Edit response: yeah it is very weird. Imagine getting a tattoo of Hitler’s (obvious exaggeration) paintings, and then have people come along to say they shouldn’t feel bad because “the fandom has gone past the author”.
I don’t think the people with tattoos should feel responsible, or bad about themselves in any way, but I would look at them sideways if they then were saying actively that there’s no part of them that’s sad or disappointed about getting it.
Edit response: yeah it is very weird. Imagine getting a tattoo of Hitler’s (obvious exaggeration) paintings, and then have people come along to say they shouldn’t feel bad because “the fandom has gone past the author”.
I don’t think the people with tattoos should feel responsible, or bad about themselves in any way, but I would look at them sideways if they then were saying actively that there’s no part of them that’s sad or disappointed about getting it.