Is there a difference between kpop stan culture and....

Western Pop fans can be absolute hell on forums and Twitter.

They're not on sasaeng level, but the bullying, slutshaming, racism and misogyny is REAL among them.

Both are same.

Quote from MissBehave

stans for western acts or other types of entertainment? It came to mind because I just saw the trailer for this Amazon show

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It's about a fan that gets obsessed with an rnb singer and she's part of her fandom called the swarm. It looks like you don't want to say anything bad about the singer coz the swarm will retaliate. I assume this is based on the beyhive, but it easily could be any large, aggressive fandom. I feel like I've seen more intense behavior from kpop stans in general but maybe it's cuz I don't follow western music much anymore.

I feel it’s hard for international “stanning” of any kind to be to as intense as local stanning who have more direct access to idols/artists.

On forums and common platforms like social media I think all fandoms behave deranged/protective etc.

But to be an actual super fan and not just a keyboard warrior and have that experience you need to be a local. Like so what if I find out someone from Bulgaria hates EXO what can I do with that information. Nothing.

Manga/anime fan are so toxic on Twitter.

They can be just as bad. I mean, swarm was inspired by a real life artist and real life events, that in itself is very telling in how far some are willing to go.

The act of obsessive stanning is the same all around the world with different interests and in different times too. The focus does shift from time to time, but it's the fault of human nature (or possibly incorrect human upbringing) how some can't keep boundaries and some takes it too far with agreeing to other's ideas blindly for they lack one or/and are unable (or unused and unintroduced) to use critical thinking. Young minds are certainly more probable to stan bildly for they are still young and learn a lot trough mimicking, but then most of them mature and bigger problems arouse with the adults who obviously remained children in their thinking process.

This obsessive stanning could be maybe called fanatism? Like religious fanatism.

I don't think the western stars are less insanely loved, but because of 21th century global trends now many international fans stan korean idols over western pop icons. But then you do look over football fans, gamers and anime-manga fans and the same attitude and problems resurface as we have experienced in the kpop world. I think it's the human factor that matters and not the starts themselves.

K-pop fans are definitely more obsessed with their idols. I remember someone posting a thread about how K-pop fans need almost daily content. I believe this definitely contribute to the obsession.

In general, I feel like western acts can have extreme fans while extreme is the norm for K-pop fans.

Other differences: how important victim mentality and inhibited racism + xenophobia are among K-pop fans. And how much K-pop girl group fans hate K-pop boy group fans.

its called fanaticism and it definitely isnt present in kpop or pop music only
you can see it everywhere, be it politics, sports or anything really

on the other hand, selling this illusion of relationship and bond between idols and fans and between fans themselves is a very strong aspect of kpop so maybe that's why kpop stanning is notorious for this kind of behavior
or at least looks like it is

Quote from MissBehave

Oh, i didn't know that!

There's lots of videos on yt that go into full detail, really disturbing stuff about celebrity worship and how far some are willing to go for a person they've never met before.

Quote from MissBehave

I find it wild to be that crazy about fictional characters/ works!

I know that manga are the best thing but there is no reason to fight for that