HIStoric
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- Apr 12, 2011
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he's always been controversial. I got bullied in school because I am MJ fan. not because of the allegations, it was before that, but I never felt the need to hide that I'm an MJ fan, because of that. it's something I've always shown off with great pride, and I don't let anyone get to me or make me want to hide the fact that I love someone/something. especially when it comes to MJ, because I know that they are just tabloid junkies who don't know any better, and I know better (but was always ready to defend him if I felt the need to). I don't really understand the things you guys are saying, that you felt the need to hide that you're MJ fans. I've never in my life even thought like that
Of course, your mileage may vary and I'm glad that you've always been able to show off your fandom with great pride! I think it is important to note we have grown up in different times and that would play some part. You got bullied when you were in school for being an MJ fan, but this was before the allegations as you wrote. Michael was controversial in those times, but the allegations changed everything (and for the record, I'm not intending to downplay any bullying you received or say mine was worse).
By the time I was your age in school, perception on Michael had dramatically changed. He was more known for his controversies than his music. Most of our exposure to him were the long and highly publicised child molestation trials and it wasn't hard to find someone who believed he was guilty. Hell, one of my friends has said that his first exposure to Michael was dangling Blanket in 2002. What are your opinions going to be on someone if that's your first and main exposure to them? Not saying this was every person, but this would've been many. Kids are shitty and they tease each other about a lot of things to varying degrees so why give them ammo? If people know you're a fan of a child molester (or so they believe), there's a reasonable chance you will be made fun of for that. At that time, I had been made fun of for less controversial subjects after all so I was cautious, and since then I have been bullied in relation to MJ, a lot of it has been related to the molestation stuff.
You haven't had to worry about making your MJ fan status known and that's genuinely great, but it should be at least somewhat understandable why some people - especially young peeps - were more cautious of letting it be known. For many people, it's easier said than done to "not let it get to you", especially when you're a highly impressionable pre-teen/teenager.
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