Over the 21 years following kpop I noticed that fans tend to confuse the two A LOT.
There's vitriol and abusive comments directed to idols from the 'mob' (whether the public, antis or stans), they try to pass as "education". This is where cancel culture came from. We all know humans are not perfect. Everyone can make mistakes or be ignorant about certain things. So the only thing you really have to do is point it out and either ask the offending person to a) educate themselves or b) explain themselves. Witch hunts over mistakes or fauxpas aren't education.
Then there's occasions someone just brings up things idols have done in the past, without any personal attacks against the idols, and stans will go attack the messenger. If people tell you an idol did something that was wrong there's no need to consider that "hate". But because you prefer to shield your biases rather than face the truth, and let others also know the truth, you cling to the false representation that any kind of exposure is "hate". In this case people are being educated when there's no direct malice against an idol.
If you are going to be honest, you'd put down your petty agendas and simply understand idols are just like you, flaws and all. Just like you, they don't deserve to be mentally toured or abused for indiscretions unless they literally did something to you personally. And likewise, they aren't above criticism. They deserve to be judged for their past and current actions.
