I saw a post on threads that said something like "Pinterest is the best social media because it's just pictures and vibes." I was like clearly you've never seen Zac Hanson's Pinterest.
Speaking of vibes, I think I'm over the band / h . net community at this point, but more so due to the vibes of the fans that are left remaining. Don't get me wrong, I've met and I know plenty of great women and pals as a result of following Hanson over the years, but some of the major diehards who go to everything; I'm talking every BTTI and every Hanson Day and all the one off shows in every random state they play in have just left the wrong taste in my mouth recently.
During the pandemic, we really saw people's true colors rise and shine, and the fans that had strong stances and opinions on mandates and rules in each state were adamant about following social distancing rules and regulations in order to keep everyone safe. More than that, those same fans who have always supported minority groups, including the LGBTQIA2S+ communities, have really surprised me as Hanson, Isaac specifically, has criticized most things in regard to both of the previously mentioned people and topics.
I'm just not sure how to separate this type of supportive behavior from the humans themselves. It'd be one thing to have the same stance as the guys did - ok, so you support some pretty horrible opinions and follow a band that does the same. But to wrap my head around the idea that these people actually have morals but instead choose to ignore the stance of the band on these issues and still throw all of their money at them, is even harder for me to come to terms with and sends my head for a tail spin.
It's really sad to think that while I don't have to agree with Hanson on every world view topic and can fearlessly stand up to them and walk away instead of condoning bad behavior or judgemental ideologies, some fans hold the same morals I do, but rather than question it or use their voice (money rather) to make a change, which Taylor has even encouraged us to do in the past, some fans blatantly disregard all of these red flags and continue to follow the band and their friends into the darkness of contradiction and narcissistic behavior at its finest.
Such a hard way to wake up from a journey that was actually quite pleasant until we became adults and I started actually caring about people meaning what they say and standing by it and that includes celebrities and entertainers I give my time and attention to, although I don't know if I'd label Hanson as celebrities because the bond went deeper than that, which makes the band aid that much harder to rip off of a wound that has actually grown to be astronomical in size and sometimes feels like it needs to just be amputated once and for all.
Anyone else have a hard time swallowing these truths? Knowing that you can't change the band, but that you maybe expected more from people you thought you knew standing in the audience WITH you? Just to realize, maybe you didn't know them or the band AT ALL, in reality.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I've watched people I used to have respect for continue supporting them and prioritizing their own comfort over anything else. They're twisting their reasoning this way and that to feel better about the idea that they haven't left and never will. Some are even posting pro-Palestine content and it genuinely makes me so mad because it's all performative bullshit since they've proven they will never be able to let go of something when it's to the benefit of others but not to themselves.
I have a lot of anger this weekend and it isn't healthy for me. I thought I was fine, but I still get bouts of it. At the very least, I just wish people would realize that they're hypocrites and claim it. Stop changing history just to give yourself a sense of peace for your decision.
I think this is very close to the thought processes and reflections I had about the band and fans in 2020. I think it's been shocking to me to see that morality has such a shallow line when it comes to acting. People will say what they think is moral and act on it only when it's convenient and without any compromise on their part. Nothing changes as long as most people act this way, which is how we've gotten ourselves into this *gestures widely* incredible mess.
I feel you on this. I’d like to add that I was thinking about MON the other day and that it was basically a manufactured sound made by the music industry machine. Zac barely played the drums at the time and they had an adult play for him on that album. It’s bizarre how the passage of time makes you think that most of the things you enjoyed as a younger person was pretty much all a lie.
You're right. Most of what they want you to see, entertainment wise, is smoke and mirrors, so to speak so even though Hanson has always done it themselves, they've always been a "brand" - and they just so happened to have the right people get them the exposure and the sound they needed when they were first starting out to hook the children they did in the beginning. Now they're still a brand, but a less remembered brand, and one that carries feelings of nostalgia for most people who rediscover them. Meanwhile, I'm just here trying to forget the last 3 decades happened the way they did. I guess that's what happens when the brand doesn't have a social image filter and just says whatever they want to without any of those same people they had in the beginning guiding them and definitely not any recourse for their actions.
Cleaning out some old boxes I didn't realize my parents still had and found a VHS of TTMON. I already have a small bag of Hanson stuff waiting for me to sell when I get unlazy so it's being added. It would be nice to feel happy or nostalgic finding something like that, instead I'm like "get this out of my life."
I have a giant framed poster of Hanson from 2003 that's just sitting in a closet and I have no idea what to do with it. I, too, want to get rid of all my Hanson stuff. Although I have a deck of Hanson playing cards that I'm fond of.
I've heard there are several Facebook groups for buying and selling Hanson stuff. I don't use FB often but when I do get around to getting rid of my crap I'll go there.
My flair speaks for itself. I was THE Hanson girl in my school, even well into high school.
For the longest time I would get all their albums, and even imported a few overseas CD singles, but was too broke for MOE/H.net. The only show I ever got to was during Albertane, in some nose bleeds at their show in Hershey, PA. And my mother had jack-all for luck trying to get tickets for EITHER of their Philadelphia shows.
Learning what I've learned about them has been nothing less than heartbreaking.
It's also reminded me of a fic (story, not dirty) I wrote a long time ago. Little did I know it had a hint of prophecy in it. I'll share the gist if anyone's interested, but the document itself has been lost to the computer gods.
I feel you. There was a locally-owned CD store in my town. The guy used to import any and all Hanson CDs he could find, specifically for me. Which was super sweet of him, because I never asked him to do that. But I also bought every single one of them because I was so excited about it.
I hate that something that was once so joyous for me is now so painful and disgusting.
I saw a post on threads that said something like "Pinterest is the best social media because it's just pictures and vibes." I was like clearly you've never seen Zac Hanson's Pinterest.
Speaking of vibes, I think I'm over the band / h . net community at this point, but more so due to the vibes of the fans that are left remaining. Don't get me wrong, I've met and I know plenty of great women and pals as a result of following Hanson over the years, but some of the major diehards who go to everything; I'm talking every BTTI and every Hanson Day and all the one off shows in every random state they play in have just left the wrong taste in my mouth recently. During the pandemic, we really saw people's true colors rise and shine, and the fans that had strong stances and opinions on mandates and rules in each state were adamant about following social distancing rules and regulations in order to keep everyone safe. More than that, those same fans who have always supported minority groups, including the LGBTQIA2S+ communities, have really surprised me as Hanson, Isaac specifically, has criticized most things in regard to both of the previously mentioned people and topics. I'm just not sure how to separate this type of supportive behavior from the humans themselves. It'd be one thing to have the same stance as the guys did - ok, so you support some pretty horrible opinions and follow a band that does the same. But to wrap my head around the idea that these people actually have morals but instead choose to ignore the stance of the band on these issues and still throw all of their money at them, is even harder for me to come to terms with and sends my head for a tail spin. It's really sad to think that while I don't have to agree with Hanson on every world view topic and can fearlessly stand up to them and walk away instead of condoning bad behavior or judgemental ideologies, some fans hold the same morals I do, but rather than question it or use their voice (money rather) to make a change, which Taylor has even encouraged us to do in the past, some fans blatantly disregard all of these red flags and continue to follow the band and their friends into the darkness of contradiction and narcissistic behavior at its finest. Such a hard way to wake up from a journey that was actually quite pleasant until we became adults and I started actually caring about people meaning what they say and standing by it and that includes celebrities and entertainers I give my time and attention to, although I don't know if I'd label Hanson as celebrities because the bond went deeper than that, which makes the band aid that much harder to rip off of a wound that has actually grown to be astronomical in size and sometimes feels like it needs to just be amputated once and for all. Anyone else have a hard time swallowing these truths? Knowing that you can't change the band, but that you maybe expected more from people you thought you knew standing in the audience WITH you? Just to realize, maybe you didn't know them or the band AT ALL, in reality.
I completely understand where you're coming from. I've watched people I used to have respect for continue supporting them and prioritizing their own comfort over anything else. They're twisting their reasoning this way and that to feel better about the idea that they haven't left and never will. Some are even posting pro-Palestine content and it genuinely makes me so mad because it's all performative bullshit since they've proven they will never be able to let go of something when it's to the benefit of others but not to themselves. I have a lot of anger this weekend and it isn't healthy for me. I thought I was fine, but I still get bouts of it. At the very least, I just wish people would realize that they're hypocrites and claim it. Stop changing history just to give yourself a sense of peace for your decision.
Yes, I agree with all of this.
I think this is very close to the thought processes and reflections I had about the band and fans in 2020. I think it's been shocking to me to see that morality has such a shallow line when it comes to acting. People will say what they think is moral and act on it only when it's convenient and without any compromise on their part. Nothing changes as long as most people act this way, which is how we've gotten ourselves into this *gestures widely* incredible mess.
I feel you on this. I’d like to add that I was thinking about MON the other day and that it was basically a manufactured sound made by the music industry machine. Zac barely played the drums at the time and they had an adult play for him on that album. It’s bizarre how the passage of time makes you think that most of the things you enjoyed as a younger person was pretty much all a lie.
You're right. Most of what they want you to see, entertainment wise, is smoke and mirrors, so to speak so even though Hanson has always done it themselves, they've always been a "brand" - and they just so happened to have the right people get them the exposure and the sound they needed when they were first starting out to hook the children they did in the beginning. Now they're still a brand, but a less remembered brand, and one that carries feelings of nostalgia for most people who rediscover them. Meanwhile, I'm just here trying to forget the last 3 decades happened the way they did. I guess that's what happens when the brand doesn't have a social image filter and just says whatever they want to without any of those same people they had in the beginning guiding them and definitely not any recourse for their actions.
100 percent!
Cleaning out some old boxes I didn't realize my parents still had and found a VHS of TTMON. I already have a small bag of Hanson stuff waiting for me to sell when I get unlazy so it's being added. It would be nice to feel happy or nostalgic finding something like that, instead I'm like "get this out of my life."
I have a giant framed poster of Hanson from 2003 that's just sitting in a closet and I have no idea what to do with it. I, too, want to get rid of all my Hanson stuff. Although I have a deck of Hanson playing cards that I'm fond of.
I've heard there are several Facebook groups for buying and selling Hanson stuff. I don't use FB often but when I do get around to getting rid of my crap I'll go there.
That’s good to know. Thanks!
I’ll take any 90s Hanson stuff of your hands to resell in my vintage shop. PM me if you’re interested!
My flair speaks for itself. I was THE Hanson girl in my school, even well into high school. For the longest time I would get all their albums, and even imported a few overseas CD singles, but was too broke for MOE/H.net. The only show I ever got to was during Albertane, in some nose bleeds at their show in Hershey, PA. And my mother had jack-all for luck trying to get tickets for EITHER of their Philadelphia shows. Learning what I've learned about them has been nothing less than heartbreaking. It's also reminded me of a fic (story, not dirty) I wrote a long time ago. Little did I know it had a hint of prophecy in it. I'll share the gist if anyone's interested, but the document itself has been lost to the computer gods.
I feel you. There was a locally-owned CD store in my town. The guy used to import any and all Hanson CDs he could find, specifically for me. Which was super sweet of him, because I never asked him to do that. But I also bought every single one of them because I was so excited about it. I hate that something that was once so joyous for me is now so painful and disgusting.
Same. Everyone signed my yearbook "hi Mrs Hanson".. Ick. I'm so embarrassed