Dear “STANS” ...- Page 3

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 6:47pm

JBroadway said: "dearalanaaaa said: "90% of phone use that I've observed in the theatre has been from middle aged people, and 99% of the cases of loud talking I've observed have been elderly people. Not saying you're wrong about the Stans doing it too, but it's certainly not just them! Far from it!"

100% agree that the most annoying audience members are usually the older folks... though maybe not as intentionally as the teen stans. (At My Fair Lady the octogenarian next to me was singing along to the whole show. I really don't think he had any idea he was doing it, but that didn't make it any less annoying. Never mind the full-volume talking and candy unwrapping.)

But outside of show audiences.... I agree that there's a toxicity with younger fans happening now that I don't ever remember happening in the past. I was honestly shocked at what I saw on Instagram this morning. I clicked on the Tony Awards post congratulating Katrina Lenk and comments were absolutely HORRIBLE. Not "I wish Taylor Louderman had won!" but so much disgusting hate spewed directly at Katrina Lenk! ...Even though so many of them were saying "I have no idea who she is." It really is not ok, and the anonymity of social media enables it so much. (...Can't help but mention that 45 isn't exactly setting the best example of how to behave on social media.)

Really, though... what's the solution here? Hearing that these fans are stalking stage doors and following people home (?!?!!)... that's so beyond unacceptable. What can be done to put a stop to this?

Updated On: 6/11/18 at 06:47 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 6:51pm

My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why I
Got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
And even if I could it'll all be gray
Put your picture on my wall
It reminds me, that it's not so bad
It's not so bad

[Elegance101]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 6:52pm

I honestly think it would help if these actors maybe said something? Let the fans know it's not appreciated and it's not a compliment, it's disgusting and wrong. Obviously, you want to be diplomatic and appreciate your fans, but when they spew hate on your behalf, it crosses a line.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 6:56pm

Elegance101 said: "I honestly think it would help if these actors maybe said something? Let the fans know it's not appreciated and it's not a compliment, it's disgusting and wrong. Obviously, you want to be diplomatic and appreciate your fans, but when they spew hate on your behalf, it crosses a line."

Agree that this is a good solution. I feel confident that they could craft some language that would make it abundantly clear what's NOT ok, while still expressing that supporting the arts is a good thing. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 6:59pm

I think a lot of them purposely "stan" actors they know won't say anything reprimanding toward fans, because they're too polite. (i.e. Christy Altomare, Hailey Kilgore, Christian Borle, etc.)

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 7:18pm

JudyDenmark said: "JBroadway said: "dearalanaaaa said: "90% of phone use that I've observed in the theatre has been from middle aged people, and 99% of the cases of loud talking I've observed have been elderly people. Not saying you're wrong about the Stans doing it too, but it's certainly not just them! Far from it!"

100% agree that the most annoying audience members are usually the older folks... though maybe not as intentionally as the teen stans. (AtMy Fair Lady the octogenarian next to me was singing along to the whole show. I really don't think he had any idea he was doing it, but that didn't make it any less annoying. Never mind the full-volume talking and candy unwrapping.)

But outside of show audiences.... I agree that there's a toxicity with younger fans happening now that I don't ever remember happening in the past. I was honestly shocked at what I saw on Instagram this morning. I clicked on the Tony Awards post congratulating Katrina Lenk and comments were absolutely HORRIBLE. Not "I wish Taylor Louderman had won!" but so much disgusting hate spewed directly at Katrina Lenk! ...Even though so many of them were saying "I have no idea who she is."It really is not ok, and the anonymity of social media enables it so much. (...Can't help but mentionthat 45 isn't exactly setting the best example of how to behave on social media.)

Really, though... what's the solution here? Hearing that these fans are stalking stage doors and following people home (?!?!!)... that's so beyond unacceptable. What can be done to put a stop to this?"

The guy across the aisle to me at Iceman Cometh literally typed out a whole 10 minute email on his phone while the play was on.

We were in the 4th row.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:23am

LizzieCurry said: "VintageSnarker, this is a sample. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj3lph8n2Z7/?taken-by=thetonyawards

Hopefully by the time they turn 15 they'll figure out some self-reflection."

Thanks, Lizzie. Oh, boy. Any time I want to feel good about BWW I just need to look at something like that.

Side note: I looked it up and Pew has decided that millennials are between 22 and 36 as of 2018. So can we please stop applying it to all young people who do something that annoys us?

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:29am

Hi, it's me, Stan.

[Rainah]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:30am

Considering in the 1960s someone tried to literally mail themself to the beatles...

Obsessive fandoming is nothing new. And I think there is a line that needs to be drawn about what is acceptable and what is not.

If someone wants to write BOM fanfiction, let 'em. They're not hurting anyone provided they're doing it in their circles, asking before they share it with others, and keeping it far away from the cast. 

There's got to be a difference between "This grosses me out and I don't know why you'd do it, but have fun I guess" and "This is harmful behaviour"

Acting out at the stagedoor is harmful behaviour. Stalking actors is harmful behaviour. Sending any kind of hate to actors is harmful behaviour. ffs leave actors alone!

tied into this is also the idea that things need to stop being a battle. It's fine to say "The band's visit is very much not for me, but I can see why other people like it." Or even "I feel like Dear Evan Hansen is a bad show and here is why, but I'm happy for all the people it's touched and the good things it's brought." Like things without putting other things down! Dislike things without making it a moral judgement! 
"I don't like this thing but I support you liking it" - great!
"I don't like this thing and you should not like it too/feel bad for liking it" - bad

[Elegance101]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:50am

Rainah-

They are saying nasty things about The Band's Visit while tagging the actors from Mean Girls and Spongebob. As if the cast will like the comments or take them as a compliment. That's harmful.

Everyone agrees with you, but we are all saying that it is crossing the line you just drew. Obsessive behavior is totally nothing new, but in a way, the Beatles weren't as easily accessible. These actors aren't as famous, which makes the fans feel like they are closer to being friends with them. These actors' fanbases are smaller ponds, and the fans are bigger fish. Which means the toxic behavior actually does reach them, more so than mega-famous celebrities. Also, the fans know exactly what building they are going to be walking out of each night and when. That makes the behavior a lot scarier. 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:35am

Another bit of teen stan behavior that annoys me:

When people try to defend others being toxic and disrespectful by going all "Let people be sad!!!!"

Like there's a difference between being sad, and being horrible.

[Elegance101]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 1:47am

BroadwayRox3588 said: "Another bit of teen stan behavior that annoys me:

When people try to defend others being toxic and disrespectful by going all "Let people be sad!!!!"

Like there's a difference between being sad, and being horrible."

https://media1.tenor.com/images/1535e5e4eedf09e73586d38b6692a4b8/tenor.gif?itemid=4325295 (did I gif correctly?)

EDIT: I most certainly did not.

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 01:47 AM

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:11am

Impossible2 wrote:

"Narcissists believe that if they like something then it MUST be amazing as THEY like it and THEY are amazing.

They take complete ownership of it and it becomes an extension of themselves, so any criticism of it is taken as a disgusting personal attack on them as people."

 

Long before I ever heard of stans, I witnessed the above phenomenon with respect to Sunday in the Park With George, Passion, Fun Home... 

When you encounter such individuals, any attempt at rational conversation is futile.

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 06:11 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:29am

Elegance101 said: "I honestly think it would help if these actors maybe said something? Let the fans know it's not appreciated and it's not a compliment, it's disgusting and wrong. Obviously, you want to be diplomatic and appreciate your fans, but when they spew hate on your behalf, it crosses a line."

Maybe that would help. It certainly doesn’t help when other fans tell them what they’re doing is creepy and disrespectful. Then you’re being homophobic or not letting them love what they love in peace. 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:15am

- Teens waiting before shows to see their favorite actor 

That was going on during Wicked as well.

- Rude comments about one show "robbing" another at the Tony's 

That's been common practice since the dawn of the internet.  It's not really "stan" behavior.  You'll see it in pretty much every thread that discusses the Tonys (no apostrophe to pluralize a noun) on BWW by all sorts.

- Generally trashy behavior in theatres (on phone, live streaming, being loud) all by Stans. 

After the first couple of years, t??????he Rentheads started behaving like every performance was their own private party.  The last time I saw it on Broadway around 2005 or 2006, it was a miserable experience.  The Rentheads and much of the cast basically threw the show out the window in order to indulge themselves.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:24am

After Eight said: "Impossible2 wrote:

"Narcissists believe that if they like something then it MUST be amazing as THEY like it and THEY are amazing.

They take complete ownership of it and it becomes an extension of themselves, soany criticism of it is taken as a disgusting personal attack on them as people."



Long before I ever heard of stans, I witnessed the abovephenomenon with respect to Sunday in the Park With George, Passion, Fun Home...

When you encounter such individuals, any attempt at rational conversation is futile."

*cough It also works in reverse when they hate something *cough

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:26am

It’s easy to say that “stans” are teens, but unfortunately, a lot of these people are also college students and young adults in their 20s. It’s absolutely embarrassing.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:31am

Elfuhbuh said: "It’s easy to say that “stans” are teens, but unfortunately, a lot of these people are also college students and young adults in their 20s. It’s absolutely embarrassing."

Most Madonna fans are in their 40's or even 50's and are far worse than most of these teenagers...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:34am

Yes, but as has already been said here, the accessibility and ability to congregate are different.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:38am

So? That’s embarrassing, too. One group of adults acting badly doesn’t suddenly cancel out the other. For instance, the Broadway “stan” community needing to recorrect their behavior doesn’t suddenly mean the Star Wars fandom isn’t a toxic cesspool for harassing the actors on social media because “true fans” didn’t like the latest movie. Maybe we should stop measuring “how much” each group is complicit in toxicity and start encouraging a lack of tolerance for toxicity among fandoms in general.

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 11:38 AM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:46am

Robbie2 said: "I've never heard of STANS till this post...had to google.

Teens will be teens.

stan

an overobsessed;">fanto the point of following a star around.

It is formed from the words;">stalkerand fan.

;">Stalker+ fan = stan.

I'm trying to watch a;">Amerievideo and all of these Beyonce;">stanskeep saying "Amerie sucks,;">Beyonce'sbetter."

#stan#fan#groupie#stalker#obsessed#overzealous"

It's not only teens. I know people in their 20s,30s and even a few in their 40s and 50s that exhibit all the behavior of a stan. The Wicked tour and the Waitress tour have stans of all ages that are the worst I've ever come across. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:03pm

Elfuhbuh, you're right, but you missed the point of what I was trying to say. But have a nice day!

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:24pm

It's also about a weird sort of "currency" within fan groups, too. Especially with the younger fans who congregate on social media, there's this whole hierarchy of the "big name stans" who are like mini-celebrities with the fan group, presumably because they have gotten noticed by the actors they stalk. It's as if the creepier you are, the most important you become - ironic, since it turns the objects of their affection into means to their own ends.

I think the actors don't speak out more because then they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they put their feet down and call out the inappropriate behavior, then those stans will turn on them and suddenly they're being vilified on social media (I'm not kidding, I watched this happen last summer to a certain "Broadway princess" because... wait for it... she didn't react the way a stan wanted when the stan met her and claimed to be a friend of another "princess" actress). And unfortunately, social media following is something that's taken into consideration in the business now when actors are seeking work. But if they don't speak up, then they get stalked online or followed after they've left the theatre. It's gross that they have to deal with it and I don't envy them at all. 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:29pm

When you encounter such individuals, any attempt at rational conversation is futile

Oh, the irony.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 12:35pm

bwayrose7 said: "It's also about a weird sort of "currency" within fan groups, too. Especially with the younger fans who congregate on social media, there's this whole hierarchy of the "big name stans" who are like mini-celebrities with the fan group, presumably because they have gotten noticed by the actors they stalk. It's as if the creepier you are, the most important you become - ironic, since it turns the objects of their affection into means to their own ends.

I think the actors don't speak out more because then they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they put their feet down and call out the inappropriate behavior, then those stans will turn on them and suddenly they're being vilified on social media (I'm not kidding, I watched this happen last summer to a certain "Broadway princess" because... wait for it... she didn't react the way a stan wanted when the stan met her andclaimed to be a friend of another "princess" actress). And unfortunately, social media following is something that's taken into consideration in the business now when actors are seeking work. But if they don't speak up, then they get stalked online or followed after they've left the theatre. It's gross that they have to deal with it and I don't envy them at all."

Kinda like Trump and his followers...

It's not like psychopathy is anything new, though now they have a much bigger and more anonymous playing field with the internet.