Anyone else turned off by fansigns, and what an idol/singer/actor has to put up with at such events?

[blackberry2000]

This is a topic I have come across some time ago, and it has been bothering me for a while now.

 

 

 

Anyone slightly more familiar with k-pop,  will, without a doubt, have heard, or, at the very least, seen those specific pictures. They show idols, both male and female, wearing bunny-ears, leashes across their neck, and a bright smile to demonstrate that this is nothing but harmless fun.

 

I am talking about the so called fan-signs.

 

Fan-signs are held and carried out in a similar manner each time and place.

The idols are sat next to each other alongside a large table, while the fans come up, one by one, to greet them. Usually, this is done with the fans kneeling in front of that table (bringing them to an  eye-level with the singer/actor), which they then move, from left to right (or vice versa), until everyone has had their turn.

Each fan gets a certain amount of time with the idol; which mostly consists of a couple of seconds or a minute, in which they are free to communicate with each other.

 

On paper, none of this sounds very harmful.

 

This communication is often accompanied by, either hand-holding, writing down questions for the idol to answer, and putting on head-pieces and other accessory on them.

Still sounds innocent enough?

 

Imagine being forced to hold some strangers hand for seconds and longer, in a way that is most personal, with interlacing fingers, and having your finger and whole arm stroked - does this sound appealing to any of you?

And it doesn't even stop here.On top of your fingers, you have your eyelashes, your nose, ears, mouth, cheeks and even neck touched in a way, that most would only allow the closest of people.

Still sound cute and innocent? Imagine your sister or brother being touched in a similar way, right in front of you.

 

This is ignoring all need for personal boundaries.

 

Why anyone would think of it as endearing, is truly beyond me.

 

Nothing about it is cute or charming. I can see the idols being uncomfortable by it on a number of occasions, to the point of looking outwardly appalled.

I get that is mostly younger fans who are present at such events, but even then (and i have seen even 23 year old something women do that), I don't think it is too much to expect a 13 year old to come to the conclusion, that being made to do, and wear, and allow strangers to touch you freely is not considered desirebale.

It is common sense, that should not be explained

Specifically with SEVENTEEN, this seems to be as worse at it gets --- the video that had me almost sick to my stomach is of a young girl who put a leash on Vernons neck, only to, a second later, make him put on catears ont op – you could clearly tell how uncomfortable he was by it.

 

To then read comments like, "cute", and "funny" under such pictures, when the idol wearing them is clearly all but, is especially alarming to me.

Why make someone uncomfortable and embarrass them in front of hundrets of people, and take pictures while doing so -  calling yourself a fan?

 

Take this in account as well - would you find it just as cute and innocent, if it were female idols, being touched and stroked by boys and men in their teens and early 20es?

 

You are aware, that in most countries being touched against your will is considered criminal act?

Being famous, imo, does not make you an exception from the rule. That this is being brushed of as some cute and harmless act, does not take away from the fact that most of this physical contact is making the idol uncomfortable, even worse, the fans doing it clearly get a rise out of it - think about it. Ignoring someone elses comfort zone in order to satisfy your own needs.

 

 

Does this not sound even slightly bothersome to some of you?

Clearly, if something makes you uncomfortable, and is carried out against your will, it is wrong, no matter your argument. Nobody should be forced to do any of those things, just for the sake of popularity or to please fans hearts.

 

That this behavior is tolerated by companies, and grown-ups, who should, by all means, know better, makes this occurrence all the more bothersome to me.

 

The fact that not more people (fans) are speaking up against this is especially puzzling to me.

I have seen fans and netizens alike come to the defense of idols they considered treated poorly by greedy companies, or bullied, either through harsh words and  physical mistreatment - they need to be made aware of the fact, that the above points fall in that same category.

 

This honestly disgusts me.

 

Among other truly odd behavior I have witnessed in the spheres of k-fans, this is one that truly makes me question these girls (and specifically, young korean) girls intelligence in general.

[johnny's wifey]

i mean its how they earn most of their income, so they have to put it i guess

[velvet moonsun]

The idols are not being forced against their will. There are several security guards at the venues. This is part of the idol life - many of the idols don't see all of these fans as threatening strangers. They have connections with these people, the fans who support them.

 

Touching someone's hand is not threatening or an invasion of privacy or personal space especially in this situation where it is encouraged.

 

(you seem to be really over thinking this in my honest opinion)

[velvet moonsun]

Also the headbands and cute gifts are not malicious in any way. It's a small token of affection. This way the fan can look back at photos of the event and be happy to see their idol wearing their gift.

[ZUKKYUN !!!]

Regardless of right and wrong

 

Its [the risk] of their job

 

Dont like it? Dont be idol/actor/whatever

 

Its something 'normal' there, and its they themselves who choose the 'entertainer' path in the first place

 

It might be unconformtable at times, and there always are people who take it too far, but in general regardless of age/action/etc, fans are fans

 

And fans = money source

[A Hamster Named Loneliness]

Also the headbands and cute gifts are not malicious in any way. It's a small token of affection. This way the fan can look back at photos of the event and be happy to see their idol wearing their gift.

this. there are even gifs and videos of idols eagerly taking these kinds of gifts. Honestly, in what world would headbands and cute gifts be malicious?

 

and op, what about instances where idols initiate touching fans first? For example, I remember seeing a gif of Eunji comforting a young fan by stroking her hair. There are also gifs that show idols get disappointed and feel awkward when a fan doesn't shake their hand, so not all physical contact are unwarranted.

[Byakugan]

Its their job, they sell tons more album by doing it. If you cant put up with minor things like this then just dont be an idol

[Jeffrey Jung]

Yes because you had something like Seventeen's Joshua incident or AOA's Mina incident with some nutjobs

[Amaranthine]

Each fans bought hundreds of these idols' albums, that's a marketing strategies and idols are getting paid for it they like it or not. it's a something they should do cause it's their job ppl dont forget they are also employees

[Elia]

It's part of the job. You make some of this "touching" seem inappropriate but most of the time is just holding hands, there's nothing wrong with it unless ill intentioned people show up and then the idols do have security there to take care of it.

 

Fact is, fansigns sell albums.

[MilkLatte]

This is their job. If they chose to not participate in fan signs - that is their choice but it in the eyes of management it is a lost business opportunity. 

 

Plus part of being an idol is perpetuating an image that they could be like a friend to a fan, they try to make fan signs a chance for fans to have a personal connection with their idol.