Anybody that follows me outside of this blog will know I'm a bit of what they call a 'fangirl'.
A fangirl is basically someone who is passionately enthusiastic about some sort of cultural thing. Whether it be a band, actor, TV show, book series... It's irrelevant.
If you’re vocal and overjoyed when something relating to your interests comes out, you might be a fangirl.
Now, for good reason, the word ‘fangirl’ has gotten a bit of a negative connotation over the years. 'FANS' who just happen to be young and female, have notoriously latched themselves onto a particular artist and acted in a way that is less than appealing.
Honestly, I could write a dissertation on fan culture and behavior, what’s appropriate and what’s not, but I don't have a year to devote myself to the cause; so let’s just skip ahead a bit shall we?
Being passionate and excited about something isn’t inherently a bad thing. In fact, if you love something enough to shout it from the rooftops, then you shouldn't be embarrassed to do so. We as a community should celebrate you rather than condemn or make fun of those who express their fan pride.
That being said, and this is me speaking as one fan to another, obsession is never a good thing. Relying on an external force to provide you with fulfillment or joy is not healthy.
I lose myself sometimes. Get caught in the hysteria of adoration. Forget that I was born to be a lot more than someone else's fan. But, with the help of my friends (sane but passionate friends) I always resurface.
Community drags me out and community pulls me back in. That's why I always make sure I’m surrounding myself with people who have the same fan values as me. They can remind me when I'm acting like a fool without judging me or making me feel bad for getting swept away to begin with.
But what I get worried about are those girls who don't have the sane friends around to reel them back in. They are being raised to think that this obsessive fangirling is ok and acceptable.
Here’s how it should work. Your life should come first. Family, friends, school work, jobs, responsibilities, internal mental and emotional health should come LONG before the thing that you’ve become attentive to.
Devoting yourself to anything other than your own well being will eventually leave you extremely unhappy and empty. It might feel fun and good and amazing right now, but there will come a point (there always does) where you’ll get tired of not having your adoration reciprocated. The longing, jealously, and frustration will become too much.
So if you want to avoid all that, make sure you live your life with balance. At least for every fan related thing you do, make sure you’re doing something non-fan related as well.
Keep your life open and don’t get too dependent on any one thing.
Because at the end of the day what you're a fan of should bring you joy, not slowly take away bits of your own sanity.
A fangirl is basically someone who is passionately enthusiastic about some sort of cultural thing. Whether it be a band, actor, TV show, book series... It's irrelevant.
If you’re vocal and overjoyed when something relating to your interests comes out, you might be a fangirl.
Now, for good reason, the word ‘fangirl’ has gotten a bit of a negative connotation over the years. 'FANS' who just happen to be young and female, have notoriously latched themselves onto a particular artist and acted in a way that is less than appealing.
Honestly, I could write a dissertation on fan culture and behavior, what’s appropriate and what’s not, but I don't have a year to devote myself to the cause; so let’s just skip ahead a bit shall we?
Being passionate and excited about something isn’t inherently a bad thing. In fact, if you love something enough to shout it from the rooftops, then you shouldn't be embarrassed to do so. We as a community should celebrate you rather than condemn or make fun of those who express their fan pride.
That being said, and this is me speaking as one fan to another, obsession is never a good thing. Relying on an external force to provide you with fulfillment or joy is not healthy.
I lose myself sometimes. Get caught in the hysteria of adoration. Forget that I was born to be a lot more than someone else's fan. But, with the help of my friends (sane but passionate friends) I always resurface.
Community drags me out and community pulls me back in. That's why I always make sure I’m surrounding myself with people who have the same fan values as me. They can remind me when I'm acting like a fool without judging me or making me feel bad for getting swept away to begin with.
But what I get worried about are those girls who don't have the sane friends around to reel them back in. They are being raised to think that this obsessive fangirling is ok and acceptable.
Here’s how it should work. Your life should come first. Family, friends, school work, jobs, responsibilities, internal mental and emotional health should come LONG before the thing that you’ve become attentive to.
Devoting yourself to anything other than your own well being will eventually leave you extremely unhappy and empty. It might feel fun and good and amazing right now, but there will come a point (there always does) where you’ll get tired of not having your adoration reciprocated. The longing, jealously, and frustration will become too much.
So if you want to avoid all that, make sure you live your life with balance. At least for every fan related thing you do, make sure you’re doing something non-fan related as well.
Keep your life open and don’t get too dependent on any one thing.
Because at the end of the day what you're a fan of should bring you joy, not slowly take away bits of your own sanity.
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