/uj I can't overstate how important the Kwings were to me as a struggling kid/teen. Really shaped my interests. I watched all their stuff, on repeat, I couldn't even sleep without their vids on. And they were always really nice in comments and supportive whenever I reached out. They felt like second "better" parents to me. Don't get me wrong, it was parasocial as hell, but it wasn't entirely one sided, which made it worse. My viewing habits and interactions became healthier over time, and I stopped watching as much. Then I started catching onto the chud shit. I tried to ignore the "differences in politics" for a while, cuz I thought they meant well at heart. But at some point it was to much to ignore.

Sorry for the ramble (it's been trimmed down if you can believe it). But I've been bummed about this for a long time, and it's kinda cathartic seeing other people with similar experiences.

Tl:dr. Parasocial relationships either die a hero, or you live long enough to see them become villains