How much are the company and idols responsible for obsessive fans?

I think the parassocial relationship thing helps, but there was a time in the past when it wasn't a thing and fans were still obsessed.

As an obsessive fan myself, I take personal responsibility...and I blame how Facebook is set up. It's too easy. I mean I found my ult's mom and 3 sisters' FB pages. C'mon...make it harder FB.

There will always be crazy obsessive fans but if kpop companies stopped encouraging parasocial relationships, actively encouraged their artists to date and interact with the opposite gender, stopped this whole ‘our fans are our gfs/bfs’ BS…I’m sure the amount of obsessive fans would decrease. Kpop companies know that if they encourage and allow people to develop these unhealthy relationships, it’ll give them money in return.

Quote from dummi

Idk bc yesterday i was camping outside of hybe building and instead of telling me to leave TXT actually came out and confessed their love to me one by one. After I felt conflicted since I had a hard decision to make but ultimately I chose Taehyun and now we're in a long distance relationship since I'm back in the states. I'm two timing rn tho because Ryujin won't stop dming me on insta

BIMBO!!!!!!

I blame the fans honestly, I think there's a difference between taking fanservice (yeah even idols saying they are your bfs etc etc is a type of fanservice) and being 100% delusional, I understand some very younger fan having more dreams but cmon I am not age shaming but after 13 / 14 is a little easier to tell things apart no?

I had a dream with Baekhyun. We're soulmates and we were written in the stars.

I blame everything on my faves. I dont think we fans and the company are at fault here

I mean if you are this delusional to fall for a company marketing strategy, then you are someone who will be betrayed by a lot of people. Grow up.

It’s more like the mentality already exists and they just tap into it so it’s amplified. Prolly crazies will exist no matter what but the excessive fan service aids in magnifying it.

I believe most of the time ships are endorsed and prompted by companies and even the idols themselves because they know how much profit this obsessive behaviour can generate. This is exactly why we have ship-oriented fanservice.

Obsessive shipping would most likely still happen though even if the company and group members didn't actively encourage it. I mean people even ship idols that have never publicly interacted with each other let alone group mates that share dorms and endless interactions.

Zero. Next question

well if the idols are big enough (bigger their own company but aren't controlling like YG is to BP) and still does silly fan service, then I'm gonna blame the idol. You have an option to choose not to, but you still went for it. So you shouldn't cry about obsessive fans when you're the one feeding them.

Unfortunately, many companies pushed the idea of "your ideal boyfriend" in the past, and now they have to repair that. The obsessive fans aren't a problem only in kpop, all artists have them, it's about how companies handle it. Instead of suing them, the companies kinda want to keep them, because they can get a good profit on their back (buying more albums, more merch). Just look some days ago how many fans were following NCT, and instead of calling the police, the managers just let them there.

As for artists, some cut this kind of behavior, but some of them encourage them, by giving the illusion of a boyfriend. There are still many who act like they are "hurt" if their fans talk about their boyfriends, or say that they missed them. It's like feeding the obsessive fans.

So, I'm not sure if it's 100% only a problem generated by the obsessive fans, as they aren't entirely sane, but the companies are still supporting their behavior.

I would say majority, because companies and idols love to profit of this behaviour (e.g. buying albums until you collect all photocards, giving rewards for YT views milestones etc.), but when it comes to taking responsibility they're the victims. And I'm not saying that invading idols' privacy and other obsessive behaviour is something that can be justified, but it all starts with how companies and idols present themselves to fans - like toys.

Quote from dopiee

Would you say something that is not based on truth is more of a marketing strategy or manipulation?

Imo it would be manipulation. And If you're easily prone to manipulation in real life then you will suffer the consequences like these fans definitely do. But that doesn't make the manipulator blame free, does it?

Then that’s like saying companies and marketers should stop making ads. That’s what marketing is all about, manipulating you psychologically to get something. Obviously if they use a beautiful lady for a cosmetic ad doesn’t necessarily translate into “I’m also going to look as gorgeous as her so let me buy that” Anyone who still thinks like this has not matured at all. If it’s a child it’s understandable, but as an adult, that’s a problem if you can’t think perceptibly

Quote from dopiee

That is exactly what I think too. I don't think it's only the companies and idols who are at fault. But they are not as blame free or innocent either.

If you want to call out companies on moral grounds, then you do you. But I don’t think the companies should be responsible for anyone’s immaturity