Thing is, people getting massively dogpiled and harassed isn't anything new, so far as fandom is concerned. A decade ago, way back when the Janime forums were the largest watering-hole for English-speaking YGO fandom, there was an organized campaign to drive the GX fans off the site, with individuals getting ganged-up by three-four users at once and bombarded with insults if they dared say anything positive about GX. The only concrete difference between now and then is that ten years ago someone getting targeted could expect to be called a 'cretin with no taste' instead of a 'pedophile.'

'I kind of regret stepping out of my "just writing fic and not talking to anyone" bubble, to be a bit honest.'

I've got moments when I think the same way, honestly. And then I remember the fact that I met and befriended some absolutely amazing people through fandom -- friends who helped me when I was at rock-bottom and who made my life worth living. Those people, though few in number, are genuinely worth putting up with the rest of fandom's wankery.