In this final article of the 20-year anniversary series, I’m going to be less formal and talk about how the world around me has changed over the years. Obviously, not everything I’ve experienced in the weird and wacky world of Japanese and Korean pop music has been rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine. There have been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows — all of which have shaped the site you’re reading at this very moment.
I believe the one thing that has changed the most over the past twenty years is fandom itself. I’m speaking strictly from the perspective of an international fan here.
One important thing I want to note before continuing is that I rarely interact with other fans in person while travelling these days. I’m just not that “passionate” a fan anymore, at least not enough to engage in mostly pointless conversations with strangers beyond basic pleasantries or forced socialization for personal gain (such as trading photo cards).
That wasn’t always the case. When I first got into Japanese and Korean pop music many moons ago, I was fully embedded in the community — making friends, attending events, and generally being out there among the people. I was lucky enough to find a group of like-minded individuals at the time. Some of them I’ve stayed in contact with over the past twenty years in one form or another. Others, frankly, I’d rather never see again if I can help it.
The early 2000s were a much simpler time. Back then, being part of these communities didn’t come with the same level of caution or concern that exists now, where you’re far more conscious of who you’re interacting with and why.
Even though fan communities were small, there was a strong sense of camaraderie. Knowing that other people out there understood what you liked helped ease the feeling of isolation, even just a little. It wasn’t considered strange to listen to music from Japan or Korea without understanding a single word. That sense of community continued to grow as J-pop and K-pop expanded beyond their home countries and reached wider audiences.
Today, it’s normal to openly talk about music, animation, dramas, and other pop culture from Japan and Korea without being met with blank stares. Progress was slow but steady. Some people who miss the days when these interests were niche may disagree, but I personally think it’s a positive change that audiences in the West have become more aware and more discerning. Not everything automatically gets lumped together as “Chinese” anymore.
On the flip side of the coin, many of the same annoyances I encountered twenty years ago still apply to the fandoms I keep at arm’s length today. The white knighting. The constant infighting. The dick-measuring contests over who’s the “best” fan. Social media has only amplified these behaviours to the point where they’ve become stereotypes, and anyone adjacent to them gets lumped in by association.
And God forbid you try to express an opinion these days. I mean, sure, I had it a little rough back then, but now? Apparently, you’re the spawn of Satan if you disagree with the collective. The pile-ons are immediate, and people act as if dissent is a personal attack rather than a difference of perspective.
My belief is that some fans today are simply a little too invested for their own good. Do we really need international aid organizations being alerted to employment disputes involving idols? I understand the passion people have for their favourite artists, but at some point, you’ve got to step back. Go outside. Touch grass. Leave the phones and tablets behind, spend some time in the real world, and clear your head of things that have no meaningful impact on your life in the moment you’re actually living it.
As both I and the site have aged, so has what I consider important to the Selective Hearing brand. I take that investment very personally. The late 2010s were not a good time for me, and that period put a lot into perspective about what actually matters in life. And it isn’t a bunch of young men and women singing and dancing for my entertainment.
That part of pop culture is connected to the site, but it isn’t my entire life. Disengaging became the healthier option, mentally.
Putting the brakes on everything gave me the space to figure a few things out. I’m at a point now where the site’s workload feels manageable, even when real life inevitably gets in the way. To help with that, I’ve started using tools like AI for scheduling, basic research, and proofreading. This article, for example, was written and edited using Grammarly.
The more efficiently I can get the work done, the better it is for everyone — myself included
To conclude the 20th anniversary of Selective Hearing, I want to start by expressing my gratitude to the men and women who have contributed to the site over the years. You all know who you are, even if some of you are only with us in spirit now. Your work helped shape the site into what it is today, and your efforts have never gone unappreciated. I’m sorry I couldn’t pay you — but hey, those are the breaks. 🙂
Of course, this place wouldn’t exist without people actually taking the time to read what we put on the screen. The numbers suggest that real humans keep coming back, which means we must be doing something right after all these years. Whether you visit regularly or just stop by from time to time, thank you for taking a moment out of your day to read whatever we happen to post.
And with that said, we’re on to the next one.
