what if the problem really is the fans?

In the following exchange, Paul Chato puts out an interesting theory about where all these shitty, woke writers are coming from: far from being haters of the intellectual properties, they're actually fans, but fans with no talent and no agenda beyond a stupid self-insertion into that cinematic or comic or literary universe. It's a theory with a lot of explanatory power, but as Will Jordan (the Critical Drinker) points out in reply, such toxic fans may exist, but there are also writers brought on board who genuinely hate the properties they're writing for. This explains what happened to "She-Hulk," "Cowboy Bebop," and numerous other megaturds. If Chato is right, though, then maybe toxic fandom really is an issue—just not in the way we usually think it is.

On a personal note: I listen to these discussions less and less because they seem so repetitive after a while. The same complaints are voiced; the same bad-faith actors get blamed, and nothing ever changes or at least moves forward. I admit I did watch a refreshing group discussion of "One Piece" that now makes me tempted to watch the series myself, but I have a feeling that "One Piece" is going to be a hard sell for me.

Some comments on YouTube below the video:

• True writers tell stories. Fake activists try to score points to an audience that doesn't exist.
• Man, who knew hiring the people that hate the franchise would backfire horribly?
• The idea of “everyone can do whatever they want if they just try” has gone way too far. Some people can’t act. Some people can’t write. Some people can’t draw. These activists think everything is all just so easy—anyone can do it. And we’re seeing the cost of that now.
• As far as I'm concerned, anyone claiming to be an 'activist' marks himself as an enemy combatant.