Currently, BTS has around 22 million followers on Twitter. This is roughly the same as the entire population of Sri Lanka (by their official estimate in July 2019) and just slightly under the entire population of Taiwan (at 23 million). It is nearly double the size of the entire population of Belgium and almost a quarter of the population of South Korea.
Let that sink in for a moment. We, ARMY, have enough members to occupy a modestly-sized country if there were an unclaimed patch of land on which we could peacefully settle. We have enough people to establish a government, create industries, and probably invent some cool new technology.
And yet, how do we use this incredible potential energy?
Unfortunately, our passion for our "faves" sometimes allows us to be led down into the rabbit hole of fanwars.
First, let’s clear up what “fanwar” means by laying out exactly what is and is not fanwar behavior.
You would think that some of these things would be common sense by now. There’s a visible line in our chart above which should be visible even without the delineation of the borders.
The items in the left column should look an awful lot like bullying.
Really take a look at it again. Put aside whatever fandoms you’re in and really look at the list. It’s bullying, right? If you saw this happening in “real life” - in a school or on the street or in a Starbucks - you would say it was bullying, wouldn’t you?
The fact of the matter is that bullying on the internet is the same as bullying in the physical world. There is the old adage that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." But that is not and never has been true.
Words can have a huge impact. Words have power - the power to inform, encourage, and inspire… but also to demean, belittle, and harm. Many behaviors that surface during a “fanwar” are negative (and sometimes even violent) behaviors. Behaviors which are harmful and can have lasting consequences.
How you conduct yourself in these situations can have a noticeable impact. It’s easy to say “I’m a small account, no one will pay attention to what I say” and not take action when you see wrongdoing. Alternatively, it’s also easy to say the same thing but post something harmful or hateful instead.
When did disagreement become a cause for hate? And to be clear, by “disagreement,” we mean a legitimate difference of opinion based on evidence or stylistic choices, not the equivalent of “they suck because I said so.”
(If you can’t distinguish a legitimate difference of opinion from internet trolling or genuine maliciousness, that’s a separate problem entirely.)
It has become all too easy with the barrier of the internet between ourselves and the rest of the world to absolve ourselves of guilt when we say something hurtful or rude or malicious. To many people, if there is no one standing in front of them, the person isn’t real.
But the people who are on the other side of the screen, reading these cruel posts, are very real. They may be fellow ARMYs, or fans of other groups, or maybe even the idols themselves. All of whom are real people. Just because the internet separates you from them, the internet is not a shield. It is not a magical cloak which hides you from all observers and allows you to sling mud with no consequences.
Your actions can have consequences. Your words can have an impact. Even small accounts posting one comment can do irreparable damage or alter the course of an argument, depending on what words they choose.
There are times when you should engage, and there are times when you shouldn’t. If you see someone becoming a victim of malicious comments, it’s time to step in. However, if you are going to step in, it’s important to make sure you don’t fall into the same trap as the haters you’re trying to combat. So, what’s the best thing to do?
To say the least, it’s a sticky situation, and you may have to adapt as you go. But to help get you started, consider the following when squaring up with an anti.
1. Analyze the situation
As in any potentially awkward social setting, step one when you see “fanwar” behavior should be to get a read on the situation before jumping in feet first. Do the antis seem like they might be trolling? If so, better to just save your energy - they’re just trying to get a rise out of you, and if you retaliate, you’re giving them what they want. Those are an insta-block. However, if they seem genuinely malicious, such actively spreading untrue information and presenting it like it’s fact if they’re questioned in their comments, then it might be time to wade in.
2. Do some research
You’ll notice we say this a lot, but there’s a reason: it’s important. When trying to deal with an anti, it’s important to know your stuff. You don’t want to jump into an argument without having your facts straight, right? Making a point with data or evidence to back it up is always more effective than just shouting into the void. If you can find something to prove your claim, you have a much better chance of making an impact on someone, so spend a little time on Google and try to find a reliable source to point people toward the facts.
3. Use professional language
This is where you can really set yourself apart. Instead of using inflammatory language, which could potentially make the situation worse, try to sound more neutral instead. Just saying “you’re wrong!” usually causes people to clam up and not listen to the rest of what you’re saying, regardless of whether or not it’s true. Try it from a different angle, using the resources you found back in step 2: “They’re missing a few important points. Here’s an interview from last year so you can fact check.” Appeal to other people in the comments instead of engaging the anti themselves. Link them the articles or videos and let the facts do the talking.
4. Maintain your composure
What inevitably comes from engaging in a debate is backlash. Someone might call you out or try to twist your words to make it sound like you’re saying something you’re not. The most important thing here is to not lose your cool - that’s what they want. Instead, step back, think about what you’re going to say before you say it, and keep using professional language. Don’t swear at them or call them names; it definitely won’t diffuse the situation or bring anyone over to your side. As they say, “keep calm and carry on.”
5. Know when to walk away
At some point, it’ll become apparent that you’ve either convinced people that you’re right or that this anti is not going anywhere. You’ll know it when you see it. At that point, there’s only one thing left to do: walk away. There’s no shame in walking away from a battle of wits if someone is being unreasonable. Contrary to what people might say, that does not mean that you “lost” the argument. It just means you were smart enough to realize when you’re wasting your time.
ARMY is 22 million people strong. We could fill a country - by ourselves. We have the capacity for infinite kindness - how many times have other celebrities, journalists, and talk show hosts said that ARMY is friendly and welcome - and unending generosity. ARMY is about love and acceptance. Why not expand this to include the protection of people who are being bullied?
We have the power to change lives - but only if we choose to use it.
We have the power to help people - but only if we stand up for what we believe.
We have the power to change the world - but only if we use it wisely.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any audio & visual content in this video except for the editing. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS. No copyright infringement intended.
Written By: Anna Moon
Edit By: Aury
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