I need to talk about something that has been in my mind for several months now. It's been bugging me a lot lately, and I need to get this off my chest. I've come across certain people who claim to fans of Japanese idols that seem to be very close-minded. These people are what I refer to as "elitist mainstream idol fans".
Elitist mainstream idol fans are those who only listen to mainstream groups and nothing but these groups. They are the ones you'll find that say "I only listen to Hello! Project groups" or "I only listen to the *48 family groups." Some of these fans may also listen to other mainstream groups such as Momoiro Clover Z or BABYMETAL, but they are ignoring many indie and underground idol groups. Now it might be because they haven't heard of some of these indie and underground groups, or it might be because they have an extremely bad attitude and just plain won't acknowledge them. These fans are some of the most close-minded people who are listening to music. But it gets even worse sometimes. I have read comments along the lines of "I wish this girl would leave her current group and join Hello! Project." Now that is the most horrible type of comment an idol fan can make! Don't understand why? Let me explain.
If you say you like a certain idol singer in a indie or underground group, and you really want them to leave this group, then you are wishing this group would not be successful and possibly break up. If you actually got your wish and your favorite singer in an indie group left to join Hello! Project or the *48 family, then the group she was originally in will have a steep decline in popularity and this will anger many of the fans of the group. They will resent the girl who left and caused this decline in popularity. If the group breaks up because the most popular girl left, this will cause even more anger in some fans. Even if some fans follow her to the H!P or *48 group she ends up in, they still might wish she would return to her original group so things will go back to the way they were before she left.
If you really love an indie or underground singer or group, please show it by supporting this singer or group. Purchase their compact discs or other merchandise, if possible, and tell people how much you love the singer or group and why. Be a proud fan and tell your friends about this non-mainstream idol you love and share their YouTube videos (or videos on other websites). Spread the good word about these idols instead of wishing that the most popular member would leave the group to join a mainstream company. Being an elitist, close-minded and mean-spirited mainstream fan just isn't very smart.
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