Knowing your limits as a fan
FANDOMS are flourishing in this social media age. For articles about teen fandoms, grab a copy of tomorrow’s issue of stuff@school.
As a preview, read the following piece by Muhd Amirul Hakim Mohd Mokhairi, a participant of our year-long Starstruck! Young Writers Programme.
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Visit www.stuffatschool.com.my for more information. Or, join our online teen community at www.facebook.com/ stuffatschool. BEING part of a fan base or fandom seems to be quite the norm for teenagers nowadays. Hardcore fans usually initiate fan sites or social media accounts where fans interact with each other and talk about their common interests. Sounds exciting, right?
However, getting too caught up in a fandom may make one overly-obsessive, which is unhealthy.
So, is it a yay or nay to be in a fandom? I am inclined to view it as acceptable, provided that fans know their limits.
Firstly, we should never be the overreacting fan. Social media sites such as Instagram and Twitter are typically uused to begin a fan account.
Other thhan liking a post or sendweet, ing a retwsendweet, fans may offer their thoughts aand opinions about a parbject. ticular subparbject.
Sometimmes differences in views can lead too arguments which may be immatuure and unhealthy.
Say, if yoou have lashed out at any fan accounnt mercilessly, then you are the ovverreacting fan.
Know thhat everyone is entitled to their opiniions and has a right to express thhemselves.
Never tuurn into a keyboard ware rior whereware you heartlessly lash out at other faans, backed by typing in caps and vvulgar words. How do you expect to sustain a healthy fan base that way?w
Secondlly, a fandom would be all the more meaningfulm if each fan supports itt wholeheartedly.
I myselff am part of a fandom. Being in #TTeamDuff – a fandom for former teeen icon Hilary Duff on Twitter – isi quite a fun experience.
Her fanss would gather in an online foruum and discuss ways to support heer work.
In 2013,, a fan scored an interthe view with actress and singer at a Starbuckks outlet in Canada!
In June last year, when she was about to release her first album in eight years, fans around the world went to great lengths to promote her comeback.
For example, posting the album posters around town, designing T-shirts bearing the album title, and uploading as many Dubsmash videos as they could.
In addition, many of us requested for her songs to be played on radio.
Fans of other fandoms have done such things, too. The end results are mostly amazing.
To keep a fandom going, fans need to respect the person or work they are supporting.
Some have taken to flooding the comments section with negative remarks. A fan may offer criticisms or even show his or her sassy side but not to the extent of being rude or insensitive.
It could be a form of bullying, if done excessively. So, mind your words online, because it also reflects your personality.
Finally, learn to balance your interest in the fandom and your real-life priorities.
Being an enthusiast has its perks and benefits but if you prioritise it too much, you will face a lot of problems in your daily life.
You might miss your assignment deadlines, lose a lot of sleep, and even affect people’s impression of you.
In conclusion, being in a fandom is okay but one has to learn how to keep it in check and not be too engrossed in it.