers AND antis BOTH are trying to use her relationship with Sam to fulfill some need they have?

Maybe it’s disconcerting for someone who just wants to enjoy finally living out her purpose to be at the center of all this?

Maybe she spent so much time - a decade - with people focusing on her looks and image instead of her talent that now she will go to her grave refusing to ever be that person again?

Maybe she has to keep SOME THINGS to herself or she’ll go crazy?

Maybe she doesn’t want to be a sellout and change who she has always been - stubborn and confident - because people expect her to? (Which is an admirable way to live a life, by the way.)

And those are just the reasons I can think of off the top of my head.

Repeat after me: Caitriona Balfe is not a dancing monkey. You are not entitled to tell her to shake what her mama gave her and make it rain. You are not entitled to her truth. That is a societal fallacy born of and nurtured by social media and other interactive mediums which have given more access to celebrities than ever before. People follow celebrities, get to interact with them a bit, but it is NOT an invitation into their lives. It is a courtesy, a nicety. And you need to learn the difference if you think she owes you shit.

And ALSO , if she’s not a “major celebrity “ consider why the fuck you spend all YOUR time thinking about her, blogging about her, obsessing over her, loving/hating her, etc? She’s not a “major celebrity,” right? So maybe that means she’s even MORE like you and me, even MORE entitled to fly under the radar, and maybe, just maybe, you need to find another hobby other than throwing tantrums because she won’t tell you something that’s none of your damn business. Keep stomping your feet and pulling your pigtails - you’re gonna end up with a sprained ankle and half a head of hair by the time you realize you are wasting your efforts. Because Caitriona Balfe is a grownass woman who, through trial and error, has figured out who the fuck she is and what she wants out of life, and she is not about to change the way she does things for you or for anybody.

*Rant Over*

P. S. Nope, not rant over, because while I’m at it, let me address the bullshit about how this or any other bullshit drama the fandom likes to accuse her of is going to impact her career: IT’S NOT. She’s a phenomenal, 3 time Golden Globe nominated actress. She lives a respectable, quiet life and surrounds herself with normal, non-Hollywood people who keep her grounded. She passionately supports worthy causes. She works her ass off and she’s grateful for the opportunities she’s given.

Oh, and a few Outlander fringe fans and D-list gossip columnists from other countries write silly, untrue things about her.

What - What’s that, you say? Nobody in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association gives a SHIT about a storm in a teacup or the cries of some fickle-ass “fans”? Day in the life of any celebrity? Okay then, Caitriona, here’s your Golden Globe. NEXT!

And that’s just the way it fucking is.

*Rant Actually Over*

This has been an exposition by MJ, a Nobody.

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So what?

The IG post was deleted? Doesn't change the fact that Cait is there with Tobrian and obviously some talk of engagement happened. The person would not simply have made it up.

IMO Cait is engaged to Tobrian she just didn't give that person permission to post the news. But again I say so what? Shippers for the most part have reacted to this development with the usual creative hilarity. I have had a few genuine belly laughs reading some posts today 😂😂😂

So what?

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Ship on I say ship on!

To the diehard shippers out there who feel gut punched by the news of the "engagement ". I saw laugh your asses off and ship on! After all it's just fantasy right? And you ship because you can right? I say continue to ship the hell out of Sam and Cait , continue to collect your receipts and continue to have fun be creative and hilarious 😂. After all nothing has really changed has it? We still don't know what's really going on in Sam and Cait's real lives and we probably never will.

So since this is a fantasy and we can do what the hell we like...I say ship on laughing all the way 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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I hope people aren't too devastated by these developments and can just move on. I don't know why Sam is to be castigated for Cait's behavior. I've always felt that Sam really loved Cait but she was the one who didn't want a relationship. Sam has tried to move on and was thrown under the bus for it. I stopped even being a wishful shipper after the Baftas, that hiya love comment from Sam screamed friend to me and I just felt that Sam had finally come to terms with it and moved on. Of course he just can't help touching her and lighting up when he's in her presence because I think he genuinely loved/loves her. Cait was I think physically attracted to Sam and I think they were lovers at some point but I don't think she was ever in love with Sam.

In any event it's all water under the bridge now and I hope we can all just move on and concentrate on the show. I think S4 is it for Outlander as the show hasn't gained the new audience STARZ was hoping for. I will still follow Sam and his career and I wish Cait all the best.

Eh, I wish! That lady is liking comments about Cait and Tony being a couple and calling Cait Mrs. Mcgill. I’m just waiting for Cait to announce it as soon as she comes on line.

Yeah…she’s vague and not mentioning any name and the whole thing stinks to me.  I’m sitting this one out I think, wait to see what happens.  I will say though, if this turns out to be true then I have badly misread Cait, Tony, and Sam too, and my respect for all three will be done.

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That is what I hope for Sam as well and I wish Cait a happy marriage and lots of babies! She deserves all the happiness in the world!

In the interest of being fully open with everyone…seems like this is public information now

Let’s wish Caitriona and Tony the best…

Do I wish things for Sam and Cait had been different? For sure. They are magic together but it is what it is.

I am a fan of Sam and I hope he finds love and happiness and success.

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What a beautiful post!😍😍😍I had to log off tumblr a few hours ago because all the negativity and trashing of Sam and Cait was getting to me. I log back in and this is the first post I see. Thank you so much for bringing some light and love into this space today! Happy New Year and blessings to you and your family!🙄🤗🤗

These two. These two lovely, kind, genuine, loving people. They are why I am here on Tumblr, and on FB, and on Twitter. I am a shipper. I am PROUD to be a shipper.❤️❤️ Do I know something others don’t know about Caitríona and Sam? No, I do not. I am simply a woman of a certain age (60) who has had the blessing of living a very full life, filled with the love of family and friends. I am, by nature, open and observant, accepting and loving and positive. I trust my gut and intuition. I have paid attention to the professional and public interactions between Caitríona and Sam over nearly four years, and I believe what I believe. Am I correct in my belief? Who knows! It really doesn’t matter to me - I feel good about my personal belief and have no desire to persuade anyone else to share it, or, more importantly, no desire or need to deride or mock anyone who doesn’t feel as I do! And this, dear friends, is what has prompted me to compose this post. I hardly EVER post. 😬🤓 Oh yes, I read and follow and comment and even DM people on Tumblr/FB/Twitter whose posts move me, bring me happiness, make me laugh or cry, challenge me, make me want to take another look or take a step or two back in order to see something from another perspective —- in short, anything that makes me FEEL. My life has been enriched and expanded by the individuals I have developed friendships with on social media in the Outlander fandom! My interactions with them have brought me love, laughter, light, grace, and blessings galore! With few exceptions, I have never met these friends in person - but they are no less special or dear to me because I have not! I had NO IDEA what “shipping” was before my introduction into the world of Outlander and Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan! I simply watched an episode of a show a relative had recommended and I was captivated! I binged Season 1 (several times!). I began to search the web for info on the production, and Caitríona, and Sam, and … oh my gosh! It’s based on a series of novels?! And … oh my gosh! There are blogs devoted to Outlander and Sam and Caitríona and … oh my gosh! I think I am in love with Scotland and … oh my gosh! How quickly can I read all 8 of the novels (several times now!☺️) and … oh my gosh, when does the next season premiere, and OH BOY! Now I’ve subscribed to Ancestry.com and submitted my saliva to AncestryDNA and discovered my ancestors were primarily Scottish and Irish (and that explains why I watched Braveheart in the theatre 7 times when it first came out 😳 and all I could explain to people who thought I’d lost my mind was “the story, the scenery, the music - it makes my blood RUSH and I feel a THRUM deep inside me that I’ve never experienced before!” (Further evidence of my long-held personal belief in the “collective unconscious” 😉). And finally and most importantly … oh my gosh, WHAT IS THIS that I am seeing between these two actors - the chemistry, the looks, the body language, the, the, OH WAIT!!!! Other people SEE this too???? It’s a thing??? I can talk to other people about it??? I’m a what??? Hell yes, if that’s what it’s called, I AM A SHIPPER!!!! 😊😚😉😍😍❤️❤️ Okay, deep breath. I got excited, just recalling those early days! An important and necessary question I have asked myself is “Am I hurting anyone by shipping?” My answer: No, I do not believe I am. It has NEVER occurred to me to try and convince another person to believe what I believe. (I will, however, happily speak about what I believe if someone has the time and they want to hear it!😊). Unfortunately, I am well aware there are people who feel it is their “duty” to shame shippers, mock shippers, and do their level best to convince shippers that we are WRONG. But I just don’t have the time, the mind, nor the heart, for that nonsense. I believe in the goodness of the vast majority of people. A person who would mock me or harass me or bully me for my belief - I just cannot let that poison into my life. And it is a poison - of that I have no doubt. Sadly, that poisonous nature has been foisted upon many wonderful shippers in this fandom by other “fans” (using that word loosely 🙄) and even by “blue-check celebrities” (looking at you, William Shatner, and your side-kick, Paul Camuso) and for that, my heart breaks. The abuse and bullying that has occurred, and continues to occur, is unconscionable! I pity people who deal in hatred and negativity. I cannot imagine why a life, in which those characteristics would be lived out, would be something a person would CHOOSE. It is, however, a sad reality. It is a fine line, indeed, to work to dispel this poison and stand up for those who are being bullied without “feeding the beast by engaging with it” - and I am continually thankful for the beautiful, loving people in this fandom who tackle this work with a pure and courageous heart and soul! Life is just too short to fill it with anything other than love and generosity and goodness and mercy and light! So … I’ll go right on shipping … and I’ll continue to love, respect, admire, and support those two people you see above.😍😍 I’ll continue to be a fan of Outlander, and extol its praises to anyone who will listen to me. 🤓 I’ll continue to “find my kind” in the fandom and be grateful for the beauty, love, laughter, happiness, and light they share with me. And I’ll continue to do my part to dispel the darkness and negativity that seeps in through the cracks and seeks to diminish others simply for the fact that they LOVE something … they SEE something … they BELIEVE in something … they HOPE for something … ❤️❤️ In closing, I’d like to say “thank you” to all the wonderful individuals who have shared their friendship, and their love of Outlander and Caitríona and Sam, with me over the past year. I wish you a most Happy New Year!!! May 2018 bring you and yours abundant love, joy, peace, health, and happiness!!!

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Reblog to continue my previous comment. Like everyone else I have eyes I can see the real genuine love and affection between Sam and Cait. But I'm also an adult and I don't believe they are together and engaged in some elaborate cover up to hide their relationship. We as fans don't know these people and we will never know why they have chosen not to be romantically involved. I respect that and I wish them happiness with whoever they choose to be with. Doesn't mean I can't hope that one day they will get together I will be very very happy if that happens.

In the meantime I refuse to trash their characters until I see behavior from them that justifies that. So far what I have seen is two fantastic actors who work their asses off to bring Jamie and Claire to life and I'm grateful for that. I also see two compassionate caring people who are socially conscious and actively do their part to make the world a better place. They are not angels or in any way perfect I question Sam's taste in women as I think MM is not a good choice but hey it's his choice. I question Cait's treatment of Tobrian because she is very flirtatious and touchy-feely with Sam she should be more respectful of her boy friend but again that's just my opinion.

At the end of the day we don't really know these people and they owe us nothing but a good performance. On that score Sam and Cait have never let me down. That's good enough for me

Do you think Cait is spending New Years with Tony? Or is this another faked picture? She does look happy.

I don’t know, Anon, seems so. Could it not be as simple as she’s happy because she’s on vacation?  That picture could be recent or maybe it was taken earlier and included now in the IG story.  I don’t think it’s fake.  She’s turned almost at right angles to T, leaning her shoulder his way so her bag has fallen between them, and her left arm is down and behind her.   (As opposed to being smushed hip first, with her left arm across his torso like she would be with someone else)  It looks to me like a picture of Cait on the beach with her friends.  She told us in a Q & A weeks ago that she had booked a vacation to Australia.  She shared with us pictures from the airport the day she left.  She posed for fan pictures at a restaurant in Sydney. Today she shows up in an IG story and she’s manipulating us, Sam is gay again, and we are being gaslighted.  I gotta get more sleep.

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Great commentary on my favorite episode of S3👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

My love for a good love story is well documented around these parts. And there is no more sweeping love story on television than Jamie and Claire’s epic Outlander romance. Every chapter in their story feels cinematic, so I was thrilled when it was announced that their long-awaited reunion episode, “A. Malcolm,” would be almost feature-length (74 minutes, and I could have watched another 74). Their farewell in last season’s finale was one of my favorite TV moments of 2016, so it was safe to say my expectations for their return to one another were high. But even the (probably too many) hours I spent imagining how the show would depict their famous “print shop” reunion could never have prepared me for how wonderful it would be to see Jamie and Claire—and Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe—together again.

The chemistry between Heughan and Balfe is something special, and sometimes you have to go without it for a while in order to fully appreciate how much it elevates the already beautiful story they’re telling. “A. Malcolm” asked them to do a lot of heavy lifting—imagine how cheesy some of those lines could have sounded coming from anyone other than Heughan or how long some of those silent beats could have felt without all the emotions we see so clearly in Balfe’s eyes. And one of the hardest things they had to do in this episode was play this reunion as realistic rather than pure wish-fulfillment. Obviously, both the audience and the characters end up quite satisfied with their return to one another, but it’s not all smooth sailing. There were awkward moments, shy glances, secrets told and some still kept, doubts, anxieties, insecurities, bumped heads, and many other complications that needed to be shown beyond pure relief, joy, and passion, and Balfe and Heughan gave us a true sense of the roller coaster of emotions these characters were on. It would have been easy to play this reunion as a one-note explosion of passion and longing, but that wouldn’t have felt real. Instead, by infusing this reunion with an honest sense of hesitation, they made it even more beautiful because it was believable.

“A. Malcolm” was an incredibly intimate episode—perhaps even more intimate than Jamie and Claire’s wedding episode because the emotional stakes were even higher. And intimacy isn’t something that can be forced; it lives in the tiny details. And those details were my favorite parts of “A. Malcolm”—the way Jamie kissed Claire’s nose after she thought she broke it, the playful smacks they gave each other in bed, Jamie tossing food to Claire, the way their fingers always interlaced when they held hands, the way Jamie’s nails dug into Claire’s shoulder as they made love and then gently stroked her shoulder afterward, the forehead kisses, the tears in Claire’s eyes when Jamie told her she was beautiful, the way she kissed his stomach as she talked about him being too fit for a printer…All those small moments added up to a picture of a marriage being brought to life again. And I loved that it was brought to life with so much laughter. This reunion could have easily been tearful and intense, but the genuine laughter between them lit up the screen and served as the perfect reminder that love should make you happy—that you should be able to laugh with the person who’s sharing your bed. What made all that even better was the fact that this is a marriage between two people in their 40s who are still capable of having really great sex with each other, which is something that’s not often shown on television.

Both Balfe and Heughan were at the top of their game in this episode, with Balfe’s gift for vulnerability on full display in nearly every scene. And I found myself completely captivated by the nuances Heughan brought to his performance. From shy hesitation and downright confusion to near-delirious desire and overwhelming love, he played every facet of Jamie’s reactions to Claire’s reappearance perfectly. And if you didn’t melt a little at the awestruck look in his eyes when he saw her naked before him or get a little hot and bothered by his smile as he told Claire he wanted to eat, you weren’t paying attention. Heughan did incredible things with just his eyes and his face in this episode, matching Balfe’s gift for nonverbal nuance beat for beat. It’s what made that scene of them undressing each other so satisfying to watch. In the hands of lesser actors with less chemistry, it would have been horribly boring, but watching the two of them watch each other was a thing of beauty that was enough to leave a viewer breathless.

Ultimately, the best example of what these two actors brought to this episode can be found in its early moments, when they were back in each other’s arms for the first time. Balfe’s tears during their first kiss made me an emotional wreck, but nothing prepared me for how stunning Heughan’s performance in that scene was. The way his small smile against her mouth bloomed into tears of joy and relief as it settled in his soul that she really was there was a truly gorgeous display of raw emotion. And it’s that kind of performance—that kind of emotional intimacy—that allows viewers to get lost in this love story.

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Reblog because people in this fandom need to chill and cut Sam some slack! Everything he does or says is interpreted in the most negative light by some people! It is unfair and wrong. If people think Sam is such trash why follow him just to criticize? It makes no sense

So it's quite sure Sam is trolling the fandom? If we don't have enough of this...

Lol relax and keep shipping, I was just kidding at his play on words and time. We’ll see what comes next. If he posts a picture under a map then I’ll say that yes he’s trolling, until then…

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Reblog because I hope people take on board this sage advice to tune it all out if this is affecting your mental and emotional health. Whether you ship or not the truth of it is none of us know anything for sure it's all speculation on both sides of the kale aisle . So just chill and let love rule🤗🤗😏

A Rainbow isn’t Always What it Seems

So, any of you who haven’t been through Holiday Musical Chairs with Sam and Cait, I recommend unplugging the week before Christmas and tuning back in late January.

Clearly, I have very little self-control, didn’t take my own advice and here I am. I still recommend logging-out if you can.

I don’t enjoy speculating because it either makes me disappointed, frustrated, anxious and, basically, co-dependent. I own it.

However, something to keep in mind in this fandom. Sam and Cait have mastered the game. When Sam posts #lookwhereiam and points to a map, that isn’t private, that’s part of the game. Just keep that in mind if you stay in the game in the next few weeks.

So, back to rainbows. Remember when Cait posted the rainbow for Sam’s birthday in Africa? We couldn’t enjoy it for long, could we? But, we DID get to enjoy it long enough for the easy-breezy, 3-step “insert-a-rainbow” photoshop app (there are dozens) to be utilized.

That was laughable. It made me angry at the time because rainbows are meaningful to me. Very. Now? It’s funny. It’s called manipulation. It’s part of “the game.” Why fake a rainbow? Why go over-the-top”?

It wasn’t the first time Photoshop was used in this game ..nor was it the last….

So, I recommend grabbing an Old-fashioned or Hot toddy and sitting this one out.

Meet you all on the other side of the rainbow, k?

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Unforgettable Duos: Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in Outlander.

On their own, both Balfe and Heughan show great acting skills. Together, however, they show a clear chemistry, which makes these two one of the best points of the series.

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Reblog for @houseofjoy1766 response. I don't even wishful ship anymore but I stay on this side of the fandom because for the most part people here are kind tolerant creative and hilarious 😂 I lol at least once a day from the posts here . By contrast those on the anti side I've observed to be mean spirited and toxic so consumed with being right that they want to control how people think and express their fandom. Miss me with all that bullshit! I'm here on the lido deck with a shiptini LMAO 😂

Anonymous said:  No, Sam and Cait were never a couple.  They have denied to be a couple and have been seen with other people in print and on video.  She has the same civilian boyfriend for years.  Sam had different girlfriends over the years.

Anonymous said:  The whole Sam/Cait thing reminds me of the level of crazy in the Smallville fandom back before social media existed to the level it is now.  Had that show been airing today, 😂.

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Are we addicted to outrage?

I think it’s a  more of being in the constant state of not knowing/unknown and/or fandom/shipper ptsd. Therefore, anything can trigger anxiety, outrage, sadness, and more. It’s a difficult state to be in and as many have articulated, this ship is not for the faint hearted. So, first and foremost, my advice is always take care of you and the people around you. They are your reality and they matter. 

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👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽

I think as a culture we have all forgotten that fandom is supposed to be fun.

It’s not that serious.

It was never supposed to be that serious.

Especially since most of the drama and hurt revolves around shipping.

All of the ships are fictional. Being canon doesn’t actually negate the fact that the ship isn’t real. 

No ship, or any aspect of a fictional universe, is important enough to treat another real life human being badly. 

It’s not that serious.