#i hate fandom sm this is why i curated my experience and run this blog instead of participate in fandom

[mobiused]

i'm sorry for not wording my thoughts properly, i don't even stan shinee so i wasn't trying to make excuses for them. my ask was mostly about 2nd gen and early 3rd gen idols, and i genuinely wasn't trying to paint them as brainwashed victims, what i meant to say is that these issues aren't individual issues and a lot of idols ended up internalizing those views because they're judged by harsh standards. but this isn't an excuse and when i said that we should have a conversation and make a change i genuinely wasn't talking about your blog i was referring to fandoms and their interactions with their favorite idols. because a lot of fandoms tend to bury these scandals and only bring them up when it's convenient to them. i don't think idols these days have any excuses because they have a lot of global fans, but back then a lot of 2nd gen idols were openly colorist and fatphobic and they would make offensive jokes on tv and get away with it because colorism and fatphobia are common problems in south korea and yes not all koreans are like that i'm not trying to make generalizations but the fact that they got away with it and didn't get criticized for it shows me that joking about people's skin tones and weight was an acceptable thing to do, and i heard so many stories from koreans these days talking about people, even strangers on the street, mocking their skin tones and weight unprovoked. so basically all i wanted to say is that these issues are not individual issues, and idols should be criticized for it by their fans and when i said "productive conversation" i genuinely meant that fans should discuss it instead of letting it slip under the rug and only bring it up during fanwars. i know it isn't your responsibility to reform the south korean society i apologize if my words came across as that

Thank you for rephrasing ❤

It's a sentiment that has been suggested by a lot of people which really irks me because of the slippery slope towards orientalist roboticism of that line of thinking. These issues definitely aren't localised to individuals and I hope everyone who keeps up with my blog knows that I condemn both the individuals who perpetuate this and the society that allows it to be perpetuated.

Semi-related, did you know how the introduction of American TV to the islands of Fiji is purported to have caused an increase in disordered eating?

If you want to have a conversation on the pervasiveness of fatphobia and colorism in Korea and what everyone can do to improve the situation, both domestically and internationally, then I think we need to broaden the scope of what is being discussed. Korea and its societally held beauty standards are more than just K-pop, as I'm sure everyone here knows!

[cheryls-blossomed]

I hear what that anon is saying and nobody is saying to love everything that EW is doing with the show. My thing is people tend to be harsher critics when it comes to black people no matter what it is and I see that playing out with EW. So yes I’m gonna suspect race plays a part in the excessive amount of hate that he’s getting. It seems people go out of their way to hate on him at every turn. That’s what raises my suspicions. People can spin it however they want but ultimately they have to ask themselves where’s all this animosity is coming from when we’ve had SRs that have done far worse because yes creating and fostering a toxic work environment is worse imo. Are they not judged as harshly because WA kissed a bit more in those seasons so the toxic environment bts doesn’t hold as much weight? I’m just asking. Black people create harmful shit quite often thinking they’re doing something positive for the community. Being persistent and pointing out problems and educating our own community is key, treating people like shit isn’t. It’s just a one way ticket to being muted or blocked. This is EW first stint as a SR, sounds like he’s learned some habits from being a writer on these other shows from SRs he worked for that he needs to unlearn. Unless someone can prove to me he’s intentionally and maliciously doing things that are harmful towards black people, I’m just not gonna agree with how he’s being treated by certain people on sm because it’s constant and excessive. When it’s all said and done and as stated countless times, watching this show is a choice. It’s supposed to be entertainment not this angry, bitter experience. Healthy perspective and boundaries are never a bad thing

I just feel like the issues with the show started way before Eric, and Eric really didn't do anything to necessarily enhance the story-telling of the show or directly address the racism entrenched in the very narrative. But the problems with this show go way beyond Eric, and that's why I've never engaged in the constant barrage of harsh criticism, because I don't see the purpose. I have constantly called out the issues in the narrative and the harmful tropes perpetuated against Iris, including these story-lines that constantly compound upon Iris's trauma, while she is not giving any space in the narrative to heal.

I do think that a lot of the hate against Eric has been very targeted and is racist, and a lot of that has come from fanboys, especially, but it's not only fanboys who have partaken in that kind of hate. In any event, ad hominem attacks and vicious attacks under the guise of criticism must be condemned.

I know that Black women in this fandom have different views on Eric and his show-running, and I think it's of the utmost importance for non-Black fans, including myself, to listen to what Black women have to say. Which is why I want both your thoughts and the previous anon's thoughts to be amplified on this blog.

And I agree: this is a television show. Like my perspective on the show eight years in, especially at a point where I'm frankly not invested in anything to do with the show that isn't Iris or WA (which is why I have also curated the way that I watch the show this season), is that I'm going to enjoy the parts of the show that I love and just not watch all of the stuff that I can't be bothered watching. As you said, a healthy perspective and boundaries are of the utmost importance.