I think I'm gonna divert a little today from the topic I was initially planning to continue. I've seen a couple of videos surrounding the same general theme of what it feels like to be ARMY in this time - especially this year when k-media and haters/antis seems to have doubled down on their smear campaigns and hate trains: funeral wreaths at HYBE, anti-SUGA digital movements posing as ARMY, MHJ the manipulative ex-ADOR CEO and her endless trail of lies now dragging taehyung into her already muddy pool. Then we have the constant battle between the solo stans who increasingly spreads more and more toxic comments in an attempt to split the members and pit them against each other -- and the passionate OT7 ARMYs who desperately wants us to stream EVERYTHING equally at all times and vote for the guys at any given opportunity. On top of that a lot of popular and beloved ARMY youtube channels seems to have paused their regular posting schedules around the time the boys started enlisting - this is probably the case for other platforms too (twitter, instagram etc.)
This is a LOT! It makes absolute sense if you feel stressed out, lost and overwhelmed by all of this. And have maybe even forgotten how to get back to your comfortable, safe and joyful purple universe. How did we even get here in the first place? And will all of THIS just continue till we get them back in june next year?
The answer I believe is "manifold" (I just learned a new word today!): many and various.
Yes, it seems that all the negativity and hate will continue throughout the next (but also remaining) seven months. MHJ seems to have intentionally chosen this year to unfold her evil villiany-like schemes to infiltrate HYBE and take down Bangtan, precisely because the majority of the members aren't here. And the haters and solo stans will likely also continue hating and attempting to split the boys apart because that is what they do. See sources for more information on the MHJ drama: "seoulite tv" + "asian entertainment and culture" both on youtube.
SO how do we focus our purpled ARMY energies at a time like this? It is completely understandable to
be exhausted and drained from all the stress and worries this year has brought us. If you're OG ARMY or have been with the guys for many years, you know that they've been through hell before - actually many times over especially during 2015-2016-2017. Smear campaigns, individual threats, targeted hate from other fandoms, prejudice and racism are just some of the things the boys have experienced throughout their career. And when they come back next year they'll likely get more attention globally than ever before: stadium tour, billboard number 1 and grammy nominations included. And they're arguably more famous currently than they've ever been. The hate isn't going anywhere, they're too big for that to be the case. But hopefully the OT7 comeback will take out MHJ for good, if she's still around when that time comes.
Instead of attempting to shut down the haters, we should be loud about our excitement for the boys - be loud about our love and support for all seven members. And here I'm echoing once again, because of course I'm not the only one who recognises that in times of struggle, you resort to focusing on the good in people - the good in you and in everyone around you. Let's focus on what brings us all together, and not what splits us apart. Let's remember how we got here in the first place and why we're still sticking around.
For me it's community, a strong moral compass and a sincere mindset and attitude towards life. This I believe is at the very heart of the BANGTAN-ARMY equation. This is why I'm still here, because I truly believe that we strive to bring out the best of each other - and of the boys. This is what they started more than a decade ago - with their lyrics and messages. They were commenting and criticizing the korean society with the aim of making it better: making it more just, more accepting and less pressurerising. They might have been young and seemingly naive and inexperienced within the music industry, but they had so many good and interesting things to say even then. They fostered a community with a strong moral compass from the get-go. They did not set out to fix their own arrogant attitude and adjust their values once they achieved success and wealth like some popstars do. They started out that way and they've grown alongside that strong moral compass ever since - adjusting it to their liking whenever they deemed it appropriate, but never to accommodate arrogance, narcissim or greed.
They started out with nothing. They had a very skilled and smart CEO and producer who were guiding them along on their path, but their label were so close to bankruptcy that they might've never debuted, if luck hadn't been on their side. They had very few opportunities to perform on television and promote their group in the early years, as the label didn't have the name and resources that huge labels like SM, JYP and YG had. Their story is that of a fairytale's - an underdog rising up, a proper cinderella story.
AND YET they chose to sing and rap about the world they were living in as honest and unfiltered as their label would allow them to be. This did not quarantee success back then. On top of that they were breaking down the shiny barriers between them and their fans by posting normal pictures of them cooking and hanging out in their dorm. This was also unheard of within the k-pop industry at the time. The shiny images were (and still is) everything to the kpop idol world. Bangtan have followed many of the expected standards and requirements of this industry, but they have also broken barriers and set new standards for the groups that followed them.
Point is that we really should focus ALL our purpled energies on the many wonderful things that the Bangtan Boys have brought into our lives! Let's not get eaten up by hate and jealousy whereever it comes from. Bangtan's success is THEIR loss and OUR gain! 💜
Spread their beautiful and meaningful messages by whichever means you prefer: streaming their songs, compiling video clips, drawing images, writing fan songs, performing their choreos, participating in the dance challenges, joining events and concerts, donating to related causes - YOU NAME IT! the list is endless. Streaming is important yes, but it is not the only way to show your support.
APOBANGPO! <3
