Fandoms and Fans: I don't think I can understand all of them
I've created a new account in Tumblr where I intend to post future photographs to freeze (document) precious memories in an online platform, since I don't think I can print those photos and place them in a solid album. Then I stumbled upon an Arashi fandom there...
I followed the fandom because a Tumblr user whom I've followed first reblogged an interesting photo from the fandom's account. Giddy as I was, I clicked on the fandom's account and scrolled down their posts. The posts are mostly snap shots of Arashi/an Arashi member with a text over them. The text written over the photo an anonymous user uploaded was supposed to be her (I don't think there's a his) confession related to Arashi. The first entries were funny - the usual teasing and making fun of Arashi being dorks, hilarious expressions, and some confessions like "I hated Oh-chan before but now I love him" or "You'll get off guard with Aiba's unexpected sexiness" and other stuffs. Those posts made me smile thinking that these fans are something and that they really love the boys.
BUT, as I scroll down and click the link for older entries, the horror of reading the posts overwhelmed me. There are quite a number of hate posts - like pointing out how bad the recent Music Station performance of Arashi was, irritation about Ohno's falsetto parts in their new songs, loathing on Jun's "screeching" voice as they call it, how the boys dance unprofessionally on their opinion, that the boys lack harmonization, and all sorts of... oh well, hateful things. Though some may actually be helpful criticisms coming from a concerned fan, from that small number of hate posts, most are just Arashi bashing.
I paused for some time and thought: Do these people even realize what they were saying? They're not dance gurus or music professionals at all but they criticize like there's no tomorrow. Ah, no. The criticisms are good (we know the boys aren't perfect at all). What shocked me was the baseless opinions of some fans from that fandom about music and dancing. They are just babbling like they know Arashi right after birth. Some even go beyond judging a member's personality because they saw his face like that, or the other's reaction like that. Yes. Those things.
What was ultimately scary was the way fans bash each other when their ichiban is being insulted by another user. I mentioned earlier that some users only post baseless opinions, but even though that's the case a fan do not necessarily have to go that far to defend her favorite member. "Far" means some users use profanities against another user, some point out the other members' weaknesses so their ichiban will stand out and lots of other childish skirmishes.
I was terrified but I scrolled again, and thankfully the posts went well, and there were less bashing on later parts. I think some just want to stir up things in the fandom as they are so unhappy with their lives and want to pour out all their frustration with another innocent, loving fan. I hope those kind of fans stop freaking out yelling and fighting for the greatness of their ichibans. If you're an Arashi fan, then love them all! Anyway, you won't see them the way they are now if not for the formation of their group, right? And don't stoop so low as to bicker with fans about your ichibans. It sounds so pathetic, really.
For Arashi's music and dance, for me, they're not really the best superstars. But they are the only J-pop boy band I've ever followed in my entire life up 'til now because I love them along with those imperfections. Nothing more to say.