I'm really disappointed in the behaviour of some of the fandom.

[hamster]

yea since nh has come out ive realised how annoying a lot of ac fans are

 

[Pixiebelle]

The thing that gets me is those people who think their opinion is the single 'right' one and that everyone else should feel the same way. Play however you want! Ship - or don't ship - whoever you want! Just stop shouting and trying to 'force' that on other people ya know?
I personally don't TT (apart from when I'm desperate to quickly move something, lol). I don't really have head canons. I wouldn't pay an astronomical amount for Marshall. But others TTing, shipping and buying/selling characters for however many $$$/NMT doesn't affect my enjoyment of the game whatsoever, so there's no need to demonise those who do... like, just live and let live?
Probably doesn't help that most of us are in quarantine so there's more time to fixate on stuff.

(Also, I hadn't really considered myself as part of the 'fandom' until recently, but huge shoutout to this place for being relatively non-toxic! Everyone I've interacted/traded with so far has been lovely.)

 

[Uffe]

I don't agree with buying things with real money. I'd never do it, but if people are willing to buy villagers or items with real money, you really can't do much about it. As for everything else, I think this is the first time Animal Crossing has become so popular, so there are a lot of people who aren't familiar with how those originally playing past AC games in general did things or do things. It's mostly a vocal minority, which is unfortunate, because now to sound like a broken record, but they're usually the loudest, so they end up making the rest of us look bad, when the AC community in general has been pretty chill since day one.

I used to time travel on the GameCube, with City Folk, definitely a lot in New Leaf, but just played "as intended" with New Horizons. Like I said in a different topic, people should be allowed to play how they want as long as they're not hurting anybody.

 

[chainosaur]

Animal Crossing honestly has always had its subset of rude, obnoxious fans, it's just amplified incredibly so at the moment because New Horizons is the hot 'n shiny new game on the block (and Twitter has exploded in toxicity overall these last few years which makes it worse). I've always been a firm believer in playing how you like, because ultimately, it doesn't affect me in the slightest. Animal Crossing is a singular experience, in that your town/island/whatever is your's alone. It's not a competition. Who cares. Do whatever you want and stay in your own lane. People who get mad at TT'ers with beautiful islands just reek of insecurity. They may have TT'd but that work still took effort. As someone who is choosing not to TT this go around, I'm just taking it one day at a time. My island is slowly coming along and it'll be done when it's done, and I'm fine with that.

I do think that those who love to gush about how sweet and lovely the fandom is are often disingenuous. It's often those who repeat that mantra the loudest are usually those very same obnoxious fans that are ruining the experience for everyone else. However, that is just my personal experience in fandoms overall. A true pleasant fan space doesn't have to constantly remind you how pleasant it is. Those types of folks definitely have a chip on their shoulder or some kind of skeleton in their closet, in my opinion.

I play AC with my friends, we're all between the ages of 25-30, it's certainly a different vibe than playing and talking with younger fans. That isn't to say younger folks can't be chill, but that is something to consider.

Anyway, all of that being said, I have always felt that TBT is frankly the most friendly and helpful AC fan space. I've had this account since 2013 and I continue to be impressed by the community whenever I pop back in. So the fandom seems bad if you look at it through the lens of Twitter, but I think TBT gives a sliver of hope.

 

[FaerieRose]

And then there are people for some bizarre reason going over to jump on The Last of Us 2 and saying 'Animal Crossing is better because no crunch!! How dare you enjoy a game that isn't Animal Crossing.' (Slight exaggeration, but that's the kind of attititude people are taking.) And you see it all the time.

Um, this one is an entirely legitimate complaint about workplace ethics. The staff of Animal Crossing was given extra time to maintain a healthy work-life balance, whereas the staff on TLoU2 was worked to the bone and beyond. Crunch is nasty. I worked in games until the crunch wore me down.

 

[BeezyBee]

Anyone else sick of this whole "morality" argument surrounding "ugly" villagers? People literally put themselves on moral pedestals over thinking that there are no "ugly" villagers and attack those who do. I literally got attacked on twitter because I thought one of my starters was ugly. I'm sorry, but I can have my own opinions about their designs. If you like all of them, that's fine, but don't attack me for having a preference.

 

[natakazam]

I'm glad for TBT in general right now, I feel like Nookazon and Turnip Exchange are really toxic and the way that trading/selling is going right now is pretty frustrating.

 

[chainosaur]

Anyone else sick of this whole "morality" argument surrounding "ugly" villagers? People literally put themselves on moral pedestals over not thinking "any villager is ugly" and attacked those who do. I literally got attacked on twitter because I thought one of my starters was ugly. I'm sorry, but I can have my own opinions about the designs. If you like all of them, that's fine, but don't attack me for having a preference.

I find it strange in general when people put fictional characters on pedestals like that, as if they have real flesh and blood and feelings.

Besides, I like to look at it this way. Villagers are like Pokemon, every single one has a fan out there somewhere. I may not like [x] villager, but someone else may adore them. I have a mix of popular and unpopular favorites. It's no skin off my nose if someone thinks they're dumb or ugly.

 

[thegunpowderincident]

No fandom is perfect. The whole "the AC fandom is so completely wholesome!!!" thing was always false, no fandom is 100% full of perfect and wonderful people. Honestly, TBT is the most chill place for AC fandom imo, but even here there can be negativity. That's the nature of the internet.

 

[angelmutt]

I personally do time travel, but thats just because im inpatient and suck at waiting for buildings to be done

 

[BeezyBee]

I personally do time travel, but thats just because im inpatient and suck at waiting for buildings to be done

I don't time travel but I never understood the backlash against those who do. It literally affects no one. Why do people care so much?

 

[angelmutt]

I don't time travel but I never understood the backlash against those who do. It literally affects no one. Why do people care so much?

probably people are stuck up n whatnot...since the game isnt officially made for tt, people think its wrong if you do

 

[Saaga]

My shortened reply: The negative behaviour seen in social media is done by the loudest minority and do not represent the entire fandom. Even the most relaxed and comfiest game can truly bring the worst in (some) people. This game sold millions so of course there is high chance to meet people who are not nice. But on the counterside, just as many if not more the nicest people out there. I would advice not to stay on social media sites where you don’t enjoy the fandom and as you said you also have other sites where you go to. I was going to write more, but I can’t think straight at 1:31 am.
————————————————————-
I never bought ”wholesome fandom” image that Animal Crossing community is associated with as with any (big) fandom, it also has its own problems. Such as the already mentioned tt vs non-tt having word fights on social media, shipping wars, overly sexualised depictions of characters (Raymond, Audie, Ankha, Sable etc.), scamming NMTs, bells, items and the like from others which seems to happen a lot in Discord, Nookazon and Reddit. Or before the actual AC Direct, people were asking on almost every Nintendo tweet about it or other Nintendo IP tweet that ”THIS ISN’t ANIMAL CROSSING”. Overall impatientness I mean.

I don’t browse the western part of fandom on Twitter or Tumblr due the reasons above and as I’m more into designs, inspirations, ideas on landscaping and neutral and in-game fan art that I find more on the Japanese Animal Crossing hashtag. Also the constant k-pop fancams on serious topics as killing, diseases, abusive behaviour is pretty obnoxious and on topics that have nothing to do with k-pop whatsoever. My western fandom is in here, some other forum and Twitch as these are quite active and operate on real time. Meaning there is always someone having a discussion, hosting DIY, catalogue event, meteor showers and the like or just for hanging out.

Overall, I don’t think AC fandom is that bad, it’s ok, but not absolute perfect wholesome fandom that ever existed, no fandom nor community is. But good enough for me as a fandom where I can engage with other people regarding the topic. It is far more sane and well-behaved than mosts fandoms, just google ”toxic fandoms” if you really want to read just how bad it can get.

 

[angelmutt]

I never bought ”wholesome fandom” image that Animal Crossing community is associated with as with any (big) fandom, it also has its own problems. Such as the already mentioned tt vs non-tt having word fights on social media, shipping wars, overly sexualised depictions of characters (Raymond, Audie, Ankha, Sable etc.), scamming NMTs, bells, items and the like from others which seems to happen a lot in Discord, Nookazon and Reddit. Or before the actual AC Direct, people were asking on almost every Nintendo tweet about it or other Nintendo IP tweet that ”THIS ISN’t ANIMAL CROSSING”. Overall impatientness I mean.

I don’t browse the western part of fandom on Twitter or Tumblr due the reasons above and as I’m more into designs, inspirations, ideas on landscaping and neutral and in-game fan art that I find more on the Japanese Animal Crossing hashtag. Also the constant k-pop fancams on serious topics as killing, diseases, abusive behaviour is pretty obnoxious and on topics that have nothing to do with k-pop whatsoever. My western fandom is in here, some other forum and Twitch as these are quite active and operate on real time. Meaning there is always someone having a discussion, hosting DIY, catalogue event, meteor showers and the like or just for hanging out.

Overall, I don’t think AC fandom is that bad, it’s ok, but not absolute perfect wholesome fandom that ever existed, no fandom nor community is. But good enough for me as a fandom where I can engage with other people regarding the topic. It is far more sane and well-behaved than mosts fandoms, just google ”toxic fandoms” if you really want to read just how bad it can get.

agreed. i tend to stay away from the drama of the entire community and mostly look at clothing designs, paths, and other things to help my island aesthetic. I love the cuteness of the game, and the fandom can sometimes ruin it. It's made to be an innocent game to express yourself and become friends with adorable animal nps, not debating whether or not tt is ethical, oversexualizing those poor npcs, or any excessive drama.

 

[brockbrock]

agreed. i tend to stay away from the drama of the entire community and mostly look at clothing designs, paths, and other things to help my island aesthetic. I love the cuteness of the game, and the fandom can sometimes ruin it. It's made to be an innocent game to express yourself and become friends with adorable animal nps, not debating whether or not tt is ethical, oversexualizing those poor npcs, or any excessive drama.

I'm with you there. Every time I start getting sucked in I have to remind myself to take a step back. Animal Crossing to me is about my own enjoyment, and if I happen to come across and meet friendly, chill people along the way then bonus! Otherwise I try not to bother with all of the deeper fanaticism and the more toxic aspects of the AC community, which thankfully is largely absent at TBT.

 

[angelmutt]

I'm with you there. Every time I start getting sucked in I have to remind myself to take a step back. Animal Crossing to me is about my own enjoyment, and if I happen to come across and meet friendly, chill people along the way then bonus! Otherwise I try not to bother with all of the deeper fanaticism and the more toxic aspects of the AC community, which thankfully is largely absent at TBT.

yup! btw, love your signature..how'd you make it?

 

[catmoths]

Honestly I feel like everyone takes this game just a liiiiitle too seriously at times. It’s cool to be invested in it, but when it starts causing fights or name-calling or whatever else it’s time to take a step back and breathe.

 

[aaaacery]

I'm rlly glad you brought this up actually, It's been a problem recently. There's so much toxic energy in the community recently and it makes me really upset. In my opinion, people should be able to time travel or do whatever they want without having to worry that someone will judge them for it. Also, people are calling others "basic" simply for liking a specific villager? Why can't we just let people like what they like. People have also been fetishizing some of the characters which makes me incredibly uncomfortable. Not all of the community is bad, but I've noticed a minority of people who like to gatekeep the game, and just simply be toxic, and it makes me really sad.

 

[kyrynbunni]

Honestly, I think the whole "ac fandom is so uwu wholesome" has created such a toxic environment for the fandom offsite like on Twitter. Certain players who I've come in contact with (not even having had an AC Twitter at the time) used the entire uwu so wholesome thing while being toxic to people they disagreed with or who didn't play the game - acting as if it was some kind of cover or excuse? Truth is, the fandom has gotten pretty toxic on social media. I've wanted to do a giveaway on Twitter but I'm also scared too because people just gang up on someone for the tiniest error it feels like.

It's quite concerning participating in this fandom off of these forums anymore sadly.

 

[brockbrock]

yup! btw, love your signature..how'd you make it?

Thanks! I made it in Photoshop!