Sensitive My Hot Take On the Drama With NewJeans (1 Viewer)

[VillageIdiot]

Just my two cents because the discussions about here are unusually toxic. Even Allkpop is having healthier, more nuanced conversations about this

To be clear: I think there is much discussion to be had around underage idols, their working conditions, how they're viewed and presented etc and there SHOULD be actual discussion about that.

However I'm just not seeing that here.

Instead of any actual concern for the NewJeans girls or minors in the industry period, all I'm seeing is people turning their nose up and "ewwing" their success, saying their only popular because they appeal to pedophiles and shaming anyone even mildly interested and somehow that's "protecting minors"...?
Seriously?

And what's even funnier is the same people so 'concerned' about NewJeans stan or like other groups WITH MINORS IN THEM. Some of those groups that have had actual controversy for oversexualizing their underage members or subjected to severe bodyshaming like but instead insist on projecting scenarios on NewJi while ignoring what's actually going on. That's not me trying to pull a whataboutism, this is me pointing out how selective the concern is. A minor is a minor and we should care about all of them, not token wokeism outrageous on whatever group is trendy. Not making excuses for some while condemning others

Last point: there is a time and a place for these kinds of discussions. Nobody is forcing you to like NewJeans but there's a time, a place and most importantly threads where your dislike can be expressed, not every single thread is an invitation.

Going into a positive thread and saying
"They're only popular because they have creepy fans"
"They're inorganic, this other group full of minors is soooo much better"

Is not only 1. Just a straight up rude thing to say in any circumstance, let alone in the name of some kind of 'advocacy' 2. Irrelevant to the thread.

Let's be civil and in topic. Mind your spaces

Don't forget to stream Song of The Year

 

[maruberry]

I mean I am a fierce advocate of no minors inside kpop, but NewJeans definetely are getting a BIT too much hate. People just want to hate on them and this is a convenient excuse.

On this topic though
I'm a bit more lax with like 17 yearolds... but 14??? 15??? way too young imo

Imo it is not alright even with an appropriate concept. It's even just due to the weirdo fans (although that is a big reason as well). I think a middle schooler working what is essentially MORE than a full time job should be illegal.

People also forget that this isn't the GIRLS fault
It's their parents for allowing them to be in this situation and the company for putting them in it

 

[Drew_B]

Is there any sign that it might be jealous Blinks making these accusations against NewJeans fans?

 

[hxney_jun]

Even Allkpop is having healthier, more nuanced conversations about this

but i agree with your other parts

 

[VillageIdiot]

I mean I am a fierce advocate of no minors inside kpop, but NewJeans definetely are getting a BIT too much hate. People just want to hate on them and this is a convenient excuse.

On this topic though
I'm a bit more lax with like 17 yearolds... but 14??? 15??? way too young imo

Imo it is not alright even with an appropriate concept. It's even just due to the weirdo fans (although that is a big reason as well). I think a middle schooler working what is essentially MORE than a full time job should be illegal.

People also forget that this isn't the GIRLS fault
It's their parents for allowing them to be in this situation and the company for putting them in it

That's a good point and I agree with a lot of it. I'm more in favor of the industry adopting better child labor laws and rules than outright banning underage idols but I can see why some would want that

Feels like everytime there's a need for serious discussion in kpop, it goes off the rails immediately. People want to advocate but not everyone really understands what for

Not related to the forum but do you know how many people I saw dragging Garam, a 16 year old girl, to filth and implying some pretty heinous things go hop on the NewJeans issue

 

[VillageIdiot]

Is there any sign that it might be jealous Blinks making these accusations against NewJeans fans?

Not our fault for once

 

[NBW]

ive read the op and ill go a bit off topic, but its clear this happens a lot in the kpop community, from what ive seen in forums
the "oh this is a problem or controversy" but if it happens to someone they know its not a big deal, or sometimes the opposite, not even idols in specific
its a young community that might just read a tweet from a random account they've never seen and they'll believe it and change their opinion
like i literally had no idea who this min heejin woman was and i watched the debut and it was praise all around. "another great group by the queen of concepts" and 2 days after i would bet ya most the people saying that were calling her a pedo
now im not defending one or the other, my point is people believe things too quickly and the choice for u to stan a group is urs and only urs. u dont gotta be here going at others cause they like smth u dont
to me newjeans has amazing music, some of the best recently in kpop for my own taste. and thats me. others can think and do whatever they want
ill follow their tracks and watch with my own eyes, having my clear recall that they're teens. now ive said before, r there people that r gonna see it with the devils eyes? for sure, but people should be able to enjoy smth and not have others make rules or judge them on it. not every kpop fan is gonna sexualize them

 

[raymondchouku]

This is hilarious

... what part?

 

[raymondchouku]

I'm a bit more lax with like 17 yearolds... but 14??? 15??? way too young imo

the problem yet again becomes if they are 14-17 how long did they spend as a trainee before debuting. That would make them training even younger and putting kids through such a system. I think Suho was a trainee at 16. Regardless of debuting and training to debut, idols [all] are doing work as teenagers that most people at the same age aren't.

 

[raymondchouku]

Is there any sign that it might be jealous Blinks making these accusations against NewJeans fans?

are BP having a comeback soon or recently?

 

[maruberry]

the problem yet again becomes if they are 14-17 how long did they spend as a trainee before debuting. That would make them training even younger and putting kids through such a system. I think Suho was a trainee at 16. Regardless of debuting and training to debut, idols [all] are doing work as teenagers that most people at the same age aren't.

I mean naturally, BUT if people are debuting at 18, then the company will not be scouting 10 yearolds as actively (although it will still happen)
ALSO if they are debuting a bit older, it gives the kid time to realize what the industry is actually like with less rose colored kiddy glasses of "I'm gonna be FAMOUS"

It would be unreasonable to expect a 14 yearold to understand all the ramifications of signing a contract that will tie them to the company for 7 years. Ofc the 17 yearold will also prolly not understand, but the likelyhood is a LOT higher.

The trainee period is brutal, but you aren't chained to it the way you are to an idol contract

 

[raymondchouku]

The trainee period is brutal, but you aren't chained to it the way you are to an idol contract

why do i feel like this statement could be applied to both k-pop and scientology...

 

[VillageIdiot]

why do i feel like this statement could be applied to both k-pop and scientology...

You train for scientology

 

[raymondchouku]

You train for scientology

kind of. When you walk into a scientology building they start you out on baby courses (i.e., $35-100) that teaches principles of self help... then when they have you in their grasp they start charging $5000-10,000 per course. All the while they try to get you to join the sea organization, which allows you to do these courses for free, but the caveat is that you'll be doing 80 hour work weeks for $25-50 per week. If you stay a member, but not in the sea org it is estimated that you will end up paying $250,000+ in the hope that you will gain the spiritual benefits that the "religion" promises..

There is a docu series on Netflix called Aftermath. It has former members telling their stories about being in the religion.

 

[VillageIdiot]

kind of. When you walk into a scientology building they start you out on baby courses (i.e., $35-100) that teaches principles of self help... then when they have you in their grasp they start charging $5000-10,000 per course. All the while they try to get you to join the sea organization, which allows you to do these courses for free, but the caveat is that you'll be doing 80 hour work weeks for $25-50 per week. If you stay a member, but not in the sea org it is estimated that you will end up paying $250,000+ in the hope that you will gain the spiritual benefits that the "religion" promises..

There is a docu series on Netflix called Aftermath. It has former members telling their stories about being in the religion.

Tom Hanks is the best Tom

 

[raymondchouku]

Tom Hanks is the best Tom

.. It took me a minute to get what you meant.