izla_zandz

Izla Zandz · @izla_zandz

10th Nov 2011 from Twitlonger

Adam Lambert's twitter fandom versus BFM: A letter in reply to the various letters that crop up in my feed:

While I can't speak for anyone but myself, I can make it clear that the only reason I am on twitter is to support Adam Lambert, and to share that experience with other like-minded people.

In short, I belong to a particular branch of Adam Lambert's 'fandom' which chiefly uses twitter for its sharing and caring.

Over time this fandom has embraced artists who for one or reason or another are or have been connected to Adam in some way; 'idol' artists, Adam's own friends, and most recently the members of Adam's GNT band. For the most part, these fandom offshoots have been enjoyable side-shows to the main show, and have caused no rifts in the fandom.

But now one of those off-shoots IS causing a rift. The BFM controversy has created a 'sides" situation that cannot be ignored, or glossed over with claims that - bottom line - it is all about music. It's not. It's a fandom issue. It's about how BFM is impacting on a twitter fandom which has the career and work of Adam Lambert as its central focus.

Anyone who thinks it should be possible to belong to this dedicated fandom while simultaneously supporting something which is clearly an obstacle in Adam's career pathway - BFM and its lawsuit - is mistaken.

And anyone who thinks feelings won't, or shouldn't, run high in the fandom over BFM and lawsuit issues are mistaken.

It's a fandom issue. Whatever the backstory to BFM and the lawsuit, - and I have seen some comments made along the lines of 'there are two sides to every story" - it is totally irrelevant to the fandom's focus which is to support Adam Lambert.

If people want to support BFM or any of the parties involved that is fine, but to expect the members of Adam Lambert's twitter fandom to support or even simply accept your position is a little foolish. It ain't gonna happen.

So does this mean some people are going to feel ostracised for their 'diversity' of opinion? Possibly. In real life we may have to tolerate differences of opinion within our families and communities, and do our best to get along, but that is not the case on twitter. One of the joys of twitter, and of belonging to Adam Lambert's fandom, is sharing a common interest with like-minded people.

I think the majority of fans in Adam's twitter fandom do not support BFM, are angry about the lawsuit, and don't want to be pressured to accept opposing views from people who have their feet in two camps. They don't care about the backstory to the various parties involved. They don't want to know 'the two sides to the lawsuit story'. They want to express their feelings - such as their objections to things they see as obstacles to Adam's career and work - freely, sometimes too freely, but hey, that's all part of belonging to Adam's twitter fandom.

I'm sad that friendships have been strained or broken by the BFM controversy, but mainly I just want to get on with supporting Adam and his career and having fun with people who share that focus.

Perhaps the folks who want to be able to be fans of Adam while simultaneously supporting BFM and artists involved in BFM, should start a fandom of their own, one that reflects THEIR shared interests and focuses on twitter. That way we can all enjoy our interests and not feel out of place.

It's a fandom thing. It's not about taking sides on the BFM controversy.

We're all entitled to our own twitter fandom interests, and mine happens to be Adam Lambert. I love lots of different music and share that love from time to time, but I mainly use twitter to share the central focus of Adam Lambert's career and work with like-minded people.

All that being said, I follow some great people who love Citizen Vein's music, have no particular axes to grind over parties associated with BFM, and who enjoy following Adam. They 'get' the focus of Adam's twitter fandom and have no expectation that it broaden its scope to embrace BFM and its supporters. They ignore emotional outbursts knowing they are part and parcel of Adam's twitter fandom.

In summary; the BFM controversy is not about taking 'sides' on the rights or wrongs of BFM or its attending lawsuit. Base-line it's about how the controversy is impacting on a fandom which is focused on the ongoing success of Adam Lambert's career and work. That focus precludes supporting anything that clearly presents itself as an obstacle to his success.

I mainly wrote this letter because I love writing letters and because I wanted to briefly join the 'writing letters to the fandom' brigade. LOL

But when all is tweeted and twone, the show must go on!!!!



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