Say it with me. "When a person really loves and enjoys something, they are a fan. You can be a fan without knowing every single detail about the fandom."
@@haveagoodmourning 😂 As a kinda casual star wars fan (ik the movies and the memes and some episodes of clone wars and rebels. Thats it. And I dont get most details and references and dont rly have a fave movie I kinda like them all) I have always been saying this. And for a long time being in the marvel fandom I still havent finished all of the movies. Sooo yea ppl have called me a fake fan. But honestly idgaf at this point. Thank you for reading my rant
@@BlueStar4040 I honestly can relate, being in both those fandoms. For SW, I've seen all the series and movies but don't care about the Legends content and can't differentiate a B-wing from an A-wing or any spaceship really. For the MCU, I still haven't seen Dark World, and a good portion of the first few movies are just blank spots in my memory.
@@haveagoodmourning tbh dark world is pretty bad. And star wars fans get SUPER salty sometimes (and some guys in elementary school didnt believe me that I liked star wars cuz im a very feminine girl so I relate to coley but ya know kids are stupid and im saying that as a teen)
honestly, yeah there’s no such thing as a real fan or a fake fan. if you like something, you’re a fan! you don’t have to know certain aspects of something to be a fan.
The only fake fan i know are the "fans" that call themselves fans just because they wanna be relatable or trying to act like a fan just because you wanna ruin the reputation of the fandom(kpop has lots of these) For example the fake fan saying they like corpse for his voice only because others say they love his voice even if this fake fan hates his voice
Yeah, I used to have a friend that called me a “fake fan” because I didn’t see everything in this one series I was starting to enjoy and the more they would bring up that term up, the more it somehow made me stay away from the series and driving me away as well as kept me from really enjoying it
Yeah it’s a a shame .I used to be really into the emo scene but then loads of people would call me a poser so I just gave up on it and decided to do what I want and define myself on my own terms
@@trade.mistakes7652 I'm glad that you decide to do what you want but know that if you ever feel like listening to emo or alternative music from time to time don't ever let gatekeeping stop you from enjoying the fine things
Sorry, I guess I mean : respect me peasants! I write your fics and 3D model your art! Give me internet love! Make me feel better about myself! Or something...
i feel like the only “fake fans” are people who actually hate everything about the fandom source and for some reason pretend like they love it. which....why would anyone ever do that?
There are people who like destroying the spaces of others who just want to have fun and enjoy some escapism. They invade spaces and make people feel bad about being fans, harrass creators and gove the most toxic and hateful takes on the thing the fandom is about. Because they like to do that. I dont know why.
At the same time, there are people who interact positively with a community despite disliking the source material. They might provide deconstructive insights or show favor for a lesser character over the leads. Now those people don't pretend to like the media in question - they wear their opinions on their sleeves - but they do engage positively with the fandom.
@@BonaparteBardithion I like it when that happens. Getting an outside perspective really helps at times when discussing anything about a certain fandom.
I guess for friends? some people would pretend to like the fandom to become friends with others cause that fandom is so popular. Like for example K-pop fandom(please don’t flame me). I have met friends who would try to be in that fandom even if they hate it because They wanted to fit in. Or some they want attention. They would pretend to like it only to hate it for attention.
Yes! The salty side that prefers to complain and bring everything down. There’s a difference between having a criticism and just outright hating everything. It just makes you wonder how obsessive you’d have to be to be there.
*You’re a real fan if:* - Are powered by electricity -Have blunt blades that spin -Are an air bender -Make’s your voice go AaHHAaaHHhAaHhHaa And I know more than half of you guys don’t even come close to checking off the criteria above. Get real.
That’s valid! Why spend money on something you don’t want? You’re free to enjoy whatever parts of the fandom you want, and you show common sense by not randomly buying stuff just to be a “real” fan.
Feels like people who talk about real fans are a bunch of litmus tests for how privileged they are. Or if they have that much time on their hands. Just a theory. A GAME THE--
Well, i think there's an exception. if you say "the Avatar movie was the greatest movie in all history, It depicts the show perfectly" (in an unironic sense) you my friend better run faster than an eel-hound.
@@everestcanyon5647 I don't think so. I think you have to be a device that can be folded and shape like a segment of a circle when spread out to be a real fan.
„I've never seen you on such a convention, are you fake fans?" „What are fake fans?“ „Well, people who just pretend to be fans of something, just cause it‘s popular at the moment. Unlike TRUE fans, who have been part of it since the very beginning!“ „Why should I pretend to love a series just to be part of a group which snobs people who haven‘t loved the series as long, that‘s illogical!“ „As a true fan you wouldn‘t love this series, you‘d HATE IT!“ „I‘ve been a fan for years and always get worked up on the bad writing and acting, I HATE EVERY SINGLE EPISODE!“ „No one hates a series as much as REAL fans!“
@@RachelTheWoodlandRanger kinda. It’s from the online animated show "Japanoschlampen", where the protagonists go to a convention about their favourite sci fi show, "Star Star Space" (which is actually another animated show also done by Coldmirror. It's mostly a spoof of Star Treck, but there are also references to Star Wars, like the janitor character Ralph Vader) and come across the"true fans" Midori and Robasan
I only joined fandom culture this year so I sometimes feel I haven’t been here long enough but I already feel like I have been through hell Edit: fuck its 2021 it was last year
It can be very hectic lol but you’ve got this stay strong in your fandom It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in it as long as you are enjoying what your doing that’s the most important part ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ Like it really does not matter how long you’ve been in fandom culture and ik that a lot of people will be mean especially if your new (it almost always happens) but keep your head up and keep on enjoying the content that you went in the fandom for in the first place. Don’t let anyone at all make you feel as tho you don’t belong just because you may not know a thing or two. Have fun and enjoy yourself you’ll meet some great people (i hope,cuz ik there are a lot of toxic fandoms out there) ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ N.B: idk why i made this so long, hope it’s not too hard to understand so yah enjoy your day/night
I think it was sometime this year I joined two diffrent fandoms. Both of them will celebrate amazing anniversaries this year. I have been a fan longer but this is the first year I became a part of the fandoms
Hello I’ve been there and it was TOXIC- I started watching once season 7 came out, and I didn’t even know about the ship!! I found out I liked klance afterward on my own and thennnnn.. I got attacked
@@dragonsaregreat1948 Grishaverse Riordanverse Marvel DC School for Good and Evil Beetlejuice Be More Chill Hadestown Starkid Dear Evan Hansen Land of Stories Hunger Games Divergent Shadowhunters Les Mis Anastasia Disney (everything Disney, can’t really name all of them) Anne of Green Gables(and all related books and TV shows) Carmen Sandiego She-Ra The Dragon Prince Chronicles of Narnia Mean Girls SIX Heathers Wicked Waitress Sweeney Todd Hairspray Grease School of Rock Amelia West Side Story One Direction Continue, people, I can’t type anymore
i hate how the small groups of toxic people in certain fanbases can just straight up ruin things for people. i've known people who've wanted to interact with certain fanbases but haven't because of their reputation for being iffy. not saying this is true for everyone, just thought i'd comment.
I’m in a few fandoms that have been deemed “cringe” because of a few people. Please don’t hate on me when I name them, but these fandoms include Dream Team (I’m not SUPER into it, but I know a bit, and my friends tell me a lot about it as well), furry, Gacha, and Undertale. I have been hated on BY MY OWN FAMILY because I like these fandoms. It’s STUPID! If you do a bit of digging, you can find some really great content in all of these! But because of the people that are “cringey,” we’re all looked upon as cringe, and we get ignored and bullied.
The whole "spending money" as an excuse of being a real fan is really unfair for various reasons: 1) The majority of people of the world aren't rich. Lots of us are actually pretty poor and can't waste our money on stuff that won't sustain our lives in some way. 2) Saying that you have to spend your money on merchandise to be a real fan is only stimulating the money-hungry entertainment industry that people criticize so much. 3) If I created something, I'd feel pretty awful if my fans were obligated to buy stuff when they can't. A philosophy about art that I hold dear is that everyone deserves to experience it, no matter where they come from or what economical status they have. Of course it's important that people receive their payment for their hard work, but sometimes it becomes a barrier: one example is Musical Theatre, the fandom is aware that getting to watch the original shows costs too much money, and not everyone lives in the USA to see them, so discussions are made about the "bootleg" versions and being able to watch recreations online, on whether it's ok to have them or not.
Yes I was never able to but any merch from fandoms I was in so people for used to call me a "fake fan". It's a stupid reason especially because of rampant poverty
Yes! lot of times I can afford merchandise, I just prefer not to, as I have no use for it, and I get bored of fandoms easily. The reason I often hesitate before buying a poster or shirt or something is that it could be a waste of money, especially since most of my fandoms are deemed as “cringe,” and I am SUPER self-conscious.
And that’s why I’m a “filthy casual” and proud of it. Don’t get involved in crazy fandom drama, just float around and have fun as I drift from one fandom to the next. Yep, it’s great.
Sameeee I dislike that with bigger fandoms it's harder to stay under the radar and ignore stuff you don't like. I've always made a little bit of fanart when in burnt out of making my own stuff so I guess I've been getting deeper into things now I'm actually posting it lmao
I still remember back then when "Fake Fans" really was only referred to those who pretended to like a certain show/game/etc just to be "part of the crowd". In the early 2010s anime was starting to gain popularity in the west, something that those who diminished it and saw it as "children stuff" didn't see coming. For a while, there were news online about celebrities who claimed that they liked anime, but were apparently lying just to be "hip". I can't be sure if this was true, but I think that's what started the "Fake fan" phrase to circulate around the fandoms. Of course, the internet and fandoms being what they are, they twisted the meaning and use of the phrase so it was a way to receive self-righteousness while attacking others whose opinions were different.
It's still not a kind thing to say, and that is usually what people mean when they call others fake fans. Fans who know less about the source material are called fake fans because by only knowing "the basics" they must be pretending they like it to be cool. The people who call others fake fans will probably also say stuff like, "Oh, you enjoy watching anime? I've only heard you talking about MHA, you're probably lying. Name 30 different anime on the spot right now." It was never really twisting the phrase. Calling someone a fake fan has always been a very rude thing to say, and even if someone IS pretending they like something, who cares? The person is probably at a time in their life where they want/need a group of people that accept them.
@@imsotiredofthiscrap2341 Indeed, that's what I meant at the end of my comment: they use the frase as a way of feeling superior. That's the internet for you, twisting the meaning of something for their own convenience
I watched the entire series of doctor who from the 60s to now and I was told because I hadn’t listened to the radio dramas and read the books I’m a fake fan, I can’t afford all the other stuff
ugh that sucks! I haven't listened to the radio dramas or the books or even the classics (which I'm about to start soon and actually am pretty excited) but yeah, I've been there and that sucks. sorry my dude :(
As someone who's also in the Doctor Who fandom, I guarantee half of those people probably haven't seen most of Classic Who and have no place to call others fake fans. Sorry you had to go through that
@@llam7500 it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to but it did when i first finished catching up on the series because I had only just started becoming a fan that same year
I know something similar in one of my fandoms. I’ve seen a couple videos (not naming names) that are vine comps. The dude says “only REAL fans will get this!” I’m not saying anything about “fan hierarchy,” but I am SUPER into this fandom. I spend a lot of time learning everything I can. And I can say what they put is stupid, and could make people sad that they aren’t “real fans” because they didn’t get the stupid vine.
Person: found series because it was immensely popular ''Real'' fans: And I took that personally Like seriously, they always go around talking about it then it becomes popular and then they act like its a huge deal; guess what, more fans = more money for the creators/creative people who can create amazing works which in turn = more content to enjoy
So I joined pretty much all my fandoms AFTER they became popular. I’m pretty sure I’m looked down upon because I’m younger, and joined these fandoms later. I hate to support the fan hierarchy thing, but I’m gonna be honest here. Sometimes the newer fans are SMARTER than the older fans. But because older fans can be gatekeepers and look down on newer fans, those newer fans would never KNOW they’re knowledgeable in that fandom. It sucks.
Internet culture is very into quirky culture and being unique. So, if you find something while it's popular, or find it because it's popular, you are looked down upon. If a character is popular, they are disliked and anyone who likes them is a "fake fan" and just following the trend. If you like an unpopular character, you are god and cool. This starts the process of people finding unpopular characters, liking them because they're unpopular. Then people start following suite. Now the character is popular, and everyone aborts and scrams to other unpopular characters. Now, that beginning character has a few different things that may happen. 1: they stay popular anyways 2: they enter the purgatory of being unpopular, but everyone thinks they're too popular to like 3: they become unpopular, and people start liking the character for being unpopular, and the cycle repeats
seriously it's like the salem witch trials whenever i see one of those "try not to sing musical edition" videos and the comments are just filled with people getting angry at people for just saying they don't know some of the musicals or saying they like hamilton
This "hierarchy" and drama that builds up is why in some fandoms, I just stick to my own little circle of friends and practically a wallflower in other fandoms. It's just easier to fully enjoy the fandom without being judged.
I've heard it waaaaay too much as a female in "male" fandoms Edit: the music is a musical version of "La Habanera" from the opera Carmen created by George Bizet
Imagine being a male in "female" fandoms though. I mean what can I say, when I was in Japan, Hello Kitty was like their mascot, man, woman, there is no getting away from Hello Kitty, might as well embrace it.
@@everestcanyon5647 personal experience (chic though but I've been in fandoms where this was the case scenario on more than one occasion) outside of the occasional batshit annoying feminazi everyone doesn't like, we're relatively chill with the occasional guy in our fandoms, just as long as they're respectful and don't go full blown neckbeard mode and start creeping on anyone. Hell for a time one of my biggest fandom buddies was a dude and almost half of them now in the Owl House I know are practically like a bunch o brothers to me. Also from my experience except for one, a lot of the fandom guys I met are also pretty chill as hell. But then again, might just be because the little fandoms I did join for a time was alot like the Owl House fandom or a decent chunk of Musical fandoms in a way where it's either entirely chill as hell, or I just always end up drifting towards the part of the little ass island in the fandom that is chill as hell.
If I had a £ for the amount of times I’ve walked into a music store holding some CDs and a guy comes up to me, only to start quizzing me on random bullshit trivia about band members, I’d be Jeff Bezos.
There’s also a lot of classism involved in this debate. For example, someone who works double shifts just to make ends meet may not have time to rewatch/reread the content multiple times or write a 500,000 fanfiction. Some people can’t afford to go to a convention or take an art class to get better at fan art or buy a bunch of merch, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fans
Honestly, I like the silence of getting in things late, of course I might not be able to interact with others but I am a casual casual fan who likes things and moves on, I am passionate about enjoying things what ifs, alternate scenarios and it's such a private and personal activity that someone else's presence is invasion.
@@avantika_singh I’m sadly the opposite. I’ve fully poured myself into a handful of slightly obscure, slightly outdated things. It’s sucks when the writer of your favorite fanfic is probably in her 40’s now and has stopped writing lmao
Exactly! I noticed your PFP was Gacha, so I understand that you’ve probably got a lot of hate. Although, I assume you’re actually a smart and respectful fan because of this comment. I don’t understand why people have problems with other fandoms even though most of the people are fine!
@@swirlycat5554 Thanks I appreciate that, and I also agree with you. I can also tell you are a smart and respectful fan because of your comment. (I also thank you that you didn’t resent me for the sole reason of me using Gacha)
I think being a fake fan is pretending to like something but not actually liking it. For example, if a group of people like a tv show and one person who didn't watch the show might pretend to like it to fit in. But other then that, no one is a fake fan. Thanks for the lesson mom :)
Yeah that’s pretty much my take on it too. I find it really strange when someone puts so much effort into being part of fandom but actively avoids experiencing it for themselves. Like why spend so much time being part of Fleetwood Mac fandom but can never find the time to listen to one song? Besides that, to me, anyone who’s experienced it and liked it is a fan.
I completely agree, however as a Taylor Swift fan I feel the need to add something. A few years ago (2017) when Taylor was going through some terrible things she released an album that was a little less “I’m a nice girl, so I’ll smile and nod” (reputation). Many of her fans, instead of supporting her, would complain with things like “I want the old Taylor back.” I completely understand not liking the style of that album but they acted as if her entire soul had been possessed when really she was just having a tough time. The people who would make such claims were often called out for being “fake fans” because they were often the most supporting before Taylor actually needed it. Which I think is fair. I agree with you though if the only reason someone is being called out for being a fake fan is for something trivial or simply to feed the ego/validate the accuser.
It’s okay to feel that way with SOME media, such as media with fictional characters, but it’s never okay to do that with real people. They’re allowed to change, and trying to control and criticize them as if they’re not actual human beings is just unacceptable.
(Me hanging out in the Undertale fandom despite not having actually played the game at the time): I'd say the label of "fake fan" describes me perfectly. Edit: I'll admit, I just made this joke before actually watching the video. It was really heartfelt and amazing. Thanks for preaching these truths for us, Coley.
People who call themselves "real fans" are often super bigoted as well, they'll be classist (looking down on people who can't afford certain merch or extra content), racist ("this isn't something x race would be into!"), And a variety of other shitty things
i got told by a guy that my marvel bedroom, gaming pc that i made, 60+ figurines and walls full of posters were bought to impress geek and "gamer" guys... yes hun, i spend all of my money to impress boys. absolutely. i also laugh at the "you only watch for the hot characters" excuse as if characters attractiveness invalidates anything
... I just got flashbacks to when my coworker said they had never met a girl like me who both loves games( I was playing assassins creed with glee) and superheroes. Honestly I think he was shocked cuz he was always nice and everything and a few years ago it was rare for even a man to talk about geeky interests.
Bro, same! I only watched the show for the side characters, but then I found a new ship and everything just went downhill... (In a good fan content way)
If you just joined a fandom, you're not a real fan. If you're in a fandom at all, you're not a real fan. Real fans create air currents by spinning really quickly, or are handheld fans.
I have this thing sometimes where I'll feel weirdly guilty when I join a fandom that's already been around for awhile. Like I'll keep thinking, 'oh no I've missed so much, I'll never be on the same level as everyone else who's been here from the start.' And it's silly because the amount of time you've been a fan has nothing to do with your validity as a fan, but it's definitely a thought process I've fallen prey to, from both sides
I like joining things after they have ended, why? Because partly it's fun to go back and see all the canon wrong speculations and second it's silent and private.
Dude, I'm in a fandom that's been around for almost 60 years and still going on- It doesn't matter how long you've been a fan because there's fandoms that have been around for longer than you have or before you could join and it's no big deal as long as you like the fandom
I've written a 20+ page psychoanalytical essay on Bakugou Katsuki for school, write fanfiction, am getting better at drawing fanart, am damn near an encyclopedia on BNHA, and have been in the fandom for several years. *Nothing makes me happier than seeing newer fans get excited and diving head-first into BNHA.* It means that not only are they supporting the creators, but they are growing the community, adding to the vast resources, and get to experience the same immeasurable pleasure I do from such phenomenal content!!!
I'm a subs over dubs person, but dubs are a legitimate way to enjoy something. If anything, I feel left out because I miss all the jokes about the English-speaking actors.
@@BonaparteBardithion I don’t really watch anime or shows that started in other languages, but on the rare occasions I do, I prefer dubs due to the fact that I find the subtitles SUPER distracting and I can’t focus on the video itself, despite reading them quickly. I admire people who can use subtitles without getting distracted
@@starlightmoone Understandable. I've spoken to a lot of people who find them distracting. I grew up in a noisy house so subtitles or closed captioning are my default even when it's in English.
I’m a dubs person when it comes to anime and the crap people get from other people who only watch subs (not everyone obviously). Its a load of crap the judgment you get
I prefer dubs as well, mainly because when I watch anime I’ll be doing something else as well and won’t be able to read the subtitles, so it’s easier to listen to dubs. I also just prefer hearing it in English. I certainly get why some people prefer subs and respect that, but I don’t understand why some people get so heated over it and needlessly hate on dubs and the people who watch them. Like, it’s not that deep.
yes! i'm in the musical theater fandom and that's honestly one of the fandoms most rampant with this fake fan vs real fan thing! it's honestly so stupid for people to hate fake fans because they're just "casual" or only like the mainstream things when (i'm using musical theater fans for an example) people like to complain about how more people should like underrated things! the musical theater fandom as a whole is full of people hating on fans who only like hamilton or beetlejuice and at the same time think the fandom is too small. it's one of the weirdest most contradictory things i've ever seen where people shut out fans because they like the wrong things then turn around and complain about how small the fandom is
@@jane_wants_to_feel i am mainly in like the anime fandom( which i know is way too varied ) but i have noticed the tendency that is smt is too logic heavy then you are often called out for being a fake fan for not knowing all details or if smt is more childish than you are seen as scum for liking it
@@brunetteartist24 mhm it's pretty bad on tiktok too because popular songs reach people who aren't into musical theater then "real fans" get mad at them for not knowing about musicals beforehand
I'm in a lot of fandoms just for the sake of the fanfiction and art, enjoying the concept and characters of the canon piece without ever having wachted/read it in its entirety. And I'm totally aware that for many I would be considered a "fake fan" for that. But, to be honest, I don't really care about that. I'm just here sipping my tea, that's all.
I consider some of my fandoms a "closet fan", where it's just suppressed and hidden until it's brought up. And then all the things in the closet spill out. Those are for media that's more obscure or less mainstream.
The fandom goddess said it herself, she is the all knowing when it comes to being a fan. If the queen herself said it then it's true! There. Is. No. Such. Thing. As. A. R E A L F A N
Whenever I find myself accidentally getting in the mindset of 'real vs fake' fan, I try to remind myself that just because I experience a game or piece of media in one way, that doesn't make it the only way to enjoy something. That other people may enjoy something for a different reason than I do. For instance, real example, I love Celeste, and I love the grind of going through it and racking up thousands of deaths to overcome the challenges. Someone else may be in it primarily because of the story, and use assist mode to get through the game, because dying a million times doesn't appeal to them/sound fun to them. Another person may start the game and decide its not for them, and not enjoy it, but then enjoy something else I don't enjoy. I'm not superior or inferior to any one of these people, just different, and that's ok.
I’m a casual in a lot of fandoms, I dip in and out of them, I find it funny when newer fans tell me I’m a ‘fake fan’ just because I don’t Stan any k pop groups for personal reasons, and its low key insulting when you’ve been in the general community since late 2012 early 2013...
When you mentioned the whole Star Wars “girls can’t watch it!” I got flashbacks. Like when I was in kindergarten, some kid looked at my Star Wars shirt and called me fake because no way would I have watched when really I enjoyed them so much🙄
i agree with you fake fans are people who claim to be fans but are not actually interested in the fandom or the media and just say they're fans. this is a very fine line though as some people might just like a small part of the media (like how musicals are popular on tiktok) but you do have a point
Listen, just because I procrastinate on my fics, I don't post my fanart cause I don't wanna, and I'm too broke to buy any merch, doesn't mean I don't pace in my bathroom every night before bed, ranting about that one season with too many plotholes, or squeal about my OTP to the shampoo bottles when I take a shower. Term "fake fan" is fake news
I’ve seen this term a lot with the Hunger Games fandom, saying anyone who only watched the movies isn’t a “real fan” just because they may not know things readers do. Honestly, that’s silly. Some people prefer to watch movies, and that’s ok. Some people were maybe introduced to the movies first, and don’t want to read the books
I wrote a Star Wars fic a few years ago. (My first published fanwork.) Two authors in the fandoms inspired me to write, and I was so excited to make my own. Both of them read my story and were so encouraging. It got me to write a bunch more stories since then. If they trashed my writing and called me a fake fan, I think I would have abandoned something I enjoy and am pretty good at.
I remember when i was in like 1rst grade i brought my pokemon cards to school and this group of third graders approached me and said “you cant have those your a girl!” And then stole all of my cards. Poor Mega Rayquaza you will be missed
**cough cough melaniemartinezfans cough cough** I mean when I first joined the fandom, you were considered a fake fan if you discovered her through Dollhouse. Then it was Show & Tell. Then, Play Date/Tik Tok it’s e x h a u s t i n g Thank you for this video, very much needed. LET PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY LIKE 🙂
@@river_57 I know right??? Yes, I found her from a dollhouse tiktok about another fandom (Sanders Sides), and no, I don’t have merch, but I’m a fan of hers simply because I like her music!!
True story that happened yesterday: I was reading a fanfic yesterday on AO3, it was really good sweet (it focused on found-family, my favorite) and overall amazing, I head to the comments and my mood sours, somebody by the name of "f*ckoff" had dissed the author writing one of the characters a certain way, mentioning "fakea** (*insert fandom*)" and for them, including the author "to go back to your twilight and harry potter" And as you would imagine, I was P I S S E D, but as a peacemaker that I am I didn't go off on them
my entire room is covered in anime decor after three years of saving up and spending. I bought all the games, I cosplay, I make fanart, and I write fanfiction for my top favorite animes. yet ive still been called a fake fan several times for the mere reason of being a girl. :D
I have been called a 'not a real fan' once and I was like, think whatever you want. In the end of the day I know what I am. Like I know how much j love my favs and I don't need to justify it to someone random on internet who doesn't mean anything to me
for my favorite things, I'm team "saw it at the Scholastic book fair and liked the cover" "got hyperfixated on hurricanes" "my mom watched this show and got me deeply invested"
I’m a HUGE fan of Hamilton and I haven’t expended any money on it cause all the merch I can buy is on the internet Amazon etc and my family doesn’t do that there shouldn’t be pressure to like stuff if you like something you are a fan that’s it
honestly just the fact that you're a fan of hamilton is enough to get you crucified in the musical theater fandom at this point. so many people have started hating hamilton simply because it's popular and it's stupid because it is good people just wanna say they're better for knowing musicals before hamilton
@@jane_wants_to_feel I respond don’t care that always happens something becomes popular start hating it honestly it has become my religion I love it so much and I’m not giving it away because is popular
Omg YES this is what I've been trying to tell people, theres no such thing as "real" or "fake" fans man! Just because they're still new or don't agree with what you think is best does NOT make them any less of a fan!
When it comes to “real fans” and “fake fans”, where I’ve mainly seen this is in video game fandoms of is “you’re not a real fan if you’ve haven’t played the game”. Like this gate keeps fans that can’t play the game, due to money, not having the proper console, etc. Like, I’m sorry I was unable to play the game and had to consume this amazing thing in a different way, doesn’t make me any less of a fan
I’m so glad you made this video, because I had a friend who would always put me down for not watching as many things as she has, or knowing as much about the show. She would even brag about going to cons.
I never really got the whole “fake fan” thing, like it was always demonstrated as someone pretending to be a fan of something. I’ve never encountered someone who has pretended to be in a fandom when they’re not, that’s such a weird thing to lie about
i remember i had a friend who got me into one of my fandoms, but they were really gate-keeping and would get mad at me because “you got this one word wrong in a quote!”, “you don’t know this, this, and this,” “there are other fandoms for the same type of media as this thing and i’m in them but you’re not, which makes you fake,” and my favorite, “you’re not allowed to like this because you can’t sing/act/etc.” and it really made me kinda self conscious about being the the fandom.
When you've been reading Wattpad fics for years, then you forgot your password and made a new account in March, and THEN you create an AO3 account and five days later you get called a fake fan. BRUH.
honestly all i really need is for people to tell me how dedicated they are and how much they already know about the fandom. sometimes i dont know how far along a person is and accidentally drop spoilers, or i scare ppl when i freak out too loudly :')
Looking forward to more of these essays! Age in fandom is a big personal concern to me. Being older than the median ages of various fandoms, it sometimes feels difficult to connect with other fans in those communities. For example: being a fan of something that skews toward a younger demographic, or being a fan of something that’s been around as long as you have. The former may have other older fans, but the majority are still most likely minors, while the latter automatically puts older fans at a disadvantage because how they formed as a person varies with how the current generation is growing up. Say you’re a fan of a 90s-era property. The attitudes, tropes, and trends of that decade ultimately end up a part of that series unless the setting is something in the realm of Fantasy or Sci-Fi. The younger members of the current generation were born into the mid-to-late 00s, who have consumed media with a totally different set of timely variables than millennials did in their childhood. There are silver linings like the resurgence of the AtLA fandom and the persistent nature of Pokémon as a franchise, and that’s why I like your mention of older/veteran fans acting more like mentors and less like gatekeepers. Teaching and guiding the younger fans still creates a connection, one that retains a comfortable distance and is respectful to them.
Thank you! As a shipper in a fandom that has been in around for a very long time, and a general fan of the show for a very long time, i find that a certain aspect of the fandom looks down on shippers and basically says were ‘not real fans’ even though some of us (myself included ) have been watching the show since the very first episode aired. I think people need to remember that just because some of us are drawn to other aspects of the fandom then they are.. its super silly to judge each other. Lets us all just enjoy what we love.
You are not a true fan if: - you watched the entire series - you know all the characters and their backstories You are only a true fan if: - you spin around in circles really fast - you are powered by electricity
I’d def be interested in the vid about age/gender in fandoms. I consider myself an ‘older’ fan in some of the fandoms I engage in where the target audience tends to skew young, and sometimes I feel self-conscious about my age and wonder if I’m too old to be interacting, so I’m curious what your thoughts on the subject would be.
i feel bad when i am busy and can't be as deep into fandoms as i once was but this makes me feel better about not prioritizing fandoms and just enjoying it
Doesn't matter whether you're a "real" or "fake" fan, we're still all trash together.
Lol I'm a pice of trash let's be trash together
@@tangerineyae3870 I'm good with this! 😂
Sadly you aren’t lying
Quote of the year
@@urmom-lq1gl lemme join in with the junk pile!
Say it with me.
"When a person really loves and enjoys something, they are a fan. You can be a fan without knowing every single detail about the fandom."
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK
@@haveagoodmourning 😂
As a kinda casual star wars fan (ik the movies and the memes and some episodes of clone wars and rebels. Thats it. And I dont get most details and references and dont rly have a fave movie I kinda like them all) I have always been saying this. And for a long time being in the marvel fandom I still havent finished all of the movies. Sooo yea ppl have called me a fake fan. But honestly idgaf at this point.
Thank you for reading my rant
@@BlueStar4040 I honestly can relate, being in both those fandoms. For SW, I've seen all the series and movies but don't care about the Legends content and can't differentiate a B-wing from an A-wing or any spaceship really. For the MCU, I still haven't seen Dark World, and a good portion of the first few movies are just blank spots in my memory.
@@haveagoodmourning tbh dark world is pretty bad. And star wars fans get SUPER salty sometimes (and some guys in elementary school didnt believe me that I liked star wars cuz im a very feminine girl so I relate to coley but ya know kids are stupid and im saying that as a teen)
EXACTLY
So called real fans: oh so you like america? *name every person in the country NoW*
"Fake" fans: I-
"Can you?"
"I'm asking the questions."
Wait countryhumans or hetalia
JSHG THIS IS SO ACCURATE LMAO-
@@epoch2844 OMG WHAT I WAS THINKING XD
@@epoch2844 Though instead of America it'd be Finland for me..
I don't live there, I just love the country
"Muuuum, the lady next door's rambling about fans again"
"Don't worry honey; she'll be done in 15 minutes"
"Nevermind, mum, she's being genuine"
Like ur profile pic
tommyinnit reference?
@@skates4ever Ayyy :D
I love these neighbor comments
@@skates4ever
“MUM AM I ADOPTED?”
yes.
“oH-”
I really do hate the term of “fake fan.” Just let people enjoy what they want.
.-.
honestly, yeah there’s no such thing as a real fan or a fake fan. if you like something, you’re a fan! you don’t have to know certain aspects of something to be a fan.
The only fake fan i know are the "fans" that call themselves fans just because they wanna be relatable or trying to act like a fan just because you wanna ruin the reputation of the fandom(kpop has lots of these)
For example the fake fan saying they like corpse for his voice only because others say they love his voice even if this fake fan hates his voice
Yeah, I used to have a friend that called me a “fake fan” because I didn’t see everything in this one series I was starting to enjoy and the more they would bring up that term up, the more it somehow made me stay away from the series and driving me away as well as kept me from really enjoying it
@@claireh.2792 lmao how does that make you a fake fan?
Elitism and toxicity in fandoms are the absolute worst.
Yeah it’s a a shame .I used to be really into the emo scene but then loads of people would call me a poser so I just gave up on it and decided to do what I want and define myself on my own terms
@@trade.mistakes7652 I'm glad that you decide to do what you want but know that if you ever feel like listening to emo or alternative music from time to time don't ever let gatekeeping stop you from enjoying the fine things
BNHA, i was in the fandom but left because of how toxic it was
Anthro_Cos dang sorry to hear that, I'm sure you can enjoy the show without having to participate in fandom stuff
@@trade.mistakes7652 everyone remember the copypasta on every rites of spring videos
I've never liked the whole idea of "real fans," so I'm happy to see you rip it apart 😇
Same hearing the ripping apart of a stupid term that just separates people is great
Same
Same
Same
Same
You are only a real fan if you:
Have flat blades
Are powered by electricity
Spin fast
What about those Oriental ones, though?
@@i_teleported_bread7404 fine, but they’re on thin ice.
*that is amazing*
Ceiling helicopter
Air conditioning? Psshhh- FAKE FANS!
Shit shit shit shit... I make fanfics and fanart... I'm further up than I thought.
Sorry, I guess I mean : respect me peasants! I write your fics and 3D model your art! Give me internet love! Make me feel better about myself! Or something...
@@Oveyz Of course, Your Majesty 🙏🏻
Haha same
same dude
Same dude
i feel like the only “fake fans” are people who actually hate everything about the fandom source and for some reason pretend like they love it. which....why would anyone ever do that?
There are people who like destroying the spaces of others who just want to have fun and enjoy some escapism. They invade spaces and make people feel bad about being fans, harrass creators and gove the most toxic and hateful takes on the thing the fandom is about. Because they like to do that. I dont know why.
At the same time, there are people who interact positively with a community despite disliking the source material. They might provide deconstructive insights or show favor for a lesser character over the leads. Now those people don't pretend to like the media in question - they wear their opinions on their sleeves - but they do engage positively with the fandom.
@@BonaparteBardithion I like it when that happens. Getting an outside perspective really helps at times when discussing anything about a certain fandom.
I guess for friends?
some people would pretend to like the fandom to become friends with others cause that fandom is so popular.
Like for example K-pop fandom(please don’t flame me). I have met friends who would try to be in that fandom even if they hate it because
They wanted to fit in.
Or some they want attention. They would pretend to like it only to hate it for attention.
Yes! The salty side that prefers to complain and bring everything down. There’s a difference between having a criticism and just outright hating everything. It just makes you wonder how obsessive you’d have to be to be there.
*You’re a real fan if:*
- Are powered by electricity
-Have blunt blades that spin
-Are an air bender
-Make’s your voice go AaHHAaaHHhAaHhHaa
And I know more than half of you guys don’t even come close to checking off the criteria above. Get real.
jokes on you, im a folding fan that goes "BRRAP!" as i open. checkmate scrub.
Bahahaha
I definitely go AaHAHAHHahhhhaHhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHaAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Im an air conditioner 😠✨
But are you a real fan
Tbh it’s annoying being called a fake fan for being a casual fan 😭 Like my bad for not spending $$ on merch and stuff
That’s valid! Why spend money on something you don’t want? You’re free to enjoy whatever parts of the fandom you want, and you show common sense by not randomly buying stuff just to be a “real” fan.
exactly! or just being called a fake fan and not having enough money to buy anything
Feels like people who talk about real fans are a bunch of litmus tests for how privileged they are. Or if they have that much time on their hands. Just a theory. A GAME THE--
i felt this
I feel you :(
It is confirmed:
There is is no “real fan” or “fake fan” in ba sing se.....
mmmm
There is no shipping war in ba sing se
Well, i think there's an exception. if you say "the Avatar movie was the greatest movie in all history, It depicts the show perfectly" (in an unironic sense) you my friend better run faster than an eel-hound.
@@alejandroojeda1572 i second this (percy jackson movies also work)
hmmmmmm yes
In blunt terms: If you like something then you are fan.
I disagree. You have to have spinning blades to be a real fan.
@@everestcanyon5647 I don't think so. I think you have to be a device that can be folded and shape like a segment of a circle when spread out to be a real fan.
@@mei3679 Nope, that's not a Real Fan. That's a Fake Fan.
@@everestcanyon5647 You're absolutely right and I'm a dumbass
THANK YOU
„I've never seen you on such a convention, are you fake fans?"
„What are fake fans?“
„Well, people who just pretend to be fans of something, just cause it‘s popular at the moment. Unlike TRUE fans, who have been part of it since the very beginning!“
„Why should I pretend to love a series just to be part of a group which snobs people who haven‘t loved the series as long, that‘s illogical!“
„As a true fan you wouldn‘t love this series, you‘d HATE IT!“
„I‘ve been a fan for years and always get worked up on the bad writing and acting, I HATE EVERY SINGLE EPISODE!“
„No one hates a series as much as REAL fans!“
Star wars sequels?
@@RachelTheWoodlandRanger kinda. It’s from the online animated show "Japanoschlampen", where the protagonists go to a convention about their favourite sci fi show, "Star Star Space" (which is actually another animated show also done by Coldmirror. It's mostly a spoof of Star Treck, but there are also references to Star Wars, like the janitor character Ralph Vader) and come across the"true fans" Midori and Robasan
Or, conversely: "f you don't love EVERY episode, then you're a fake fan!"
"You don't bully the creators? You fake fan!!!"
@@RachelTheWoodlandRanger This whole video reminded me way too much of star wars lol
I only joined fandom culture this year so I sometimes feel I haven’t been here long enough but I already feel like I have been through hell
Edit: fuck its 2021 it was last year
I'm also somewhat new and not a fan of a lot of things but regardless we're still people with interests :,)
I'm pretty new to this whole fandom thing too
It can be very hectic lol but you’ve got this
stay strong in your fandom
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in it as long as you are enjoying what your doing that’s the most important part
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Like it really does not matter how long you’ve been in fandom culture and ik that a lot of people will be mean especially if your new (it almost always happens) but keep your head up and keep on enjoying the content that you went in the fandom for in the first place.
Don’t let anyone at all make you feel as tho you don’t belong just because you may not know a thing or two.
Have fun and enjoy yourself you’ll meet some great people (i hope,cuz ik there are a lot of toxic fandoms out there)
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
N.B: idk why i made this so long, hope it’s not too hard to understand so yah enjoy your day/night
i love the panic form realizing its 2021
I think it was sometime this year I joined two diffrent fandoms. Both of them will celebrate amazing anniversaries this year. I have been a fan longer but this is the first year I became a part of the fandoms
"You started watching for Klance you're not a *real* fan!"
Don't take me back there Coley. Please.
Hello I’ve been there and it was TOXIC-
I started watching once season 7 came out, and I didn’t even know about the ship!! I found out I liked klance afterward on my own and thennnnn.. I got attacked
@@moonflower1729 I don't even care for Klance or shipping either way. But I got dragged into it anyways. That's how bad it was.
She gave the Klance example and I was like, “there are OTHERS???” Voltron fandom, raise your hand if Klance is why you even know about the show.
@@rodent_withapen i have to raise my hand
Hilariously, I know ppl who watched vld for Klance, but got sucked into loving Sheith instead lol. Our power. BD
Oh, so you're a fan?
*Name every fandom.*
*Takes a deep breath and sings in the toon of Animaniacs Every Country in the World song*
Let's do this together, folks!
Harry Potter
Star Wars
Percy Jackson
Hamilton
@@dragonsaregreat1948 Grishaverse
Riordanverse
Marvel
DC
School for Good and Evil
Beetlejuice
Be More Chill
Hadestown
Starkid
Dear Evan Hansen
Land of Stories
Hunger Games
Divergent
Shadowhunters
Les Mis
Anastasia
Disney (everything Disney, can’t really name all of them)
Anne of Green Gables(and all related books and TV shows)
Carmen Sandiego
She-Ra
The Dragon Prince
Chronicles of Narnia
Mean Girls
SIX
Heathers
Wicked
Waitress
Sweeney Todd
Hairspray
Grease
School of Rock
Amelia
West Side Story
One Direction
Continue, people, I can’t type anymore
@@luuuuux_
Wings of Fire
FNaF
Sonic
HTTYD
Miraculous ladybug
Rise of the guardians
Just anime in general cuz there’s too much to write down
i hate how the small groups of toxic people in certain fanbases can just straight up ruin things for people. i've known people who've wanted to interact with certain fanbases but haven't because of their reputation for being iffy. not saying this is true for everyone, just thought i'd comment.
@@sea000_6 let me guess...
Dream is my first guess, and if that was wrong I’m guessing BlackPink?
@@sea000_6 is it mcyt
I’m in a few fandoms that have been deemed “cringe” because of a few people. Please don’t hate on me when I name them, but these fandoms include Dream Team (I’m not SUPER into it, but I know a bit, and my friends tell me a lot about it as well), furry, Gacha, and Undertale. I have been hated on BY MY OWN FAMILY because I like these fandoms. It’s STUPID! If you do a bit of digging, you can find some really great content in all of these! But because of the people that are “cringey,” we’re all looked upon as cringe, and we get ignored and bullied.
*laughs in Hetalia fan since 2010*
@@swirlycat5554 yep
The whole "spending money" as an excuse of being a real fan is really unfair for various reasons:
1) The majority of people of the world aren't rich. Lots of us are actually pretty poor and can't waste our money on stuff that won't sustain our lives in some way.
2) Saying that you have to spend your money on merchandise to be a real fan is only stimulating the money-hungry entertainment industry that people criticize so much.
3) If I created something, I'd feel pretty awful if my fans were obligated to buy stuff when they can't. A philosophy about art that I hold dear is that everyone deserves to experience it, no matter where they come from or what economical status they have. Of course it's important that people receive their payment for their hard work, but sometimes it becomes a barrier: one example is Musical Theatre, the fandom is aware that getting to watch the original shows costs too much money, and not everyone lives in the USA to see them, so discussions are made about the "bootleg" versions and being able to watch recreations online, on whether it's ok to have them or not.
Thank you! I can never ever afford pokemon merchandise.
I agree!
Yes I was never able to but any merch from fandoms I was in so people for used to call me a "fake fan". It's a stupid reason especially because of rampant poverty
✨And that's on classism✨
Yes! lot of times I can afford merchandise, I just prefer not to, as I have no use for it, and I get bored of fandoms easily. The reason I often hesitate before buying a poster or shirt or something is that it could be a waste of money, especially since most of my fandoms are deemed as “cringe,” and I am SUPER self-conscious.
And that’s why I’m a “filthy casual” and proud of it. Don’t get involved in crazy fandom drama, just float around and have fun as I drift from one fandom to the next. Yep, it’s great.
Sameeee I dislike that with bigger fandoms it's harder to stay under the radar and ignore stuff you don't like. I've always made a little bit of fanart when in burnt out of making my own stuff so I guess I've been getting deeper into things now I'm actually posting it lmao
Lol same i don't give a shhhit
Same
Hey, thanks for the comment, makes me feel better :)
I still remember back then when "Fake Fans" really was only referred to those who pretended to like a certain show/game/etc just to be "part of the crowd". In the early 2010s anime was starting to gain popularity in the west, something that those who diminished it and saw it as "children stuff" didn't see coming.
For a while, there were news online about celebrities who claimed that they liked anime, but were apparently lying just to be "hip". I can't be sure if this was true, but I think that's what started the "Fake fan" phrase to circulate around the fandoms. Of course, the internet and fandoms being what they are, they twisted the meaning and use of the phrase so it was a way to receive self-righteousness while attacking others whose opinions were different.
Even being a fan who just pretends to be a fan of that specific, they aren't fake fans, they're not even fans at all
That’s how I’ve always taken fake fans to be
@@adaon2282 me too! I thought fake fans were only those people who pretended to like the source material
It's still not a kind thing to say, and that is usually what people mean when they call others fake fans. Fans who know less about the source material are called fake fans because by only knowing "the basics" they must be pretending they like it to be cool. The people who call others fake fans will probably also say stuff like, "Oh, you enjoy watching anime? I've only heard you talking about MHA, you're probably lying. Name 30 different anime on the spot right now." It was never really twisting the phrase. Calling someone a fake fan has always been a very rude thing to say, and even if someone IS pretending they like something, who cares? The person is probably at a time in their life where they want/need a group of people that accept them.
@@imsotiredofthiscrap2341 Indeed, that's what I meant at the end of my comment: they use the frase as a way of feeling superior. That's the internet for you, twisting the meaning of something for their own convenience
I watched the entire series of doctor who from the 60s to now and I was told because I hadn’t listened to the radio dramas and read the books I’m a fake fan, I can’t afford all the other stuff
ugh that sucks! I haven't listened to the radio dramas or the books or even the classics (which I'm about to start soon and actually am pretty excited) but yeah, I've been there and that sucks. sorry my dude :(
As someone who's also in the Doctor Who fandom, I guarantee half of those people probably haven't seen most of Classic Who and have no place to call others fake fans. Sorry you had to go through that
By watching the classics you've seen more than the majority, so don't let it bother you. Not everyone has access to everything :)
@@llam7500 it doesn’t bother me as much as it used to but it did when i first finished catching up on the series because I had only just started becoming a fan that same year
I really wanna listen to big finish but it's so expensive :/
12:01
BACK IN MY DAY WE DIDN'T HAVE _WATTPAD_ OR AO3, WE HAD _THE WAR_
*tumblr is typing*
*fanfiction.net** is typing...*
Actually I might make this my senior quote
A lot of fandoms are like highschool, so cliquey that secretly nobodys popular.
We can’t forget the inevitable “you aren’t a real ______ fan if you don’t understand these images!!!” you will find in every fandom :/
I know something similar in one of my fandoms. I’ve seen a couple videos (not naming names) that are vine comps. The dude says “only REAL fans will get this!” I’m not saying anything about “fan hierarchy,” but I am SUPER into this fandom. I spend a lot of time learning everything I can. And I can say what they put is stupid, and could make people sad that they aren’t “real fans” because they didn’t get the stupid vine.
Person: found series because it was immensely popular
''Real'' fans: And I took that personally
Like seriously, they always go around talking about it then it becomes popular and then they act like its a huge deal; guess what, more fans = more money for the creators/creative people who can create amazing works which in turn = more content to enjoy
So I joined pretty much all my fandoms AFTER they became popular. I’m pretty sure I’m looked down upon because I’m younger, and joined these fandoms later.
I hate to support the fan hierarchy thing, but I’m gonna be honest here. Sometimes the newer fans are SMARTER than the older fans. But because older fans can be gatekeepers and look down on newer fans, those newer fans would never KNOW they’re knowledgeable in that fandom. It sucks.
@@swirlycat5554 i relate to you sm omg-
Internet culture is very into quirky culture and being unique. So, if you find something while it's popular, or find it because it's popular, you are looked down upon. If a character is popular, they are disliked and anyone who likes them is a "fake fan" and just following the trend. If you like an unpopular character, you are god and cool. This starts the process of people finding unpopular characters, liking them because they're unpopular. Then people start following suite. Now the character is popular, and everyone aborts and scrams to other unpopular characters. Now, that beginning character has a few different things that may happen.
1: they stay popular anyways
2: they enter the purgatory of being unpopular, but everyone thinks they're too popular to like
3: they become unpopular, and people start liking the character for being unpopular, and the cycle repeats
Fandoms are literally warzones... the wars our grandkids will hear about.
seriously it's like the salem witch trials whenever i see one of those "try not to sing musical edition" videos and the comments are just filled with people getting angry at people for just saying they don't know some of the musicals or saying they like hamilton
This "hierarchy" and drama that builds up is why in some fandoms, I just stick to my own little circle of friends and practically a wallflower in other fandoms.
It's just easier to fully enjoy the fandom without being judged.
That’s it’s she is now the queen of fandoms and we are her princes/princesses/ and a non-binary royal option
May i suggest the non-binary/gender non-specific term “monarch“? I quite enjoy it as an enby.
maybe Nonbinary Nobles (it's alliterative :D )
@@searmius1063 ooo
As Roman would put it, ladieslord s and non binary royalty.
Yes I love this. Thank you for being inclusive!!
I've heard it waaaaay too much as a female in "male" fandoms
Edit: the music is a musical version of "La Habanera" from the opera Carmen created by George Bizet
marvel fans get that a lot, that must suck :T
To be honest, I think my Mom might be a bigger Star Wars fan then my Dad. (Slightly)
Imagine being a male in "female" fandoms though.
I mean what can I say, when I was in Japan, Hello Kitty was like their mascot, man, woman, there is no getting away from Hello Kitty, might as well embrace it.
@@everestcanyon5647 personal experience (chic though but I've been in fandoms where this was the case scenario on more than one occasion) outside of the occasional batshit annoying feminazi everyone doesn't like, we're relatively chill with the occasional guy in our fandoms, just as long as they're respectful and don't go full blown neckbeard mode and start creeping on anyone. Hell for a time one of my biggest fandom buddies was a dude and almost half of them now in the Owl House I know are practically like a bunch o brothers to me.
Also from my experience except for one, a lot of the fandom guys I met are also pretty chill as hell. But then again, might just be because the little fandoms I did join for a time was alot like the Owl House fandom or a decent chunk of Musical fandoms in a way where it's either entirely chill as hell, or I just always end up drifting towards the part of the little ass island in the fandom that is chill as hell.
If I had a £ for the amount of times I’ve walked into a music store holding some CDs and a guy comes up to me, only to start quizzing me on random bullshit trivia about band members, I’d be Jeff Bezos.
You ever just vibe too hard and run into a wall
Sh-Should I ask?-
All the friggin time
That is suck a mood and that’s me all the time. That’s why I don’t listen to music while walking around.
Most of the time-
Earlier I was vibing so hard I fell down my stairs. I slid quickly down after that and I just sat there contemplating my life choices-
every single time
Coley: Posts
Me: Wanna see some real speed bish
ehehehe...im not gonna say it
How did you comment before the video came out😭
Comment: 36 videos ago
Video 31 minutes ago
There’s also a lot of classism involved in this debate. For example, someone who works double shifts just to make ends meet may not have time to rewatch/reread the content multiple times or write a 500,000 fanfiction. Some people can’t afford to go to a convention or take an art class to get better at fan art or buy a bunch of merch, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fans
To all of you who also get into things late and are sad bc all of your fandoms are dead... you’re not alone 😔
Or one of the fandoms you loved, but now it's just a childhood memory
Honestly, I like the silence of getting in things late, of course I might not be able to interact with others but I am a casual casual fan who likes things and moves on, I am passionate about enjoying things what ifs, alternate scenarios and it's such a private and personal activity that someone else's presence is invasion.
@@avantika_singh I’m sadly the opposite. I’ve fully poured myself into a handful of slightly obscure, slightly outdated things. It’s sucks when the writer of your favorite fanfic is probably in her 40’s now and has stopped writing lmao
@@crisp8516 Nothing is worst than hitting a goldmine of exploration in fan content...
It was never completed by the creator.
@@avantika_singh And the last update was like 4 years ago...
This is just my opinion, but as long as you’re a respectful fan, (and you’re having fun, in a way that isn’t hurting anyone) there’s no problem.
Exactly! I noticed your PFP was Gacha, so I understand that you’ve probably got a lot of hate. Although, I assume you’re actually a smart and respectful fan because of this comment. I don’t understand why people have problems with other fandoms even though most of the people are fine!
@@swirlycat5554
Thanks I appreciate that, and I also agree with you. I can also tell you are a smart and respectful fan because of your comment. (I also thank you that you didn’t resent me for the sole reason of me using Gacha)
I think being a fake fan is pretending to like something but not actually liking it. For example, if a group of people like a tv show and one person who didn't watch the show might pretend to like it to fit in. But other then that, no one is a fake fan. Thanks for the lesson mom :)
Yeah that’s pretty much my take on it too. I find it really strange when someone puts so much effort into being part of fandom but actively avoids experiencing it for themselves. Like why spend so much time being part of Fleetwood Mac fandom but can never find the time to listen to one song? Besides that, to me, anyone who’s experienced it and liked it is a fan.
I completely agree, however as a Taylor Swift fan I feel the need to add something. A few years ago (2017) when Taylor was going through some terrible things she released an album that was a little less “I’m a nice girl, so I’ll smile and nod” (reputation). Many of her fans, instead of supporting her, would complain with things like “I want the old Taylor back.” I completely understand not liking the style of that album but they acted as if her entire soul had been possessed when really she was just having a tough time. The people who would make such claims were often called out for being “fake fans” because they were often the most supporting before Taylor actually needed it. Which I think is fair. I agree with you though if the only reason someone is being called out for being a fake fan is for something trivial or simply to feed the ego/validate the accuser.
It’s okay to feel that way with SOME media, such as media with fictional characters, but it’s never okay to do that with real people. They’re allowed to change, and trying to control and criticize them as if they’re not actual human beings is just unacceptable.
(Me hanging out in the Undertale fandom despite not having actually played the game at the time): I'd say the label of "fake fan" describes me perfectly.
Edit: I'll admit, I just made this joke before actually watching the video. It was really heartfelt and amazing. Thanks for preaching these truths for us, Coley.
oh same lol. I'm in like three undertale aminos but I've never once played the game-
I hang out in the fnaf Fandom. I've read a couple fics, seen some memes, and played fanmade Roblox games.I could tell you more about Paw patrol
✨ F a n s ✨
Fandoms Fans:
Real: Yes
Fake: Also YES
People who call themselves "real fans" are often super bigoted as well, they'll be classist (looking down on people who can't afford certain merch or extra content), racist ("this isn't something x race would be into!"), And a variety of other shitty things
i got told by a guy that my marvel bedroom, gaming pc that i made, 60+ figurines and walls full of posters were bought to impress geek and "gamer" guys... yes hun, i spend all of my money to impress boys. absolutely. i also laugh at the "you only watch for the hot characters" excuse as if characters attractiveness invalidates anything
... I just got flashbacks to when my coworker said they had never met a girl like me who both loves games( I was playing assassins creed with glee) and superheroes. Honestly I think he was shocked cuz he was always nice and everything and a few years ago it was rare for even a man to talk about geeky interests.
I joined the tangled the series fandom because I liked two characters
I AM NOW OBSESSED WITH *EVERYTHING*
Bro, same! I only watched the show for the side characters, but then I found a new ship and everything just went downhill...
(In a good fan content way)
@@fantasyenthusiest6218 was it
cassunzel?
also stan varian and cass or face my wrath
Who else here is desperate for a "Varian and the seven kingdoms" spinoff?
@@thehomohomie5259 MEEEE SIGN THE PETITION THERE ARE LIKE 25K SIGNATURES
@ the almighty bucket
Maybe....
*goes back to reading my one shot*
If you just joined a fandom, you're not a real fan.
If you're in a fandom at all, you're not a real fan.
Real fans create air currents by spinning really quickly, or are handheld fans.
Hello fellow friend
@@sbydkok Memeno mori
@@genericname2747 memento Mori
":00000000! You don't know the type of shampoo [[cc]] uses????? UR fake fan!!!!! Omg!!!!"
All of a sudden I'm reminded of Sephiroth's fan club in Crisis Core and their 'test' XD
All of sudden I was reminded of a Dark Choko Cookie hair conditioner.
I have this thing sometimes where I'll feel weirdly guilty when I join a fandom that's already been around for awhile. Like I'll keep thinking, 'oh no I've missed so much, I'll never be on the same level as everyone else who's been here from the start.' And it's silly because the amount of time you've been a fan has nothing to do with your validity as a fan, but it's definitely a thought process I've fallen prey to, from both sides
I like joining things after they have ended, why? Because partly it's fun to go back and see all the canon wrong speculations and second it's silent and private.
Dude, I'm in a fandom that's been around for almost 60 years and still going on-
It doesn't matter how long you've been a fan because there's fandoms that have been around for longer than you have or before you could join and it's no big deal as long as you like the fandom
I wonder why the term even came about, who decided the criteria of being “fake” or “real”? Are we not allowed to enjoy certain media?
the amount of fandoms I've left because of how toxic they were in terms of real/fake fans... what a shame
There are two people in fandoms,
The people,and the people
The only difference is that some chose to be toxic while the other's are normal :D
Fans gatekeeping is just clown on clown violence.
Does anyone else remember that meme about “you’re not a real fan unless you have blades and rotate to circulate air”
I've written a 20+ page psychoanalytical essay on Bakugou Katsuki for school, write fanfiction, am getting better at drawing fanart, am damn near an encyclopedia on BNHA, and have been in the fandom for several years. *Nothing makes me happier than seeing newer fans get excited and diving head-first into BNHA.* It means that not only are they supporting the creators, but they are growing the community, adding to the vast resources, and get to experience the same immeasurable pleasure I do from such phenomenal content!!!
As someone who likes watching his anime in English, I hear that term thrown around all the time. Eliteism is so annoying
I'm a subs over dubs person, but dubs are a legitimate way to enjoy something. If anything, I feel left out because I miss all the jokes about the English-speaking actors.
@@BonaparteBardithion
I don’t really watch anime or shows that started in other languages, but on the rare occasions I do, I prefer dubs due to the fact that I find the subtitles SUPER distracting and I can’t focus on the video itself, despite reading them quickly.
I admire people who can use subtitles without getting distracted
@@starlightmoone
Understandable. I've spoken to a lot of people who find them distracting. I grew up in a noisy house so subtitles or closed captioning are my default even when it's in English.
I’m a dubs person when it comes to anime and the crap people get from other people who only watch subs (not everyone obviously). Its a load of crap the judgment you get
I prefer dubs as well, mainly because when I watch anime I’ll be doing something else as well and won’t be able to read the subtitles, so it’s easier to listen to dubs. I also just prefer hearing it in English. I certainly get why some people prefer subs and respect that, but I don’t understand why some people get so heated over it and needlessly hate on dubs and the people who watch them. Like, it’s not that deep.
This year: stop hating on "fake" fans
yes! i'm in the musical theater fandom and that's honestly one of the fandoms most rampant with this fake fan vs real fan thing! it's honestly so stupid for people to hate fake fans because they're just "casual" or only like the mainstream things when (i'm using musical theater fans for an example) people like to complain about how more people should like underrated things! the musical theater fandom as a whole is full of people hating on fans who only like hamilton or beetlejuice and at the same time think the fandom is too small. it's one of the weirdest most contradictory things i've ever seen where people shut out fans because they like the wrong things then turn around and complain about how small the fandom is
@@jane_wants_to_feel i am mainly in like the anime fandom( which i know is way too varied ) but i have noticed the tendency that is smt is too logic heavy then you are often called out for being a fake fan for not knowing all details or if smt is more childish than you are seen as scum for liking it
@@jane_wants_to_feel im not really into musicals, but i have seen comment wars on animatics get real bad bcs its an overpopular song or smt
@@brunetteartist24 mhm it's pretty bad on tiktok too because popular songs reach people who aren't into musical theater then "real fans" get mad at them for not knowing about musicals beforehand
12:13 "I can show you these meeemes"
I've been trying to be serious this whole time but that absolutely got me
I don't like fake fans.
IF I BUY YOU, I WANT YOU TO KEEP ME COOL! *starts trying to switch on a decrotive fan*
*Dear Elitists:* only a Sith deals in absolutes....
I'm in a lot of fandoms just for the sake of the fanfiction and art, enjoying the concept and characters of the canon piece without ever having wachted/read it in its entirety.
And I'm totally aware that for many I would be considered a "fake fan" for that. But, to be honest, I don't really care about that. I'm just here sipping my tea, that's all.
I consider some of my fandoms a "closet fan", where it's just suppressed and hidden until it's brought up. And then all the things in the closet spill out. Those are for media that's more obscure or less mainstream.
Thanks for putting it into words. :)
The fandom goddess said it herself, she is the all knowing when it comes to being a fan. If the queen herself said it then it's true!
There. Is. No. Such. Thing. As. A.
R E A L F A N
Whenever I find myself accidentally getting in the mindset of 'real vs fake' fan, I try to remind myself that just because I experience a game or piece of media in one way, that doesn't make it the only way to enjoy something. That other people may enjoy something for a different reason than I do.
For instance, real example, I love Celeste, and I love the grind of going through it and racking up thousands of deaths to overcome the challenges. Someone else may be in it primarily because of the story, and use assist mode to get through the game, because dying a million times doesn't appeal to them/sound fun to them. Another person may start the game and decide its not for them, and not enjoy it, but then enjoy something else I don't enjoy.
I'm not superior or inferior to any one of these people, just different, and that's ok.
I’m a casual in a lot of fandoms, I dip in and out of them, I find it funny when newer fans tell me I’m a ‘fake fan’ just because I don’t Stan any k pop groups for personal reasons, and its low key insulting when you’ve been in the general community since late 2012 early 2013...
When you mentioned the whole Star Wars “girls can’t watch it!” I got flashbacks. Like when I was in kindergarten, some kid looked at my Star Wars shirt and called me fake because no way would I have watched when really I enjoyed them so much🙄
I only call people “fake fans” if they’re pretending to be a fan of a group only to make them look bad
i agree with you fake fans are people who claim to be fans but are not actually interested in the fandom or the media and just say they're fans. this is a very fine line though as some people might just like a small part of the media (like how musicals are popular on tiktok) but you do have a point
It's cause older fans wanna feel special. That's it .... That's literally it.
*cough cough musical theater fans*
*cough cough anime fans*
*cough cough billie eilish fans*
Listen, just because I procrastinate on my fics, I don't post my fanart cause I don't wanna, and I'm too broke to buy any merch, doesn't mean I don't pace in my bathroom every night before bed, ranting about that one season with too many plotholes, or squeal about my OTP to the shampoo bottles when I take a shower. Term "fake fan" is fake news
I’ve seen this term a lot with the Hunger Games fandom, saying anyone who only watched the movies isn’t a “real fan” just because they may not know things readers do. Honestly, that’s silly. Some people prefer to watch movies, and that’s ok. Some people were maybe introduced to the movies first, and don’t want to read the books
So in summary, "Fake Fans" is just a term used by toxic fans of a fandom?
that's correct
YESSS, this random person is trying to tell me that fake fans are “real” and fake fans (are basically toxic fans, but she didn’t say that -_-)
If I don't get a full version of "I Can Show You These Memes" I'mma riot
I wrote a Star Wars fic a few years ago. (My first published fanwork.) Two authors in the fandoms inspired me to write, and I was so excited to make my own. Both of them read my story and were so encouraging. It got me to write a bunch more stories since then. If they trashed my writing and called me a fake fan, I think I would have abandoned something I enjoy and am pretty good at.
I remember when i was in like 1rst grade i brought my pokemon cards to school and this group of third graders approached me and said “you cant have those your a girl!” And then stole all of my cards. Poor Mega Rayquaza you will be missed
One of the reasons I like to stay away from online dramas with different fans. I prefer to keep it between my irl friends.
**cough cough melaniemartinezfans cough cough**
I mean when I first joined the fandom, you were considered a fake fan if you discovered her through Dollhouse. Then it was Show & Tell. Then, Play Date/Tik Tok it’s e x h a u s t i n g
Thank you for this video, very much needed. LET PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY LIKE 🙂
You speak facts!
You don’t know how many “oNlY pEoPlE wHo DiDnT cOmE fRoM tIk ToK cAn LiKe tHiS” comments on her videos i have found
@@river_57 I know right??? Yes, I found her from a dollhouse tiktok about another fandom (Sanders Sides), and no, I don’t have merch, but I’m a fan of hers simply because I like her music!!
@@Duck-mn8xp once someone called me a fake fan for not knowing her unreleased music. U N R E L E A S E D MUSIC
@@river_57 I- what??????
dude I found her through a FUCK!NG gacha video, I got called a fake fan so much😭😭
True story that happened yesterday: I was reading a fanfic yesterday on AO3, it was really good sweet (it focused on found-family, my favorite) and overall amazing, I head to the comments and my mood sours, somebody by the name of "f*ckoff" had dissed the author writing one of the characters a certain way, mentioning "fakea** (*insert fandom*)" and for them, including the author "to go back to your twilight and harry potter"
And as you would imagine, I was
P I S S E D, but as a peacemaker that I am I didn't go off on them
my entire room is covered in anime decor after three years of saving up and spending. I bought all the games, I cosplay, I make fanart, and I write fanfiction for my top favorite animes.
yet ive still been called a fake fan several times for the mere reason of being a girl. :D
Bruh
I have been called a 'not a real fan' once and I was like, think whatever you want. In the end of the day I know what I am.
Like I know how much j love my favs and I don't need to justify it to someone random on internet who doesn't mean anything to me
Coley: uploads
Everyone: OUT OF THE WAY IM EARLY!!
I’m team “came for the hot characters, stayed for the plot and character development”
I'm team "introduced by edgy AU fanart, stayed for canon fluff".
I am team, "yeah, the things ended years ago but it was all raging back in the day and is still somewhat alive so let's check it out"
I'm team "stumbled across some fan vid now I feel into a rabbit hole of delight"
for my favorite things, I'm team
"saw it at the Scholastic book fair and liked the cover"
"got hyperfixated on hurricanes"
"my mom watched this show and got me deeply invested"
This is like a psychology lesson on fandoms
Loving the headband! And I have to appreciate how deep you go when it comes to analyzing fandoms lol
I’m a HUGE fan of Hamilton and I haven’t expended any money on it cause all the merch I can buy is on the internet Amazon etc and my family doesn’t do that there shouldn’t be pressure to like stuff if you like something you are a fan that’s it
honestly just the fact that you're a fan of hamilton is enough to get you crucified in the musical theater fandom at this point. so many people have started hating hamilton simply because it's popular and it's stupid because it is good people just wanna say they're better for knowing musicals before hamilton
@@jane_wants_to_feel I respond don’t care that always happens something becomes popular start hating it honestly it has become my religion I love it so much and I’m not giving it away because is popular
@@Frogeatingbugs that's great! one of my friends got into musicals through tiktok and tons of people call her a fake fan just cus she likes six
@@jane_wants_to_feel that’s bullshit ‘‘yOu ArE nOt a REaL FaN CAusE YOu LIKe THe POpuLaR ThINg ThaT eVeRy OnEs LIkeS’’
Omg YES this is what I've been trying to tell people, theres no such thing as "real" or "fake" fans man! Just because they're still new or don't agree with what you think is best does NOT make them any less of a fan!
When it comes to “real fans” and “fake fans”, where I’ve mainly seen this is in video game fandoms of is “you’re not a real fan if you’ve haven’t played the game”. Like this gate keeps fans that can’t play the game, due to money, not having the proper console, etc. Like, I’m sorry I was unable to play the game and had to consume this amazing thing in a different way, doesn’t make me any less of a fan
you are only a "real fan" if you:
-have blades
-create wind
-spin really really fast
People who use the term “fake fan” to insult someone are gatekeepers.
exactly.
"Back in my day we didn't have wattpad or ao3 we had THE WAR"
Gate keeping is so stupid. Let people enjoy their stuff
Great vid!
I’m so glad you made this video, because I had a friend who would always put me down for not watching as many things as she has, or knowing as much about the show. She would even brag about going to cons.
When coley uploads, I am faster than the speed of light, fear me.
*hides* You are so scary!
Same hahah
I am shivering in my slippers!
I *do* fear you.
Almost as scary as my sleep paralysis demon
I never really got the whole “fake fan” thing, like it was always demonstrated as someone pretending to be a fan of something. I’ve never encountered someone who has pretended to be in a fandom when they’re not, that’s such a weird thing to lie about
i remember i had a friend who got me into one of my fandoms, but they were really gate-keeping and would get mad at me because “you got this one word wrong in a quote!”, “you don’t know this, this, and this,” “there are other fandoms for the same type of media as this thing and i’m in them but you’re not, which makes you fake,” and my favorite, “you’re not allowed to like this because you can’t sing/act/etc.” and it really made me kinda self conscious about being the the fandom.
“Don’t quiz new fans” called 10 year old me out way too much
When you've been reading Wattpad fics for years, then you forgot your password and made a new account in March, and THEN you create an AO3 account and five days later you get called a fake fan.
BRUH.
honestly all i really need is for people to tell me how dedicated they are and how much they already know about the fandom. sometimes i dont know how far along a person is and accidentally drop spoilers, or i scare ppl when i freak out too loudly :')
Looking forward to more of these essays! Age in fandom is a big personal concern to me. Being older than the median ages of various fandoms, it sometimes feels difficult to connect with other fans in those communities. For example: being a fan of something that skews toward a younger demographic, or being a fan of something that’s been around as long as you have. The former may have other older fans, but the majority are still most likely minors, while the latter automatically puts older fans at a disadvantage because how they formed as a person varies with how the current generation is growing up. Say you’re a fan of a 90s-era property. The attitudes, tropes, and trends of that decade ultimately end up a part of that series unless the setting is something in the realm of Fantasy or Sci-Fi. The younger members of the current generation were born into the mid-to-late 00s, who have consumed media with a totally different set of timely variables than millennials did in their childhood. There are silver linings like the resurgence of the AtLA fandom and the persistent nature of Pokémon as a franchise, and that’s why I like your mention of older/veteran fans acting more like mentors and less like gatekeepers. Teaching and guiding the younger fans still creates a connection, one that retains a comfortable distance and is respectful to them.
Fake fans ❌
Real fans ❌
Onlyfans ✅
lonely fans ✅
Thank you! As a shipper in a fandom that has been in around for a very long time, and a general fan of the show for a very long time, i find that a certain aspect of the fandom looks down on shippers and basically says were ‘not real fans’ even though some of us (myself included ) have been watching the show since the very first episode aired. I think people need to remember that just because some of us are drawn to other aspects of the fandom then they are.. its super silly to judge each other. Lets us all just enjoy what we love.
You are not a true fan if:
- you watched the entire series
- you know all the characters and their backstories
You are only a true fan if:
- you spin around in circles really fast
- you are powered by electricity
I’d def be interested in the vid about age/gender in fandoms. I consider myself an ‘older’ fan in some of the fandoms I engage in where the target audience tends to skew young, and sometimes I feel self-conscious about my age and wonder if I’m too old to be interacting, so I’m curious what your thoughts on the subject would be.
yeah, that'd be interesting :)
i feel bad when i am busy and can't be as deep into fandoms as i once was but this makes me feel better about not prioritizing fandoms and just enjoying it