I think this blog is helping me learn how to be less parasocial because before now I’ve only ever heard it used when referring to crazy insane fans who think their favorite blogger/youtuber/streamer/whatever is in love with them but this is making me realize that that isn’t the case. parasocialness can happen even with seemingly small things. all in all be mean to your anons it helps them and I’m sorry if this is parasocial in and of itself
idk what you’re blogging about rn but I hope you get that man pregnant or whatever 👍
the thing about parasociality is that it’s undergone a rather bizarre transformation wherein the connotation is almost always a negative one, when the actual definition is merely describing a very human ability to feel connected to and concerned with people who we’ve never met and even “people” who might not really exist - the term was coined in the 50s to describe the attachment and investment that people felt in fictional television characters.
there’s nothing innately negative OR positive about a parasocial relationship. to your example, a relationship doesn’t become parasocial when you convince yourself that your favorite media personality is in love with you, but rather when you develop a sense of fondness for them in the first place.
I have no illusions about now attached my favorite youtube yoga instructor feels to me, personally (she doesn’t, at all, because we’ve never directly interacted) but I feel warmly about her all the same, frequently feel cheered after following along with her yoga routines, and will be sad when the dog who appears in many of her videos inevitably dies. that’s a parasocial relationship and it’s fine! it’s not bad to care about people you don’t know personally, and that is arguably an important thing to be able to do.
you feeling warmly about my tumblr persona and appreciating what I do here is also parasocial, and that’s okay! like I said, that’s neither good nor bad! the parasociality can be harmful, but it’s all nuance baybeeee!