Has Your fandom Ever Come Into Question?

[Healer]

I realise that like people there are different ways to show our appreciation and this is done in our own way.

Some people have all the albums, official books, one or two tshirts and see that mj was a very talented and well appreciated human being who was a fantastic singer who was beyond gifted and sought to bring this and change the World.

But theres some who see that as being too minimalist and if anything show utter scorn and disdain its like to be a fan you must have been to ALL his concerts etc.

To be honest, at the ripe old age of 33 I feel victimised because of all this.

 

[Autumn II]

I realise that like people there are different ways to show our appreciation and this is done in our own way.

Some people have all the albums, official books, one or two tshirts and see that mj was a very talented and well appreciated human being who was a fantastic singer who was beyond gifted and sought to bring this and change the World.

But theres some who see that as being too minimalist and if anything show utter scorn and disdain its like to be a fan you must have been to ALL his concerts etc.

To be honest, at the ripe old age of 33 I feel victimised because of all this.

Thank you for your post.

There is such wonderful diversity in the world, and we must respect that.

To me, the bottom line in all of this is Michael's message. He did not discriminate. The worst I've ever heard him say, under great duress, is "Tell her to go to hell." Michael was all about love, and global healing. When fans attack other fans for "not doing it the right way," tells me they didn't really get it?

Do what you feel is best. No one has the right to judge anyone about "fandom."

 

[Melania]

I've never encountered that attitude. I'm even more of a minimalist than the minmalist fan type you describe. But I wouldn't worry about being a good enough fan in someone else's eyes. No one should feel the need to defend their fan-dom to others. It's not a contest--it's beautiful when anyone feels a connection to Michael, regardless of how much of a fan they appear to be.

 

[CatherineNZ]

i think if you feel connection to Michael in any way - musically or you like his humanitarian work and personality - it's enough. it's a strange word "fandom" when it comes to Michael's fans. i said earlier another word must be invented to talk about Michael's fans. it's like yes Michael is a star but there is something not right with calling him "a star" i dont know if you know what i mean. same with his "fans".
i think what he wanted from us was not the quantity of posters and collectable items we have, or to how many concerts we have been... i think he only wanted us to love him. it was enough.

... and i believe he knew we love him from the bottom of our hearts. so "dont let no one get you down"

 

[thrillerchild]

Anyone, fan/ obsessive fan/ or casual fan, can be classed as a fan. Just some people like to be elitest. I might not know every song on every album word for word but god dammit i ****** loved the guy!

 

[Siyahamba]

I've felt the same way. Sorry that I could never afford to fly to another continent to see any of his concerts, or that I never met him in person, but it doesn't mean I loved him any less.

 

[Fluffy_Oz]

It's what YOU know, and what's in YOUR heart that matters.
Don't let anyone, ever, tell you what kind of a fan you should be or what - as a fan - you should do.
I have all Michael's music. I've met him, I've been to his shows. When I was a little girl, and then in my early teenage years, I went through a stage of having my room's walls plastered with his face.
As I've grown, got married, moved out of my parents home, it's changed - I don't have a need to own every single photo of his, or every book that was ever published about him. The only thing I've GOT TO have up to this very day - is his music.
The love I have in my heart for him never wavered, never changed, never weakened, and I did hear from friends and family members - oh, no more posters? Are you over him, then?
No way. I'm a die hard fan, always have been and always will be - not any less because I'm not manifesting it as much as I used to.
Don't be afraid - if it feels right for you, then it is right.
Just love him your way, and never question yourself.
Staying true to yourself is what REALLY matters.

 

[jenny*]

uhuh, that happend.

Cause i said on this board that michael looked frail, a few days before his death.
And they went all over me.
No, he looks sooooooooooooooo healty and someone even said he looked musculair!
Well.
After seeing this is it people should agree with me about mike looking frail.

 

[lovelymj]

uhuh, that happend.

Cause i said on this board that michael looked frail, a few days before his death.
And they went all over me.
No, he looks sooooooooooooooo healty and someone even said he looked musculair!
Well.
After seeing this is it people should agree with me about mike looking frail.

No i don't agree with you. He had a dancer's body and looked very energetic.

 

[Kane]

uhuh, that happend.

Cause i said on this board that michael looked frail, a few days before his death.
And they went all over me.
No, he looks sooooooooooooooo healty and someone even said he looked musculair!
Well.
After seeing this is it people should agree with me about mike looking frail.

TBH, I don't think he looked frail at all. Yeah, he wasn't at his best but that's because it was rehearsals, he said himself "I need to save my voice" and "at least you get a feel of it". I think rehearsals were for the dancers and backup singers more than Mike - he probably could have done it without any .

 

[jenny*]

TBH, I don't think he looked frail at all. Yeah, he wasn't at his best but that's because it was rehearsals, he said himself "I need to save my voice" and "at least you get a feel of it". I think rehearsals were for the dancers and backup singers more than Mike - he probably could have done it without any .

I said this before he died when i saw a pic of him in panterpants.
Now i think different after seeing the movie.
But at that time i based my opinion on one picture that was in one of the topics here.

And this is off topic by the way.
I don,t like to defend myself again for something that i thought was right at that time.

 

[mjjfan4ever]

I realise that like people there are different ways to show our appreciation and this is done in our own way.

Some people have all the albums, official books, one or two tshirts and see that mj was a very talented and well appreciated human being who was a fantastic singer who was beyond gifted and sought to bring this and change the World.

But theres some who see that as being too minimalist and if anything show utter scorn and disdain its like to be a fan you must have been to ALL his concerts etc.

To be honest, at the ripe old age of 33 I feel victimised because of all this.

I am a proud minimalist as well!!!

I am going to keep this short and simple.

I dare anyone to challenge my fandom. :lmao:

To me the most important thing is this..... I saw Michael when I was 10 years old. I couldn't speak a word of English. But I saw him on tv... and made a connection with him.
It was probably a couple of years later when I saw and heard Man in the Mirror on tv. By this time my english was better and I understood the message. That is when I came to respect, admire, adore, and love this kind, gentle, humble, loving human being.
I may not have all material products generated but the deep love and commitment i have for his life, legacy and message is far more important than having a poster.
Other fans that have a chip on their shoulders making other fans feel bad or questioning other fans fandom need to check themselves and ask .... is this really what Michael is about? The answer would be NO!!!:agree:

But you know in a way I don't even want my feelings or view of Michael to be labeled as "fandom". In a way it minimizes how I feel about Michael.

hahaha ... this is me keeping it short and simple:lmao:

 

[MarielovesMJ]

I am 100% minimalist, I love Mike, but for some reason that I don't know, never have anything about him on my walls, only pics on photobucket are the one that I am proud to have. :yes:

 

[TheDangerousFan]

I love Michael like he is second father to me... And i didn't ever meet him... I'm 14 years old and feel very bad i wasn't born when he was at his peek... I know how big "fan" i am because is going to be forever in my heart...

 

[Nar]

I am a minimalist, in terms of MJ merchandize and "0" concert experience. :/
But it never stopped me from acknowledging him and it never stopped me from loving his work.
I'll be honest though, I never really sank my teeth into the media storm behind anything regarding him. Like I don't even remember him releasing his small documentary about his private life.
The only thing I remember fondly was Thriller and Moonwalker. After that, I did recall years later the video he made with Tucker "You rock my world" which I loved.
When MJ passed, I did have some guy ask me "where were you when he was alive??" and you can see he was one of those who mapped himself as an elite Jackson fan.

I remember looking at him and thinking, the irony was left uncared for...
I don't think MJ would say such a thing nor did he ever teach such a thing. To cast out. To ridicule. To show prejudice. Yet this MJ zealot thinks he's standing up for him to a guy who's always had respect for MJ in his heart.

I couldn't afford to see MJ in concerts. I was actually homeless at one point. lol.
I couldn't buy all the DVDs and music CDs out there like I can today. And I didn't have time to indulge myself into every specific detail of MJs life because I have my own to worry about.

Oh well... Seriously, this is just how the world is and always will be, generation after generation. All we can do is try and live in harmony with it.

 

[Cinnamon234]

Nope, my fandom has never come into question. I mean unfortunately I've never been able to see MJ In concert and it's something i'll always regret and be sad about, but what can I do? It didn't change the fact though that I've always loved Michael and supported him since I was like 4 or 5 years old. I know what's in my heart and how much I love MJ, so that's all that matters to me.

 

[MichaelMySoul]

I love this thread, thank you for bringing this up. Ive never been to a concert, never seen him live. Although I do collect all his albums and videos there's always a feeling that its never enough, but being his fan does not show in the amount of materialistic things but his love, as long as we have love for him and we were there for him its really all that matters. I can go on and on about how I feel like I disappointed him or wasnt a good fan because I didnt show up at the trials or went to a concert or supported him in another way but Michael always reached out for those who couldnt be there and so did we, he felt our love regardless of us being here physically. Thats all that matters.