(no subject)

[sunkelles]

I really do like the age demographic difference here on DW from what I'm used to on tumblr. As someone in my early twenties getting closed to graduating college, I've become something of an.. old person on tumblr, at least around a lot of the people I associate with. A lot of my followers are in their mid teens and then the core demographic that I'm around is 18-23ish college age. Seeing some people who are older than me but still active in fandom and just. being real adults here on DW is so cool. Y'all have kids? Real people jobs? Spouses? Do taxes? And still make time for fandom activities? It's inspiring and it makes me feel so optimistic. My cool DW friends are still having fun with fandom in their Real Adult Lives TM so why can't I when I become a real adult soon? Why can't I?

Comments

[alwaysbeenasmiler]

Lol.. yeah, you will hit that older demographic.

I will be 40 next year to be honest.. I am what you call fandom old, I was in my early 20s when LJ started out.

Of course my path of fandom has been long and varied... but once again so happy you are enjoying yourself!

[isabellerecs]

Oh yes, all the adulting things. And sometimes you need a break from that and that's when you fandom. ;) I feel like fandom isn't something you ever grow out of, you might grow away from it but you're never too old for it. :D

[wendelah1]

You're definitely not too old for fandom. I discovered online fandom late in life, when my son was in his senior year of high school. My oldest fandom friend is in her seventies now. There is no expiration date, apart from the one we'll all hit eventually.

[putacorkinitzane]

I feel like fandom never really leaves you! Also nobody's ever really an adult so don't worry about that :'''D I honestly had no idea what I'd be like when I got out of my 20s and honestly I still just feel like the same person XD But now I sort of have more money to buy stuff. Also, enjoying fandom as an adult helps you stay sane lolol

[rynna_aurelia]

To quote a Time Lord: What's the point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes?
As a college girl, this truth of DW makes me so happy.

[purpleyin]

I wouldn't have said 20s is all that old fandomwise but I can see how tumblr might give off that impression. A lot of people there probably just assume everyone is about the same age.

From doing conventions in the past when I was at uni (I guess because of the cost of conventions) 20s was more or less the minimum age I came across there a lot of the time and 30-50s seemed much more usual in those circles. Often a lot of the organisation is being done by older fans too. Older fans tended to be more likely to have the monies to put up for website hosting etc. With places like tumblr, discord and dreamwidth that isn't so necessary but ao3 donation drive still needs the people with monies to donate and adulting helps there.

If you still enjoy fandom it shouldn't matter what age you are. I know some people I met at conventions had gotten into things like fic writing in their 50s and it's nice to know it isn't necessarily a thing you have to grow-up with but a place people can find whenever they happen to come to it.