The Fan versus the Fangirl

[Tilly]

Some of the posts in the Muse Dreams thread, as well as the YKYATMW thread, got me thinking. I joke around about being obsessed, but after seeing some Annie Wilkes-ish stuff I've realized I'm not that hardcore

I haven't been on this board long at all, and I haven't been listening to Muse for very long either, maybe 2 months. Prior to that I had Space Dementia on my iPod for a year before it occurred to me to listen to the rest of the album to see if there was anything else I liked

I listen to their records, watch/read interviews, watch live performances, check Twitter a few times a week to see if there's anything new, and the next time they play Seattle I intend on going. I consider myself a fan. When asked what my favorite bands are, they're one of the first ones I think of.
If I ran into one of them on the street, I think I'd probably just say, "Hey, I love your music!" and keep walking. Same as with any other band I really like.

I don't get the whole BellDom thing. I think it's weird and the level some girls take it to is creepy as fuck. I don't read fanfic for the same reason. I don't get the fixation on their personal lives. I don't get the stalkerish behavior. I don't get standing outside a hotel for 15 hours in the hopes of seeing them. I don't get slamming people for not liking their music. For Christ's sake, it's called personal taste. I hate Chris Brown but I'm not gonna call you a cunt for liking his music. And I don't get the I've-listenend-to-Muse-longer-than-you-so-fuck-off-and-die-your-opinion-doesn't-count thing.

I had this all written out in my head in a way that made sense but now it's gone I guess basically I'm wondering what your definitions of 'fan' and 'fangirl' are.

[Ethan.]

Originally Posted by Tilly

I don't get the whole BellDom thing. I think it's weird and the level some girls take it to is creepy as fuck. I don't read fanfic for the same reason. I don't get the fixation on their personal lives. I don't get the stalkerish behavior. I don't get standing outside a hotel for 15 hours in the hopes of seeing them. I don't get slamming people for not liking their music. For Christ's sake, it's called personal taste. I hate Chris Brown but I'm not gonna call you a cunt for liking his music. And I don't get the I've-listenend-to-Muse-longer-than-you-so-fuck-off-and-die-your-opinion-doesn't-count thing.

100% agreed. This stuff always annoyed the shit out of me.

I have no time for fangirls. I just listen to the music, play the music on guitar, follow the news about upcoming albums and tours and such, and other normal things. I do not write 1000 page fanfictions about Matt fucking Dom or vice versa (where the shit did that even come from?), and I don't nose into their personal lives saying OMG KATE IS SOO NOT RIGHT FOR MATT HE SHUD STILL B WITH GAIA and attacking anyone who doesn't like Muse.

/rant

[BlackPaintedNail]

Originally Posted by Ethan.

100% agreed. This stuff always annoyed the shit out of me.

I have no time for fangirls. I just listen to the music, play the music on guitar, follow the news about upcoming albums and tours and such, and other normal things. I do not write 1000 page fanfictions about Matt fucking Dom or vice versa (where the shit did that even come from?), and I don't nose into their personal lives saying OMG KATE IS SOO NOT RIGHT FOR MATT HE SHUD STILL B WITH GAIA and attacking anyone who doesn't like Muse.

/rant

Amen to that.

[Sippe]

I was expecting a point after reading all that. Now I'm just left feeling like "...yeah, and?"

Not trying to be a dick, it's just that...there are different kinds of fans, some like the music and some follow the bands hairdresser on twitter. And this isn't news.

[Kueller917]

BellDom 4 life yo <3

[Jobby]

Fangirls/boys annoy me to no end no matter what band they're obsessed with to be honest, simply due to their naivety/stupidity. I like most of Muse's music and a couple of their songs are personal all-time favourites of mine but I don't follow their mums and cousins on Twitter. If I met them in person, I admit that I'd like to have a chat (particularly with Matt) about music in general and probably let them know that a couple of their songs inspire me etc. but I wouldn't chase their taxis or anything like that.

All in all, I consider myself a fairly good fan. A good fan, in my opinion, is someone who enjoys listening to the band's discography and can give criticism where it is needed (unfortunately Muse don't really pick up on that criticism).

Also, Belldom is just fucking weird. I cringe whenever I see anything to do with it, I can't imagine how creeped out Dom and Matt feel about it.

There, my personal input to the original subject.

[Ethan.]

Originally Posted by Electricmuser96

If I met them in person, I admit that I'd like to have a chat (particularly with Matt) about music in general and probably let them know that a couple of their songs inspire me etc. but I wouldn't chase their taxis or anything like that.

Nothing I'd love more than to have a good natter with Matt about guitars

[Dee3Dee]

When you start following the band's stylist/whatever and even Matt's mum, you're just being a fucking creepy person. To excuse yourself with "I was trying to get information" is nonsense. The fanfic stuff about BellDom is really creepy as well. Some of the novels that (mostly) fangirls post are even worse than some things you can find on the internet in general. Also, when a person seriously believes that everything the band does is 100% perfect. No band is perfect, and certainly not Muse.

I guess that's what defines a fangirl/fanboy for me. One of these is enough. If you fit in with all three of these things; go away.

[Queen Nefertiti]

Originally Posted by Sippe

I was expecting a point after reading all that. Now I'm just left feeling like "...yeah, and?"

Not trying to be a dick, it's just that...there are different kinds of fans, some like the music and some follow the bands hairdresser on twitter. And this isn't news.

But their hair is crap

[Sippe]

I actually didn't expect some of these people actually going with this...

We all know there are some crazy fans out there. But everyone judges level of craziness from their own standards. So I doubt that any of these fans realise or accept that they're out of line. And I doubt that we can change their minds.(still, I'd be more than happy to deliver a big "you're fucking insane, now stop" to all of you nutcases, even though you don't know who you are)

[Kueller917]

Originally Posted by Sippe

I'd be more than happy to deliver a big "you're fucking insane, now stop" to all of you nutcases, even though you don't know who you are

Sorry.

[Sippe]

We should all start stalking stalkers.

In before "OMG WHY ARE YOU STALKING ME ON TWITTER YOU CREEP"

[Oh Hannah]

Personally I change the amount I 'fangirl' over them depending on who I am talking to. For example on tumblr I confess I join in the madness that takes place when we get news and all the speculation can be fun sometimes, something to enjoy being a part of like when they were running with the torch. How ever on here I have learnt to tone it down and it's far more about the music (naturally) than the band themselves. And since I have never met a 'muser' I just have to let it all out on the internet

Belldom is weird, I agree, but again I'm sure I've been 'involved with it' on tumblr, plus its the same with any band of fandom out there. However fanfics disgust me. I read one a few months ago to see what all the fuss was about and it really disturbed me, I thought I was pretty obsessed but there are girls out there who sit writing gay porn for hours it just doesn't make sense to me.

Finally I hate it when people (apart from jokingly) slag off any part of the bands looks, hair, or relationship choices. Imagine thinking I'll grow my hair long, oh no wait fans won't like that. It just bugs me how caught up people get in that stuff where who cares!? It's the bands music that matters, not criticising their social lives. And I agree, the hate towards Kate is absolutely stupid and disgusting.

If I met them on the street I'm sure I would get very excited and emotional but wouldn't do anything silly and would chat about the music and wouldn't dream of asking questions on personal life, would just feel wrong.

Ok rant over pick away at it if you must

[FabriPav]

Originally Posted by Sippe

"YOU CREEP"

Instert funny radiohead joke here

[Sippe]

Originally Posted by FabriPav

Instert funny radiohead joke here

>Radiohead jokes
>Funny

pick one.