Ah, Cassiopeia…I really do enjoy being a part of this large fandom, but ever since the latter part of 2009 things haven’t been the best. With the seperation of the members into two groups at the moment and all the constant fighting/bashing, it turns even the nicest of fans into really mean ones. Others who cannot handle any of the arguing simply become a ‘turned off’ fan or leave the fandom altogether. As of right now, the fans are split into three groups: JYJ stans, HoMin stans, and OT5 stans. In the case of OT5, there can be subtle differences. To me, JYJ stans are quite vocal about their issues (be it with HoMin or anything else). In the beginning, I was very much okay with how JYJ stans felt. They must’ve found it unfair that Yunho and Changmin went on to promote asTVXQ when Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu couldn’t. They must’ve also felt upset when the said three were (and still are) banned from any show that would help promote them. I’m not going to lie, I feel the same way. So, that is why I can side with JYJ stans on this: simply because I still feel like there is some injustice towards Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu. But lately, there have been some fans that take their frustrations a little too far and do some crazy things with it. HoMin stans are, in my opinion, passive-agressive with their issues. They aren’t as vocal with things as far as I’ve seen. When the initial seperation happened, I wasn’t really to enthusiastic with them. Yes, I’d support TVXQ, but not 2VXQ or whatever they call it. Like JYJ stans, they make it known that they do not like the other members. Most of their conflicts rise whenever a JYJ stan makes themselves present or whenever bashing comes into play. OT5 stans are a little more bearable. It depends on what type you are though. As I had heard once, you have 2 types: ones that support the five members even through this seperation and the ones that support the five members’ work prior to. Where do I fall in this? I’m probably half and half. I support all five even through this seperation, but I haven’t been as enthusiastic with listening to their recent stuff or keeping up with news on them. If you were to ask me what would be my favorite song on the ‘In Heaven’ or ‘TONE’ albums, I’d probably just pick one out of the blue because I haven’t heard all the songs on either album. But most OT5 stans have the same wish to see all members back together again or at least see them have their friendship restored. There are a few who do not mind that TVXQ has split the way it has and actually don’t mind if they never get back together. That makes me a little sad to hear it though. The conflicts that OT5 stans have is whenever JYJ and HoMin fans fight amongst themselves or when both of those entities get into a tussle with them. Sometimes it is what JYJ/HoMin stans say that sets off an OT5. Thus, some mean things could come from them. And to me, that is just as bad as being JYJ/HoMin biased. -_-;; I know I may have said some mean things about JYJ/HoMin stans too (just to make you all feel better). >_< So, no matter how you look at it, all parts of the fandom are a little rough around the edges. Lately, JYJ stans have been getting a bad reputation for their lashing out in these past few months. But amidst all that, I still think there are some good fans within that side of the fandom. Just like I’m sure there are within the HoMin and OT5. (S/N: Just to put this out there, I’m not very fond of fans that say things like “I hate JYJ or HoMin or saying ‘ex’-members. It aggravates me.) It’s really sad to think this way but for fans who did abandon one side, they must’ve never really liked a few members in the first place. -_-;; I’d like to say that’s being a fake fan, but that may be too strong a word. But what will those fans do when TVXQ comes back together again? If they go back to cheering “We love you all!” all I can do is shake my head in shame because I’d consider that being finicky or two-faced. But that’s just my opinion.
Another point I’d like to bring up is why we chose sides to begin with. The best answer I can come up is because of wherever
YOUR BIAS is. There are other reasons I’m sure, but this one stands out like a sore thumb to me. For example if your favorite member is Jaejoong, Yoochun, or Junsu then naturally you’ll side with JYJ. If your favorite member is Yunho or Changmin then you’re most likely going to side with HoMin. As far as OT5 goes, they may not have a bias because they love all members equally. Or they can have a bias, but still just support all sides just like they did prior to the seperation. I fall into this general category as my bias is Changmin, but I’m not a HoMin stan. This may not be so when it comes to newbie fans because they haven’t been around long enough to know the history of TVXQ/JYJ–or if they’d even be interested for that matter. But even OT5 stans can get misinterpreted for siding with a certain side if they have a bias. Sometimes I had thought that about a few fans. ^^;; This also may be the reason for some arguments among fans: they feel their bias is threatened whenever they’re talked about in a bad way. But this can lead to the said members being hurt in the process from our constant bickering among each other. Trying to protect them may backfire. I wanted to put this into a way where I could use a Greek tragedy to describe it, but I don’t know how. But I shall try! There is a tragedy about a woman named Medea who was so very much in love with her husband. One day, her husband did her wrong by marrying someone esle, saying it would be for the best. She was so distraught that she killed his new wife, that wife’s father, and the children that Medea and her husband had. I wanted to say that fans have a ‘Medea complex’ when it comes to their biases (whether it’s in TVXQ, another fandom, or if they’re fictional).
Since we’re on the topic of Greek stories, I have another tidbit about our fandom’s name. We are called Cassiopeia, right? Do you know about her? I’m sure I had said this in a previous post, but she is considered a VAIN QUEEN. The ‘W’ in the sky is her sitting in a chair upside-down as punishment for her vanity. Maybe that does fit our description, huh? We boasted that we were the best fanclub, and now look at us: dragging what shredded remains of our fandom and our members through the mud.
In summary, it get’s really agitating when fans fight within their own fandom. It turns some fans away when it happens. JYJ fans need to calm down, and all sides do need to stop saying hateful things to one another. Two wrongs don’t make a right. I know that this part may take a long time since mean things do evoke us to say something back (I’m just as guilty as you are). Lately, I try to steer away from any of these arguments. But as a Leo likes drama, I’m attracted to it and want to make my side of the discussion known. XD I think that a fan’s bias has a general role to play in their actions as well. In addition, I’d also like to say that the members themselves may need a good slap on the wrist for putting us through all of this. ^^;;
So, with all that said…what kind of fan are you?
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