How Quickly Things Change

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

So yesterday I was celebrating BTS day and this morning they announced they're taking a hiatus! Whew! The company has since come out and said it isn't a hiatus but the members are going to focus on solo projects. Whatever. You don't cry over a break, you cry over a break-up and BTS' leader (Kim Namjoon/RM) was definitely crying this morning. I mean, they have the military service upcoming. And that's that.

A break-up is a break-up. I think I was an ARMY for exactly the wrong amount of time, long enough to be very disappointed at the hiatus (or not-hiatus, according to official sources) but not long enough to be 'I'll wait forever!' I'm not a 'wait forever' kind of gal. I'm a 'over is over' kind of gal.

So it was my first musical fandom, first RPF fandom, first experience as an adult being a serious fan of a band. Interesting insights into another culture. I'll spend the next couple of days sorting myself out and then I'll probably put everything in a box and put it on a shelf. So expect the collages (I've never got around to doing). And my CD of the anthology album PROOF hasn't arrived yet. But I am wondering if it will matter much when it does.

I opened my BT21 egg I was saving for a rainy day and got a Chimmy water-filled squeezie. Chimmy [Jimin's yellow dog character] is my comfort creature, and I thought it was appropriate.

Hmmm. Sad. But that's fandom life. I got to meet and get to know the fabulous bethctg! And that's wonderful.

Here is the song I liked from PROOF, which they won't perform live anytime soon: RUN BTS

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[kingstoken]

I'm sorry, this must suck, but in the grand scheme of things 9 years is a fantastic run for a boy band (are they considered a boy band?), and they left a fantastic body of work behind.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yes, a cautionary tale to not get involved at the (obviously) tail end of a fandom. But, yes, you are correct. Nine years is a long time. And they went to the White House and the UN and the Grammys. They did all kinds of things. Kpop is a very specific kind of industry, and I get the sense the last year they have been straddling both worlds (and not comfortably), their native Kpop industry and the larger world pop industry. And they will all need to do military service eventually. But, yeah, it sucks. I am going to be sad for a few days and then put it behind me.

[bethctg]

♥
This dayyy. I finally got time to watch the dinner after work, and... that was rough. :( I feel like they've been agonizing over the response they would get, and that kills me. Nobody wants them to be suffering. I hope they'll be happy. I'll miss them too much, though. Kind of unhealthy how much I relied on them to make me happy. :( AND WE DIDN'T EVEN GET OUR ALBUMS YET, O.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yes, nobody wants them to be suffering. They have to make the right decisions for them. Yeah, I mean, PROOF hasn't shown up yet on my doorstep and I am wondering if it will matter much when it does. I don't know. You and I both have been (and are still part of) other fandoms. And we are not teenagers, either :) So I am a little wary of what I see as sort of 'false hope' or maybe unrealistic expectations. I mean, SUGA said he thought him rapping for 2 hours on stage would be 'boring' and he wants to be like Bruno Mars!! WTF! I definitely would rather see him rapping for two hours on stage. But that's me and my preference and where I am. Obviously not him. But I did laugh at him in Pilates class. If he doesn't want cat memes made about him, he really shouldn't say that stuff on the internet.

I also worry about Jimin being the kind of idol who ends up with DUIs and stuff. He needs to have the right people around him supporting him. Maybe he has that already, maybe he doesn't.

Hmm. Nothing else to say. I am still in anger stage, I think :)

[smallhobbit]

It's always sad when something you've invested time and emotion in comes to an end. I'm glad you got to see them though.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yeah, the BTS fandom was discussing the meaning of the word 'hiatus' and I couldn't help but think of ACD and the original Sherlock Holmes fandom :)

I definitely made the right decision to see them in person when I did.

[write_out]

Oh no, what timing!! I'm so sorry; I know this has been a great source of fun and solace for you. I am SO glad you got to see them in concert and I'm even happier you got to meet Silsbee through fandom- she is awesome to know!

When you say you're an 'over is over' kind of gal, do you mean you don't see yourself remaining as a casual fan?

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yes, I like bethctg a lot. She's great.

No, I don't see myself as a casual fan but, of course, my attitude may change. There have been comparisons and contrasts to the One Direction experience. There are a lot of differences, of course, but the problem is the type of content they are going to continue with is the reality show and promotional stuff and games and the kind of content I like (stage performances of the entire group of their music) are the kind of thing they aren't going to do for a long time because of burn out and mandatory military service. And I realized after the announcement that if they aren't together as a group, I am not so interested in their solo careers (this was a surprise realization to me, for example, one of them is going to be at Lollapalooza and I was thinking about how it would be good to support him and now I have zero desire to support him. It's an odd change). Never say never, so maybe I'll change my mind, but right now all my BTS stuff is in a Box and it'll be taped up and literally put on a shelf until I decide it's time to open it or chuck it.

[firecat]

The way people approach fandom and endings is so interesting. I can't imagine deciding to stop being a fan because my fandom ended. But it's not easy continuing to be a fan either.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Well, I definitely won't ever do an RPF fandom again. I have to decide what's worth putting my mental energy toward, and putting it towards these guys just makes me feel awful right now.

[firecat]

I’m sorry, that’s rough. And I hear you about RPF fandom.