I know how y'all feel. I frequent the con scene, and are friends with many pro cosplayers and prop-builders who have helped me immeasurably with my own work over the years. Some I consider brothers and sisters and couldnt imagine life without them.
And yet... I am the ONLY one among them who ISNT KickVic. In fact, MOST of my friends, being fellow left-leaning persons, are pretty much KV by default as a matter of principle amongst this particular tribe of political and social thought (and just one of many reasons why I am getting more and more fed up with "liberals" with each passing day). Given their penchant for unreasonable, knee-jerk, emotion-laden, and politically charged rhetoric when it comes to this shit and other similar scenarios, I DARED not speak up about it when it started, and I sure as hell wont bring it up around them or on my visible postings nowadays given how much that movement has festered into complete lunacy who is quick to tar and feather ANYONE who doesnt completely tow the line, and as someone who has been brigaded against in the past and know what it's like to be on the receiving end of the torches and pitchforks, that is an uphill battle I simply dont have the willpower to fight anymore, even though I know in my heart that I should stop being a little chickenshit pussflap and stand up for whats right... and that kills me inside every day.
I only have about two or three friends who are ISWV, and others who either arent aware of this situation or they do and just dont give a shit. Either way, I only discuss this matter privately and even then try not to sperg out about the opposition too much because you never know if the neutral parties will flip and rat you out.
In the end, its just a really sad situation, and I hate what this all has done to communities who otherwise would have been united and happy together. I hate that it has really made me reevaluate people I admire when I see them airing their dirty laundry out on twitter and other outlets. I hate seeing people get attacked simply BECAUSE of what hashtag they use in their posts, even if what they say is out of sincere concern and not of malicious spite. I hate seeing individuals I admire and have had pleasant conversations with both online and at their booths at cons go full exceptional individual and make fucking assclowns out of themselves online and make me wonder why the hell I was ever a fan of theirs in the first place.
It's been a wild ride, and it is EXHAUSTING to keep up with (and I sincerely admire you all doing your part and fighting the good fight here on an hourly basis! I truly mean that), especially with all of the other recent tragedies that have broadsided me lately, but I still have my convictions, and until I see anything truly incriminating, I will stand by them.
