For Cassiopeia : Paddling Your Red Boat
There is so much dramas going in the fandom and it’s impossible for one not to be aware of it. This side blaming that side and etc. So let me offer a new type of fandoming called the ‘Boat Paddling’.
To be honest I didn’t create the term on my own. My friend Devo created it for our community and it turned out just great. I read her post about it and I think it’s just so relevant to Cassiopeia too. So I was thinking, why don’t we adopt this Boat Paddling culture into our fandom if it can make things better?
What is boat paddling and how does it work?
Devo describes Boat Paddling by seeing a community (in this case, Cassiopeia) as a series of islands in the middle of the ocean. Those islands represents the types of fans that are vary (Yeah, you know what I mean).
The boat paddlers are the fans who sit in a boat/ship/vessel/etc and paddles between these various type of fans, in practical: making friends/dialogues/discussion with any type of fans in the fandom. They don’t only stick with one side but also taking resources/opinions from the other sides into consideration. This type of discussion might clears up misunderstandings and rumors that exist within our fandom and that is definitely important.
The most important thing is to be neutral. As neutral as you can. You might have your own personal opinions, but you don’t shove it into other people’s throats. Or, you might disagree with someone’s opinions, but tend to keep it silent other than starting a showdown with the said person. (Like mocking with nomention on twitter. This is usually the beginning of future wars. If you really cant stand one’s opinion, it is better to kindly confront them and speak honestly about what’s bothering you).
The point of Boat Paddling is the motto: Don’t be a .
Anyone can be a boat paddler. You can be an OT5 or TVXQ fan or YJM biased or individual member fan, or anything else. Because Boat Paddling is not to ‘unite’ opinions from every side or force one side to agree with another, boat paddling is about respecting other’s opinions and diversity, to connect and exchange infos from each sides (infos, not rumors), to reach our goals that is supporting our idols in a better way.
For example: To get TVXQ win at Mubank with Tense album. The point of Tense album keeps decreasing because some fans are buying old albums. (click!) (click!) Infos like these are important to be spread, so at least people will be notified. (So they will wait to buy old albums, maybe?) If you want TVXQ win..
But remember, if you cant even embody the motto of Don’t be a , you will have difficulties being a boat paddler.
When drama happens, a boat paddler must have the ability to stay calm instead of joining the party and creates more scenes. People have limits and may explode sometimes but just try to keep it cool as long as you can. Boat paddlers will try to understand what others are trying to say. They may state their opinions but respectfully and not to trigger more flame. They will not lash out at one side directly but look at the facts behind it and clears up the misunderstandings (if can). I’ve seen huge dramas happen because of misunderstandings. Especially because our interactions mostly happens online via texts. And sadly some people prefer to drown in their own thoughts and choose to block directly or start calling others with names when we can actually talk about things.
And a boat paddler will have an open-mind to the different tastes or preferences in the fandom. We all know that not all people like too much dancer-groping concept. Or if we talk about shipping and OTPs, you will be open that not all fans share the same OTP as yours. And remember, none of the boys have ever made a rule that to be a good fan must support certain couples. If you cant accept the fact that everyone has their point of view on things, there will be a lot of awful dramas coming soon…as it is happening now.
I know being a boat paddler is not easy. Most people prefers to stay safe on an island than to paddle around. I’m not forcing anyone to be a boat paddler. It’s okay if you don’t want, just leave this article and continue living. But I’m asking for those who want. Because I know there are some people who are craving for this thing, those who are thirtsty to make friends with anyone from any type of fan.
This is the end of this article. I’m sorry if some points are unclear. I’m not good at writing articles >.<
To be honest I didn’t create the term on my own. My friend Devo created it for our community and it turned out just great. I read her post about it and I think it’s just so relevant to Cassiopeia too. So I was thinking, why don’t we adopt this Boat Paddling culture into our fandom if it can make things better?
What is boat paddling and how does it work?
Devo describes Boat Paddling by seeing a community (in this case, Cassiopeia) as a series of islands in the middle of the ocean. Those islands represents the types of fans that are vary (Yeah, you know what I mean).
The boat paddlers are the fans who sit in a boat/ship/vessel/etc and paddles between these various type of fans, in practical: making friends/dialogues/discussion with any type of fans in the fandom. They don’t only stick with one side but also taking resources/opinions from the other sides into consideration. This type of discussion might clears up misunderstandings and rumors that exist within our fandom and that is definitely important.
The most important thing is to be neutral. As neutral as you can. You might have your own personal opinions, but you don’t shove it into other people’s throats. Or, you might disagree with someone’s opinions, but tend to keep it silent other than starting a showdown with the said person. (Like mocking with nomention on twitter. This is usually the beginning of future wars. If you really cant stand one’s opinion, it is better to kindly confront them and speak honestly about what’s bothering you).
The point of Boat Paddling is the motto: Don’t be a .
Anyone can be a boat paddler. You can be an OT5 or TVXQ fan or YJM biased or individual member fan, or anything else. Because Boat Paddling is not to ‘unite’ opinions from every side or force one side to agree with another, boat paddling is about respecting other’s opinions and diversity, to connect and exchange infos from each sides (infos, not rumors), to reach our goals that is supporting our idols in a better way.
For example: To get TVXQ win at Mubank with Tense album. The point of Tense album keeps decreasing because some fans are buying old albums. (click!) (click!) Infos like these are important to be spread, so at least people will be notified. (So they will wait to buy old albums, maybe?) If you want TVXQ win..
But remember, if you cant even embody the motto of Don’t be a , you will have difficulties being a boat paddler.
When drama happens, a boat paddler must have the ability to stay calm instead of joining the party and creates more scenes. People have limits and may explode sometimes but just try to keep it cool as long as you can. Boat paddlers will try to understand what others are trying to say. They may state their opinions but respectfully and not to trigger more flame. They will not lash out at one side directly but look at the facts behind it and clears up the misunderstandings (if can). I’ve seen huge dramas happen because of misunderstandings. Especially because our interactions mostly happens online via texts. And sadly some people prefer to drown in their own thoughts and choose to block directly or start calling others with names when we can actually talk about things.
And a boat paddler will have an open-mind to the different tastes or preferences in the fandom. We all know that not all people like too much dancer-groping concept. Or if we talk about shipping and OTPs, you will be open that not all fans share the same OTP as yours. And remember, none of the boys have ever made a rule that to be a good fan must support certain couples. If you cant accept the fact that everyone has their point of view on things, there will be a lot of awful dramas coming soon…as it is happening now.
I know being a boat paddler is not easy. Most people prefers to stay safe on an island than to paddle around. I’m not forcing anyone to be a boat paddler. It’s okay if you don’t want, just leave this article and continue living. But I’m asking for those who want. Because I know there are some people who are craving for this thing, those who are thirtsty to make friends with anyone from any type of fan.
This is the end of this article. I’m sorry if some points are unclear. I’m not good at writing articles >.<
Anyway, thanks for reading 
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