#this became longer than anticipated and probably has a ton of spelling mistakes so ignore that

[thetiredstuff]

What is with this fandom’s weird obsession with creating and spreading misinformation? Normally I see it being done to Jensen, but as the post you just reblogged proves, they do it to Misha too. I’ve been in a lot of fandoms over the years (some of them way more toxic than the spn fandom), but this has never been a thing in any of them. I don’t get it.

Hi anon!!!

Damn for a second there I thought I had reblogged misinformation and was starting to panick because I try my best to not do that

but yeah i've never been in other fandoms so i don't know about those but I do know (at least in my experience) that it started happening after a new wave of spn fans joined. I think after episode 18 aired, so the ones who are here largely because of destiel and who are all pretty much my age surrounding early 20s. (not saying everyone fits that descriptions because I fit it pretty well so ... but definitely a trend i noticed)

And for some reason a lot of them find it hilarious to spread misinformation posts. And some are indeed funny! When ya know they also mention it is in fact a joke. Because some—like that misha one—are sent out into the tumblr stratosphere without any mention that it is in fact fake.

And some are more harmless than others but for the most part they can be incredibly harmful: I'm thinking back to like a while ago (several months or a year ago) when someone made a manip of Jensen tweeting a homophobic tweet and that just isn't funny. On the contrary it's just very damaging to not only Jensen because he didn't actually say it but also and in that instance more directly to the other fans who love Dean or Jensen or Destiel and then maybe aren't as active on Twitter and see that he's homophobic with no mention that it is in fact fake.

And then other people outside this fandom, still on tumblr, pick up on it and before you know it, it's preading like wildfire except it isn't even true. But the damage is already done.

And while that "Misha is now into NFTs" post is of a different variety, it carries the same weight behind it.

It's very irresponsible and also just damaging to these people's carreers. Like imagine if you're going about your business and then all of a sudden you start seeing screenshots of supposed tweets you tweeted but they're expressing homophobic views?

Like people do get fired for that, people do get reprimanded for that.

It isn't funny to me.

And in the age of so much misinformation and fast-paced sharing, it is really important to watch what you are saying and if you are sharing something to disclose if it is a joke or not.

Of course, that responsibility also lies with those who reblog those fake posts immediately but it isn't always clear whether or not something is fake.

Those "ha ha funny fake posts that make people think actor A is an asshole because it looks real" might be funny to those who create it and their friends who are in on the joke, but the moment it spreads further than that small friend group, it is in fact not funny. Because it can be very damaging to the actor and also to the fans who enjoy his work or characters.