Why Fanbases Today Act Like Cults — From Wrestling to Music to Politics

 

Introduction

I think people today focus more on what they like instead of what others like. Whether it's wrestling, music, politics, etc., to where today entertainment feels lost than something to feel excited about. People would rather argue and not realize we are all people in the end. They forget that people don't have to like the same everything. Whether it's wrestling, music, or politics. Even some have forgotten what the event is really about like the Grammys. The event is not about you, or your beliefs. The event is about the award and entertaining others at home.

Why Wrestling Fans Feel Impossible to Talk to

Wrestling fans can be great to talk to but a lot forget that not everyone thinks the same or talks the same about their love of the wrestling world of entertainment. Some don't get it and that is fine. The ones that do love it and can be toxic due to their opinion. The attitude of my opinion is all that matters. Those people would rather argue and diss people. They forget how little these wrestlers care about them. It's like we can all agree to disagree. The toxic attitude of wrestling fans. A lot of the fans live in a wrestling bubble. Which is fine but a lot of people aren't like this. Like me for example, I live mostly outside of wrestling. I don't even watch wrestling anymore.

I haven't forgotten the tribalism of professional wrestling of I'm all WWE when you don't work there. But you want AEW or any other company to die or fail. Which you don't get that both are companies are great for the talent to make money. You can like both companies and be a fan.

A lot of the fans are in to the rumors and backstage gossip like they live to hear about the drama. They read the dirt sheets and try to understand the business. Which has lost a lot of fans. Because once you know the secrets you will stop watching. The rumors have ruined wrestling and backstage gossip because you know everything. Like if someone is returning to WWE or AEW, or behind the scenes and who hates who in the business.

The booking in wrestling is awful now days but don't tell a modern wrestling fan that. Because they will defend the booking like it's the person being critiqued. The fan will defend all the bad stuff and defend like it's their wife which is tiring because you can't win unless you agree. Yeah, it's great. No, it's not. This attitude is part of that toxic attitude of you must think like me. Which is what made me lose interest in wrestling because I don't care about winning a person over. I think we can all agree to disagree.

I used to be a hardcore wrestling fan, so I know what this world is like. You buy all the shirts, wrestling figures if you are a kid, video games, DVDS, etc. You live for the tv shows. You talk about wrestling. You even live like all that matters is wrestling. Give me wrestling. This can change as you get older like wrestling did for me. The casual fans don't care about wrestling. Those fans just watch by seeing what is on. Like flipping through the channels and either going this segment grabs me or next channel. Let's say that fan sees the Rock or John Cena. The fan goes keep it here for a minute. After that, a match between Sheamus and The Miz comes on, the casual may change the channel. Most casuals don't care about wrestling in the ring. Those casual care more about wrestling being a TV show like the character and the segment. The casual doesn't care about wrestling. A parking lot brawl, or women fighting in the back or in the bathroom can grab a casual. The entertainment or character can grab a casual.

Why Music Fans Do the Same Thing

As a huge fan of Heavy Metal, I get the love for the artists and music. But you forget the artist doesn't know you or care about you. So, when defend a band because someone else doesn't like the artist, this behavior makes little sense. Because those artists don't care about you. Even if you attack me because for example, I hate Nirvana which I'm not a fan of Nirvana. You attack or debate me when you don't understand it's not for me. I have an attitude of with me you can like whoever you want to. I just agree to disagree. If I say a band like Van Halen was good back in the day but sucks now. The fans want to try to take a shot at me online. When we all have our own opinion.

I used to be a huge fan of Disturbed which has changed over the years. But I got blocked on X because of my opinion on the bomb, that David signed, or Israel comments. Who knows. At first, I laughed and got upset later on because I spend money on you and your band by buying CDS and T-shirts over time. To where it did hurt a little bit as a fan. The reality was I got over it because I realized Disturbed and David Draiman are nothing in the real world to me. Just another douchebag rock star which there are plenty of that ha-ha. I guess with David it was another block block block oh ah ah. Which they need us, we don't them.

People like different genres of music or even different genres of Heavy Metal. Like don't forget the 80s to where you were a poser if you liked Motley Crue. People were getting beat up for liking Hair Metal or dressing like Hair Metal musicians. Which all the ones saying that did like those bands too like Exodus because you could get laid and meet chicks. The toxic behavior of you like Nu-Metal or any type of music and that is not metal, when we all like different kinds of music. Don't forget that is not real music, it sucks attitude. The metal edge that annoys others. Not everyone is like your opinion must be mine kind of mindset. The toxic behavior of I even have seen for people wearing shirts of bands. You wear a t-shirt and if you don't know a song you get bullied for the shirt. Instead of wow you like that band or even try to educate the person to become a fan.

Each fan has their decade of Music that the individual became a fan. Some people did in the 60s or 70s or even today. To where some people listen to modern music of Rock like me. Some fans stay stuck in the past and even use past terms. Like example if you like modern music regardless of genre, you may get attacked. Because that person will be like this music sucks. We all do it but it's not the right attitude. Definitely if your mindset changes or you don't get into the genre of music that the person grew up with. Like for example I used to like Exodus but now days it's not for me outside of a good bit of Zetro songs. Some people will understand. But people stuck in 1985 may call you or me a poser. Which is nonsense behavior.

The Grammys were this past weekend, and it felt like it lacked the entertainment. The event felt like a political statement of to think like me instead of I won an award for my music or movie. You did not for your political views which annoys people who disagree. People support or watch you to hear you play music or honor your movie. Not F ice attitude. So, you have made it about you instead of the awards which is why most people like me don't watch. Modern trends can change whether it's politics, religion, etc. To diss an aisle of the audience because of politics doesn't help you. You forget that everyone has different beliefs. It's like Elvis said. I'm here to play Rock and Roll, not talk politics. A lot these people forget that and it's sad. Which it seems like these people could care less about losing fans. I will say the positives were Post Malone tribute to Ozzy and Jelly Roll speech. The Grammys have always been laughable. Don't forget Metallica losing best rock and metal performance to Jethro Tull in 1989. I remember another year when Megadeth won an award. The Grammys played a Metallica song which years ago, Dave Mustaine might have lost it. Which was when Megadeth won a Grammy in 2017 for Dystopia.

Why Politics is Basically Entertainment Now

Politics has become a huge part of our lives. People are either left or right regardless of views. To where it seems like the right hates the left and vice versa. People want people silenced because of the other person views. Which has made people hate people they don't even know. We all forget we are people and everyone deserves their own beliefs and opinions. I also see people cheering when someone get kicked off of x or shot like Charlie Kirk or arrested. Even I fall into this at times. To where society is too fixed on hating others just because of their beliefs when you have never met the person. I think the world was better when we didn't know other politics or beliefs. I may not agree with Gene Simmons often but he's right on we don't need to know your political opinion including your neighbors. 

The media likes to promote headlines that get clicks and fear. Not happy time like you winning the lottery or getting a new job. The media likes to scare people into I live by I will stay at home mindset. Like don't ever leave kind of thinking of fear. The Government wants us to live in a digital world. Which we can't live like that. Someone needs to rebel against this. Another thing is when you live by politics. Just like the church protest and Don Lennon incident. Which should have never happened because people can go to church. It's like live your life and this stuff is to get you live in fear. To where you buy into it like all these nonsense stories of the world is ending on this day. You have to turn the noise off like Jim Breuer says at times. You can also be like me and want to know what it is going. But I don't live by the stories in fear. I live my life.

Political figures regardless of who you are feel like entertainment. Politics used to be all about business and nothing to laugh at. Now like with Trump, it's like who is he going to bury. Like with Congress who vs who instead of voting on laws or bills. CSPAN feels like a political show instead of Congress news. Like when congress turns into WWE without Jim Ross or Vince McMahon. This feels more like a reality tv show. Instead of you guys vote on laws and bills that affect the people. This should be serious not a sit com tv show. The bills that actually get passed affects our lives. 

The Psychology Behind it

We all have problems and bills, but the entertainment keeps us watching. Whether it's wrestling to where you have someone to like or hate. Which keeps the viewer entertained. Music and movies give you something to listen to or watch and to connect with others. Politics does the same depending on your beliefs as in you fit in with people. You have someone debate or someone you agree or disagree with. Which we all want to fit in. So, we find similar interests with others. We need tribes which feel like to divide us but being competitive keeps us going. We all want to be better. We want to be the best in life. Our opinion is number one to where people forget this attitude can be toxic. Look at X, you see people cheering people being removed from x or even silenced. You see arguments and debates when all X does is reward that for clicks. But the other person may feel terrible because this is like a version of cyber bulling. The internet rewards this behavior as more followers instead of attention like I got a new job, or I made a lot of money today. Definitely won't get pushed for positive behavior. Which TV has admitted that outrage get more views and clicks, so we all focus on that. Some more than others.

Why Casuals Think Differently

We all are fans of something or someone. But we forget others are not. So, when we get around others who don't get it. We could annoy those people. Even though a lot of people don't care. The casuals don't care about who was in Metallica or Motley Crue. They care about what those people like whether it's Star Wars or Pokémon or any sports. Which I will admit I'm one of those that doesn't get it at least for Pokémon or a lot of sports. Those fans don't care about John Cena, just like I don't care who played for the Atlanta Braves in 1996. Those people don't care about your political views. But those people can get into the music if it grabs the individual. The person can get into wrestling if the show is entertaining. The person can get into politics if their life feels the need of the moment. So, always remember that these people do not live in the same bubble. Those people do not need to hear the latest Metallica album or hear what Trump has to say. They do not care about who body slammed Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3.

Closing Thoughts

All fan bases have fans. But each one has a toxic side to the fanbase. We all get carried away and forget how others could feel. So, I just hope that people could be nicer to one another instead of hateful. But I know the world rewards war and not love. Like the Megadeth song of can we put a price on peace? I guess not. But then some fanbases don't share the toxic mindset and focus on bringing others together to share interests. Which we all can be part of both. Let me know your thoughts! Reply below!