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Ok lets have a quick talk about parasocial relationships. This is in reference to people getting over connected to streamers, and I'm using a "real world" example. Though remember, streaming is ALSO the real world, and streamers are real people.
If you don't think a cashier is your friend because they make small talk with you while you are checking out, then you understand the entire concept.
If you understand that being a regular at a place does not make you friends with the owner and server, then you understand the entire concept.
If you understand that a server asking you what you would like to eat, and then later checking up you, means that they are not your friend, then you understand the entire concept.
This goes the same way for streamers and other online personalities. Interacting with you is a part of their way to make money, not a tacit friendship.
These people have their own lives, and their own friends, in their free and spare time. They don't always have to face for you. If you saw a server that regularly served you at a different place, you wouldn't ask them to take your order.
It is on the person who gets paid to change the nature of the relationship, not the person who is paying for their service or product. They CANNOT be rude to you because that is a loss of business.
They CANNOT be rude to you because they will lose their job and their income. And by the way... it isn't rude for them to say "No, I don't know you well" or "I only know you from work". Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to.
"Cliquey" streamer groups aren't actually that... they are just people being with their friends. You are not entitled to anyones time in their off hours. It is up to them to choose what to do with that time.
Would you find it appropriate to go up to the person who is your cashier all the time if they were laughing on their way into a movie theater with a group of people, and ask to join them? No? Then trying to get in on the private voice calls isn't appropriate either.
With the pandemic shit is weird, but this was going on way before that. Remember to assess yourself. Has that streamer you have been watching ever reached out to you? Or is there only engagement during stream hours.
If you are in their discord, have they ever messaged you directly unprompted? If not, they are being performers, not your friends. Just like people on TV. Or the cashier at the store, or the server at a place you are a regular.
None of that is the fault of the streamer, or server, or cashier. And its something to look into on your own for why that is the situation.
BTW this also extends to social media, you are never entitled to an answer from any personality. Even if you engage with them all the time.
