Introduction to Whump

What is Whump

Whump is defined differently by each individual, but the general consensus is that it is a fandom term used to describe situations where a fictional character is hurt, be it emotionally or physically.

• Fanlore History of Whump
• Urban Dictionary Definition of Whump
• Whump Resources Page (directories, writing challenges, community events, etc.)

History of Whump

The term is thought to have originated in the Stargate: SG-1 fandom by Fanfiction.net user OXBastetXO who claims to have coined the phrase "Danny Whumping." Danny Whumping was a "popular expression for the practice of physically and psychologically abusing one's favorite character in fanfiction and then offering them comfort."

While the term Whump is relatively new, its origins are not. People have been enjoying "hurt/comfort" stories for years and the genre can be traced back decades. In the early days fans would use email lists, webrings, and fan-published "zines" to share their stories. Some remnants of these old modes of exchange can still be found today though many of the original fandoms have died off.

For more information, please check out this fantastic article by tumblr user haich-slash-cee:

Hurt/Comfort and Whump in Fandom Discourse: A Timeline  (1970′s - 2020)

Tumblr Whump Community

It is unclear when the first whump blog appeared on Tumblr, but some of the earliest blogs included uuhshiny (9/29/2011), fyeahvulnerablemen (10/10/2011), alipeeps (1/16/2012), dailywhump (9/27/2012), whumpersunited (1/30/14), and whumpgalore (2/28/2014). Many tumblr users credit fyeahvulnerablemen and whumpgalore as their first experiences with whump.

The emergence of the whump community on Tumblr is thought to have been the result of, at least in part, the Strikethrough and Boldthrough controversies over at LiveJournal in May and June of 2007. This signaled a shift in fandom away from the popular site and to other lesser known and fan run social platforms.

Important Dates in Tumblr Whump History

March 2017

March 9, 2017 - Trope Appreciation Tuesdays

• The popular Trope Appreciation Tuesday is begun by Tumblr user love-me-a-lotta-whump. It was later taken over by Tumblr user the-wandering-whumper and is still active.

March 28, 2017 - Whump Discord Chat

• The official Whump Discord Chat was created by Tumblr user whump-me-up-scotty

March 31, 2017 - The Whumpapedia

• The Whumpapedia was created as a google spreadsheet document
• The idea was suggested by Tumblr user justchillingtothetune
• Original collaborators included: the-wandering-whumper, fyeahvulnerablemen, ouchthatwasgood, arwione, whumpified, reid-wholock-scamander, and bromanceandships

April 2017

April 1, 2017 - Whump Fic Exchange

• The first tumblr community Whump Fic Exchange is held
• It was both suggested and organized by tumblr user bemusedlybespectacled and continues to this day

April 18, 2017 - Day of Kindness

• It was decided that on the last day of every month the Tumblr Whump Community members would send words of kindness and encouragement to each other
• Tumblr user Whumpified coined the term

July 2018

July 28, 2017 - Aaron Ashmore

• Actor Aaron Ashmore mentions the Whump community in a tweet on the social media site Twitter
• Tumblr blogger ouchthatwasgood suggests the name for the first time and Mr. Ashmore is adopted as the Patron Saint of Whump

September 2017

September 18, 2017 - Secret Santa

• The Tumblr whump community holds its first-ever Secret Santa gift exchange where members of the community exchanged holiday gifts via mail.

September 22, 2017 - Whuggles & Nhumphers

• The term Whuggles and Nhumphers became the Tumblr Whump Community's official terms for non-whumpers.
• The terms were voted on by the community in a poll conducted by Tumblr user withywhump

September 25, 2017 - The Whumpcast

• The first episode of the Whump Cast airs
• Started by Tumblr user whumperwriter, the whumpcast was the Tumblr Whump Community's weekly podcast
• The idea of the podcast was first suggested in the whump discord chat on September 22, 2017
• Tumblr user ouchthatwasgood began co-hosting the whumcast with whumperwriter in episode #
• The last episode aired on December 19, 2017

January 2018

January 1, 2018 - The Monthly Challenge

• The Monthly Challenge is launched by Tumblr users whumpershaven and whumperwriter

February 2018

February 28, 2018 - International Whump Day

• International Whump Day was suggested by Tumblr user the-whumpy-fangirl
• September 12th was chosen as the official day to commemorate the original airdate of the first official Daniel Jackson "death" on Stargate: SG-1, as well as in honor of the history of the term 'whump'

March 2018

March 28, 2018 - Discord Chat

• The tumblr community celebrates its first official Chativersary to commemorate the creation of the whump Discord chat.
• Events included games, fic exchanges, and whump watching parties.

June 2018

June 2018 - The Shire Show

• The whump discord chat Shire Show launches

See Also

• Whump Resources Page