Is there a "toxicity" in this fandom?

[Bry]

To answer the question... Yeah, there kinda is. And the source of toxicity is the same as many other fandoms: cliquishness and gatekeeping.

It tends to happen naturally whenever you have a group of hardcore regulars who'll dominate the community. Their opinions, attitudes, etc, are considered "right" by the clique, and anything diverting from that is treated with condescension or scorn. Any topic outside of their comfort zone is shouted down or snuffed out. It makes the whole place feel hostile to everyone but the hardcore regulars (and even to some of them, to be honest).

I truly believe no topic, unless it's something truly obscene or illegal, is necessarily "toxic". It's the behaviour of the posters that causes that. If people are discussing something you dislike or disagree with, it's very simple to ignore it or talk about something else. Trying to dictate what others can or can't talk about immediately makes the place hostile and adds to any toxicity.

But I feel like this is bound to happen every time you've got enough people who believe the fandom or community "belongs to" them, even though of course neither does. It's for everyone who enjoys it and wants to be a part of it. Or it should be, at least.