Dawning of the age of the Stan

[theaterwiz414]

I have noticed a social media presence I am not so fond of-that being the "stan". Can someone please explain what it is (I know enough to not be enthusiastic about it, but I'm still confused as to what it is) and why it exists?

[spiderdj82]

A "stan" is a fan who morphs from a regular fan to stalking.

Stalking + fan = Stan

I believe that it was first coined in the Eminem song "Stan" but I could be wrong. 

[ssimpson86]

Are you talking about the word used to describe a really big (obsessive) fan of something? Cause that’s all it means. It comes from the Eminem song of the same name.

[dramamama611]

One of the DEH threads discusses this quite a bit on the reg board.

 

But it's not seen (somehow) as a negative.  People seem to work to achieve the STAN factor.   (Although lots of people use it in jest - just to show they are huge fans.)

[TheGingerBreadMan]

It's become more of a slang term, used to describe somebody who is a very devoted fan of something or somebody. Most "stans" don't actually engage in real stalking. For example, if a person owns every single Lady Gaga album and knows every word to every song, and has seen her in concert multiple times, and owns lots of her merch, they would be considered a "stan".

[GlindatheGood22]

I read this thread title as "Dawn of the age of Satan."

[UncleCharlie]

GlindatheGood22 said: "I read this thread title as "Dawn of the age of Satan.""

That certainly would have made for a more interesting discussion.

[theaterwiz414]

dramamama611 said: "One of the DEH threads discusses this quite a bit on the reg board.



But it's not seen (somehow) as a negative. People seem to work to achieve the STAN factor. (Although lots of people use it in jest - just to show they are huge fans.)"

I see...it just seems like-in my experience and from what I've seen on social  media-that these people are extremely over what they call their "faves". It's like a competition. It's awful because it's like they place a claim on actors and shows. They think they're best friends with the actors. While I'm sure that's true of a select number of people....the stans get incredibly overprotective of their faves and almost don't let anyone else be a fan? Then if someone has one minute critique of that performer, the whole "stan community" comes out in full force to attack that person just for their opinion. It seems like a very clique-y and toxic environment...

[Mister Matt]

It's a new word for an old annoyance.  These types of fans have been around for decades.  Social media just gives them more visibility.