… one large aspect about following David’s career includes the relationships developed through fan interactions. The fan community has truly become an extended family and I am grateful for the friendships I’ve cultivated. In my off-line activities, I lead a very busy life with a professional job that is frequently stressful and totally cerebral. I truly treasure the fan community that has given my life another necessary outlet of joy and fun.
– Freofan, An Evening of Joy: David Debuts Band in Myrtle Beach
To be a part of the David Archuleta fan community is indeed some kind of experience. It has served as a veritable refuge for a lot of Archies.
Some Kind of Wonderful
Found yourself temporarily isolated from families and friends who are unable to appreciate or even begin to understand your fascination with David? Go to a David fansite and immediately you feel better. In fact you heave a sigh of relief discovering you’re sane and not alone with the cra-zeh-ness. Suddenly you find that all is well with the world, right?
Who would have thought that by merely following an artist, you would reap friends beyond your own borders and establish virtual spazz-mates, like you have known each other for a lifetime?
Or that you find yourself sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings about a young man who has enthralled millions with his music – with people you have never even met!
And then you rely on and are thankful for people who would share stories, recorded footage of his performances or glorious photographs — people who sacrifice their personal experience just so a whole lot more can enjoy David as if they were there with him.
What about the heartwarming stories on the generosity of Archies being spread across cities and continents to help out other Archies with their ODD? The help can run the gamut of so many forms — from CD/DVD/book gifting, to memorabilia sharing or concert ticket sponsoring or even air mileage sharing!
However, for every upside, there is a downside. Consider these:
- What if there are Archies who have the penchant for spreading rumors for their own enjoyment, cyber-bullying and ridiculing other Archies on subjects they have no business of?
- What if a couple of fans use the name and resources of an established fan group to advance a fan activity and when finally securing the much sought after activity, make it secret, create its own club and exclude the very same established group from participating from it?
- What if there is a fan club who sells materials from other people’s work? And that the owners of the materials have no knowledge of such merchandising?
- What if there are Archies who are skilled in twisting information with unsuspecting Archies to make others look bad?
- And what if all of these “what ifs” are associated with a single group who claim to represent the Archies even to David’s Team, who they are wooing for a project?
Am sure you will ask – WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Kindness, Honesty as the Ultimate Currency
For me, the prime currency running within this community is kindness and honesty. Having David as the crux of our fandom seems to require that, right?
You go to another country just so you can see David perform live – not knowing anyone personally – and BAM! You are given a warm welcome, treated like a family member and have the time of your life because you are among “your people” LOL.
You share a little of what you know about some technical stuff online and SWOOSH! People you do not even “talk to” on a regular basis suddenly send you tokens and gifts!
It is not all paradise of course. Like any organization or family, we have our “misadventures”.
If there are misunderstandings, they are threshed out as sane and responsible adults. In private. If you make a mistake, you take corrective measures carefully keeping everyone’s dignity still intact. Hopefully.
So fan sites and fan bases co-exist cordially. This is what I have witnessed for the past three years.
But since we come from different backgrounds and persuasions, entwined by our love for David and his artistry, then there is indeed that chance of falling into a false sense of security with the fandom.
For if the above “what ifs” actually transpired, then having David as an artist and a person to emulate does not necessarily translate to Archies being like-minded and kindred spirits.
And IF we indeed have this situation, should the community care? Should other Archies be alarmed? Is there anything that should be done in the 1st place? Do we just let time heal the hurts? Risk the misunderstandings and misinformation fester and damage people’s reputation based on ill-talks? Or do we just pray and hope for the best?
If we regard this fan community as an extended family, how do we deal with such scenarios if they come to pass?
My take is that if there are personal animosities among the Archies (and am sure there are in every fanbase!), that cannot be helped. But the friction should not spill into David’s business. Moreover, I will take exception when actions – especially those that involve pulling a fast one over another fan club – are done deliberately and that further actions are made with malice and with an abject sense of propriety or decency.
Thank you ODD Enablers!
I am sure that a whole lot more of kindness and just deeds go untold and are not made public. They are the unseen generosity that do not expect any ROI, except for the simple joy it delivers for both the giver and the recipient. I hope we get to learn more of these exemplary acts.
So for these unsung heroes or shall we say ODD enablers (chuckles), my esteemed regard and appreciation!
Meanwhile, what do you think of the foregoing? I look forward to your feedback as I leave you with this old poem from Netherlands (author unknown).
What if nobody really cared, would you still do what you do?
What if nobody had a big fancy car, would you still struggle to get one?
What if religion would not exist, would you still believe?
What if life was only a game, would you still play safe?
What if the world was not about you, would you still think so?
What if you were in love with an animal, would you become a vegetarian?
What if nobody had designer clothes, would you pay so much for yours?
What if mankind had destroyed the planet, would you feel sorry too?
What if you were meant to die this morning, would you be grateful for today?
What if everybody was equal, who should we discriminate?
What if your life was a bucket, would you still fill it with unhappiness and complains?
What if everything came in drops, would you catch the poisonous ones on purpose?
What if you only lived once, would you still wait?
What if it is all over, before you really started?
What if you know, but you don’t act?
What if you knew, but you didn’t act?
JR -- As you know, TDC has been involved in some rather “interesting” brou-haha’s in the past. These mostly revolve around differences in values. I’ll leave it at that.
But I sense that you are speaking of something much more damaging to one group of fans while giving some kind of unfair advantage to another -- perhaps even misrepresenting themselves to David?.
In addition, it sounds like you have discovered someone, or some group, selling videos -- making a profit -- from videos that were given freely to the fan community by a fan or fans?
Other hurts may have to go by the wayside, leaving fans and fangroups to recover their heart and faith in another way, but to misrepresent yourself to David and his team, or to sell videos of David made by another fan, is something this fanbase ought to be concerned with.
Outing the offenders may be difficult but at least it provides the DA Team, other fans, and the rest of the fan communities, from buying into the misrepresentation. And certainly from buying CD’s of videos that belong to another fan.
There is always one bad apple, it seems. 🙁
It’s so disconcerting and heartbreaking at the same time how such things could happen among fan groups. Following David should all make us better persons given his good example. It’s amazing what greed and selfishness can do.
David skypes from Manila w/ Thai fans
@saidstopped
On the 20th of July, 2011 David Archuleta was able to talked with Thai fans via Skype at Sony Philippines, wonder what they talked about? Check this out?!
Archie Thailand>
wow JR! It sounds like you’ve experienced a serious situation and are concerned enough to write about it. Are you struggling with what you should do? I think you’ve answered your own What ifs but have yet to act. Like Marlie said Outing the offenders might be difficult but would allow David’s Team and other fans the knowledge to make the appropriate decisions.
Hard to give feedback on What ifs.
You are so dedicated and it concerns me that you have this matter weighing on you so heavily. Consult your team here @The David Chronicles. Maybe Ronald F. could help with his expertise.
JR: You have been such a valued supporter of David, well respected and known accross David’s fan commuities, on both sides of the world. I am so sorry that something unethical, and possibly even illegal has occurred. I don’t have an answer for you, without knowing the details. I would take a few days to ponder various courses of action. It has been my experience when dealing with a difficult situation to look at all options and remember it is fine to change course after you start. Some things you may be able to let go and be the bigger person realizing that things often work out as they should in the end because, an unethical person, will be that way in other aspects of their life & career and usually they are exposed. However, some things if truly illegal, do need to be exposed- so they do not take advantage again.
JR, lots to think about here incl. the Netherlands poem. Without knowing all the details, I’ll add to the “what ifs”.
What if some Archies would really like to have the opportunity to officially work with David and become a part of his team. What if their goal is to use the experiences and contacts gained through working with a fansite/fanclub to make this happen. Is this okay?
What if a fanclub can’t reach a group consensus on an activity related to promoting David. Is it ok for some members to branch off and do their own thing if they don’t agree with the majority of the group?
My response to both of the above would be “YES”. However, I hope that fans would: a)disagree and move on without continually tearing other fans apart, b) ask permission if they need to use the work of another fan to build upon their idea, c)not misrepresent themselves to David and his team.
“What if you know, but you don’t act?”
I think communication is the key to clearing up misunderstandings, gossip, etc. I vote for “acting” on it by asking a few questions and giving individuals a chance to explain where they’re coming from. Sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be.
We believe that this is not the PROPER FORUM for any disagreement. We have our own websites… so feel free to express yourselves in your own sites. And I think it is also best to direct your bone of contention to the people involved. After all, “Communication is key. The lack of words can be as harmful as harsh words.”
Hi DominDis:
This IS JR’s Forum -- as a long-time admin and contributor extraordinaire, she has every right to express herself here and to use this platform to express her opinions. And we welcome your comments as well.
As for “We have our own websites,” what does that mean, exactly. Who is “We?”
Hello Marlie7:
I appreciate you responding to my comment and clarifying things up. It is never my intention to limit JR to express herself here. However though, we thought that it is more appropriate to settle a disagreement first with the people involved locally before bringing it over to the international community.
We just hope that she sought for facts and asked for clarifications first before jumping into conclusions. That way she’ll know the truth and nothing but the truth.
Wow,Jr, I’m saddened to see this issue weighing so heavily on your heart. Though gladdened also, because knowledge of an issue and no action is such a sorrowful thing indeed. As Edmund Burke said -- “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Though I wish we could all live the lyrics of “Imagine” I know that in reality, human frailty is all too common. I have read on a caustic website about other fan clubs who have been duped or cheated by people they thought of as friends. I think I remember way back on Fanblast there was a situation where there were ill feelings about promised products or service. I like the comments I have read hear. About speaking the truth, communication and also caution, any kind of accusation should have evidence to back it up. I think we should watch each others backs.
Seeing how this was posted at the beginning of August, I hope you have resolved any issues that may have weighed heavily on you. And, if this is just a post to discuss “What Ifs?” I’m heartened by the responses. I feel overall that David’s fansites and fans have been “Some Kind of Wonderful” 🙂
Now who have received their copy of “Glad Christmas Tidings”?
My birthday’s coming up and I am patiently waiting to see if my family paid attention when I kept saying rather loudly what I wanted for a present.