People enjoy their hobbies, it's natural, it's fun and it's healthy. However, recently some people takes too seriously -or to passionate- this activities. Fan networks are increasing really fast, specially among teenagers, and some of them take this zealotry too far. But how much is too much? It is a cultural matter, a social issue or a personal concern? Respecting someone's freedom, how far a hobby can be taken without affecting their own or others lives?

For example, last week I saw on the street a kid (about 13 years old) with a red scarf, rounded glasses, and a black robe. He was walking with his parents, probably going to shopping, no to a costumes party. I wonder if this kid later would hurt his forehead to complete the similarity with HP, or would try to fly on his broom by jumping from a seventh floor.

Maybe the worst case I've seen was a Twilight fan (not all of them, just a girl I met). Black clothes 24/7, white contact lenses, funny hair, dentist-sharpened canines, a creepy and overacted old-British accent (which is very weird considering that I live in a country where everyone speaks Spanish), and some other unusual behaviors. It wasn't cosplay, it was permanent.

This is relatively new, unique and flashy cultural trend, I feel that it is too much, even weird, but what is different is not consequently wrong. I've heard the words: "live and let other live too", so I started this thread to listen (read actually) different points of view, maybe some examples and personal experiences.

What do you think? There should be a limit or just let them be?

Wow the first to reply :)

Thanks for the nice topic you have post.

Yeah I totally agree with you that there should be a limit for everything in a way that keeps our life balanced.

Being a fan is really something but it does not mean that one have to change everything in his life, to be a weirdo just because he/ she is a fan.

I don’t think it’s something too widespread. I wouldn’t worry about it. Most people will know that line between passion, and fanaticism. If I have a kid who doesn’t, I’ll try to make sure, within reason, to not to be mindful of the things my own kids would be into, and while not being a dick, and trying to ruin their fun, to keep their feet on the ground.

Not widespread yet, but the phenomena is growing. I read somewhere that around 1000 teens in mi city are going (or they did, I don't know)to celebrate a Twilight character's birthday. So fan movements are rising.

The terrible cases are fortunately less common, like the girl that commit suicide because she didn't get her parent's permission to go to the pop-star concert, or the group of people that kill themselves for religious beliefs.

Maybe this less popular/weird fanatic movements are not that dangerous as many others, specially soccer fans fights. In some countries, after a soccer game comes the bloodbath, with a victim every month. Even with no deaths, the disturbs created by sport-gang fights cost a lot of money to society. Is obviously that this kind of violent fanaticism must be stopped, but what happens when the only victim of zealotry is the fan itself? Who should put the limit?

Regarding your question: "should there be a limit or just let them be?"
not much you can do really. Each to their own. Everyone has their right to whatever they believe. It they really are fanatic about whatever-it-is, you cant do much about it. yes its true. many do seem to go overboard. i recently read something about a woman's father committing suicide so that his daughter could meet her dream idol in real life (that was his last wish). ... there are no words to express my feelings regarding this.
i guess the government would have to step in if the fanaticism exceeds the limit. what is the limit, you ask? well... i guess its when one crosses the line and puts another's well-being at risk. otherwise, i think it might be safe if we left them in their little world. better for us and them.

Gvnkwyr

I read somewhere that around 1000 teens in mi city are going (or they did, I don't know)to celebrate a Twilight character's birthday. So fan movements are rising.

Are you serious? That's possibly one of the saddest things I've ever heard. Celebrating a fictional character's birthday? Talk about taking obsession way too far. Then again the whole Twilight frenzy has gone way too far now.

Gvnkwyr

In some countries, after a soccer game comes the bloodbath, with a victim every month.

To be fair, this rarely happens anymore. Maybe in your country this is still a problem plaguing the game but generally speaking, it has been majorly stamped down from what it was in say 1996 to 1998. I know there are still few saddening occasions when the hooligans rise from the ashes and wreck the nature of the game but it's largely uncommon. It's just a sad thing that many non-soccer fans associate the game with something like hooliganism when the problem has, for the most part, been largely eradicated.

Anyway, getting back on topic. I believe there should be a limit. It's fine being a fan, a super fan, a fanboy even but when your fanatism transcends all leaps and bounds and affects your personal life to the point where you begin to shape your life around it, is the point where you as a fan need to kinda back off and move on.

I don't care. If they want to look like idiots over dumb crap like twilight, let it be so. If they want to carve a lightning bolt into their forehead, let them do it. If they want to cut their hands off because it's a trend, let them cut their hands off, it's not my problem.

There is not limit to me. There is no such thing as too much, it's what makes them happy. Who are we to get in that way? They are only hurting themselves, not you, nor me.

I find this idiocrasy. I detest cosplayers, I detest rabid fans of anything, because they always manage to degrade it. Always. But it's not like people are willing to listen and follow my words anyway

So they hurt themselves? So they change their bodies? Who cares? They're happy with it. That's all that matters.

I think devotion comes from inner conviction. At its best, it can be the ultimate expression of love and caring. A person can be devoted to a cause, a belief or another human being. Devotion used in the right way can add meaning and depth to a person's life. In my opinion, devotion is comprised of many selfless acts. Repercussions of great devotion can touch many lives and have far reaching effects.

Fanaticism, on the other hand, it the antithesis of devotion. Rather than being selfless, it is the ultimate form of selfishness. Fanaticism is separatism: it alienates others. A fanatic is someone who cannot allow others to be who they are. Individuals are seen as worthless unless they adhere to the precepts and actions of the fanatic. So, devotion is about selflessness and giving and engenders love. Fanaticism is about selfishness and removal and engenders fear.

To each his own.

The day my government adopts statism and bigotry will be the day I kill myself. Fans can dress up however they want, so long as they recognise my right to laugh at them and their stupid obsessions >.>

Interesting opinions.

whisprn2dawind

what is the limit, you ask? well... i guess its when one crosses the line and puts another's well-being at risk.

That's the wise limit, specially for legal issues. However, why we have to wait until the zealot hazards his/her own well-being? Modern societies try to prevent issues like suicide. In psychiatry, the limit between an altered personality and mental disease is when it is interfering with the subject's life. This limit is quite necessary, but I also agree that is hard, if not impossible, to put. Maybe friends and family should help, even the fan clubs might help detecting when one of their members is going too far.

In response to Deerstalker, yes, in my country this problem is more frequent that what is desired. Is not a bloodbath after every game, but violent is latent and it manifests once a month or maybe more. Soccer fans are usually young and poor, involved in gangs and prone to violence. And yes, what I wrote about the fictional character birthday party is totally true... I live in the capital, where the overpopulation plus the cultural diversity makes freak phenomena totally evident.

@Espada: your post does not even deserve an answer.

I agree with BitCloud, devotion and fanaticism are two totally opposite things and the later is totally selfish. If zealotry could be converted in devotion, the solution of the stated problem would be easier.

I would like to add a question: if you'd had a friend in this situation (showing signs of extreme fanaticism), what would you do?

GvnKwyr

I would like to add a question: if you'd had a friend in this situation (showing signs of extreme fanaticism), what would you do?

Are they so far gone that they've hit rock bottom, have no self-esteem and are into extreme self-deprecation? Or are they just indecently fixated?

If the answer is the former I'd stop them. The latter would warrant no action. As a friend I'd jokingly call them crazy, to no avail I'm sure.

Gvnkwyr

I would like to add a question: if you'd had a friend in this situation (showing signs of extreme fanaticism), what would you do?

As ChrisWas says, it kind of depends on the situation. If it's just extreme devotion where they're dressing up, celebrating birthdays, talking about it constantly then I wouldn't do anything per say but I'd definetely distance myself away from them because that to me is weird.

Everyone is given their freedom to do whatever they want. Just like what Ichihara Yuuko said (not exact but something like this) "to know the value of the things you will loose, to understand the pain it'll bring, yet you are eager to take all the consequences, that is determination." So in relation to that those people who wishes to live up their beloved characters, they surely know & understand the weight and gravity of what they're doing.

its ok to do such if one finds it fit.

It's all fun and game as far as the little kid example but that girl is a little too old to take something fictional that serious and to make that drastic of a change to herself to adhere to her fantasy. Some people may cross the line according to personal limits from an outsiders perpective but as long as it is just limited to thier own person then the problem is just a matter of other peoples personal oppinions. It becomes a problem when it leads to a person to injure themselves or others. like the girl who drowend at the beach looking for Sponge Bob, or a 40 something year old guy who wanted to be a fish so bad he tried to make a mermaid suit that killed him before he even got to the water cuz he baked inside of the unvented suiton a very hot day with only flipers and no arms just inches from a pond.

Rikatsu: your point of view is interesting, but won't you think that in some cases of extreme zealotry determination is clouded (or even absent) and freedom of action would be a double edge blade? Fanatics tend to act without being fully conscious of their actions, and this involves dramatic consequences. In most cases they don't know and don't understand what they are doing, just what we once did a couple of time when we were teenagers.

If I'd had a friend in that situation, I'd tell he/her my opinion and concern. If the issue persists, I'd gradually started to take my distance.

thewarangel

It becomes a problem when it leads to a person to injure themselves or others. like the girl who drowend at the beach looking for Sponge Bob, or a 40 something year old guy who wanted to be a fish so bad he tried to make a mermaid suit that killed him before he even got to the water cuz he baked inside of the unvented suiton a very hot day with only flipers and no arms just inches from a pond.

Really? Wow, poor little girl. The big guy's example for me is insanity rather than fanaticism.