GreatNorthernVK

Edgelord-kei

All I will say is that there is a reason most of us will say what we listen to most are acts like X, MM, Versailles, GazettE etc...where are the newer acts that inspire us like those ones have?
But, this is largely because I feel there isn't a lot of genuine intent in it right now. Compared to having musicians that used vk as a way of self expression and adding a new dimension to the music,  you mostly have standard rock bands that want to dress up because of the history of its success. I also believe the imagery has grown really homogeneous. You get people dressing exactly like more successful acts before them with no improvisation. How often do we have to see a rhythm guitarist that looks exactly like Teru? The lack of creativity is born from a place of dis-ingenuity.
Visual kei has become synonymous with marketing gimmick. Of course, there was always a marketing aspect to it, but there was also a rebellious nature to it, a way of expressing one's inner self and rejecting conformity. Adults on the large seem really afraid to be this way these days. So it's quite sad!
But, I believe like all things, a resurgence will come. There are people who experience the artists I enjoy for the first time now and think "This is really interesting!" For example, that youtuber who makes all those reaction videos where he experiences Japanese artists and usually really enjoys them! This has been my experience showing Japanese music to others as well.
Anything that is or was a pop culture phenomenon will fade out for a bit and come back eventually in full force. Remember how vaporwave was 'ironic' at first, "haha it's so corny and 80s isn't that silly" and now so many people are creating new genres to tap into sounds and moods of the 80s and obsessing over cyberpunk themes and imagery. I don't think visual kei will be too different in the end.
Let's do our best to help it grow further!

Part of this is a combination of nostalgia, selection bias, and increased access to the scene.
 
Sure, I’ve done it too when I’ve gone through discographies of the prominent 90s and 00s bands, and thought “Wow, I don’t think the scene will ever produce classics like this again”. But then I remember that there were probably tons of cookie cutter, derivative bands back in the day that didn’t even reach the West, because no one gave a shit enough to keep and upload their discographies.
 
Now that we have access to the entire scene by means of the internet, and social media in particular, we see all of the shit that the OG hipsters would have left behind 15+ years ago (except perhaps to mock it, see: Glam Japan). Because most of us don’t live in Japan, nor regularly attend Japanese lives, it can be hard to really gauge where these bands fit in the hierarchy of the Japanese fandom.
 
Having access to the entire fandom now also means that we have access to all of the cringe that the fandom has to offer. How much of the observed idolfication of the scene is “new”, and how much of it is just innovating the sentiment that was already there is difficult, because most of us have no real clue of how Japanese fans acted on a daily basis in the 1990s.
 
We can make observations on how the Western fandom has evolved, because most of us have over a decade of experience with that crowd. The only thing I’ve noticed over the years is the increasing openness to pop music, especially J-pop and K-pop. Also, a slight trend towards fixating on one band in the scene, or even one member (specifically, from the fans who also listen to K-pop).

So I just looked them up and found this:
Not unusual, my arse. As an autistic person, I'm offended. How could you even say something like that in front of your child? "This school doesn't meet the standards I set for my child's education so I'll murder her". Appalling.

Autism Speaks is a fucking awful organization that demonizes people with autism and acts like its some disease.
 
I feel like a bunch of Karens run that joint. Can’t believe people support them

Part of this is a combination of nostalgia, selection bias, and increased access to the scene.
 
Sure, I’ve done it too when I’ve gone through discographies of the prominent 90s and 00s bands, and thought “Wow, I don’t think the scene will ever produce classics like this again”. But then I remember that there were probably tons of cookie cutter, derivative bands back in the day that didn’t even reach the West, because no one gave a shit enough to keep and upload their discographies.
 
Now that we have access to the entire scene by means of the internet, and social media in particular, we see all of the shit that the OG hipsters would have left behind 15+ years ago (except perhaps to mock it, see: Glam Japan). Because most of us don’t live in Japan, nor regularly attend Japanese lives, it can be hard to really gauge where these bands fit in the hierarchy of the Japanese fandom.
 
Having access to the entire fandom now also means that we have access to all of the cringe that the fandom has to offer. How much of the observed idolfication of the scene is “new”, and how much of it is just innovating the sentiment that was already there is difficult, because most of us have no real clue of how Japanese fans acted on a daily basis in the 1990s.
 
We can make observations on how the Western fandom has evolved, because most of us have over a decade of experience with that crowd. The only thing I’ve noticed over the years is the increasing openness to pop music, especially J-pop and K-pop. Also, a slight trend towards fixating on one band in the scene, or even one member (specifically, from the fans who also listen to K-pop).

don't forget the occasional /mu/ thread with about 8 replies!

That much I can agree with. The international fandom has never been deader.
 
Aside from MH, and some low quality conversation on Twitter and Facebook, there isn’t much online presence anymore. Websites dedicated to providing VK news go ages without updates. Traditional fan sites have been phased out. Podcasts and YouTube channels have dried up, if you’re looking for anything other than React videos. Even still, I’m still grateful for the react channels, because it might inject something back into the fandom.
 
The only regular streaming show about VK stopped abruptly eight months ago because of butt hurt fans on their discord that couldn’t handle some shitposting.
 

Part of this is a combination of nostalgia, selection bias, and increased access to the scene.
 
Sure, I’ve done it too when I’ve gone through discographies of the prominent 90s and 00s bands, and thought “Wow, I don’t think the scene will ever produce classics like this again”. But then I remember that there were probably tons of cookie cutter, derivative bands back in the day that didn’t even reach the West, because no one gave a shit enough to keep and upload their discographies.
 
Now that we have access to the entire scene by means of the internet, and social media in particular, we see all of the shit that the OG hipsters would have left behind 15+ years ago (except perhaps to mock it, see: Glam Japan). Because most of us don’t live in Japan, nor regularly attend Japanese lives, it can be hard to really gauge where these bands fit in the hierarchy of the Japanese fandom.
 
Having access to the entire fandom now also means that we have access to all of the cringe that the fandom has to offer. How much of the observed idolfication of the scene is “new”, and how much of it is just innovating the sentiment that was already there is difficult, because most of us have no real clue of how Japanese fans acted on a daily basis in the 1990s.
 
We can make observations on how the Western fandom has evolved, because most of us have over a decade of experience with that crowd. The only thing I’ve noticed over the years is the increasing openness to pop music, especially J-pop and K-pop. Also, a slight trend towards fixating on one band in the scene, or even one member (specifically, from the fans who also listen to K-pop).

Part of this is a combination of nostalgia, selection bias, and increased access to the scene.
 
Sure, I’ve done it too when I’ve gone through discographies of the prominent 90s and 00s bands, and thought “Wow, I don’t think the scene will ever produce classics like this again”. But then I remember that there were probably tons of cookie cutter, derivative bands back in the day that didn’t even reach the West, because no one gave a shit enough to keep and upload their discographies.
 
Now that we have access to the entire scene by means of the internet, and social media in particular, we see all of the shit that the OG hipsters would have left behind 15+ years ago (except perhaps to mock it, see: Glam Japan). Because most of us don’t live in Japan, nor regularly attend Japanese lives, it can be hard to really gauge where these bands fit in the hierarchy of the Japanese fandom.
 
Having access to the entire fandom now also means that we have access to all of the cringe that the fandom has to offer. How much of the observed idolfication of the scene is “new”, and how much of it is just innovating the sentiment that was already there is difficult, because most of us have no real clue of how Japanese fans acted on a daily basis in the 1990s.
 
We can make observations on how the Western fandom has evolved, because most of us have over a decade of experience with that crowd. The only thing I’ve noticed over the years is the increasing openness to pop music, especially J-pop and K-pop. Also, a slight trend towards fixating on one band in the scene, or even one member (specifically, from the fans who also listen to K-pop).

Just as a side note, I love the fact that crossover bands like dimlim and deviloof can play metal shows and have videos taken of their performances, and no one gives a shit. 
 
Call it a “VK show” and replace most of the dudes with girls/women, and suddenly it’s “so disrespectful” to take photos/videos.

Just as a side note, I love the fact that crossover bands like dimlim and deviloof can play metal shows and have videos taken of their performances, and no one gives a shit. 
 
Call it a “VK show” and replace most of the dudes with girls/women, and suddenly it’s “so disrespectful” to take photos/videos.

Dimlim has generated some buzz from a selection of western React Youtubers reviewing their singles. So it wouldn’t be unheard of to try and get a showcase or two either in Europe or the US. 
 
It would be great if Japanese bands actually did multi-band tours to sweeten the deal for casuals on the fence. This whole business of one-man tours with only a 70 minute set list is only for die-hards, and people who just happen to be in the same city with nothing better to do.
 
But realistically, most Asia-obsessed people have moved on to K-pop, and the marginal base of casuals who would attend a multi-band event (but not a one-man) is probably not enough to justify the travel costs of additional bands. It could have worked in 2007-2009, but the hype fizzled out when bands couldn’t tour as far and wide as the fanbase wanted.

Dimlim has generated some buzz from a selection of western React Youtubers reviewing their singles. So it wouldn’t be unheard of to try and get a showcase or two either in Europe or the US. 
 
It would be great if Japanese bands actually did multi-band tours to sweeten the deal for casuals on the fence. This whole business of one-man tours with only a 70 minute set list is only for die-hards, and people who just happen to be in the same city with nothing better to do.
 
But realistically, most Asia-obsessed people have moved on to K-pop, and the marginal base of casuals who would attend a multi-band event (but not a one-man) is probably not enough to justify the travel costs of additional bands. It could have worked in 2007-2009, but the hype fizzled out when bands couldn’t tour as far and wide as the fanbase wanted.

And for gay cis guys in relationships with trans guys, sometimes it’s not even the dick itself.

And for gay cis guys in relationships with trans guys, sometimes it’s not even the dick itself.

Typically what happens -- or what has happened the past couple of years -- is the band stands behind a barricade and people stand/sit in front of them and get their picture taken. There is very minimal interaction with them, and sometimes they let you do questions for a few minutes. The value, and if it's "worth" the $148, is entirely based on your own subjective assessment. 
 
For me it's worth it because I've been dying to ask Kaoru guitar-related questions for fucking ever. I don't care about getting a picture, I don't care about the laminate, I don't care about early access to the venue or the merch -- all I want to do is ask Kaoru guitar related stuff so I can pick his brain. That's worth $148 imo

thank you :// and lmfao right? they were all "but he doesn't understand lesbians(??? LOL) and he'll be so confused so yall should just stop!!!"... honey i think an almost 40 y/o man knows what lesbians are and wouldn't give two shits if a bunch of them loved him. sure he might be puzzled if someone went up to him during the m&g and told him about it (which nobody did, but for some reason a bunch of people were convinced we would harass him about it during the m&g??) but like you said, he wouldn't be losing any sleep. let lesbians have their fun ok

I was following that too. Sorry you and your ex got harassed by that asshat.
 
Honestly, they made a huge deal out of nothing. Claiming that Reita’s feelings would be sooo hurt by “Lesbians for Reita”. You want to know how most straight guys would react to news that lesbians are stanning him? “...Cool!”
 
I highly doubt that Reita loses sleep at night because “Oh no! Not lesbians!”

I was following that too. Sorry you and your ex got harassed by that asshat.
 
Honestly, they made a huge deal out of nothing. Claiming that Reita’s feelings would be sooo hurt by “Lesbians for Reita”. You want to know how most straight guys would react to news that lesbians are stanning him? “...Cool!”
 
I highly doubt that Reita loses sleep at night because “Oh no! Not lesbians!”

I was following that too. Sorry you and your ex got harassed by that asshat.
 
Honestly, they made a huge deal out of nothing. Claiming that Reita’s feelings would be sooo hurt by “Lesbians for Reita”. You want to know how most straight guys would react to news that lesbians are stanning him? “...Cool!”
 
I highly doubt that Reita loses sleep at night because “Oh no! Not lesbians!”

I was following that too. Sorry you and your ex got harassed by that asshat.
 
Honestly, they made a huge deal out of nothing. Claiming that Reita’s feelings would be sooo hurt by “Lesbians for Reita”. You want to know how most straight guys would react to news that lesbians are stanning him? “...Cool!”
 
I highly doubt that Reita loses sleep at night because “Oh no! Not lesbians!”

i'll sum up the gist:
they attempted to turn an innocent twitter tag (lesbiansforreita, a joke from the lesbians in the fandom saying he was our protector/leader, can't remember why or how it started but it was some innocent fun) into a bully tactic against wlw and claiming my ex was a pedophile (she wasn't, i was 17 and we had a strictly romantic relationship) before doxxing her, saying that tag was a "cover up" for these pedophilic assumptions of theirs. there was a whole gc behind it that didn't like my ex for one reason or another, so they teamed up and did all this, feeding into the vkeifanexposed that claimed to "expose bad fans" but it was extremely biased and seemed to only go after this one person, who (imo) had done nothing wrong. it's all kind of a blur to me now but i THINK that's the gist

I LITERALLY cannot be put through this one more time. I have been given diagnoses that are less disappointing than this man. 

Mm, “common”, not really. Does it still happen from time to time? Sure. 
 
Generally speaking, if a teen girl is talking about “raping” a man 10+ years older than her, most people will just roll their eyes and move on. It’s become more common for people to interject and tell them to knock it off, as awareness has increased.