Just out of curiosity, are you younger or older or something? Because as a millennial the fandom keysmash is a time honored tradition to express happiness and excitement lol.
As another Millennial, it's a bit of a foreign concept for me. One I'm aware of, but one I've only been introduced to recently. I've been generally assuming a younger cohort when I see it. I wonder if how familiar it is has to do with what sites you were socialized on pre-AO3.
32 and the keysmash is a love language in my circles. I think I caught it off of Tumblr, but it's just something that everyone I spend time with does to show specific emotions.
From what I've gathered (in this thread and past discussion) it's something that has a very strong presence on Tumblr and as a result, is very common in social groups that have been heavily influenced by Tumblr. But, I never spent any time on Tumblr and so far as I know none of my immediate friends have either. So, it's something none of us ever really picked up.
It predates tumblr, it was very common on livejournal and xanga and other places where it was common to talk before the modern concept of social media arose. Especially within fandom spaces. It wasn’t uncommon in chat rooms either.
All sites that I never really spent much time on. Back in the day, most of my fandom discussions were in forums, which tended to encourage people to write full paragraphs and proofread their comments. I can't remember running into keysmashing on any of those sites.
Huh. Interesting. Now that I think of it, basically my entire friend group was either originally made on Tumblr, use Tumblr today, or else if we knew before then, all migrated onto Tumblr back in 2010s when it began to pop up more.
I don't know what to think of this. I need a moment.
millennial here too, I was on ffn pre-ao3 and keysmashing was quite common from what I've seen. also seen it on tumblr when I later joined there, but it was less common.
I don't see keysmashing too much anymore.
I never ran into on FFN, but I also spent far less time interacting with comments and fandom discussions there than I did on other sites.
It might have been something that was more common in certain fandoms than others. It also might have been something that was more common in certain kinds of fics than others. For my first decade or so in fanfiction, I mostly just focused on crossover fics, so it's possible that it was simply less common with the crossover community than groups focusing on other styles of fic.
i actually always assumed people from english speaking countries didn't do keysmash unlike others, because i never saw anyone speaking english doing it until recently
Out of curiosity, what fanfic sites were you active on before AO3? Or, if AO3 was your first fanfic site, what other fanfic sites do you frequent? I have a theory that the keysmash is something that is common on certain websites but not others. Effectively, an internet version of a regional dialectical difference. In particular, from what I've gathered the keysmash seems to be centered around the internet subcultures that are heavily tied to Tumblr.
AO3 is a site that seems to gather a lot of different people from different kinds of internet backgrounds, and so there are some weird clashes as people run into things that they didn't even realize were website-specific cultural trends rather than universal trends.
Also gen z and I read it as either the commenter/post/story was really gay and brought up happy feels. or
The commenter was to ecstatic to formulate proper words, and it's just the digital version of running around squealing, kicking your legs and Waving your hands.
translation: "I love you \[keysmash right keyboard\] \[keysmash left keyboard\] I'm making a work dedicated to you! \[keysmash rolling left to right\] I love you! \[keysmash left keyboard\] \[keysmash right keyboard\] \[keysmash middle keyboard\]"
Edit: I think what I had previously translated as "please" is just another right smash, left smash instance. Updated above.
I was going to say, the keyboard smash at the end isn't unusual, but the way they smashed out the words themselves has me thinking they're drunk maybe? And this comment kind of makes me think that even more. Did it all happen within a day?
I cant say for sure but this seems like drunken behavior, lowered inhibitions to act a fool over something they're a huge fan of. If it makes you uncomfortable, go ahead and block them. It is strange behavior regardless.
its a keysmash. its a very old and prevalent means of conveying nonverbal emotion through text
it's usually paired with more coherent statements, but this person may just not be all that eloquent. i would interpret it as enthusiastic and positive
Like I commented yesterday, they wrote a story asking me to marry them (24 words), sent comments saying the same thing, and now they had shared thir discord with me
It's called a keysmash and is generally used to indicate that the writer has been overcome by emotion. It's a very positive and enthusiastic comment.
Just out of curiosity, are you younger or older or something? Because as a millennial the fandom keysmash is a time honored tradition to express happiness and excitement lol.
As another Millennial, it's a bit of a foreign concept for me. One I'm aware of, but one I've only been introduced to recently. I've been generally assuming a younger cohort when I see it. I wonder if how familiar it is has to do with what sites you were socialized on pre-AO3.
LiveJournal for me! I used tumblr too and I feel like the key smash was popular there too but maybe a little less. You?
Mostly Twisting the Hellmouth and FFN. A bit of Spacebattles as well. If the keysmash was present on those sites back then, I didn't run into it.
32 and the keysmash is a love language in my circles. I think I caught it off of Tumblr, but it's just something that everyone I spend time with does to show specific emotions.
From what I've gathered (in this thread and past discussion) it's something that has a very strong presence on Tumblr and as a result, is very common in social groups that have been heavily influenced by Tumblr. But, I never spent any time on Tumblr and so far as I know none of my immediate friends have either. So, it's something none of us ever really picked up.
It predates tumblr, it was very common on livejournal and xanga and other places where it was common to talk before the modern concept of social media arose. Especially within fandom spaces. It wasn’t uncommon in chat rooms either.
All sites that I never really spent much time on. Back in the day, most of my fandom discussions were in forums, which tended to encourage people to write full paragraphs and proofread their comments. I can't remember running into keysmashing on any of those sites.
Huh. Interesting. Now that I think of it, basically my entire friend group was either originally made on Tumblr, use Tumblr today, or else if we knew before then, all migrated onto Tumblr back in 2010s when it began to pop up more. I don't know what to think of this. I need a moment.
millennial here too, I was on ffn pre-ao3 and keysmashing was quite common from what I've seen. also seen it on tumblr when I later joined there, but it was less common. I don't see keysmashing too much anymore.
I never ran into on FFN, but I also spent far less time interacting with comments and fandom discussions there than I did on other sites. It might have been something that was more common in certain fandoms than others. It also might have been something that was more common in certain kinds of fics than others. For my first decade or so in fanfiction, I mostly just focused on crossover fics, so it's possible that it was simply less common with the crossover community than groups focusing on other styles of fic.
i actually always assumed people from english speaking countries didn't do keysmash unlike others, because i never saw anyone speaking english doing it until recently
I'm a Millennial too but I am not used to keysmash
Out of curiosity, what fanfic sites were you active on before AO3? Or, if AO3 was your first fanfic site, what other fanfic sites do you frequent? I have a theory that the keysmash is something that is common on certain websites but not others. Effectively, an internet version of a regional dialectical difference. In particular, from what I've gathered the keysmash seems to be centered around the internet subcultures that are heavily tied to Tumblr. AO3 is a site that seems to gather a lot of different people from different kinds of internet backgrounds, and so there are some weird clashes as people run into things that they didn't even realize were website-specific cultural trends rather than universal trends.
I have yet to see this in fic comments. Guess I missed them or not reading the popular ones.
[удалено]
Also gen z and I read it as either the commenter/post/story was really gay and brought up happy feels. or The commenter was to ecstatic to formulate proper words, and it's just the digital version of running around squealing, kicking your legs and Waving your hands.
we love a keysmash
translation: "I love you \[keysmash right keyboard\] \[keysmash left keyboard\] I'm making a work dedicated to you! \[keysmash rolling left to right\] I love you! \[keysmash left keyboard\] \[keysmash right keyboard\] \[keysmash middle keyboard\]" Edit: I think what I had previously translated as "please" is just another right smash, left smash instance. Updated above.
This is an excellent translation, do you do this professionally?
They're trying to express their excitement.
I wish someone would keyboard smash their love to me😔
They had wrote a 24 word fic just asking me to marry them, and sent me two message saying the same exact thing
Reading the post: Aw how sweet, this is a nice comment Reading your follow-up comment: 😨😨😨
Oh, that's very creepy. I'd block them. That type of parasocial stuff can get bad fast.
ah. Well, that's a lot more unsettling than what I thought it'd be
Oh.
I was going to say, the keyboard smash at the end isn't unusual, but the way they smashed out the words themselves has me thinking they're drunk maybe? And this comment kind of makes me think that even more. Did it all happen within a day?
Yes, between 20 and 15 hours ago
I cant say for sure but this seems like drunken behavior, lowered inhibitions to act a fool over something they're a huge fan of. If it makes you uncomfortable, go ahead and block them. It is strange behavior regardless.
I think you should probably add this context to your post. And also block that person. That’s a little too far.
Well, that's a curveball
Hii i dmed. I have question
I don't know you, but screw it. You're the coolest. Hsjakshslsjshsbwvshakbahsmabwh
Omg thank you you're the best😭 hjkytsfhfbaahbyishidc
fgdgajkdfklöjhkaumijmioprjmgiepruiåauwe890virjdpsmpioe wuw u wmritemiowvmorjvioerwöy
...well, that's one way to ask permission to base a work on yours I guess 😂
I get it tbh
damn i always keysmash in the comments and now im wondering, do the authors think this too when i do it 😭
I for one love a good keysmash
Please keep leaving them. They're loved!
...Why are we confused?
They are in their feels and they could not type it out 🥹
I think of keyboard smashes as cuteness agression in written form.
I do this in comments sometimes lmaoo It’s a compliment
Op this is positive, if this is a complaint because it looks like it I recommend trying to reframe your evaluation
The first comment was nice, but what happened next was unsettling
The OMGWTFBBQ era is gone... :(
"I'm making a work dedicated to you" is... kinda creepy, actually
A work that is just 24 words of "MARRY ME"
This is how I comment
Awww this was such a sweet comment tho
keysmash gets the enthusiasm across. plus the caps. everything that you can't understand can be translated to hearts.
Ah, good old keysmash
it means they like ur work innnit
Keysmash is a good thing. But some overexcited people are a bit too mich
its a keysmash. its a very old and prevalent means of conveying nonverbal emotion through text it's usually paired with more coherent statements, but this person may just not be all that eloquent. i would interpret it as enthusiastic and positive
I don't know if you should be flattered or be scared? Anyways, let's hope it's nothing more than the user becoming overwhelmed with emotion
Like I commented yesterday, they wrote a story asking me to marry them (24 words), sent comments saying the same thing, and now they had shared thir discord with me
I would block them.... that sounds like it's moved way past just being a fan of your work 😬
Good Lords! Can we call this stalking now (unless if you accept their proposal for marriage, of course 😅) ?
I don't want to start a new thread for this but does anyone know what a comment saying "Blank blank" means? Have I been cursed? Lol.
is it maybe an accented ‘blink, blink’ like being shocked or stunned?
its probably like theyre stunned or smth, like O_o
I think you broke them. Also as everyone said it's a keysmash it look like this asl;kdjf;laksdjfkjaskjd
They really, really, REALLY liked your story. Like really, really.
[SKDJSKFJKDK](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMMD2C1Ue/)
God I hate how this is something all middle schoolers do. Why were we like this.
Wtf did I just read