I admit I have a problem with the term “real fan”,
especially when it comes to music/bands.
What is a “real fan”? What does it take to be a “real
fan”? Are you a “real fan” when you own every single possible record and
bootleg of a certain band? When you finally see them live for the hundredth
time? When your wardrobe only consists of leather, chains and band shirts? When
you defend all and everything of what they’ve said and done, even the most
horrible things, because it’s your “job” as a “real fan” to defend your faves
at all costs, because that’s what “real fans” have to do and should do? Send
hate and insults and even death threats to the ones who don’t do exactly the
same and therefore are no “real fans”? Are you only a “real fan” when you obey
all of what you favourite band/artist is insisting that defines you as such?
When I look at all these things, it’s obvious to me
that I probably never was a “real fan” of anything. When I dared to criticise
the terrible vocals of a band’s singer that was my favourite band at this time,
I stirred up a real uproar in the comment section of a fanboard (Tumblr didn’t
exist at this time). I was blamed by some teen of having no clue about this
band at all. I was blatantly told to shut up, because said singer had a great
voice (Wrong; it was the right voice for this kind of music, but he wasn’t good in any way) and if I were that
unable to see this, I should immediately leave, the band wouldn’t need people
like me – I wasn’t a “real fan” according to that fan. Meanwhile, I spent an
unhealthy amount of time and money (and probably sanity) to drive around and
promote this band via posters and flyers, I was vocal about them in mails,
forums and whatsoever, went to festivals that were far too huge for my liking
and hundreds of kilometres away, because at this time it was the only
possibility to see them live. But I wasn’t a “real fan”, because some fan
couldn’t stand that I had something negatively to say about the singer’s voice.
When I cautiously dipped my toe into a movie/cartoon
fandom, I never got to be a “real fan”, because I love a part of that franchise
that everyone else absolutely detests – I only found one (1) person I could
talk to for a while since she was open to listen to my opinions and discuss them
with me without ripping my head off. Discovering another fandom, I had no
chance at all to become a “real fan” – I’m too old, not gay enough, don’t like
the colour pink, am not feminine enough, and the list endlessly goes on.
I don’t know. To criticise something isn’t okay. To
not criticise something isn’t okay. To have a different opinion isn’t okay. To be different is as wanted as it is
frowned upon. Either way you’re not a “real fan”.
I really don’t know, but all of this is pretty
discouraging…