Thoughts On The 'Fangirl' Culture

The word 'Fangirl' usually brings along with it a lot of negative connotations, for most people I'm sure they picture screaming, crying, hysterical girls ogling the new boy band on the scene but for me, the definition of 'Fangirl' or 'Fanboy' is very different. For me, Fan-whatever means someone who loves something and is not afraid or embarrassed to be excited about that thing. I just want to discuss this a little bit because it's something that has been playing on my mind a lot and I want to get it out.

Bands -
I, personally, think this is the type of interest that gets 'mocked' the most. I can hear the chatter now "You only like them for their looks!" "I can't possibly believe that women and young girls have the capacity of enjoying and appreciating the music of a teen group without it wholly being down to how the people in the band look so I'm forever bitter!!" Now, I've been a HUGE fan of loads of different singers but the ones that stand out to me are 5SOS. As I'm writing this post, I spent the night prior to this one sleeping on a cold, hard airport floor waiting for 5SOS to fly in from Australia in the hopes that I would get a few minutes with them to get a picture and maybe chat a little bit. I don't like using the word 'Fangirl' which is why I'm putting the term in inverted commas but I can't think of any other expression that really fits the broader term. Some people probably think that it's the stupidest thing in the world to lose sleep, money and hell even a little bit of dignity to get a blurry photo with someone who probably won't even remember you come morning.

For me, it's completely worth it. For so many people, it's completely worth it. What these people don't see is that these bands make people happy, people enjoy their music and their personality and they want a chance to see that in person so if camping outside of a radio station in December, or in an airport or whatever is that small chance they have, they'll take it. So for any of you out there who aren't sure whether to go that extra mile or whether to go to a radio station an hour earlier, I say do it. It might not work out, but it also might work out better than you ever expected. And to those who think it's idiotic, moronic and any other word you can think of, I say sit back, be quiet and let people enjoy themselves because, and this is coming from someone with experience, there is no feeling quite like being gloriously infatuated with the idea of a person.

Chances are, if you don't regret it at the time, you probably won't regret it in the future. Until you count all of the hours of sleep you lost and the money you've spent, maybe you'll regret it a little then.

Books/TV -
There! Is! Nothing! Wrong! With! Being! Excited! About! Books! And! Authors!

You have a fave book? GREAT! TELL ME ABOUT IT. WHO IS YOUR FAVE CHARACTER? WHATS YOUR FAVE QUOTE? HAVE YOU EVER MET THE AUTHOR?? TELL ME EVERYTHING.

Do not Do not be ashamed of enjoying something. Your fave book is TFIOS? Great book, loved it. Fangirl away. The Maze Runner? Not my cup of tea but hey they're great movies! Fangirl away. Literally anything in the entire world? FANGIRL AWAY. Do not hide your love and excitement. Do not hide your love and excitement. Do not hide your love and excitement. And if someone tells you that they can't possibly be your favourite books because it's not 'real literature' SCREW THEM. GUT THEM. Or just calmly walk away because the YA Genre is amazing and if they're going to be pretentious then they're the only ones who are missing out.

And TV shows. Oh my god. If you want to have a Tumblr dedicated to a certain character, you do it! (Props to you, though, because honestly most of my faves die so heartbreak central that would be). Do not feel pressured to only do things that will matter in the future. Life is too short. Enjoy yourself, enjoy your passions. THESE ARE REAL PASSIONS. THESE ARE REAL HOBBIES.