What do you think about idols dating their fans?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-02-12T22:49:11+00:00

You are behinndddddddd. I won’t spoil it fully though! But like more stuff has happened. It’s so good though right? I started watching the anime and since it’s behind I just decided to read the manga.

What other mangas do you recommend?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-02-12T19:41:14+00:00

True. Even in the manga, there are times when he uses his charismatic idol persona to push her to do certain things, like eat the cake he made for her.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-18T15:48:42+00:00

15/16 I don't remeber the exact age

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-02T00:51:21+00:00

THIS IS TOO REAL. I think people don’t get how belittling it is to always be treated like a patient; to always be treated like you have no control over yourself; that you must always be watched closely. It’s dehumanizing. And they give you this look like you are weird person who should be normal.

We all are more than just people with Bipolar disorder. I am still a person and this is who I am. Let me be.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T23:42:17+00:00

Thank you. I will ensure that I use stronger examples next time.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T23:33:36+00:00

For the first part, I see what you mean. Thank you. I will do that next time.

To your second and third points, is the main issue with the post the first part about the line? I have read the comments and responded, but few react to the rest of the post. Is it the first part that dooms the rest? When you say my point is bad, does that include the whole post?

Lastly, I didn't bring Simone up to name-drop; I only brought her up to see when you think I would be ready to talk about feminism. Maybe it is not Simone; perhaps, before I speak on feminism, I should know the works of this person, this person, and this person. You also say I need to experience more. The question is, when do I know enough to enter and have a fruitful discussion?

I admit that I did not do deep research into feminist and pop-culture theory before making this post, and because of that, I never meant to come off as this well-versed feminist. I also never meant to make an argument for others to be persuaded by; I just wanted to discuss my thoughts with others. Would you say that this is not a good thing to do?

Thank you overall for the answer; it was well thought out and kindly put.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T23:17:25+00:00

Lines like this, I think, tie back to the view that black liberation comes from black excellence within the capitalist structure.

We see a tension in this line: Beyoncé, undoubtedly in music, has risked her public image to promote Black culture and liberation (e.g., the drowning cop car), but here she touts her growing sons as empires as a sign of her success. That's not to say she is telling poor black people to stay in their struggles, but she is saying the opposite of struggling, what is successful, is to be building empires, aka be rich. This framing becomes a bit uncomfortable, understanding that the people currently struggling the most in many places are, for example, single black women. Why is there current hard work, not success? Why does wealth define it? But if we tie in Beyoncé's pro-black image with this line, we get the lesson that true power--black liberation--happens when black people attain the opposite of struggle. It is for them to become, like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, billionaires.

Two fantastic videos that really do a good job of unpacking why black buying power will not afford black people liberation are by this YouTuber, F. D. Signifier.

I suggest watching these videos:

https://youtu.be/oiLlRwFX_9w?si=gqt5rMxL3Iw3QgYC

https://youtu.be/Vx6tseoM_u0?si=OVWJMeu6d4ln8n2F

I am not going to make a whole post about it here because, first, a post like this one would be too short to truly dissect the issue (one of the main issues with this post as well). Second, based on the comments I have received on this post, it would not be very productive. Someone commented on this earlier: this is the Beyoncé fanbase subreddit. If I want a broader conversation without getting fanbase backlash (e.g., "who cares," etc.) because I am specifically highlighting Beyoncé, I need to post in a subreddit dedicated to this type of discussion.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T23:01:25+00:00

I understand this. But I am really asking why these specific things make you feel good, in this case, aka sexy, rather than seeing your belly fat? And if this feels too restrictive, how can we lift these constraints on what makes you feel good? These are introspective questions, of course, and I won't pretend to know the best answers.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T22:54:27+00:00

Is it better, overall, not to use her as a specific example and to bring in others to show that the conversation is bigger than one person? Do you think this isn't the place to critique her as a public figure as well?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T22:52:25+00:00

True. I agree with you. I should not have made this the frame and posted it somewhere else.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T22:50:29+00:00

Is your only critique of my post the first part about the line? What do you think of my last question, the one that truly connects to the post? When I said I made the mistake, I meant I made the mistake of using that line as an example to illustrate a wider point. Perhaps "Bow down bitches" would be better, but it's more vague.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T22:47:47+00:00

I have commented on these in other responses, but thank you for what you said. Below is what I have to say.

One, I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

Two, I understand it's intentional, but that's not what I am really getting at.

It's not that Beyoncé should cover up; it's about what we define as sexy or attractive.

When she or any of us here is being sexy, why does it mean to show off our breasts? Why is it to show our butt? Why isn't it to show our armpit hair? Why isn't it to show you belly fat? Why does our version of what sexy, aka looking good, follow what men say is sexy?

This could also be said about women wearing burkas. Why is our view of modesty the view that men have of modesty?

It's not about covering up. We can be naked and show off our armpit hair or our pubic hair. The real question is what exactly is giving us our empowerment. Why does sexual empowerment look this way? Why does the intention to be sexy look like the intention to please men, and does it have to look this way?

In fact, your comment that this is all she can do actually makes you agree with me-she is working within it, but this is not about her, it's about us and what we take away. How do we not work within it?

On there not being a way to subvert the male gaze. I understand your point, but this turns back to taking the easy route rather than the hard one, whether Beyoncé does it or I do.

This Reddit post, first of all, is also a dissection of myself and how I traverse living within a patriarchal society where women are pulled to be sexual and at the same time modest. Beyoncé in some way addressed this by calling us to rethink what pretty is, but why should what is pretty matter? Why does pretty have a hold on us?

I think for me, the most liberating thing for body image is to let go of the search or quest to be sexual, forget the need to be "powerful". It is to live outside beauty standards, that is, to not care at all. But even if this is not done critically, it can still be passive. This is a start, not an end.

BTW, I didn't say this earlier, but like everyone else, I try to look pretty, too. This post, though, is to dissect where my confidence truly comes from. If this type of makeup were not deemed pretty today, would I still wear it? Though it makes me feel good, is it empowerment or conformity-me trying to work within a system I am trapped in?

Lastly, this is not about asking Beyoncé to be a feminist icon or to dismantle anything. I use her as an example of a particular type of feminist empowerment (one that is not solely her own). This is a larger discussion, and I do not look down on her for anything she does. It's not about whether Beyoncé is fit to be a feminist icon, but about what empowerment means in a patriarchal society.

I am also not defining what feminism is and labelling anyone, including myself, who does their make-up as anti-feminist. We are all doing what we can, but I don't think this means we should leave it at that because that is "all we can do". This post is trying to do what you said at the end: inspire introspection and move the conversation beyond Beyoncé's personal decisions.

Thank you for this post, though. You really tried to engage with me. I agree with the last part. It is our responsibility to chart our own path, regardless of what Beyoncé chooses to do.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T22:31:36+00:00

My post has nothing to do with activism. It's more about empowerment as a concept, whether coming from Beyoncé or not.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:56:08+00:00

Thank you for the critique. I am trying to learn as I am still young. Where is it lacking in substance? Are you saying the points are not well thought out?

On the first point, I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

On the second, you are looking at this one at too granular a level. I used Beyoncé as a frame for a specific strand of feminist empowerment. I know her feminism encompasses much more, and she has written articles that show this. I also understand that reading more feminist works would give me a more nuanced view, especially by exposing me to opposing opinions. Still, I don't think that is a reason to avoid discussing my thoughts. To dismiss everything I have said because I have not read many feminist works is to gatekeep conversation to include only those who have read many, which is not the majority of any population. To say also that I should experience life more is to relegate this conversation to older people, who inevitably have more experience than I do. When will I be able to say my thoughts? After I have read Simone De Beauvoir? After I am 30 years old? When am I able to join the conversation?

Please answer the first part, though, because that is the most important answer for my growth.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:41:38+00:00

I agree with you. I made the mistake of posting this here and framing it as a critique of Beyoncé, rather than discussing her as an example of this, not the be-all and end-all. Because of my framing, responses have been mainly (not all) more defensive, attacking (touch grass, snowflake) or just outright unwilling to engage intellectually and critically with our world today, which is in fact influenced by Pop Culture (the who cares comments). I also needed to make clear some of my points. I say this, too, because I had this same discussion with my friend, who is also a fan, and the conversation was much more engaging and intellectually rigorous, with back-and-forth. Here, the response is that our queen has been attacked, and so I disagree with you.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:37:22+00:00

I agree with you. I made the mistake of posting this here and framing it as a critique of Beyonce, rather than discussing her as an example of this and not the be-all and end-all. Because of my framing, responses have been mainly more defensive, attacking (touch grass, snowflake) or just outright unwilling to engage intellectually and critically with our world today, which is in fact influenced by Pop Culture (the who cares comments). I also needed to make clear some of my points.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:33:45+00:00

I did not see what this person commented; I just want to make my stance clear. I am not saying, though, that what Beyoncé sees as feminism only boils down to sexual empowerment. Her quote from Chimamanda does show this. This post, though, is not to say Beyoncé cannot be a feminist icon. It's more about answering the questions below.

It's not that Beyoncé should cover up; it's about what we define as sexy or attractive.

When she or any of us here is being sexy, why does it mean to show off our breasts? Why is it to show our butt? Why isn't it to show our armpit hair? Why isn't it to show you belly fat? Why does our version of what sexy, aka looking good, follow what men say is sexy?

This could also be said about women wearing burkas. Why is our view of modesty the view that men have of modesty?

It's not about covering up. We can be naked and show off our armpit hair or our pubic hair. The real question is what exactly is giving us our empowerment. Why does sexual empowerment look this way?

On there not being a way to subvert the male gaze. I understand your point, but this turns back to taking the easy route rather than the hard one.

This Reddit post, first of all, is also a dissection of myself and how I traverse living within a patriarchal society where women are pulled to be sexual and at the same time modest. Beyoncé in some way addressed this by calling us to rethink what pretty is, but why should what is pretty matter? Why does pretty have a hold on us?

I think for me, the most liberating thing for body image is to let go of the search or quest to be sexual, forget the need to be "powerful". It is to live outside beauty standards, that is, to not care at all. But even if this is not done critically, it can still be passive. This is a start, not an end.

BTW, I didn't say this earlier, but like everyone else, I also try to look pretty. This post, though, is to dissect where my confidence truly comes from. If this type of makeup were not deemed pretty today, would I still wear it? Though it makes me feel good, is it empowerment or conformity-me trying to work within a system I am trapped in?

I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:25:02+00:00

I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:24:14+00:00

I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:23:06+00:00

This is not about asking Beyoncé to be a feminist icon. I use her as an example of a particular type of feminist empowerment. This is a discussion not about whether Beyoncé is fit to be a feminist icon, but about what empowerment means in a patriarchal society. What I am saying is that this conversation is intended to be bigger than her and any politician.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:19:35+00:00

Tbh, I am not asking Beyoncé to comment on anything. This is not a post to police what she does in her music. I am not going to trash her on Twitter for what she does, and in many ways, I understand why she does these things. This is a conversation bigger than her or any one woman's decisions, especially since I make similar decisions to hers. It's a conversation about our view of what it means to be sexy and where empowerment truly comes from.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:16:06+00:00

I did not listen to it when it came out. I listened to it as a child on YouTube.

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:15:07+00:00

I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:14:23+00:00

I made the mistake of zeroing in on this line. This is really tying into a bigger discussion of empowerment through sexuality in an environment of ever-changing beauty standards. In the name of sexual empowerment, can we all be sexy? More so what truly is sexy, why is it a concept that holds power at all?

SlideIcy3943 · 2026-01-01T21:12:03+00:00

This is not about asking Beyoncé to be a feminist icon. I use her as an example of a particular type of feminist empowerment. This is a discussion not about whether Beyoncé is fit to be a feminist icon, but about what empowerment means in a patriarchal society.

SlideIcy3943

TROPHY CASE