Just Random Stuff

"Fake fan"

"Fake fan"
I hate this phrase.
Hate it.
Why, you may ask?
Simple.

It's ridiculous.
I've seen so many posts on, well, everything that refer to a group of people as "fake fans".
Why?

The criteria for being a fan are that you like the thing,
That's it.
That's what a fan is.
Someone who likes the thing.
The only way you would be a fake fan is if you don't like the thing, but pretend you do.

Let's see what urban dictionary's top definition says a fake fan is.

"A fake fan is a fan of a band/artist who think's [sic] they know everything about a band, but in all honesty, only found out about them 10 minutes ago and is most likely following a fad and has only heard a hand full of songs and knows nothing about the band."

What?
So they're a new fan.
You can't make fun of new fans. They can't know everything the moment they discover something.
When I started liking, say, MCR, I wouldn't know that the members were Gerard Way, Frank Iero, Mikey Way, and Ray Toro. It took time to learn that.

And when they say they know everything, yes, it's not the truth. However, they most likely mean that they know everything for someone who's been a fan for that long.

Now, there are other reasons people would call someone a fake fan of an artist/band.

1. Their favorite song or whatever is the most popular one.

This is completely idiotic.
Let's answer some questions.

First, why do you think that that is the most popular thing by them?
Of course, it's the most popular one because it's the most well known and most liked.

How did it get that way?
Because the fans really liked it!

Since many fans liked it, it got popular.
You're not a fake fan for liking the most popular song. In fact, it actually makes a lot of sense. Go on, keep liking what you like.

2. They started liking the thing when it got popular.

I see. Since your favorite artist got popular, there have been some newcomers.
And apparently, that's not allowed.
Because it's impossible that someone might have only been able to find out about this because it's popular, and actually may like it more than you.
Very logical.

And are you just trying to be a retardant on your favorite artist's success? Are you trying to drag them down just so the only people who like them are the ones who found them 2005? Because you were once a new fan. You can't beat up on them for finding something later. It's a little messed up.

Do you just assume that in the past, they knew about the thing, but ignored it? Because that's not so. Often, they had no idea about the thing, and are quite glad they managed to find the thing.

3. They have limited knowledge of the artist/band.

That's not bad.
You don't have to know the names of the band member's children.
You don't need to know their birthdays.
Or how old they are.

There are some people who are simply fans because they enjoy the music, videos, movies, whatever, and couldn't care less about the people, because the reason they like them is the thing that they do.

And that's fine.

You're not a fake fan for the most famous work being your favorite.
You're not a fake fan for discovering it when it got popular.
You're not a fake fan for having limited knowledge of the thing.
AND FOR GOD'S SAKE, YOU'RE NOT A FAKE FAN FOR BEING A NEW FAN!

All I ask is that you like the thing.
That's it.
The rest is your decision.

Farewell😘
-ALK