#girl i used to be a hardcore belieber

[hdmiports]

1 and 10 for the music ask game 🩷

1 - a song you liked as a child

10 - a song that makes you feel relaxed

[gabbylyons]

N, Q

N- Name three things you wish you saw more or in a main fandom (or a fandom of choice)

Fandom in general has several things that i wish i could see more. But i will choose Doctor Who for the sake of the ask.

1- memes of all eras. doctor who has so much comedy potential but it sucks when most fandom interactions are discourse.

2- appreciation and positivity for the show without the need to put down the ones that are not our favorites.

3- a little more respect, especially for cast and crew. you can dislike an era all you want, but the showrunner is actual person.

Q- A fandom you've abandoned and why

i used to be a hardcore belieber when i was a teen girl. not saying that i dont like his songs anymore (i totally do!) but you won't catch me arguing on twitter with other pop fandoms.

[carmenblogs]

The Good and Bad of Fandom

"Fandoms," as they've come to be known, are groups of people who collectively admire or support a specific item in popular culture, most often television shows, book series, movies, musicians, or performers (Weist 2017). The word 'fandom' is originated from the term “fangirl,” which referred to outspoken female fans. Some of the well-known fandoms today are Army (BTS Fans), Beliebers (Justin Bieber fans), BLINKS (Black pink fans) and Anime Fans (weebs). I'm actually pretty excited about this week's topic, so here's my take on it:

Fandom gives a sense of belonging

According to research, depression and a poor sense of belonging are associated. A willingness to face life's obstacles is created by discovering a stronger sense of purpose and growing in your understanding of the genuine love people have for you (Weist 2017).

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Dr Laurel Steinberg, a psychotherapist and professor of psychology at Columbia University, said that being a part of a fandom group "helps adolescents connect to other like-minded youngsters on social media throughout the year, as well as during concert events." One can better identify their identity and provide meaning to what might otherwise be a regular lifestyle by feeling that they are a part of a community.

Lisa Bahar, a therapist who specialises in working with young girls, attributed this to a period of development known as "Identity vs. Role Confusion," which is a term used in developmental psychology to describe the period in which young adults begin to distinguish who they are from who they were raised to be (Weist 2017). Fandoms can bring positivity, as it gives a sense of belonging to young teenagers who are growing and trying to find their own identity. For instance, when fans interact with their idol on social media and when he or she replies, they get so excited and happy being noticed by their favourite idol. This shows that they are being acknowledged and appreciated by their favourite idols. Imagine if your favourite celebrity liked your social media post, you would be happy too right? I know that will give me so much joy and excitement (I would fangirl too if Justin notices me lmaoooo)

So what makes a fandom toxic?

Personally, I have to admit that fandoms can be toxic, especially if they are a hardcore fanbase. Not trying to throw any shade here, it's just my personal observation as fandoms these days can be really toxic when they're a bit overboard. Being a Belieber myself back then, I admit that our fanbase can be toxic especially when Justin was dating Selena. Tons of fans (including myself) LMAO were super jealous of her. I remember the extreme jealousy has gotten to the point where Selena receives death threats (yikes) and a lot of hate from Beliebers just because they were dating.

According to Lefler (2022), the three key components of the poisonous fandom stew are possessiveness, entitlement, and a sense of superiority. Possession refers to the toxic fans' feeling of ownership over the media they consume. They will behave as though it is theirs alone, and exclusively theirs.

For instance, possessiveness is well-illustrated by the toxic Japanese fans of female pop stars. These fans who act as though they have the right to govern the girls would stalk and harass the girls (Lefler 2022). Other fans may suffer abuse at the hands of toxic fans. This frequently occurs when they believe that only they are the "real" fans and that everyone else is a poser, poseuse, or casual admirer. The majority of their rage is typically directed at those with popular tastes. For instance, when someone admits they just watched the first series, haven't seen every episode of every series, or don't speak Klingon, a passionate, toxic Star Trek fan might feel irritated and start a controversy about who is the 'real fan' and how he or she should watch more to fit in the fanbase.

Another example, as I mentioned before, is Justin Bieber fans or as known as 'Beliebers' can be toxic at times too. Previously, they sent death threats to Selena for being his girlfriend. Now, Hailey Bieber (Justin's wife) receives the same hate and treatment from fans and ironically, is always compared to Selena lol. This is because most people believe that Hailey is just a 'rebound' and most of the fans are not over 'Jelena'. Now, I would say both Justin Bieber and Selena fans can be equally toxic especially when it comes to Hailey and Selena.

Hailey Bieber tells haters (fans of Selena Gomez) to leave her alone

You'd think that by now people would be over the duo formerly known as Jelena, considering that Hailey and Justin Bieber have been married since 2018 (and that he split from Selena Gomez months before they registered for a marriage lisence). However, it seems that people are still not over the couple. After so many years since 'Jelena' broke up, it's crazy how some people are still NOT over their relationship and are still 'shipping' them. According to Savin (2022), Hailey is pretty much done with all the unnecessary hate she has been receiving. She decided to post a new TikTok video begging everyone to 'leave her alone and to stop making unwanted comments on her social media posts.

In the Tiktok video, she expressed her frustration and said, "Leave me alone, at this point... I'm minding my business, I don't do anything, I don't say anything. Leave me alone, please. Enough time has gone by where it's valid to leave me alone, I beg of you truly. That's my only request, leave me alone... be miserable somewhere else." According to Savin (2022), Hailey added that "it's been long enough" even though she didn't specifically mention Selena by name in her video, hinting that the remarks are in reference to the breakup of Selena and Justin's romance. In other words, Selenators (Selena fans) should calm down and move on. I honestly feel bad for Hailey, it's been over a decade get over it guys!

To conclude, fandoms can be both good and bad especially when the obsession and possession gets out of hand. It's important to maintain healthy relationships in our community despite whatever fandom or fanbase you're in. Every fanbase should have boundaries, even if you're a huge 'stan' of your favourite idol. It's never okay to bully or pick on someone either, let alone argue with strangers online over a public figure. Let's all avoid toxicity by respecting each other's opinions and preferences. 🫶🏻

If you've read this far, thanks for tuning in to today's blog. See you all next week! 🥰

References:

Lefler R, 2022, 'What's Toxic Fandom and What Creates It?', Reel Rundown, viewed 19 November 2022, <https://reelrundown.com/misc/5-Factors-that-Can-Cause-Toxic-Fandom-to-Arise>

Savin J, 2022, 'Hailey Bieber Begs Everyone To 'Leave Her Alone' After Selena Gomez Fans Invade Her Comment', Cosmopolitan, viewed 19 November 2022, <https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a39709996/hailey-bieber-leave-alone-video/>

Wiest B, 2017, 'Psychologists Say That Belonging To A Fandom Is Amazing For Your Mental Health', Teen Vogue, viewed 19 November 2022, <https://www.teenvogue.com/story/psychologists-say-fandoms-are-amazing-for-your-mental-health>

[thatstanlife]

what is a stan?

Everyone has at least been a stan once in their lifetime. Whether it was for a celebrity or for a popular movie franchise. You were a stan, or maybe you currently are. 

But what exactly is a stan? 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, stan as a noun means "an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan." 

e.g. The two girls are hardcore K-pop stans.

As a verb, it means to be "an extremely devoted and enthusiastic fan of someone or something."

e.g. I love stanning The Weeknd!

In 2017 the word was officially added to the dictionary. The origins of the word trackback to the year 2000 when rapper Eminem released his song ‘Stan.’ The song is about a fan, named Stan, who is upset with the rapper because he has not responded to his letters. Stan eventually commits suicide, along with his girlfriend, because he felt rejected by his idol. The final verse of the song is from Eminem's point of view. As he is writing to the fan to reason with him, he soon realizes that it is too late to reach out to him.

Stan, at the time, was used to refer to an over obsessed fan, blending the words stalker and fan together. The term is commonly used now amongst different fanbases of celebrities in which the fans call themselves stans. Many of whom can be seen on Twitter making statements like: 

Often celebrities will give their fans a fandom name.

e.g. Justin Bieber fans are called Beliebers

If a fandom doesn’t have a name they will be called the celebrity’s name with stan attached to it. 

e.g. Lana Del Rey Stans

Basically, stan is just a more trendy way of calling someone or yourself a fan.

[happylittlecoffeebean]

Glitz and Glam

Hi i really hope you’re gonna do this request because I asked to other people but they don’t make it. So can you do one where you’re 3 years or something together with Shawn and you’re going to an award show and you’re a belieber and you see there justin Bieber and you’re freaking out and go talk to him and laugh a lot and Shawn is jealous and stuff butt you make it up to him. I would really appreciate if you make this one. Hey! Here you go anon, I hope I did it justice! Remember to keep on requesting! ❤ *** 'Y/N, hurry up!’ 'I’m putting on my heels woman! I have to look somewhat normal height due to my abnormally small figure! I can’t help it I’m short!’ I know what you’re thinking; how the hell have I put up with Shawn for the past three years? Truth is, I honestly have no idea. But, they have truly been the best three years I’ve experienced. But tonight for the first time I’d be attending the Billboard Music Awards with him. I was honestly ecstatic. Seeing all of the celebrities and singers, I could only imagine how overwhelming it was going to be. One person in particular that I was happy about seeing (hopefully) was Justin Bieber. I had been a hardcore belieber since he first began and he’s been my idol ever since. I walked out, trying not to fall over whilst Shawn chuckled, shaking his head at me. 'C'mon, Andrew’s waiting.’ 'Well, I’m sorry that I wanted to look half presentable for the rest of the world to see me. You know I’m a perfectionist.’ 'And that’s why you’re my girlfriend.’ He winked, giving me a cheeky peck on the lips. I sighed smiling, grabbing onto his hand. 'Well, c'mon. We’re going to be fashionably late!’ I mocked, pulling him out the door. ** To say I was shitting myself and excited at the same time was an understatement. The flashing cameras and blinding lights were overpowering, but feeling Shawn’s hand gripping mine reassured me that I was in somewhat safe hands whilst walking the red carpet. The crowd was incredible, celebrities around every direction. I was starstuck. When you’re not used to the glitz and glam of Hollywood, it can be very intimidating and slight terrifying. I could only imagine how Shawn felt when he first started out. 'Honestly, how the hell did you not fan girl when you came to your first award show?’ I asked, watching Selena Gomez walk past us. Okay, this was too much. 'I honestly have no idea, but trust me when I say that there was a moment when I met John Mayer; cool and calm on the outside, freaking out internally.’ 'I can second that.’ Andrew chirped. I chuckled, my heart stopping when I caught sight of the person I was looking forward to seeing the whole night. Justin mother freaking Bieber. I gripped Shawn’s arm, making sure I wasn’t going to fall over. He was making his way over here. Holy shit. 'Shawn! My man!’ Justin greeted my boyfriend, pulling him into a bro hug. I was too in shock to even breathe a word to him. Justin turned and looked at me, giving me his signature smirk. 'And who might this be?’ I let out a nervous chuckle. 'This is Y/N Y/L/N, my girlfriend.’ Shawn introduced me. 'Let me guess, you’re a fan?’ 'How’d you know?’ I asked. He chuckled, pulling me in for a warm hug. Now my internal insides were screaming. I mouthed “oh my god” to Shawn, causing him to chuckle. Justin pulled away, leaving a hand on my back. 'Don’t let this one go Shawn, she’s a keeper and a looker.’ He winked in my direction, almost making me weak at the knees. Shawn chuckled, but it seemed more forced than genuine. I gave him a look, trying to see if he’ll say something but he just shook his head. Justin drew my attention back to him, the two of us getting caught up in conversation. He'd made me laugh a few times with a few of his stories of when he first started out in the industry and asked me about my life. I admitted being a fan from a long time ago and he appreciated it. I looked at the corner of my eye seeing Shawn’s facial expression, annoyance very clear on his face. It made me feel a little guilty that I'd hardly spoken to him all night. 'Sorry, but I think Shawn and I should go sit down now. I’m glad to have gotten the chance to talk to you though.’ 'No problem at all Y/N, I hope to see you soon.’ He winked, walking away with his people as I sighed turning to Shawn. He didn’t look happy in the slightest. 'I’m sorry.’ I apologised, causing him sigh and his features to soften. 'I just got really excited and caught up in meeting someone I never thought I would.’ He stepped closer to me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders pulling me in for a hug.' 'No, I just got stupidly jealous. He’s not an ugly person and you’re perfect, don’t I have a right to be scared and jealous?’ I looked up at him, placing my hand on his cheek. 'Yeah, but the thing is though even if he’s Justin Bieber, he’s not my Shawn. And, my Shawn? He’s pretty great, amazing in fact.’ I placed my hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down to kiss me. I smiled into it, feeling move his hands to my own face, cupping my cheeks. We both pulled away, resting our foreheads together. 'You’ll never lose me, Shawn. I’ll make sure of it.’ I whispered.

[leafstrashtm]

story time here okay: the first time i skated (and the last time)

k this is for @artturi-lehky (its late and now im thinkin bout this so might aswell)

Okay so one thing to know about me is I’m from an extremely hot desert and my family see we are mexican and at least my family... we don’t fuck with the cold... like at all ...and with that we do not fuckin skate. Anyway so this took place when i was maybe 9-10 idk anyway me being my little social fucking butterfly ass was invited to a birthday paty and my parents were like go you can get free food and shit. so i went. a few days before though they tell us that we are going three hours in a car to the nearest bigger city to go ice skating im like lol wut. like i said my little mexican ass does not skate. and i don’t fucks with the cold (newsflash: the ice rink wasn’t that cold but my families ass didn’t know that) So time skip its the day of the fucking party and my mexican ass pulls up to this little white girls house in a dressed like my family is sending me off to discover hidden lands of antartica ( with my sisters like 3 jackets on me and fuckin dollar tree gloves that didnt fit) and all these white girls are just in jeans and like a thin longsleeeve. anyway we get in the car im fucking sweating cause one: all these bitches can skate and two: im covered in fucking jackets. so we get to the rink and i realize ITS NOT FUCKING COLD AND I REALIZE THAT REAL QUICK. SO WE RENT THE SKATES AND I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO PUT THESE DUMBASS FUCKING KNIVES ON SO I HAD TO ASK THE MOM SO RIGHT AS I STEP ON THIS ICE I REALIZE MY BITCHASS MADE A FUCKING MISTAKE I STRAIGHT UP PUT ONE FOOT ON THE ICE AND FELL FACE FIRST AND ATE SHIT LIKE LEGIT ATE IT. AND ALL THESE LITTLE GIRLS ARE FUCKING PULLING OUT FIGURE SKATING MOVES AND IM DEAD ON THE ICE. SO I GET MY ASS UP AND IM LIKE FUCK THAT IM JUST SKATING ON THE BOARDS SO IM GOING LIKE TWO INCHES AWAY BACK AND FOURTH HANGING ON TO THOSE BOARDS LIKE MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT IM FUCKING JUST GOING BACK AND FOURTH EATING A BURRITO THAT MY MOM PACKED AND STUCK INTO MY FIRST LAYER OF JACKET. SO THIS RINK HAD A DJ SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RINK AND THE DJ GETS ON THE MIC AND SAYS WE CAN MAKE REQUESTS. AND MY BITCH ASS WAS BIEBER AF AND MY WORLD 2.0 JUST CAME OUT AND I WAS A LEGIT HARDCORE BELIEBER  SO I WAS GONNA TRY TO RISK MY LIFE TO GET TO THAT DAMN DJ SO I PUMP MYSELF UP AND GET TWO INCHES FROM THE FUCKING BOARD AND I FUCKING FALL AND EAT SHIT LITERALLY MY HEAD BOUNCED OFF THE FUCKING ICE AND I FELL AND AT THIS POINT IM CRYING JUST LAYING THERE AND IM FUCKING SWEATING FROM THESE JACKETS AND THE BURRITO HEAT AND I CANT EVEN TAKE OFF THE JACKETS CAUSE THE MOM OF THE GIRL WAS GONNA SEND PICTURES TO MY MOM AND IF MY MOM SAW I WASNT WEARING THE JACKETS I WAS GONNA GET MY ICE WHOOPED ANYWAY BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING THIS LIKE 16 YEAR OLD BOY AND HIS MOM HELP ME UP AND THEY ARE LIKE ARE YOU OKAY AND I JUST ASK THEM TO TAKE ME BACK TO THE BOARDS AND THEY TAKE ME BACK 5 MINUTES PASS IM CRYING EATIIN MY BURRITO NOT MOVING FROM THE BOARDS BUT I STILL KNOW IM GOING TO GET SOMEBODY TO LOVE BY BIEBER TO PLAY IF IT KILLS ME AND THIS GIRL FROM THE PARTY PASSES BY AND I SCREAM HER NAME AND I LATCH MY ASS ON TO HER AND IM LIKE LETS GO TO THE DJ TABLE SHES LIKE WHATEVER AND SHE SKATES WITH ME PRETTY MUCH KOALA ON HER ARM AND I REQUEST MY  BIEBER AND IM GETTIN HYPE IM TURNIN UP FUCKIN DOING THE DOUGIE IM PUMPED THE FUCK UP HE PLAYED THE USHER VERSION IM PUMPED SO PUMPED THAT I DONT SEE HOME GIRL LEAVE THE TABLE SO THE SONG ENDS AND SHES NOT THERE IM IN  THE MIDDLE OF THE RINK ALONE AND IM LIKE FUCK SO MY BITCH ASS IS LIKE YOLO I PRAYED TO FUCKING GOD BEFORE I STEPPED AWAY FROM THE DJ TABLE AND TRIES TO GO BACK LONG STORY SHORT I MADE IT BARELY AFTER FALLING OVER 15 TIMES (NOT JOKING) AND IM LIKE TRAUMATIZED AT THIS POINT MY MOUTH WAS LEGIT BLEEDING CAUSE I FELL AND I BIT MY TOUNGE AND I HAD A BLODDY NOSE AND WE END UP LEAVING WHOLE CAR RIDE HOME ALL THESE GIRLS ARE LIKE THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN AND IM LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW STONE COLD NOT TALKING CRYING TO MYSELF EATING MY LEFTOVER BURRITOS THANKING GOD IT WAS OVER AND IN THE END I GET HOME SUPER LATE AND MY MOM SEES ME AND SHES LIKE .... DID YOU HAVE FUN? AND I DEADASS RESTING BITCH FACE MONOTONELY WENT “NO”  I WAS COVERED IN BRUISES ALL CUT UP SWEATY I DID NOT HAVE FUN LIKE WHY DID MY PARENTS SET MY LITTLE MEXICAN ASS UP FOR THAT THEY KNEW WE DON’T FUCK WITH THAT SHIT AND TO THIS DAY I DO NOT FUCK WITH SKATING FUCK THAT SHIT I LIKE HOCKEY BUT NEVER WILL I EVER SKATE UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. THE END