We're Not Crazy: In Defense of Fangirls

This fan meets a famous actor on an airplane. 
We feel like we know them, but we really don't.
Singer and actor (only one movie, but I'm listing it anyway) Harry Styles has been in my life since 2012. I've never met him, and I probably never will, but some people can inspire you from afar. His philosophy to "treat people with kindness" and his personality are attractive and winsome.
Unlike the way that some fans (see the recent news of Kelsy Karter using a fake tattoo of his face to get attention and then writing a song with his name) relate to artists, some of us are quite sane. (No hate to her; the song is quite catchy.) But I digress.
I've been a fan of Harry since his One Direction days. Their music was a wonderful distraction in high school and college. They are around the same age as I am, and it was fun to see their lives on the road, living the dream. Sometimes fans take personal speculation too far, like insinuating romantic relationships between the boys. (I'll spare you the rant.) We'll never really know intimate, true details about their lives.
Yet to the outside world, who doesn't understand our connection to these artists (insert actors, athletes, etc.), we are crazy, living in artist-mania.
There's nothing crazy about the affection we feel. We attend concerts for experiences and moments. Being in the same room as my favorites is like connecting with a friend. I'm in their world for a few hours. We wait for the next album to be released (to be honest, I haven't listened to all of Harry's solo album— I know, what kind of fan am I? Some of his songs that I didn't really like before, like "Meet Me in the Hallway," are starting to grow on me.). We wonder about who they really are. Are there hidden messages in the songs? Artists choose to connect with us through music. We connect back through support and loyalty.
Some fans will do anything for their heroes, and the artists will occasionally give to a charity or send them special gifts (for example, all of Taylor Swift's secret fan presents). Artists will also encourage fans to support causes that they support. Does it always work? No. But no one can deny their influence.
This post may or may not have convinced you that fangirls are sane, but I hope it gave you some perspective.

Check out my previous post about entertainment shaming here.
I'm currently reading: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
Coming Soon: artists who are embracing nostalgia

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