It sounds like it was devastating. I can’t imagine the loss of community—and without multi-platform connections! Now I can always check in with a friend on discord or twitter if their Tumblr or AO3 goes awol. I take that for granted—the ability to be semi open about fandom online, and use real names. I know doxxing still happens, but the intensity of the threat seems so much less in most cases. I’m so immensely grateful for the people who laid the groundwork for fandom as it is now, no longer unspeakable. My mom reads my fic!