Communication is great and I'll readily admit that is a step in the right direction, but there is a LOT of ground to cover for this whole issue to be resolved. So until people start getting their orders in hand or start seeing refunds, I'm going to remain very, very skeptical. I'm hesitant to give any credit to a company we know virtually nothing about. I would love to be optimistic about this and I'm sure most here would too, but history has proven us to hedge our bets. I personally wasn't robbed by ANOVOS, but I do have very strong feelings about seeing my peers being ripped off, especially by a company that was promised to be by the fans, for the fans. It's a betrayal to say the least and one that runs deep considering they were members of theRPF.
That being said, it's really tiring to hear the terms toxic and toxicity tied to fandom, not just with this topic but so many others. If fans want to express frustration with a company for getting robbed, they are entitled to express it. If fans want to express skepticism given the track record of the companies lined up to fix the problem, I think that's a perfectly reasonable response. Perhaps it might be worth considering that advocating for a company instead of your peers is counter intuitive and really rubs people the wrong way. I empathize with you personally on not getting what you rightfully paid for. It's not fair. Not by a long shot. I would be really pissed off too and that's why I feel so strongly about not giving credit until it's due because this could still go sideways. I hope I'm wrong. I really, really hope I'm wrong.
Just keep in mind that lambasting your peers with heavy labels like "toxic" often comes across as advocacy for a company and smarts others who may not have been as fortunate as you because your issues with ANOVOS were resolved and their's are yet to be. We're fortunate to have places like theRPF where we're allowed to vent about aspects of the fandom. Whether it's this situation or the displeasure some may feel with the content being produced by Hollywood. No matter the subject it often feels like fans are telling other fans their opinions are either not welcome, not right, or politely told to shut up when they should be standing alongside their fellow fans in solidarity. It doesn't mean we all have to agree but I think the division isn't helped when we throw around broad terms that disparage one another and trying to silence those ideas by screaming "toxic" because it just deepens the wound. If we try and blanket the subject with this false veneer of positivity then we only hurt ourselves. Leave that thinking for the corporations who feel smothering dissent is a good tactic to remain solvent. If we are divided then nothing gets fixed.
Ultimately I hope everyone affected by ANOVOS is compensated. Whether they get their items or they get a refund. It's long overdue and I sincerely hope this new company comes through and I will happily admit I was wrong to dispair. Until then I will remain doubtful.
I also will happily advocate for the talented artists on this forum. They may not have the credentials of a Lucasfilm or Paramount, but they have proven themselves to be trustworthy and their history here has vetted their credibility.
