So lately I’ve seen many fictionkins asking ppl who are kin with the same character as they are to not to follow them or to ask before following and I’m wondering, why? I’m not a fictionkin myself (maybe a bit fiction-hearted tho) and I’m really curious about this. Wouldn’t it be reasonable to feel some kind of connection with ppl who are like you? or not (like many ppl seem to prefer)? (I hope I made myself clear and used the right terms, sorry if I didn’t!)
I must admit that I too have been wondering the same thing. I was confused, when I few months ago, I noticed the trend of some kin asking for their ‘twins’ no to follow or interact with them. This is at odds toward my own philosophy, and the philosophy of most other fictionkin I have known, which is t actively seek out other people who share our experiences, either more generally as fictionkin, or more narrowly as those from our previous lives.
Quite honestly, the trend reminds me of a question I would often get from trolls and onlookers interested in poking fun at or learning more about the fictionkin phenomena. “But what happens when two people are kin of the same character? Do they fight to the death?”
I had always laughed that question off as quite silly, despite its persistence. I have said repeatedly and in numerous places that obviously people of the same fictionkin ‘type’ would peacefully co-exist despite their differences, knowing that neither one negated the other. This is because of my belief that we fictionkin come from different universes- and if I and another Ken Ichijouji have different experiences, that is because we come from universes where events happened differently.
Personally, I would feel nothing but empathy and curiosity for someone who shared my kinself’s identity However, none who has has stuck around long enough to have a conversation- I suppose that I can’t blame them.
As for why this trend is occurring, my suspicion is that like many trends, it began with one person, and the idea was spread. It is easy for younger kin to pick up on anything another kin does as the ‘right’ thing to do. If someone was throwing a public tantrum about not wanting others of their kintype to follow them, it is easy for an onlooker to believe this is the normal thing to do.
I will be honest, the first time I saw this trend was on ‘TumblrInAction’ on reddit, which is a forum filled with trolls who make fun of people on tumblr. That leads me to believe that the trend in fact started with troll accounts making fun of fictionkin, and then spread to the more nervous minded of actual fictionkin.
Some people, I am sure, DON’T want people who share their identity following them. The main argument I have heard is from those fiction-hearted who use their identity as a coping mechanism for other issues, and are thus insecure in their identity. It makes them feel ‘invalidated’. I have yet to hear an argument as to why someone secure in their identity would want to limit contact with those who share it.
In conclusion, its basically a new trend, and probably started with troll accounts. If you really feel like you don’t want to interact with those who share your identity, that’s fine, but don’t be mistaken into thinking its the new ‘normal’ for kin.
