Everybody likes some form of entertainment. We all have a limited amount of time on this planet and one of the best things to do to waste that time is watch your favorite show/movie, read your favorite book series, etc. However, there is a group of us that takes our love for entertainment a little too far. Enter: the fangirl, a girl (or boy) who's completely fallen in love with a TV series, movie series, TV show, etc. They've immersed themselves into the universe, and often will find a group of like-minded people to talk about it with. Sometimes they make fan-art, write fanfiction, and just support what they love. I'm in multiple fandoms, and it's an amazing way to meet new people while being surrounded by the things I love most.
Despite what the Internet likes to say, many of us are social people. And we date. For those who choose to date us, it can be odd getting used to the fact that we know more about "Doctor Who" than we do about real life. It isn't easy to deal with our obsessions but it is far from impossible. Here are three things you need to do when dating a fangirl.
1. Listen
Fangirls will often spend hours discussing their favorite show/movie/book. This can involve different fan theories, who should hook up with who, and what most recently broke their heart. Even if you're not interested in the same things they are (though it is ideal for a :Doctor Who" fan to date another "Doctor Who" fan), the best thing you can do is listen to them ramble. It gives them an outlet one would often only get online and teaches them that you're willing to put up with all aspects of their personality.
2. Try out what they like
Anybody who's friends with me will tell you that more often than not a conversation will start with "hey, have you heard of *insert current obsession here*? You should check them out!" Fangirling is much more fun if you have someone to watch TV/movies/YouTube videos with. So if someone asks you to watch a TV show with you, it's not only a way of spreading awareness for what they love, it's also a cute way to spend time with you. So if your partner asks you to watch their favorite TV show/read their favorite book, try it out. You're not required to but it is really sweet and would come off as adorable to your S.O. (PS: Augustus read Hazel's favorite book in The Fault of Our Stars. He got the girl)
3. Remind them that they're not crazy
Fangirls get a really bad rep. Despite reacting the same way to TV shows as sports fans do to their favorite teams, fangirls are seen as crazy, irrational screambots who are out of their mind for loving fictional universes. Because of this, it's hard to open up to someone who isn't in a fandom because they might think we're crazy too. Next time your partner is insecure about their passion for "Captain America: Civil War," just remind them that it's OK to be passionate about things, and as long as they aren't actively hurting anybody there's nothing wrong with being a fangirl. This relates heavily to point number one, but remember that everybody has different interests and everybody enjoys talking about their interests.
Dating a fangirl isn't hard, or at least not harder than dating any other person. They key is to listen to your partner and know what makes them smile. Perhaps you'll fall in love with a few fictional universes yourself.
