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questionable_content_feed) wrote2025-09-03 09:55 pmThe Somnium Files
Pintsize and Date would get along pretty well
otw_news_feed) wrote2025-09-03 10:23 amFive Things ladydragona Said
Every month or so the OTW will be doing a Q&A with one of its volunteers about their experiences in the organization. The posts express each volunteer’s personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of the OTW or constitute OTW policy. Today’s post is with ladydragona, who volunteers as a Tag Wrangler.
How does what you do as a volunteer fit into what the OTW does?
As a Tag Wrangler my job is to make sure the tags users use on their works are connected (‘synned’ or made a synonym) to the Canonical (Official) tag they most closely relate to, which allows users browsing the Archive to filter for and search for these tags! I also create new Canonical tags when specific concepts have been tagged repeatedly enough and move tags that can’t be synned anywhere, either because too many concepts are in one tag or there just isn’t one to syn it to, to their appropriate fandom.
What is a typical week like for you as a volunteer?
I work a lot of hours at my irl job so most of my volunteer work has to happen around that. I try to wrangle tags for at least an hour every day after work while Wrangling parties are hosted some weekends so I’ll usually try to attend those which means I’ll spend more time wrangling then.
What made you decide to volunteer?
I’ve always loved fanfiction and, having experienced a handful of archive purges, I wanted to be involved and help maintain this site that I love so much. When I saw a Wrangler Q&A on Tumblr I realized it was possible for normal fans like myself to volunteer and help and that Q&A really made wrangling seem to be a fun thing to do.
What has been your biggest challenge doing work for the OTW?
My biggest challenge would probably be time-management. I’m prone to getting very focused on what I’m doing and not realizing just how much time has passed, as well as wanting to do more than I realistically have the time for. I often have to set timers to remind myself to go eat or go do something else.
What fannish things do you like to do?
My main fannish activity is writing fic! In fact, I’ve posted over two million words on the archive in the last 6 years and don’t see myself stopping any time soon! When not writing fic or volunteering I also share fanart and metas on social media as well as help my fellow fans brainstorm their own fics in various discord servers. I like being involved in my fandom’s community and have made some of my bestest friends that way.
Now that our volunteer’s said five things about what they do, it’s your turn to ask one more thing! Feel free to ask about their work in the comments. Or if you’d like, you can check out previous Five Things posts.
savagelove_feed) wrote2025-09-02 11:00 amQuickies
1. How do I ensure an HSV-2-positive new partner is taking their meds to reduce transmission risk? In a high-trust relationship, you trust your partner to take their meds. In a low-trust relationship, you insist your partner take their meds in front of you or send you a video of them taking their meds. 2. … Read More »
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savagelove_feed) wrote2025-09-02 11:00 amDad’s Being SCAMMED by a Findom!
A man’s 80 year-old father is getting scammed and extorted by a findom. Should he go to the police? Change his account numbers? See a marriage counselor? A gay man in his 20s looks very young. He worries that the men who are attracted to him may be skeezy because he looks more like a … Read More »
The post Dad’s Being SCAMMED by a Findom! appeared first on Dan Savage.
questionable_content_feed) wrote2025-09-01 10:09 pmPromises, Promises
Yay stop trying to be coquettish it's weird
otw_news_feed) wrote2025-09-01 07:48 pm2025 OTW Election Statistics
Now that the 2025 election is over, we’re happy to share with you our voter turnout statistics!
For the 2025 Election, we had 15,138 total eligible voters. Of those, 2,197 voters cast a ballot, which represents 14.5% of the potential voters.
Our voter turnout is lower than that of last year, which had a turnout of 22.8%.
We also saw a decrease in the number of ballots cast, from 3,415 to 2,197, which represents a 35.6% decrease.
Elections is committed to continuing to reach out to our eligible members to encourage them to vote in elections. Whoever is elected to the Board of Directors can have an important influence on the long-term health of the OTW’s projects, and we want our members to have a say in that.
For those who might be interested in the number of votes each candidate received, please note that our election process is designed to elect an equal cohort of Board members in order to allow them to work well together, so we do not release that information. As a general rule, we also won’t disclose which of our unsuccessful candidates received the fewest votes, since we don’t want to discourage them from running again in the future when circumstances and member interest might be different. However, as there were only 3 candidates this year, revealing that information is unavoidable.
Once again, a big thank you to everyone who participated at every stage of the election! We hope to see you at the virtual polls again next year.
savagelove_feed) wrote2025-08-29 07:54 pmSTRUGGLE SESSION: Cream Pies, Bondage Boys, Gift Cards and More!
Struggle Session is a bonus column where I respond to comments — just a few — from Savage Love readers, Savage Lovecast listeners, and the occasional online rando. I also share a letter that won’t be included in the column and invite my readers to give advice. Excellent advice from YamatoGun for the caller who … Read More »
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otw_news_feed) wrote2025-08-28 04:52 pmOTW Signal, August 2025
Every month in OTW Signal, we take a look at stories that connect to the OTW’s mission and projects, including issues related to legal matters, technology, academia, fannish history and preservation issues of fandom, fan culture, and transformative works.
In the News
An article from Roster Con analyzes how fans are reinventing community online, creating inclusive digital spaces that thrive, and fundamentally changing the way people with shared interests connect and interact with each other.
Instead of waiting in line at conventions or gathering in packed theaters, people are now forming tight-knit communities online—spaces where shared interests thrive without borders.
What’s striking isn’t just the tech that brings people together; it’s how fans are reshaping what it means to belong, connect, and celebrate something bigger than themselves.
Today’s pop culture fans are constructing elaborate digital networks that have no geographical boundaries and do not follow traditional media consumption patterns. For example, the article notes that the Stardew Valley network on Discord has grown from a small chat group into an expansive community where players share content and organize multiplayer events. This transformation from content-focused discussion to community-centered interaction is taking place across online fandom spaces. Platforms like Discord and Twitch support active fan communities and host virtual conventions, complete with panel discussions, cosplay, and live Q&As, allowing fans to experience the excitement of fandom gatherings while removing barriers like travel and cost.
What’s even more powerful is the reach. People who would never have made it to San Diego or Tokyo due to cost, distance, or accessibility now have a front-row seat. A fan in Nairobi, a student in Warsaw, and a parent in São Paulo can all be part of the same hype cycle, cheering and reacting together.
The article also addresses how creative platforms like Archive of Our Own (AO3), FanFiction.net, and DeviantArt are no longer simply repositories for fan-created content. Creators post works in progress to seek input and engage in collaborative projects that may span multiple authors and extended timelines. Similarly, social media has become a powerful tool for fan communities, with hashtag campaigns fueling organized fan movements and creative collaboration that spreads quickly and travels far. These activities provide a sense of community and support previously found in schools, clubs, and community groups, reshaping how fans engage with each other in the digital age.
For Gen Z fans in Australia, the sense of belonging that comes from participating in fandom is particularly valuable right now, according to an article by Lucinda O’Brien in Amplify. With the rising cost of living and a looming recession, one in four young Australians reports loneliness and isolation as daily stressors. Fandom offers a space for them to express themselves and to make friends with others who share their passions—an antidote to the ongoing loneliness.
Fandom expert Dr. Georgia Carroll explains that fandom provides a critical sense of community and belonging, especially in difficult times:
Joining a fandom often begins as a light-hearted endeavour for Gen Z to bond over shared interests, but these spaces can deepen into emotionally rich communities where personal stories and identities are shared. Fandoms become places where fans feel seen, validated and safe to express themselves.
For Australian fans of international fandoms, distance often makes it difficult to meet with other fans in person, leading them to seek connection through online communities. As digital natives, Gen Z are adept at connecting through online fandoms.
As conventional community spaces continue to decline and social isolation grows, these digital communities offer something more than just entertainment or distraction. For Australian Gen Z, online fandom offers new and invaluable opportunities for connection and belonging.
OTW Tips
The AO3 community is now nine million users strong! In 2024 alone, users shared over two million new fanworks, and the site received an incredible 34 billion page views. You can find these and other highlights in the OTW’s 2024 Annual Report.
Bonus tip: many of our statistics are also available as graphics that chart the OTW’s growth over the years.
To everyone who helps this space thrive—thank you for building community with us!
We want your suggestions for the next OTW Signal post! If you know of an essay, video, article, podcast, or news story you think we should know about, send us a link. We are looking for content in all languages! Submitting a link doesn’t guarantee that it will be included in an OTW post, and inclusion of a link doesn’t mean that it is endorsed by the OTW.
questionable_content_feed) wrote2025-08-27 10:01 pmThe Least Firm Handshake Ever
So gloopy...
questionable_content_feed) wrote2025-08-26 09:17 pmYay, Explaining
the exposition will continue until Roko's morale improves
savagelove_feed) wrote2025-08-26 11:00 amLong Time!
Long time reader! I’m a mostly straight boy in my early 20s with a new girlfriend. I say “mostly straight” because I’m into bondage and finding men who wanted to tie me up was always easier than finding women who wanted to tie me up. But I met a girl at a party early this … Read More »
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savagelove_feed) wrote2025-08-26 11:00 amAll Hail E. Jean Carroll!
A woman’s old friend and sometime lover asked her for a beaver shot to ease his stress on an upcoming couples trip. She obliged. Did he thank her? No he did not. She’s miffed, and wonders if she’s being too sensitive. We love questions like this: What do gay men actually do with vibrators? Our … Read More »
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