Rant...of sorts...

It's amazing what people do given anonymity and a keyboard. And I'm amazed at how different people can be.

Confession: my guilty music pleasure is currently Korean pop music. Unfortunately, the drama that is currently smoldering around my current favorite band is ten times worse that of Korean soap opera dramas. It makes me upset to a degree I never thought possible in my normally rational, calm self. Not only because it involves my favorite band, but also because the people who are scrutinizing them range from blatantly insulting "antis" to fawning/drooling "stans," both of which range widely on intelligence and maturity levels.

The 'fandom' that had once so adored them has split up into multiple factions because of one major controversy. It saddens me that people's trust can be shattered so easily. I can't believe I'm actually quoting Lady Gaga for this but: "Trust is like a mirror. You can fix it if it's broken. But you can still see the cracks." For some fans it did not break; for some it broke, but has mended; and for some, it will never be healed. What saddens me even more is that some particularly angry people go back and 'bash' the group and do things to make the situation even worse.

I don't get it. I had never seen such outright public/anonymous disapproval before. Yes, we have freedom of speech, as long as it's not slander or libel or w/e. But personally, I think love is always always always >>>>>> hate. I have taken on a neutral stance, typical of my personality; one without revenge and with love for both victims of the incident. This, in my opinion, is the best and happiest route to follow.

Taking a step back, I wonder silently and to no one in particular, "Why is so much emotion devoted to something inherently superficial?" Because that's what Kpop is, essentially, and probably what it seems like to most people unacquainted with its huge presence in Korean pop culture. When the fans 'love' someone, they go to unbelievable lengths to express it (like, are you serious lol); and when they don't like him/her...they have equally strong passions. I know Korean people tend to be especially passionate about what they believe in. But hey, it's not life or death. It's not war or politics. These people are human. These groups are meant for entertainment, but the public has attached so many expectations, illusions, and ideals to them that deviations are deemed unacceptable.

I don't know what I'm saying anymore, but I do know one thing for sure: kpop has changed my life and the way I see the world (for good or bad I have yet to see).