Being part of a fandom is a job only certain people can do or are able to handle. But what is being IN a fandom?
When you are really IN the fandom (whether it be of a TV series or an actress/actor), you devote 50% of your day to communicating online with people who share the same interests/ideas as you. This alone separates fandom people from normal people who do throughout their day not obsessing over something.
I have made this observation throughout my high school time and now in college, I feel like the label of being a part of a large group of fans is seen as a crazy, obsessive trait, for people who have no lives. I've never let this vibe get to me, at all, but I would like to address that being a part of a fandom is what can be able to save someone from the hectic issues of their personal life.
Ever since I was little, I had an obsession with TV shows and certain actors/actresses. As a pre-teen, its somewhat normal to show that admiration. Once you got to middle school, everyone began to conform to activities that went beyond their age. I was still on top of my favorite show/movie/actress. High school, while everyone went on to do immature things and rebel, I was in love with a show called, "Glee."
This obsession became my gateway to the world of social media: Twitter and Tumblr. I first joined Tumblr and it could possibly be one of the best decisions I have ever made. First off, even though Tumblr is extra now, when it first began, it was literally a place to go and connect with people/artists that love the same things as you. We had the creativity to build our blog with pictures, videos, and text posts that most describe us and our interests. It also took a lot of school time, but that time spent in the site, joining a fandom, it was time to be ourselves. No one was going to judge anything I would put up. People would actually come to your inbox and want to get to know you better because of same interest. Yes, talking to strangers on the internet is not the ideal solution, but if you play everything safe, nothing will be put at risk.
Once you are able to form bond with that blog and get to know them on a more personal level, you form a friendship that is incredibly unique. With real friends, they really don't want to hear why you love a certain episode of a show they don't watch or an actress they don't even know about. And even if they do try to hear, they don't give their undivided attention. With the people you meet within your certain fandom, you can come to their inbox and "fangirl" and go crazy all you want. For some, this helps with mental issues they are going through and helps validate someone or put someone out of a depressive state.
In my case, when Cory Monteith passed away (my favorite actor), I turned to a new fandom to find happiness. I tried "Grey's Anatomy" and was able to make connections with the show and on Twitter with some users, but I still had a part of me that was still depressed with the loss of my favorite actor. It wasn't until I turned to the Pilot episode of the 90's sci-fi show, "The X-Files", and turned to that fandom where I found my happiness once more.
What I'm trying to get it is that, don't be ashamed of loving something to the fullest. If that means you want to put posters up on your wall of your favorite singer, you do it. No one can look down on you for praising something. Those people don't know how much whatever you are a fan of has helped you or guided you in any way.
The friendships you create on Twitter/Tumblr are as important as real life ones. Don't let your RL friends look down on someone you talk to daily on Twitter. Sometimes, OK most of the times, these internet friends turn out to be better than RL ones. Or even random people that you meet in conventions or comic cons. These people are the reason why the fandom exists in the first place, so to have someone to go to is more than real-life offers. Also, being an introvert and being on these social media site can help one get out of their comfort zone and become more social online. This may increase your social skills in real life!
I urge you to continue living that fandom life. Live it to your fullest and don't let anyone, friends or family, tell you otherwise that being part of an online community is wrong.
