How Fictional Stories Save Our Real Lives

Funko Pops are just bits of plastic, movie replicas a waste of money, and video games time poorly spent. There are plenty of people out there who would agree with that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I was bombarded with lines like that from my parents back in the day.

Still, I see things differently. And if you’re hanging out on this site, you probably do too. Because being genuinely and deeply passionate about fictional things—whether you're a kid or an adult—is something uniquely beautiful. And it’s important! Being a fan hasn’t just brought me a lot of joy; it changed my life.

From Fiction to a Career

I think about all those worlds I’ve traveled without ever leaving my room—except for the occasional trip to the cinema or a LAN party (those were the days!). I think about the fictional characters I got to know who felt so real they became actual friends. None of that was a mindless pastime; it was an inspiration. These stories are what got me into writing, first for local papers and later in games journalism. It was only because of all those books—okay, and a few games—that I learned the craft of writing in the first place.

Much later, movies came along, eventually overtaking video games as my most-watched and most-loved medium. But above all, it was the enthusiasm and near-infinite knowledge of a good friend that sparked my fascination with cameras, film tech, and the whole art behind it. Even though I’ve still got a long way to go, I’ve managed to teach myself quite a bit over the years. At first, it was just for fun. Today, it’s a permanent part of my job here.

And it’s only through being a fan that I’ve met so many cool people—and new ones are joining the mix all the time. At the office, sure. But also in comment sections or at the Elbenwald Festival. Sometimes just randomly on the street because someone was wearing a cool shirt and I struck up a conversation. Or that one time on a site for selling one’s old stuff, where a few old-school big box PC games were enough to spark a real friendship.

The stories might have been fictional. But everything surrounding them? That’s real.

When the Sanctuary Starts to Crack

That all sounds lovely and inspiring, but why am I writing this? Because I’m starting to notice how much harder it’s becoming to keep that spark alive. The world has huge problems as it is—we’re all feeling that right now. But even in our little nerdy sanctuary, things aren't getting any easier. We yawn at the announcement of the tenth soulless reboot of a classic brand, or we scratch our heads over authors saying things that are... well, a bit weird.

But even other fans make it hard sometimes. It’s because negative comments are written so much faster than those overflowing with honest excitement. It feels like you’re making yourself vulnerable if you admit to liking something that everyone else is tearing down. To give you an example that actually got to me: the mere mention that I enjoyed the Full Cast Edition of a certain audiobook was enough to get insulted and even threatened.

Why does love turn into war so quickly?

Call to Action: The Courage to be Joyful

That was ultimately the reason I wrote this—or rather, why I made the embedded video. I just wanted to remind everyone that being a fan is something wonderful. Something we need to protect. Because it matters! It’s positive! It leads to hobbies, friendships, and careers. Being a fan isn't a stupid waste of time; it's an inspiration. It’s a lifestyle.

Of course, you’re still allowed to discuss things and be critical. You have to be! But you can’t lose the ability to love something, no matter what anyone else says. And you can’t lose the courage to say so or post it online. I just wanted to get that off my chest, because I feel like—myself included—we sometimes forget.