Thread by @DustinStreet

Okay. We gotta talk about astrology. I try very hard to just let people have their fun things, and even weird stuff they believe in that has absolutely ZERO basis in science or fact, and mostly just keep my nose down. BUT. An author I admire and follow is literally (Cont)

receiving death threats from some obsessive “fans” of a book she wrote a decade ago because the author does not know/remember the birthday of one of the characters in the books. These fans want to know that info so they can figure out the character’s charts and (Cont)

Basically say “Yep! I was right! She’s this sign and that explains her behavior as a character!” And when this author could not provide the info, these fans started creating burner and private accounts to harass and threaten her (Cont)

They have threatened to break into her house, threaten to destroy her property, have tried to “plot” what they would do and how many people would be in the author’s house…and this author has VERY kindly engaged with these fans and told them about her writing process (Cont)

And thanked them for being readers/fans. She has also asked them on multiple occasions to stop the harassing behavior, but it has only gotten worse, and they have only gotten larger in numbers as a group. It’s almost cult-like, the way these so called “fans” are acting (Cont)

And all because an author will not dole out a trivial piece of information about a character…and not even because she WON’T, but because it’s just not something that mattered to the story. And now she’s getting continued threats and harassment, and having past trauma (Cont)

And PTSD drudged up by these people, all because they just NEED to know this character’s birth sign. I’m so angry and scared for this author, and the way these people are acting on here. I’ve spent half an hour searching mentions and cross-referencing accounts and tweets (Cont)

And what I have dug up just in that short amount of time is DISTURBING. Some of these people need serious counseling and help, if this is the behavior they deem appropriate of fans interacting with an author. This behavior makes it scary for other authors to interact (Cont)

With their readers at all, and it’s just absolutely an ignoring of boundaries and personal pleas from the authors. And again, all this over a damn astrological sign? It’s fine to have fun with that stuff but it is NOT REAL. And to threaten someone’s safety and peace (Cont)

Of mind and ability to feel comfortable in their own home over it is unacceptable. If you are this kind of fan, CHECK YOURSELF. Authors do not owe you ANYTHING. We are people too, with lives and families and traumas and struggles, and to take advantage of anyone’s (Cont)

Generosity and to step so far over the boundaries is gross and should be met with action from other fans (via reporting) and platforms (via suspensions). Support authors, but know how to check your entitlement. It’s great that people get so invested in our characters (Cont)

And stories, but at the end of the day, it is FICTION. There is a line between what we make and what we live, and fans who cannot distinguish that line threaten the sense of community we all hope to feel between ourselves and our readers. STOP IT.

#WritingCommnunity #readingcommunity this is probably relevant to both these tags. Please share this thread.

*UPDATE: I did not realize this thread would get any kind of traction, so I do want to make it clear: this is not a debate about the merits of astrology. This is a conversation about boundaries between fans and creatives being disrespected. I’m not here to debate astrology.