QUOTE(Madisoid @ Nov 24 2005, 04:28 AM)
WHAT A FUN TOPIC TO DISCUSS!!
For people who know me... you know I gotta respond to this!!
For those that do not know me... My name is Amy... and I a MAJOR SHINHWA FAN!! I'm the unique one in a certain sense... I'm 23 (the older shinhwa fan base), non-asian and from the states.. I don't listen to american music, I love everything ASIAN ---- and all in all I am forever DEDICATED TO ONE BAND AND ONE BAND OF MUSICIANS ALONE ----->> SHINHWA!! I've been a fan now... since the 4th to 5ht album of Shinhwa to the present.. Shinhwa was actually the first Korean music I had ever come across. I love that!! hehee
Personally, I don't really want to bring up DBSK in a Shinhwa thread... because it truly doesn't matter what they do -- or how they compare to Shinhwa ... But since this is the topic of dicussion regarding the DBSK fanbase vs Shinhwa's fanbase I will leave my comments here.
Shinhwa and DBSK have a younger fanbase... they both have a good number of teenyboppers behind them, supporting them.. obsessing over them... and really a lot of time being immature regarding them. However, not everyone is like that... so I am not pointing fingers in anyway. I have many Shinhwa friends online that I met through numerous Shinhwa sites that are 14-15 and they are very kind and pleasant fans to converse with. Unfortunetly the majority of the younger ground of DBSK fans are a little to the extreme on things. Shinhwa fans do have the same too, I will not admit that they don't ..... but Shinhwa has a wider range of fans that are older. Many of the mods and administrators on Shinhwa forums are older then a lot of members there.... which is very fun for someone my age... due to the fact that I can relate more with them. With an older croud for Shinhwa fans comes a lot more maturity and respect in a certain sense. Sure we all go crazy and scream for our "oppas" the older fans just have a more settled head on their shoulders. Are you all picking up what I am trying to say here? Now, I am not saying that older fans are more of a fan... compared to younger ones... but there is a maturity level that weighs high on my list of what I believe is appropiate way to act as a fan.
I've also noticed with younger ages in fans... the concept of "possession" falls in place. Sure we all want them to be ours, but I mean it only goes so far. And many of the ways these individuals go about this to bash a member or other fans. This is legit and is unacceptable. I am not a DBSK fan, however, I have recently actually given them on shot and was shocked to find that I liked one of their recent songs. I was quite impressed with their dancing ability and their voices have improved as well. When I saw DBSK live at the Hollywood Bowl in 2004, I did not stand up or scream for them. I am personally not attached to their music as a whole, and also I tend to draw myself to the older aged groups .. due to my age.
Someone brought up the idea of "True Fans"!
Well, it really depends on what you consider a true fan. I consider myself a true fan for many reasons... I know what level of fan I am, I know what Shinhwa has done for me over the years, I know that I have told everyone who knows me who Shinhwa is... everyone knows I listen to basically only korean music... everyone knows that they are my influence in my life -----> with my artwork, dancing, determination to always strive to do better, to never give up ... and so much more... I could write a novel, seriously!
My point is that everyone is on a different level, and I have learned to accept that as a fan... I know now that not every fan will go to the lengths I have gone and I know that some have done so much more then me. But truthfully, it doesn't make the person less of a fan... its just a different kind of fan. They show their love for a group or musician in a different light. Its like love for example.... there are different types of love... the way you love you dog or a pet, compared to the way you love your relatives and or your boyfriend or a favorite painting. Being a fan is kinda the same thing. ... Everyone should know what kind of fan they are... and people can tell here on forums what type of fan you are as well. Its not something you can hide. But no matter what... if you are a fan, never turn your head away and never stop supporting... sure there are those immature fans that scream and send suicide letters (which I think is utterly wrong), but they are still a fan, just a really immature one. We have to accept everyone... as a fanbase together to stay strong for our OPPAs!!
Anyways... there is just no one like Shinhwa in my eyes.... they truly are EVERYTHING!!
Its and incredible feeling to be apart of something so special and to share the excitment Shinhwa brings into our lives every waking moment. Its so amazing... do you feel it??
GUYS KEEP ON FIGHTING!!!
STOP COMPETING WITH OTHER GROUPS ---- SHINHWA IS SHINHWA!
I KNOW I WILL ALWAYS BE BY THEIR SIDES NO MATTER WHAT!
FIGHTING!!
-Amy
it was a really long post but worth reading. and i realize that we have some things in common
i'm 23 too
i'm not asian
and Shinhwa was the first Korean music I had ever come across
but in my case i have to add that i'm from latinamerica, my english is not good at all (sometimes it is so difficult for me to express my opinions), but here i am just because of shinhwa.
i think that the difference between the fanbase of both groups is their age range, younger people tend to believe that they are mature, but believe me when you grow up and you look back you realize how lame you were when you were young. you think that you know everything but the truth is that you know nothing. thats how life works.
nowadays i enjoy the music of lots of groups besides Shinhwa :1TYM, SS501, and the second album of DBSK)<--sorry but i don't like at all their first album or previous singles. but Shinhwa will always be number one in my heart, because they make me discover a culture completely different from mine, i have learned a lot since i became a shinhwa fan. maybe sometime in the future i will try to learn korean too, not only to be able to understand shinhwa (well that will be the main reason) but learning a third language will help me a lot in my current job $$$$$.
L0LS aha.. now i might go a little off topic right now, but eh- its somewhat related- shinhwa fans = respectful, loving people. 
as the guys in dbsk get older- so will their fans... its just a matter of time before everyone reaches a stage where they can all get along. 
