Thoughts: Dong Bang Catastrophe
Wow. Just when I step into the Dong Bang fandom... THIS pops up. Then THIIS. And THIIIS. And THIIIIS. And of course, because this is Asia, where sunbaes/qianbeis/shady-company-executives rule, THIIIIIS appears.
First reaction: I CAN'T SEE YOU
Then I read all the other stuff, and was like:
Then I saw all the hate, and was like:
And then I got very confused.
Warning: very long tl;dr after the click
So it all started with Junsu's tweets:
(Junsu) Till now, I believed that.. it wasn’t true.. it couldn’t be true.. We all used to share the same thought that.. they are the enemy of all five of us ..It seems they were not the enemy to all of us.. To show thanks.. to that which we all once considered to be our enemy… Many things must have happened during the times we were not together.. I feel so worn out; (5:27pm KST)
(Junsu) I’m trying to think.. hear.. and see only good things.. I’ve been doing that till now.. But I’m finding that so hard to do today.. Though we are apart ..This isn’t right hyung… We used to share the same thoughts.. Why.. Why.. Why are you doing this.. (5:30pm KST)
(Junsu) I must love everything.. I must embrace everything.. I must embrace all of that.. That’s what I should do.. ^^ (6:40pm KST)
(Junsu) On our beautiful dream, all this is, is an ordeal we must face right now.. When the flowers fall, we will start again.. start again.. start again.. again.. we have to (6:42pm KST)
Comments on Omona have included:
- "dear junsu, if u can't stay quiet, talk to a diary ..."
- "junsuyah! u write whatever u want in that twitter of urs.. "
- "dbsk rly needs to stop making so much drama for their fans... so sick of hearing my cassie friends btch all the time"
- "He's human. He has feelings and hey if these are his true feelings let it be. It takes a lot to stay quiet on a situation like this especially with everybody and their mama putting their two cents in. Just cut him some slack."
- "He should have kept it private like how HoMin have done the whole time. As a public figure he should know that spilling his feelings like this will only cause shitstorm and more bitchfest in the already torn fandom."
I really don't know that much about the details of the lawsuit and everything, you know, being casual fan of TVXQ and all, but I got so perplexed that I briefly attempted to walk in their shoes from the limited information I have of this situation.
JYJ:
JYJ-SM lawsuit
>> We've worked so hard to build the name TVXQ, and now we have thousands of fans worldwide and we're extremely thankful, but we've been suffering for years under this company. It's felt like a prison, and it's just too much to handle now. We just want to be treated like real people, be respected as artists, and work freely.
HoMin decide to stay with company.
>> Heartbroken about broken group. Let's form a new group. TVXQ is only for all 5 members together.
JaeChun get tattoos of JYJ's names.
>> We must stay strong and bond with each other. We will add HoMin's names when we unite again.
JYJ interviews, join Twitter.
>> Chance to speak up... We want to say more than veiled messages, but what can we do? Them fangirls and SM be crazy. And Twitter's just for fun. We only post up our cat lady activities anyway.
HoMin comeback, album thanks to.
>> Why does it seem like the song is talking to us, that we're being the jerks and that we're being attacked? Ouch. Why is Yunho thanking the company that caused us so much pain? I thought we were in this together. Maybe they changed their phones willingly then...
HoMin:
JYJ-SM lawsuit
>> We don't understand why they've decided to abandon us. Sure, we've had hardships, but we signed a contract, and vowed when we were trainees that we'd work hard no matter what, and stay together forever. Don't you remember that SM has helped us become who we are? What about our friendship?
HoMin decide to stay with company.
>> We need to stay with the company that nurtured us, and honor our contracts. Of course we're hurt from the disbandment, but if JYJ decide to leave, there's nothing we can do. We must continue without them.
JaeChun get tattoos of JYJ's names.
>> Oh. OIC. Ouch.
JYJ interviews, join Twitter.
>> Why are they insinuating that THEY'RE the victims? And so you guys are fine without us, we see.
HoMin comeback, album thanks to.
>> Wow, we've been through heaps together as a pair. It's time we make a comeback, and let everybody know that the gods are back. The title song should reflect our thoughts and pain we've been through - it'll be the only way to be sincere to our fans.
Enter Junsu's tweet.
Then Sim Jaewon.
"I can't just let this pass.. ..Little brother, this is really not right.... Who's at blame here? Don't pretend to be upset. Who do you think is really hurt....? You're so ungrateful, how could you do this...?"
BoA retweets.
Then Sungmin.
"After keeping it in after sometime, I’m leaving this message because I feel this has gone too far. Does (he) not remember the old days when we said we’d work hard together? We were happy even when we were practicing. Did (he) really forget the times when we thought going on broadcast even just once felt like a dream? I’d like it if (he) could look in the mirror once again and think whether (he) has forgotten his rookie mindset~ I understood and forgave them for leaving us without a single word so they could find their own paths, but I don’t know why they are making fools out of people who are quietly doing well by saying all kinds of these absurd lies and hurtful sayings."
Shingdong retweets Jaewon, adds, "Enemy (敵): An opponent who wants to fight or hurt another. Ingratitude (背恩忘德): An attitude of one throwing away their indebtedness to someone and betraying them. In other words, saying that my family wants to fight or hurt another is an attitude of one throwing away their indebtedness to them and betraying them!"
Then Jungmo.
"I’m getting so frustrated, so I’m going to write a few things… No matter how I see it, this isn’t right. How could you repay kindness with ingratitude… Do you really not feel who they are and how much they’ve cared for you? It’s inevitable for everyone to change, but I’m getting scared now. They started this because they liked music and the stage, but where has that all disappeared to now? It’s upsetting, truly…"
Then OBS PD.
"Looking at idols lately, it’s not even funny anymore. Do they think they’re a gang or something? Why are they ganging up and fighting? They’re not even the people in question, why leave messages like that? If they’re public figures, they should act like public figures. If not, just fight properly. Why are there laws? Don’t use the love of fans for your own personal profit, xx idol."
"Idols are really so funny. Who do they think made them into who they are? They probably think it’s themselves or their CEO or something. Fools, the people that created you are your fans, how could you be so ungrateful?"
"The problem is that the idols don’t know their place and are acting out like this, but not one adult is restricting them. Just because they’re nicknamed ‘adult-idols’ doesn’t mean anything."
Initially, I empathized with Junsu - his tweets weren't exactly attacking anyone, and he always seemed like the kind of person who puts on a brave face in front of everyone, so he most likely just burst with emotion, etc. His tweet was simply expressing his disappointment with his hyung and how things have changed and such, so I could relate. But then, assuming he was speaking to Yunho regarding the new album's "Thanks to" for the sake of argument, I didn't really follow why he would be upset by Yunho saying thank you to the people who produced their album. Perhaps he was upset when listening to " Keep Your Head Down" and just couldn't take it anymore by the time he got to reading the thanking section? 'Cause I'd understand if he took those lyrics as a message for JYJ and became upset; Jaejoong did, too, and I may have been upset in the same situation. Some commenters have pointed out that JYJ has written songs that could have been for HoMin as well. However, while "Empty" may have a sad tone, it sounds just like any other love song, and "I Can Soar" seems more like an optimistic outlook for the future. Idk, maybe I'm just looking too deeply into it.
I really didn't appreciate all the people in SM adding fuel to the fire, though. Yes, they're part of the company, were close friends, and some have trained with the boys (Sungmin was even supposed to debut with Junsu), but really it's none of their business. They're not directly involved, and have even made the situation into a bigger deal than it actually is. A member on Omona said that it's fair for the SM people to speak up, since they're closer to the boys than we ever will be, and know things behind the scenes. I think it's an interesting point she makes: If two close friends of yours are fighting their heads off, and there were all these cryptic messages thrown everywhere, wouldn't I feel like saying something?
Well... Yes, I've been in that situation too many times. Yes, I did feel the need to protect the friend that was being attacked at the time. But I didn't, and from observation, in none of them has speaking up actually helped the situation. Let the people directly involved deal with it privately, because adding comments will just make everything confusing and probably more dramatic than it actually is. Every time someone new joins in, there would be ANOTHER added side to the story. And when there's another surface for opinions and comments to reverberate in, it only encourages the original situation to amplify unnecessarily in the process, complicating things. Stress doesn't divide in these situations. It's not like talking to a trusted confidant, when you're lessening your pain by sharing with them privately. It's like the 'pain' version of 'the more the merrier' - the more people, the pain multiplies. Of course, that's my experience and I'm sure some will disagree with me.
I think I understand why they said the things they did, though. Here's me stepping into their shoes.
SM ppl:
JYJ leave.
>> Why are they leaving? It's been hard, and yes, our company kinda sucks at giving us sleep time, and don't get paid enough, but really? Our dream was to become entertainers, it was a dream just to be on broadcast, and we knew it'll be hard. We've all suffered together, and plus without SM, we'd all be nobodies. Hmm... Maybe they just like the stage more than we do.
JYJ release album, have concerts, etc.
>> Ahh, maybe they really do like the stage. Glad they're doing well.
Junsu's tweet.
>> What. Don't you remember how much the company has helped you? So ungrateful. Why are you attacking Yunho? He stuck through, he did no wrong. WE NEED TO PROTECT HIM & DEFEND THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY.
Ok, makes more sense now.
I still don't think they're right to butt in, though. They could argue that HoMin aren't saying anything so THEY will, but if I were HoMin, I'd want to stay classy or just smile and laugh onstage for my fans' sake. I've kept quiet all this time, why take the attention away from my comeback? And I doubt SM is controlling their words - they're third and fourth in terms of power in the company, right after BoA and Kangta. If they want to say something, things will be said. (As much as SM appears shady, I don't think they're that bad.) Everyone else butting in will only make things worse.
On a side note: On one hand, I kinda like that HoMin stayed classy and avoided talking about the issue, but on the other hand, it's like there's a big elephant in the room and even though they refuse to acknowledge it, they're singing elephant songs and using elephant dance moves in their songs. Idk. I don't really get it. But you catch my drift, yes maybe?.
Another side note: You know, there's also the possibility that Junsu wasn't cracking from frustration, but was aiming for all five of them to speak up - none of them have really talked about the issue, only cryptic messages. Perhaps he knew the consequences clearly and said them with a goal in mind. Speculations. (Nevertheless I still doubt he was doing so to detract from HoMin's comeback, like someone said.)
--
Actually, now that I think of it, it's more of an controversy about the privacy of public figures and the role of social media in society than just bickering idols, as that PD guy put it. The internet is public, and yet feels private to some (like I feel right now, speaking to myself in this journal), allowing people to speak to everyone and nobody at the same time. But do public figures have that same privilege? Can they write whatever words they like, words that could hurt others, on sites like Twitter, where thousands of fans could get upset about them?
Short answer: of course they can. They have (eg. Junsu and SM artists rn, and the Jay-2PM fiasco a few months back). But should they?
Celebrities wield immense power over their fans, and sometimes general public. (TVXQ's split has even driven several Cassies to commit suicide. People can argue that they may have killed themselves anyway, but I stand by my point - the separation of a singing group influenced people that didn't even know them personally to take their own lives.) They can make people grin like idiots, cry like babies. Should these people be allowed to fight/say ugly things over the internet, venting their emotions while hurting their fans - the very people who actually made them into the stars they are today?
(You could say that we have no power to allow them anyway, but that is not the point and we will not get into semantics.)
Freedom of speech is an extremely important right. But I think you'd agree with me that with that right comes responsibility. As free citizens, Junsu, the Suju members, Jaewon, and BoA all have the right to say whatever they want. But they are also public figures. They are cultural icons, and their words not only affect the people they speak to directly, but also their fans and followers, and perhaps even the general public to a degree. The difference between me writing here and idols ranting on their Cyworld or whatever, is they have thousands of people visiting their pages, and I'd be surprised if more than a handful of people ever even find this page, let alone read it. No one really cares if a random person out there is disappointed in his friend's words, but fangirls would weep bucketfuls if their oppas are 'fighting'. Once you're a celebrity, every word you type could be dug out, screenshot, and used to create wank everywhere. Your words could be unfortunately misunderstood and they could be deliberately misunderstood. They could make thousands hate your guts overnight and sign a suicide petition. Your boundaries change.
That's not fair, but you know what? I find it unfair that you can talk to Taeyang whenever you want, or receive free designer clothes simply because you are famous and connected. See? We just have different entitlements and responsibilities. So shouldn't you, as a celebrity, have the decency to write words that benefit others, or at least words that won't offend thousands? Ahh, Dear Reader, you may be taken back at this point. What? To censure EVERYTHING you say all the time is practically impossible. I'm sure YOU'D hate or fail to do that. Yes, I agree, I may have been asking for too much. Celebrities know what they're getting themselves into, but sometimes it's understandable if they, like Junsu, spontaneously explode. But maybe they can at least keep their spats private? I mean, why choose the entertainment path if you're not going to be entertaining to your fans, the people who give you so much love and support? It doesn't not help anyone to post hateful messages anywhere. That is true for everyone. If you want to speak your mind, you could be like Heechul, who has made a habit of speaking his mind, and is loved for it and sometimes even expected to do so, but he is where he is because even he knows his limits, and knows when and where is 'too far'.
So while they have the right of speech, they also have a greater responsibility for their words, which is why many people are upset that they those things in the first place.
Oh, I lol'd irl at comments that were like, "Junsu started it by venting on twitter. It's all his fault, Mommy!" ...What? So if someone does something wrong first, it justifies your identical offense because you had no choice but to copy them? If someone called me ignorant and stupid for my opinions voiced in this post, I wouldn't respond with an insult. In fact, I would have been ashamed of myself if I did anything in retaliation - Someone else's actions should not determine your response. If I get angry, I lose. Especially if I'm a celebrity. Two wrongs don't make a right, and an eye for an eye makes the world blind.
Ok, think my headache is dying.
I thank you, dearest reader, for reading till the very end ;D
Yay! Now I can finally sleep :D
First reaction: I CAN'T SEE YOU
Then I read all the other stuff, and was like:
Then I saw all the hate, and was like:
And then I got very confused.
Warning: very long tl;dr after the click
So it all started with Junsu's tweets:
(Junsu) Till now, I believed that.. it wasn’t true.. it couldn’t be true.. We all used to share the same thought that.. they are the enemy of all five of us ..It seems they were not the enemy to all of us.. To show thanks.. to that which we all once considered to be our enemy… Many things must have happened during the times we were not together.. I feel so worn out; (5:27pm KST)
(Junsu) I’m trying to think.. hear.. and see only good things.. I’ve been doing that till now.. But I’m finding that so hard to do today.. Though we are apart ..This isn’t right hyung… We used to share the same thoughts.. Why.. Why.. Why are you doing this.. (5:30pm KST)
(Junsu) I must love everything.. I must embrace everything.. I must embrace all of that.. That’s what I should do.. ^^ (6:40pm KST)
(Junsu) On our beautiful dream, all this is, is an ordeal we must face right now.. When the flowers fall, we will start again.. start again.. start again.. again.. we have to (6:42pm KST)
Comments on Omona have included:
- "dear junsu, if u can't stay quiet, talk to a diary ..."
- "junsuyah! u write whatever u want in that twitter of urs.. "
- "dbsk rly needs to stop making so much drama for their fans... so sick of hearing my cassie friends btch all the time"
- "He's human. He has feelings and hey if these are his true feelings let it be. It takes a lot to stay quiet on a situation like this especially with everybody and their mama putting their two cents in. Just cut him some slack."
- "He should have kept it private like how HoMin have done the whole time. As a public figure he should know that spilling his feelings like this will only cause shitstorm and more bitchfest in the already torn fandom."
I really don't know that much about the details of the lawsuit and everything, you know, being casual fan of TVXQ and all, but I got so perplexed that I briefly attempted to walk in their shoes from the limited information I have of this situation.
JYJ:
JYJ-SM lawsuit
>> We've worked so hard to build the name TVXQ, and now we have thousands of fans worldwide and we're extremely thankful, but we've been suffering for years under this company. It's felt like a prison, and it's just too much to handle now. We just want to be treated like real people, be respected as artists, and work freely.
HoMin decide to stay with company.
>> Heartbroken about broken group. Let's form a new group. TVXQ is only for all 5 members together.
JaeChun get tattoos of JYJ's names.
>> We must stay strong and bond with each other. We will add HoMin's names when we unite again.
JYJ interviews, join Twitter.
>> Chance to speak up... We want to say more than veiled messages, but what can we do? Them fangirls and SM be crazy. And Twitter's just for fun. We only post up our cat lady activities anyway.
HoMin comeback, album thanks to.
>> Why does it seem like the song is talking to us, that we're being the jerks and that we're being attacked? Ouch. Why is Yunho thanking the company that caused us so much pain? I thought we were in this together. Maybe they changed their phones willingly then...
HoMin:
JYJ-SM lawsuit
>> We don't understand why they've decided to abandon us. Sure, we've had hardships, but we signed a contract, and vowed when we were trainees that we'd work hard no matter what, and stay together forever. Don't you remember that SM has helped us become who we are? What about our friendship?
HoMin decide to stay with company.
>> We need to stay with the company that nurtured us, and honor our contracts. Of course we're hurt from the disbandment, but if JYJ decide to leave, there's nothing we can do. We must continue without them.
JaeChun get tattoos of JYJ's names.
>> Oh. OIC. Ouch.
JYJ interviews, join Twitter.
>> Why are they insinuating that THEY'RE the victims? And so you guys are fine without us, we see.
HoMin comeback, album thanks to.
>> Wow, we've been through heaps together as a pair. It's time we make a comeback, and let everybody know that the gods are back. The title song should reflect our thoughts and pain we've been through - it'll be the only way to be sincere to our fans.
Enter Junsu's tweet.
Then Sim Jaewon.
"I can't just let this pass.. ..Little brother, this is really not right.... Who's at blame here? Don't pretend to be upset. Who do you think is really hurt....? You're so ungrateful, how could you do this...?"
BoA retweets.
Then Sungmin.
"After keeping it in after sometime, I’m leaving this message because I feel this has gone too far. Does (he) not remember the old days when we said we’d work hard together? We were happy even when we were practicing. Did (he) really forget the times when we thought going on broadcast even just once felt like a dream? I’d like it if (he) could look in the mirror once again and think whether (he) has forgotten his rookie mindset~ I understood and forgave them for leaving us without a single word so they could find their own paths, but I don’t know why they are making fools out of people who are quietly doing well by saying all kinds of these absurd lies and hurtful sayings."
Shingdong retweets Jaewon, adds, "Enemy (敵): An opponent who wants to fight or hurt another. Ingratitude (背恩忘德): An attitude of one throwing away their indebtedness to someone and betraying them. In other words, saying that my family wants to fight or hurt another is an attitude of one throwing away their indebtedness to them and betraying them!"
Then Jungmo.
"I’m getting so frustrated, so I’m going to write a few things… No matter how I see it, this isn’t right. How could you repay kindness with ingratitude… Do you really not feel who they are and how much they’ve cared for you? It’s inevitable for everyone to change, but I’m getting scared now. They started this because they liked music and the stage, but where has that all disappeared to now? It’s upsetting, truly…"
Then OBS PD.
"Looking at idols lately, it’s not even funny anymore. Do they think they’re a gang or something? Why are they ganging up and fighting? They’re not even the people in question, why leave messages like that? If they’re public figures, they should act like public figures. If not, just fight properly. Why are there laws? Don’t use the love of fans for your own personal profit, xx idol."
"Idols are really so funny. Who do they think made them into who they are? They probably think it’s themselves or their CEO or something. Fools, the people that created you are your fans, how could you be so ungrateful?"
"The problem is that the idols don’t know their place and are acting out like this, but not one adult is restricting them. Just because they’re nicknamed ‘adult-idols’ doesn’t mean anything."
Initially, I empathized with Junsu - his tweets weren't exactly attacking anyone, and he always seemed like the kind of person who puts on a brave face in front of everyone, so he most likely just burst with emotion, etc. His tweet was simply expressing his disappointment with his hyung and how things have changed and such, so I could relate. But then, assuming he was speaking to Yunho regarding the new album's "Thanks to" for the sake of argument, I didn't really follow why he would be upset by Yunho saying thank you to the people who produced their album. Perhaps he was upset when listening to " Keep Your Head Down" and just couldn't take it anymore by the time he got to reading the thanking section? 'Cause I'd understand if he took those lyrics as a message for JYJ and became upset; Jaejoong did, too, and I may have been upset in the same situation. Some commenters have pointed out that JYJ has written songs that could have been for HoMin as well. However, while "Empty" may have a sad tone, it sounds just like any other love song, and "I Can Soar" seems more like an optimistic outlook for the future. Idk, maybe I'm just looking too deeply into it.
I really didn't appreciate all the people in SM adding fuel to the fire, though. Yes, they're part of the company, were close friends, and some have trained with the boys (Sungmin was even supposed to debut with Junsu), but really it's none of their business. They're not directly involved, and have even made the situation into a bigger deal than it actually is. A member on Omona said that it's fair for the SM people to speak up, since they're closer to the boys than we ever will be, and know things behind the scenes. I think it's an interesting point she makes: If two close friends of yours are fighting their heads off, and there were all these cryptic messages thrown everywhere, wouldn't I feel like saying something?
Well... Yes, I've been in that situation too many times. Yes, I did feel the need to protect the friend that was being attacked at the time. But I didn't, and from observation, in none of them has speaking up actually helped the situation. Let the people directly involved deal with it privately, because adding comments will just make everything confusing and probably more dramatic than it actually is. Every time someone new joins in, there would be ANOTHER added side to the story. And when there's another surface for opinions and comments to reverberate in, it only encourages the original situation to amplify unnecessarily in the process, complicating things. Stress doesn't divide in these situations. It's not like talking to a trusted confidant, when you're lessening your pain by sharing with them privately. It's like the 'pain' version of 'the more the merrier' - the more people, the pain multiplies. Of course, that's my experience and I'm sure some will disagree with me.
I think I understand why they said the things they did, though. Here's me stepping into their shoes.
SM ppl:
JYJ leave.
>> Why are they leaving? It's been hard, and yes, our company kinda sucks at giving us sleep time, and don't get paid enough, but really? Our dream was to become entertainers, it was a dream just to be on broadcast, and we knew it'll be hard. We've all suffered together, and plus without SM, we'd all be nobodies. Hmm... Maybe they just like the stage more than we do.
JYJ release album, have concerts, etc.
>> Ahh, maybe they really do like the stage. Glad they're doing well.
Junsu's tweet.
>> What. Don't you remember how much the company has helped you? So ungrateful. Why are you attacking Yunho? He stuck through, he did no wrong. WE NEED TO PROTECT HIM & DEFEND THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY.
Ok, makes more sense now.
I still don't think they're right to butt in, though. They could argue that HoMin aren't saying anything so THEY will, but if I were HoMin, I'd want to stay classy or just smile and laugh onstage for my fans' sake. I've kept quiet all this time, why take the attention away from my comeback? And I doubt SM is controlling their words - they're third and fourth in terms of power in the company, right after BoA and Kangta. If they want to say something, things will be said. (As much as SM appears shady, I don't think they're that bad.) Everyone else butting in will only make things worse.
On a side note: On one hand, I kinda like that HoMin stayed classy and avoided talking about the issue, but on the other hand, it's like there's a big elephant in the room and even though they refuse to acknowledge it, they're singing elephant songs and using elephant dance moves in their songs. Idk. I don't really get it. But you catch my drift, yes maybe?.
Another side note: You know, there's also the possibility that Junsu wasn't cracking from frustration, but was aiming for all five of them to speak up - none of them have really talked about the issue, only cryptic messages. Perhaps he knew the consequences clearly and said them with a goal in mind. Speculations. (Nevertheless I still doubt he was doing so to detract from HoMin's comeback, like someone said.)
--
Actually, now that I think of it, it's more of an controversy about the privacy of public figures and the role of social media in society than just bickering idols, as that PD guy put it. The internet is public, and yet feels private to some (like I feel right now, speaking to myself in this journal), allowing people to speak to everyone and nobody at the same time. But do public figures have that same privilege? Can they write whatever words they like, words that could hurt others, on sites like Twitter, where thousands of fans could get upset about them?
Short answer: of course they can. They have (eg. Junsu and SM artists rn, and the Jay-2PM fiasco a few months back). But should they?
Celebrities wield immense power over their fans, and sometimes general public. (TVXQ's split has even driven several Cassies to commit suicide. People can argue that they may have killed themselves anyway, but I stand by my point - the separation of a singing group influenced people that didn't even know them personally to take their own lives.) They can make people grin like idiots, cry like babies. Should these people be allowed to fight/say ugly things over the internet, venting their emotions while hurting their fans - the very people who actually made them into the stars they are today?
(You could say that we have no power to allow them anyway, but that is not the point and we will not get into semantics.)
Freedom of speech is an extremely important right. But I think you'd agree with me that with that right comes responsibility. As free citizens, Junsu, the Suju members, Jaewon, and BoA all have the right to say whatever they want. But they are also public figures. They are cultural icons, and their words not only affect the people they speak to directly, but also their fans and followers, and perhaps even the general public to a degree. The difference between me writing here and idols ranting on their Cyworld or whatever, is they have thousands of people visiting their pages, and I'd be surprised if more than a handful of people ever even find this page, let alone read it. No one really cares if a random person out there is disappointed in his friend's words, but fangirls would weep bucketfuls if their oppas are 'fighting'. Once you're a celebrity, every word you type could be dug out, screenshot, and used to create wank everywhere. Your words could be unfortunately misunderstood and they could be deliberately misunderstood. They could make thousands hate your guts overnight and sign a suicide petition. Your boundaries change.
That's not fair, but you know what? I find it unfair that you can talk to Taeyang whenever you want, or receive free designer clothes simply because you are famous and connected. See? We just have different entitlements and responsibilities. So shouldn't you, as a celebrity, have the decency to write words that benefit others, or at least words that won't offend thousands? Ahh, Dear Reader, you may be taken back at this point. What? To censure EVERYTHING you say all the time is practically impossible. I'm sure YOU'D hate or fail to do that. Yes, I agree, I may have been asking for too much. Celebrities know what they're getting themselves into, but sometimes it's understandable if they, like Junsu, spontaneously explode. But maybe they can at least keep their spats private? I mean, why choose the entertainment path if you're not going to be entertaining to your fans, the people who give you so much love and support? It doesn't not help anyone to post hateful messages anywhere. That is true for everyone. If you want to speak your mind, you could be like Heechul, who has made a habit of speaking his mind, and is loved for it and sometimes even expected to do so, but he is where he is because even he knows his limits, and knows when and where is 'too far'.
So while they have the right of speech, they also have a greater responsibility for their words, which is why many people are upset that they those things in the first place.
Oh, I lol'd irl at comments that were like, "Junsu started it by venting on twitter. It's all his fault, Mommy!" ...What? So if someone does something wrong first, it justifies your identical offense because you had no choice but to copy them? If someone called me ignorant and stupid for my opinions voiced in this post, I wouldn't respond with an insult. In fact, I would have been ashamed of myself if I did anything in retaliation - Someone else's actions should not determine your response. If I get angry, I lose. Especially if I'm a celebrity. Two wrongs don't make a right, and an eye for an eye makes the world blind.
Ok, think my headache is dying.
I thank you, dearest reader, for reading till the very end ;D
Yay! Now I can finally sleep :D