Today’s Daily Rant speaks about how idols are not commodities. They are human, real people just like you and me. The only difference? They are celebrities, at a higher-level of star status than you or I could ever achieve (for the most part at the moment).

But the fact stands that these idols are treated like property, as objects. The mentality, mostly true amongst fangirls, stands thus: If I can’t have him, no one else can. Or better yet, “I bought their stuff because I like how they are. They can’t change or else I won’t support them.” I’m mainly speaking from what I saw as SHINee’s Jonghyun and Shin Se Kyung and their relationship came about. I saw many a Shawol seething and declaring themselves to no longer be a fan of the group. Why? Because the contents inside the “package” had changed and was no longer what the fans had “bought.”

First off, idols are NOT things. They’re living, breathing people. They’re not some lifeless form that lie in the form of CDs and posters and other memorabilia. Second, you cannot claim them as yours. You don’t own them, you didn’t “buy” them, you only brought products that they released. What gives fans the “rights” to “own” said idols? I honestly don’t get it. Perhaps it’s because American culture and Asian culture are different. But that said, it still shocked me that fans still left the fanclub because what they were promised turned out to be different in reality. So what if the idols are dating? They’re still the same people that we have come to love. And be honest: do you buy KPOP-related items because of the music and the personalities from the members or more because of what you like and see - guys/girls who are single?