Taylor Swift

[Midge Maisel]

I'm reacting to the ways that her fans react to those gestures more than the media. My Facebook memories remind me that I've been making comments for 10 years now about how I don't care for her music. And yet, if I dare to say something these days that is not in total praise of her, I'm bombarded by people pointing out her charitable efforts, talking about what a huge star she is, and calling me ****. The comments I saw today about her donation to the family which complained the Chiefs did not do the same were remarks from fans - not press outlets.

This is how I feel. I've never been much of a Taylor fan. Her music is just not my taste, which is fine. I'm frustrated by things like her jet usage, but that's not even the main issue here: her music doesn't do it for me, and that shouldn't be such a big deal. But I've been called everything from anti-woman to incapable of understanding art. I've heard that not supporting Taylor is equivalent to wanting to see less female-driven work out there, which is not the case at all. Idk how Taylor weaponized an army of Swifties to spread the gospel of "Taylor represents all women and any criticism of her is anti-feminist behavior," but congrats, Taylor, you did it!

I was at lunch recently with someone who confided that she does not like Taylor Swift. She was relieved to hear that she was in similar company, because apparently, she'd recently told another person that she didn't like Taylor and got an earful!

Don’t get me started about obnoxious fans, LibbyRuth. They live in a fantasy world all their own.

There has never been a famous person I’ve cared so deeply about. Now celebrities I don’t like, there’s plenty of those. I can tell some members feel that way about Taylor and I’m trying to see whatever you’re seeing but I’m not there yet.

And this is it, too. Swifties go beyond just being a fanbase. They're practically a cult. I can like or dislike just about any other celebrity, song, performance, etc. and have a discussion with someone who disagrees. We can reasonably share our viewpoints and possibly see what the other person sees. That's not the case with Swifties!

I always wonder how much $ those that are criticizing have donated?

I'm not sure if this is directed at criticism of Taylor in general or criticism of something specific, but Taylor is very philanthropic and shouldn't be criticized for anything associated with her giving (well, aside from the part where her Brazilian fans crowdfunded to get Ana Clara Benavides home after her death last fall). I do think it's important to note that Taylor's team is very, very good at making sure that her philanthropy gets noticed. I'm not denigrating or discounting what she does, but everyone should remember there are a lot of really charitable celebrities who get far less attention for it, and that's also totally acceptable if they prefer to be quieter about it.

 

[sdkitty]

This is how I feel. I've never been much of a Taylor fan. Her music is just not my taste, which is fine. I'm frustrated by things like her jet usage, but that's not even the main issue here: her music doesn't do it for me, and that shouldn't be such a big deal. But I've been called everything from anti-woman to incapable of understanding art. I've heard that not supporting Taylor is equivalent to wanting to see less female-driven work out there, which is not the case at all. Idk how Taylor weaponized an army of Swifties to spread the gospel of "Taylor represents all women and any criticism of her is anti-feminist behavior," but congrats, Taylor, you did it!

I was at lunch recently with someone who confided that she does not like Taylor Swift. She was relieved to hear that she was in similar company, because apparently, she'd recently told another person that she didn't like Taylor and got an earful!

And this is it, too. Swifties go beyond just being a fanbase. They're practically a cult. I can like or dislike just about any other celebrity, song, performance, etc. and have a discussion with someone who disagrees. We can reasonably share our viewpoints and possibly see what the other person sees. That's not the case with Swifties!

I'm not sure if this is directed at criticism of Taylor in general or criticism of something specific, but Taylor is very philanthropic and shouldn't be criticized for anything associated with her giving (well, aside from the part where her Brazilian fans crowdfunded to get Ana Clara Benavides home after her death last fall). I do think it's important to note that Taylor's team is very, very good at making sure that her philanthropy gets noticed. I'm not denigrating or discounting what she does, but everyone should remember there are a lot of really charitable celebrities who get far less attention for it, and that's also totally acceptable if they prefer to be quieter about it.

aren't beyonce's fans similarly aggressive?

 

[Midge Maisel]

aren't beyonce's fans similarly aggressive?

This is probably true. TBH I don't encounter a lot of Beyonce fans, but I fully believe it.

Anyone who inspires that kind of behavior in a fan base bothers me.

 

[LittleStar88]

aren't beyonce's fans similarly aggressive?

LOL The Beyhive I think?

I don’t think any less at all if someone doesn’t like Taylor Swift. I like her music, but not all of it. I think she’s creative and a great songwriter and has talent, but like all things artistic not everything is for everyone and that’s ok.

Rabid fandom is weird. Tribal mentality.

 

[sdkitty]

This is probably true. TBH I don't encounter a lot of Beyonce fans, but I fully believe it.

Anyone who inspires that kind of behavior in a fan base bothers me.

interesting that these two inspire such devotion from women and girls....back in the day the girls got more excited about male performers I think

 

[Midge Maisel]

interesting that these two inspire such devotion from women and girls....back in the day the girls got more excited about male performers I think

On some level, I think having women about whom girls and women can be enthusiastic is a great thing, because you're right. For generations, it was about men. And while it's fun to have your first crush be the big pop star of the day, it's also fun to see a bit of yourself in the big pop star of the day!

 

[redney]

interesting that these two inspire such devotion from women and girls....back in the day the girls got more excited about male performers I think

I'm Gen X and was all about Madonna in my teen years in the 80s. She's my generation's Taylor Swift. Lots of different albums, song styles, looks/outfits, huge concerts (and videos on MTV!)

 

[limom]

This is probably true. TBH I don't encounter a lot of Beyonce fans, but I fully believe it.

Anyone who inspires that kind of behavior in a fan base bothers me.

Are those face to face interaction?
there were always super fandom but maybe it was more niche and not spoken about as much?
In Taylor’s case, it seems like her fandom is anyone between 40 to teens all over the world. It is impressive.
Does she encourage her fans to have outrageous behaviors?

 

[bag-mania]

I'm Gen X and was all about Madonna in my teen years in the 80s. She's my generation's Taylor Swift. Lots of different albums, song styles, looks/outfits, huge concerts (and videos on MTV!)

Now I’m trying to imagine what it would have been like if Madonna fans had had the internet. Probably pretty bad. Anyone who gets to be super famous seems to have a percentage of rabid fans. The anonymity of social media encourages rude and belligerent behavior. The stans feed off of each other’s enthusiasm and self-righteousness until they whip themselves up into a frenzy.

 

[limom]

Now I’m trying to imagine what it would have been like if Madonna fans had had the internet. Probably pretty bad. Anyone who gets to be super famous seems to have a percentage of rabid fans. The anonymity of social media encourages rude and belligerent behavior. The stans feed off of each other’s enthusiasm and self-righteousness until they whip themselves up into a frenzy.

You all forgot about Punk and hard rock groups?
Those fans were rowdy, often drunk beyond reason and even had riots in GB.
As long as it does not get personal and dangerous, there is no problem, imo. I don’t get danger from the swifties… Far from it.
There is an elephant in this room and it is her power to motivate and regroup fans to be of the progressive, feminist persuasions.

 

[LibbyRuth]

You all forgot about Punk and hard rock groups?
Those fans were rowdy, often drunk beyond reason and even had riots in GB.
As long as it does not get personal and dangerous, there is no problem, imo. I don’t get danger from the swifties… Far from it.
There is an elephant in this room and it is her power to motivate and regroup fans to be of the progressive, feminist persuasions.
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I think a significant difference between the punk fans of yore (or even today) and Swifties is that punk fans tend to take pride in being subversive. When people tell punk fans they don't care for punk music, they tend to wear it as a badge of honor - they've found something to love that everyone doesn't appreciate. On the other hand, Swifties tend to react to finding out someone doesn't like her music as a personal attack - as if my not sharing their music taste somehow implies I don't think they can/should like it.
As far as danger goes -- she's got ex boyfriends who have received death threats. Fortunately, they have not been carried out. But when a swarm of fans decides that a man is an enemy because he no longer dates Taylor, it's kind of creepy or scary.

 

[A bottle of Red]

I think a significant difference between the punk fans of yore (or even today) and Swifties is that punk fans tend to take pride in being subversive. When people tell punk fans they don't care for punk music, they tend to wear it as a badge of honor - they've found something to love that everyone doesn't appreciate. On the other hand, Swifties tend to react to finding out someone doesn't like her music as a personal attack - as if my not sharing their music taste somehow implies I don't think they can/should like it.
As far as danger goes -- she's got ex boyfriends who have received death threats. Fortunately, they have not been carried out. But when a swarm of fans decides that a man is an enemy because he no longer dates Taylor, it's kind of creepy or scary.

Death threats from her fans?!
Yikes

 

[Midge Maisel]

Death threats from her fans?!
Yikes

Not just exes. I believe reporters have been doxxed in the name of Taylor. And again, we're talking about people who just don't like her music or feel an album is a 3/5 instead of a 5/5.

 

[limom]

I believe that it is a combination of the pandemic and social media.
Anything goes atm.
She can’t possibly attract only super combative, unbalanced people.
(As far as people threatening others)

 

[LibbyRuth]

I believe that it is a combination of the pandemic and social media.
Anything goes atm.
She can’t possibly attract only super combative, unbalanced people.
(As far as people threatening others)

Agreed. She's got plenty of fans who are normal, balanced, and just like her music. But we're not talking about those fans. She's also made it a part of her brand to be the scorned woman who goes after each of her exes for revenge. Look at the posts from some of her fans when the track list for her next album came out - already issuing warnings to Joe Alwyn. They're the ones embracing the behavior - but given how many times it's happened, Taylor knows she's feeding into it.